How to · ThriftyPDF
Compress a PDF to under 1 MB
Many application forms, school portals, and email gateways cap PDFs at 1 MB. Choose Fit to size → “under 1 MB” and ThriftyPDF tries progressively stronger settings on your device until the file fits—or hands you the smallest version it could make and tells you it missed the target.
Try it here
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Steps
- Drop your PDF into the compressor below and keep the Fit to size mode selected.
- Pick “Strict · under 1 MB” as the target.
- Wait while it tries gentler settings first, then stronger ones; the status line shows each attempt.
- Open the result at 100% zoom and check that small print is still readable before you send it.
- If it reports “best effort” (over 1 MB), delete pages you do not need or split the file, then run it again.
FAQ
Will every PDF go under 1 MB?
No. A long scan (dozens of pages) may not fit at a readable quality. We never claim a size we did not reach—the result line says whether the target was met.
Why did a text-only PDF barely shrink?
Our compressor re-renders pages as JPEG images. That helps scans and photos a lot; a lean text export is often already small and can even grow. Keep the original in that case.
Is the file uploaded?
No. Compression runs in your browser with pdf.js and pdf-lib.
What does it cost?
All six tools need an active plan: a 7-day trial (card required), then $2.99/mo or $19/yr until you cancel, or a one-time $1.49 24-hour pass.