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Smaller PDFs Size with Adobe Compress PDF Free and Pro: The Ultimate Guide

October 11, 2024 2.8K views

Have you heard of Adobe compress PDF function? Whether it's an intricate project report, a dazzling portfolio, or just a hefty document, your PDF's sizable footprint can pose a challenge for recipients low on digital real estate. Say goodbye to this worry with Adobe's PDF compression tools, both free and premium! Our definitive guide explores how to Use Adobe  to compress PDF files with online and offline platforms. Read on to discover the process, the benefits, and alternative free software solutions for your file shrinkage needs. Let's make 'less' mean 'more'.

Part 1: Compress PDF - Adobe Acrobat Free and Adobe Acrobat Pro


Adobe Acrobat Free

Adobe Acrobat Pro

Price

Free

Paid Subscription

($239, 1-Year)

Features

Online

Limited

Full

Offline

Limited

Full

Document Viewing

Yes

Yes

Basic PDF Editing

Limited

Yes

Advanced PDF Editing

No

Yes

PDF Conversion

No

Yes

PDF Compression

No

Yes

PDF Encryption

No

Yes

Pros

No cost

Yes

No

Accessibility

High

Lower (Paid)

Feature-Rich

No

Yes

Security Features

Limited

Advanced

Cons

Limited Features

Yes

No

Need for Internet Access

High

Lower

Advanced Editing Unavailable

Yes

No

Detailed Info

https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/online/compress-pdf.html

https://helpx.adobe.com/ca/acrobat/using/optimizing-pdfs-acrobat-pro.html

Part 2: How to Compress PDF in Adobe Acrobat for Free?

Here are the steps on adobe compress pdf for free:

Step 1: Search for Adobe acrobat in any browser or go here.

adobe compress pdf online


Step 2: On the page, you will see a button labeled "Select a file", click on it. Alternatively, you can drag and drop your file into the area specified on the page, which is usually highlighted and labeled as "Drag and Drop".

adobe compress pdf online


Step 3: Navigate through your file directory and select the PDF that you want to compress. Once you've selected the file, click "Open" or "Upload".

Step 4: Once you've uploaded the file, select from three options (High, Medium, and Low). High means extremely compressed. But keep in mind that it can lower the image quality in the document.

reduce pdf file size


Step 5: After that press compress and wait. The time it takes will depend on the original file size.

adobe compress pdf file online


Step 6: After the compression process is completed, you'll be given an option to "Download" your compressed file. Click on the "Download" button and choose a destination on your computer where you want the compressed file to be saved.

2 tips before compressing PDF files in Adobe Acrobat:

  • Remove Unused Fonts and Images

If your PDF file contains fonts or images that are not used, you can remove them to reduce the file size. To do this, open the PDF file in Adobe Acrobat and click on the Edit menu. Then, select Remove Unused Items.

  • Reduce The Image Resolution

If your PDF file contains high-resolution images, you can reduce the image resolution to reduce the file size. To do this, open the PDF file in Adobe Acrobat and click on the View menu. Then, select Zoom and enter a lower percentage value.

Part 3: How to Compress PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro?

Here are the step-by-step instructions on adobe acrobat compress pdf using Adobe Acrobat Pro:

Step 1: Launch Adobe Acrobat Pro and open the PDF file that you want to compress.

adobe compress pdf offline


Step 2: To see the current size of your PDF, go to the "File" menu, then select "Properties". Look at the "Size" field to see the current size of your PDF file. For example, it may say that your file is currently 1.35 megabytes.

Step 3: To reduce the size of your PDF, go to the "File" menu, then select "Save As Other". From there, choose "Reduce Size PDF".

adobe compress pdf settings


Step 4: A dialogue box will appear asking you to select the compatibility version. Keep the default selection as it is and then select the "Retain Existing" option. Click "OK".

Step 5: Save your file to your preferred location (for example, the Desktop). Make sure to give it a different name if you want to keep the original file unchanged.

Step 6: Now, to check the size of your newly saved, compressed PDF, go back to the "File" menu, select "Properties", and check the "Size". The size of your file should now be significantly reduced. For example, it might say that your file is now 67 kilobytes.

2 Important Tips while Using Adobe Compress Pdf:
  • Be mindful of the compression settings. Over-compressing the file can lead to loss of quality, especially with images.

  • Be sure to save your compressed PDF with a different name or location if you want to keep the original version.

Aside from this, you should also consider the above mentioned tips in the previous section.

Part 4: Best Compressor Alternative to Adobe Acrobat - WPS Office

Adobe Acrobat is a popular PDF editor and viewer, but it can be expensive. So, if you're looking for a free and powerful alternative, WPS Office is a great option. WPS Office is a comprehensive office suite that includes a PDF reader, editor, and converter. It has been designed to offer its users an easy and efficient way to work with PDF documents.

With both offline and online accessibility, WPS Office presents a variety of useful features for reading, editing, compressing, and converting PDF files. The Premium version even offers a free trial to let you get a taste of its extensive features.

  • WPS Office offers an intuitive interface for combining multiple files into one or splitting a single PDF into multiple files.

  • WPS Office can convert your PDF files to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats accurately.

  • With WPS Office, you can compress your PDF files to reduce PDF file size without compromising quality.

  • WPS Office also enables you to convert each page of your PDF into an image.

  • This tool provides editing capabilities that enable you to arrange, add, crop, and delete pages within your PDF.

  • For those concerned about document security, WPS Office enables you to encrypt your PDF files by adding signatures and passwords.

Limitations of WPS Office:

  • While the basic version of WPS Office is free to download and use, several premium features require a subscription.

  • A common complaint among users is the presence of in-app ads in WPS Office.

FAQs

Q1: How Do I Compress A PDF Below 100 KB?

To compress a PDF below 100 KB for free, follow these steps:

Navigate to a Compress PDF tool online > Drag and drop your PDF into the designated area > select the compression type and click "Compress." > wait for the tool to shrink the file size > once compressed, download your reduced PDF.

Q2: How Do I Reduce the Size of A PDF in Preview?

To reduce the size of a PDF in Preview, follow these steps:

Open the PDF in Preview > Click on File > Export > In the Quartz Filter drop-down menu, choose Reduce File Size > Save the file.

Q3: Is It Safe to Use Adobe Compress PDF Online?

Yes, it is safe to use Adobe Compress PDF Online. Adobe is a reputable company and their online tools are secure. However, if you are looking for a free and open-source alternative to Adobe Compress PDF Online, I recommend WPS Office. WPS Office has a built-in PDF compressor that can reduce the size of your PDF files without compromising quality.

Summary

When it comes to adobe compress pdf Free and adobe compress pdf Pro offer various levels of functionality. However, it is important to remember that while the free version provides basic features, the Pro version offers comprehensive PDF handling abilities, including compression. In case you prefer to avoid the paid subscription, there are also alternative PDF compressors available online like WPS Office.

WPS Office: Use Word, Excel, and PPT for FREE, No Ads.

As an alternative to Adobe, WPS Office offers a broad array of features including PDF compression, merging and splitting files, high-quality conversion, PDF to image conversion, editing and arranging pages, and security measures. While some of its premium features come at a cost, its basic version is free, which makes it a worthy consideration for those who frequently handle PDF files. Despite some limitations like in-app ads, WPS Office's comprehensive and effective suite of tools still make it an attractive solution for managing and compressing PDFs.


15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.