FreePDFHelp
How to compress a PDF for email
Use compression when an attachment is too large for mail or a form upload. Start with balanced compression, then compare the output before sending.
Compress PDFSteps
Open Compress PDF, add the file, choose light, balanced, or strong compression, process it, then download and inspect the result. If the file is still too large, try a stronger setting only if image quality can be lower.
Example
A scanned 18 MB document may shrink more than a 600 KB text-only contract. Photo-heavy PDFs usually have more compression room than files that were already optimized by another app.
Privacy note
Compression uses temporary server processing because reliable PDF optimization needs server-side utilities. Files are retained briefly and can be deleted after processing.
Common mistakes
Do not use the strongest setting automatically. Do not expect a specific target such as 200 KB unless a tool explicitly supports target-size compression. Do not send the file without opening it first.
Related tools
Merge files before compressing, or remove metadata before sharing the final PDF.
FAQ
Which compression level should I try first?
Balanced is a practical first choice for most documents.
Why is my PDF still too large?
It may already be optimized or contain images that cannot shrink safely.
Does FreePDFHelp promise a target email size?
No. It offers presets, not exact target-size compression.