Compress PDF to 500KB Online Free
Reduce a PDF to under 500 KB for free, for job portals, university applications and government forms. Compressed step by step in your browser, never uploaded.
- Free
- No sign-up
- Nothing is uploaded
Related tools
Key Features
- Keeps compressing step by step until the PDF fits under 500 KB
- Quality only drops as far as the limit needs
- Text stays sharp; only photos and scanned pages are compressed
- Made for upload forms with a 500 KB limit, common on job and university portals
- Switch to 100 KB, 200 KB or 1 MB if your form asks for another size
- No upload, no sign-up and no watermark
How to Use
- 1Drop your PDF onto the box or choose it.
- 2Check that 500 KB is selected.
- 3Click "Compress PDF".
- 4The PDF under 500 KB is saved to your downloads.
Your privacy
Your CV, certificates and scanned documents are compressed in your browser and never sent to a server.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make a PDF smaller than 500 KB?
Drop it here with 500 KB selected. The tool compresses the images inside the PDF a little more at each step and stops as soon as the file fits, so it keeps as much quality as the limit allows.
What if the PDF is still over 500 KB?
A PDF with many scanned pages may not fit even at the strongest setting. Split it into parts with "Split PDF" and compress each part, or scan the pages again in black and white.
Will the text still be readable?
Yes. Real text and drawings are kept as they are. Scanned pages get softer as the limit gets smaller, so check the result before you upload it.
Does 500 KB mean 500,000 bytes?
The tool counts 1 KB as 1,024 bytes, as most upload forms do. If a form still says the file is too large, choose 200 KB to be safe.