← All tools
PDF ToolBuilt into the unified PDF editor

Compress a PDF

Reduce the size of your PDF files by recompressing the embedded images, with adjustable quality. Directly in DocuNest's unified PDF editor (Document menu).

Compress a PDF in DocuNest: 100% local processing on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Automatable via the docunest CLI.

Compress a PDF
Preview of Compress a PDF in DocuNest, offline PDF app

Built into the unified PDF editor. This tool is used directly within the DocuNest editor: open your PDF, apply the action, undo with Ctrl+Z if needed, then move on to any other tool — without ever reloading your file.

Discover the PDF editor →

Features

Size reduction by recompressing embedded images
Adjustable quality to balance size and rendering
Text remains intact: no font degradation
Compression from the editor (Document menu), without leaving your document
Undo available (Ctrl+Z) and revert to the original document

Use cases

1

Emailing

Reduce a large PDF to comply with attachment size limits.

2

Optimized storage

Compress your PDF archives to save disk space.

3

Online sharing

Lighten a document before uploading it to a platform.

Command line

Same result as the interface, in one command. Nothing leaves your machine.

docunest — zsh

local
# Compress with quality 60
❯ docunest pdf compress -i document.pdf --quality 60 -o result.pdf
✓ Done — file written locally, no network upload

Complete CLI documentation →

Frequently asked questions

Is the text quality affected?
No. Only the embedded images are recompressed. The text remains intact.
What quality level should I choose?
60-80 offers a good size-to-quality compromise. Below 50, degradation may be visible.
Can I compress a protected PDF?
If the PDF is write-protected, you must remove the protection first.

Stop sending your PDFs to the cloud.

Download DocuNest: the complete editor, 7-day trial, no credit card, no files leaving your machine.

Download for free

Download DocuNest

No account required, no data collected.

Linux

Install a system package, or use the AppImage if you prefer a portable version.

Windows 10+, macOS 12+ (Apple Silicon), Linux (deb / rpm / AppImage)