pdf-kompakt — Free PDF Compression Tool

50-90% smaller. 100% private.

Free, open-source PDF compression. Desktop CLI gets 50-90% savings. Chrome extension for quick jobs. Files never leave your device.

Free for Desktop Win / Mac / Linux Compress on Phone Chrome Extension
brew tap xronocode/tools && brew install pdf-kompakt
50-90%
compression with Ghostscript
3
platforms supported
8
languages
100%
private & offline

pdf-kompakt vs. Cloud Tools

Why your files should stay on your device.

local

🔒 pdf-kompakt

CLI · Chrome · Web App
  • Files never leave your device
  • No file limit, no signup, no watermark
  • Works fully offline
  • Free forever — open source (MIT)
  • Up to 1 GB in browser, unlimited in CLI

☁️ Typical Cloud Service

upload-based
  • Files uploaded to third-party servers
  • 2–3 free files per day, then paywall
  • Requires internet connection
  • $7–15/month for premium
  • 100 MB file size limit (free tier)

Why pdf-kompakt

Everything you need to shrink PDFs, nothing you don't.

🔒

100% Private

Files never leave your device. No uploads, no cloud, no tracking. Works fully offline.

⚡

Powerful Compression

Ghostscript engine delivers 50-90% size reduction. pypdf fallback for lighter savings without dependencies.

🎯

3 Quality Levels

Low (72 dpi) for email, medium (150 dpi) for everyday, high (300 dpi) for print. Pick what fits.

💻

Terminal-Native

Interactive TUI with fuzzy search. Arrow keys, Enter, done. Also supports non-interactive mode for CI/scripting.

🌐

Chrome Extension

Quick compression right in your browser. Drag, drop, download. 8 languages supported.

🍺

Easy Install

One command with Homebrew. Or grab a binary — no Python, no dependencies, just run it.

Desktop vs. Extension

Both are free. Pick the one that fits your workflow, or use both.

recommended

💻 Desktop CLI

macOS, Linux, Windows
  • 50-90% compression via Ghostscript
  • Interactive TUI with fuzzy file search
  • Batch processing & CI/scripting mode
  • No file size limits
  • Homebrew, binary, or Python install
Download for Free

🌐 Chrome Extension

any OS with Chrome
  • 5-30% browser-based compression
  • Drag and drop interface
  • Up to ~50 MB file size
  • 8 languages built-in
  • Zero install, works instantly
Available in the Chrome Web Store

How It Works

Three steps. No configuration needed.

1

Install

Homebrew, download a binary, or install the Chrome extension. Takes seconds.

2

Pick Quality

Choose low (72 dpi), medium (150 dpi), or high (300 dpi) depending on your needs.

3

Done

Get your compressed PDF. See before/after stats. That's it.

$ pdf-kompakt report.pdf -q medium Compressing with Ghostscript... ✓ Done ────────────────────────────── Before : 11.2 MB After : 1.4 MB Saved : 87.5% (9.8 MB freed)

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers about PDF compression with pdf-kompakt.

Is pdf-kompakt really free?
Yes, 100% free and open-source under the MIT license. No hidden fees, no premium tiers, no ads. The desktop CLI and Chrome extension are both completely free to use.
Is it safe? Where do my files go?
Your files never leave your device. All compression happens locally — nothing is uploaded to any server. There is no cloud processing, no analytics on your documents, and no network requests with your data. It works fully offline.
How much can I compress a PDF?
The desktop CLI with Ghostscript typically achieves 50–90% size reduction, depending on the content. Image-heavy PDFs see the biggest savings. The Chrome extension uses browser-based compression and typically saves 5–30%.
What is Ghostscript and do I need it?
Ghostscript is a free, open-source interpreter for PDF and PostScript files. It powers the desktop CLI's heavy compression. If you install via Homebrew, Ghostscript is included automatically. Without it, the CLI falls back to pypdf for lighter compression.
Which operating systems are supported?
The desktop CLI works on macOS, Linux, and Windows. The Chrome extension works on any OS that runs Chrome or a Chromium-based browser (Edge, Brave, Arc, etc.).
What do the quality levels mean?
Low (72 dpi) gives the smallest file size — great for email attachments and web uploads. Medium (150 dpi) is a balanced default for everyday use. High (300 dpi) preserves the most detail and is ideal for printing.
Do I need an internet connection?
No. Both the desktop CLI and the Chrome extension work entirely offline. Once installed, no internet connection is needed to compress your PDFs.
Can I compress PDF on iPhone or Android?
Yes! Open kompakt.xronocode.com/compress on your phone. It works directly in the browser — no app download needed. You can even add it to your Home Screen for offline use.
Is pdf-kompakt better than online PDF compressors?
Unlike cloud-based tools, pdf-kompakt never uploads your files. Everything happens locally on your device. It's also completely free with no file limits, no signup, and no watermarks — while most online tools charge $7–15/month for premium features.
Does compression reduce PDF quality?
You control the quality level. High (300 dpi) preserves excellent detail for printing. Medium (150 dpi) is great for everyday use. Low (72 dpi) gives maximum compression for email attachments. Text and vector graphics remain sharp at all levels with the desktop CLI.

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