Free · no limits · nothing uploaded
Compress PDF – text stays sharp
Get brochures, portfolios and presentations under 10, 5 or 2 MB. Each image is optimised for its real size on the page, so text, vectors and plans stay crisp.
- Runs in your browser
- Folder structure kept
- No sign-up
- No file limit
Settings Defaults work for most files
Videos are re-recorded in real time. Keep this tab in the foreground, otherwise it slows down.
Before / after
Why most PDF compressors make files look bad
Typical tools rasterise or re-compress the entire PDF with one quality setting. That blurs text and turns fine lines into mush. Shrinkfold reads the PDF structure, finds every embedded image, measures how large it is actually placed on the page and only resamples what is oversized. Duplicate images are stored once, invisible editor ballast is removed – text and vector graphics are never touched.
Perfect for email, upload portals and print-light
Choose a target like “Email: under 10 MB” and Shrinkfold searches for the best quality that still fits. Need a fixed resolution? Use 150 ppi for screens or 220 ppi for light print. A before/after slider lets you check every page at 200 % or 300 %.
Under the hood
How Shrinkfold compresses PDFs – element by element
Most online tools treat a PDF as one big blob and squeeze all of it with a single quality setting – or even turn every page into a picture. That is fast, but text goes soft and plans get blurry. Shrinkfold takes the time to look at every element on its own.
Text and vectors are left alone
Fonts, text, lines, floor plans and vector logos are not re-encoded. They stay exactly as they were – that is where sharpness lives.
Every image is measured where it sits
For each embedded photo we calculate how large it is actually placed on the page. A 6000-pixel photo shown 8 cm wide doesn’t need 6000 pixels – it is resized to the resolution the page really needs (e.g. 150 ppi). Only for very tight targets does it step down further – never more than needed.
Quality is measured, not guessed
Each image is test-encoded at several quality levels and compared with the original using a perceptual metric (SSIM). So for every single image Shrinkfold knows where it would start to look worse.
The size budget is shared fairly
Large, eye-catching images and plans get more quality, small thumbnails less. Graphics with few colours – plans, diagrams, logos – are kept lossless.
Hidden ballast goes
Images used several times are stored only once. Invisible editor data, preview thumbnails and unused objects are removed.
No fake savings
If re-compressing an image saves less than 5 %, the original image stays. If the whole file doesn’t get smaller, you get your original back. If a target like “under 2 MB” could only be reached with clear quality loss, we tell you.
What we promise – and what we don’t
- Text, fonts and vectors are not changed.
- Photos are re-compressed – as little as needed, measured per image. Check any page at 200 % or 300 % with the before/after slider.
- Your original never leaves your device and is never overwritten.
Note: a PDF saved from Illustrator loses its Illustrator editing data when compressed. Keep the original for editing.
Typical online compressor vs. Shrinkfold
| Typical tool | Shrinkfold |
|---|---|
| Whole file, one quality setting | Every image individually, by its real size |
| Text may be rasterised and blurry | Text and vectors untouched |
| Upload to a server | Runs in your browser |
| Daily limits, paywall | No limits, free |
Why Shrinkfold
Built by people who send heavy files every day
Folders stay folders
Drop a whole project folder or ZIP. You get the same structure back – nothing to re-sort, no renamed chaos.
Smarter PDF compression
Instead of crushing the whole file, every image is resized to its real size on the page. Text, vectors and plans stay crisp.
Private by design
Everything runs locally in your browser. Your files never touch a server – perfect for NDAs and client work.
No limits, no account
No file caps, no daily quota, no watermark, no sign-up. Free, funded by friendly local ads.
How it works
Three steps, zero uploads
Drop
Files, folders or a ZIP – images, PDFs, videos and SVGs together.
Shrink
Pick a target like “email under 10 MB” or keep the smart defaults.
Save
Download single files, one ZIP, or write straight into a folder.
FAQ
FAQ
How do I compress a PDF to under 10 MB?
Drop the PDF, keep the default “Email: under 10 MB” and press “Compress now”. Shrinkfold finds the highest quality that fits the target.
Will the text in my PDF get blurry?
No. Text and vector graphics are kept exactly as they are. Only embedded photos are resized and re-compressed.
Can I compress password-protected PDFs?
Not yet. Remove the password first, then compress.
Is Shrinkfold really free?
Yes. No limits, no watermark, no account. We earn money with small, clearly marked local ads and a branded version for agencies.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. Compression runs entirely in your browser on your own device. You can even disconnect from the internet after the page has loaded.
Is there a file size limit?
No artificial limit. The only limit is your device’s memory – modern laptops handle multi-gigabyte folders. For very large batches use “Save to folder” in Chrome or Edge.
Does it keep my folder structure?
Yes. Drop a folder or ZIP and the result has exactly the same sub-folders and file names – only smaller.
Will the quality get worse?
Text, fonts and vector graphics are never changed. Photos are re-compressed as little as needed: each image is measured on its own and resized only to the resolution its real size on the page requires. If compressing doesn’t save anything, you get your original back.
More tools
Running an agency?
Get Shrinkfold with your own logo, colours and presets – for your team and your clients.