Drop your PDF
Release to compress
PicoPDF

Shrink any PDF to an emailable attachment size.

Compress to under 20 MB · drop it, shrink it, send it

Preserve text

Less compression · text stays selectable & searchable

Your files never leave your device. All compression is done client-side.

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How to compress a PDF for email

Most email providers limit attachments to 20–25 MB, but PDFs with images, scans, or design exports often exceed that. PicoPDF compresses your PDF to an emailable size in seconds — no sign-up, no upload, no software to install.

01 — Drop
Drag your PDF onto the page or click to browse. Any size, any number of pages.
02 — Shrink
PicoPDF automatically finds the best quality that fits under 20 MB. No settings to fiddle with.
03 — Send
Download your compressed PDF and attach it to any email. Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo — it just works.
Why PicoPDF?
100% Private
Your files never leave your device. Compression runs entirely in your browser — nothing is uploaded to any server, ever.
No Sign-Up
No account, no email, no paywall. Just open the page and compress. Free forever, no limits.
Smart Quality
Automatically finds the highest quality setting that produces a file under 20 MB. Text stays sharp, images stay clear.
Works Everywhere
Desktop, tablet, or phone. Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge. No app to install — it runs in any modern browser.
Embed PicoPDF on your site

Add a PDF compressor to your own website with a single line of HTML. Your visitors can compress PDFs without leaving your page — everything runs client-side.

<iframe src="https://picopdf.com" width="100%" height="600" style="border:none;border-radius:8px" title="PicoPDF — PDF Compressor"></iframe>

Free to embed · no API key needed · no branding requirements

Frequently asked questions
Is PicoPDF really free?
Yes, completely free with no limits. No sign-up, no ads, no premium tier. Compress as many PDFs as you want, as often as you want.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. PicoPDF processes everything in your browser using JavaScript. Your PDF never leaves your device — there is no server, no cloud, no data collection. This makes it safe for confidential, legal, medical, and financial documents.
How does PicoPDF compress PDFs?
PicoPDF renders each page at optimized resolution and re-encodes them as compressed images, then rebuilds a clean PDF. It automatically tries multiple quality levels to find the best balance between file size and visual quality.
Will my PDF look worse after compression?
PicoPDF starts with high quality (82%) and only reduces further if the file still exceeds 20 MB. For most documents — reports, presentations, scanned forms — the difference is barely noticeable. Text remains sharp and readable.
What's the maximum PDF size I can compress?
There's no hard limit. Since compression runs locally in your browser, the practical ceiling depends on your device's available memory. Most modern devices handle PDFs up to several hundred megabytes without issues.
Does it work on iPhone and Android?
Yes. PicoPDF works in any modern mobile browser — Safari on iOS, Chrome on Android. Just tap "browse files" to select a PDF from your device and compress it right on your phone.
Why 20 MB? What are email attachment limits?
Gmail allows up to 25 MB, Outlook up to 20 MB, and Yahoo Mail up to 25 MB. PicoPDF targets 20 MB to ensure your compressed PDF works with all major email providers without bouncing.
Can I compress multiple PDFs?
You can compress one PDF at a time. After downloading your compressed file, click "Compress another" to process the next one. Each compression takes just a few seconds.