PDF to Limit

Compress PDF to 500 KB

Set to 500 KB, a common limit on school, scholarship and government forms.

Your file stays on this computerWe never receive it. Safe for resumes, tax papers and IDs.

Where are you uploading?

MB Limits differ per site. Check the number on the upload page.

Add your PDF

Choose your PDF or drag it into this box You can add several files at once

Why 500 KB is a common limit

Many portals pick 500 KB because it keeps their storage small while still allowing a few readable pages. You see it on college and scholarship applications, licensing forms, benefit claims and HR onboarding systems.

A multi-page scan from a phone or office scanner is usually 2 to 10 MB, so it needs real compression. A typed document usually fits without changes.

Get there without losing readability

  1. Try lossless first. We always check whether removing unused data is enough before touching image quality.
  2. Prefer a scan over a phone photo. Photos include shadows and background that make files bigger.
  3. Too big? Split it. If the portal allows several uploads, Split into parts gives you numbered files that each stay under 500 KB.

Check the size before you submit

Portals often only show an error after you fill in the whole form. Check the size first:

  1. Windows: right-click the file, choose Properties and look at Size.
  2. Mac: select the file and press Command + I.
  3. Phone: open the file in the Files app and view its info.

Our result card shows the exact size next to your limit, so you can skip this step for files you compress here.

Questions

Will signatures and stamps still be visible?

Yes. They become part of the page image if the page has to be compressed as an image, and the preview lets you check them.

Does this work on my phone?

Yes. It runs in your phone's browser, with no app to install. Large scans take longer on a phone than on a computer.

What if the portal wants exactly one file?

Use Compress to fit. Split into parts only helps when the site accepts several files.

Is it really free?

Yes. No account, no trial and no daily limit.