Optimize a PDF for the web
Slim down a PDF meant to be viewed online (embedded on a website, shared by link) by compressing its embedded images, so it loads faster for your visitors.
Important note: this tool reduces the file size (mostly its images), which speeds up its full download. It does not produce a "linearization" in the strict sense (Fast Web View, which lets the first page display before the download finishes) — see the FAQ below for details on this limitation.
How it works
A heavy PDF (often because of its images) takes a long time to load in a viewer embedded on a website or when opened from a link. The tool re-encodes the embedded images at a compression level suited to the web and rewrites the file compactly, which directly reduces the amount of data to download before the document can be viewed.
Is this a true PDF "linearization" (Fast Web View)?
No, and that is a deliberate limitation. Linearization in the strict sense of the PDF format precisely reorganizes the file's internal objects (placing the first page and the resources needed to display it at the very start of the file) so a compatible viewer can show the first page before the full download is finished ("byte-serving"). This fine-grained reorganization requires a specialized PDF writing engine that our tool, built on a general-purpose PDF library, doesn't implement. What this tool actually does is reduce the file's total size — the most effective lever in practice for speeding up the loading of a PDF on the web, even without linearization in the strict sense.
Which level should I choose for a PDF mostly viewed on mobile?
The "Maximum" level is recommended: on a mobile connection, the loading speed gain far outweighs the loss of image quality, which is barely noticeable on a small screen.
100% local processing in your browser (WebAssembly) — your PDF is never sent to a server.