Use case
Invoice PDF compressor
Accounting software often caps attachment sizes at 5-10MB, and scanned invoice PDFs routinely blow past that. Compressing without destroying the text layer is the requirement — your bookkeeping OCR still needs to read the numbers.
PennyPDF's compressor keeps the text layer intact through all three presets. The Low preset shrinks file size via font subsetting and cleanup — imperceptible quality change, 20-40% size reduction. Strong preset aggressively downsamples images — noticeable quality change but still fine for OCR.
For invoices with photos of physical receipts, the Medium preset is the sweet spot: ~70% size reduction, OCR accuracy unchanged, visual quality good enough to manually verify line items.
How it works
- 1Upload each invoice at /compress.
- 2Start with Low preset.
- 3If still too large, bump to Medium or Strong.
- 4Download and attach to your accounting tool.
Frequently asked
Will QuickBooks OCR still read my compressed invoice?+
Yes — the text layer is preserved at all three presets. Compress Low or Medium for safety; Strong is fine too if the original had good contrast.
Bulk invoice compression?+
Coming in Phase 7 via the public API. For now, compress one at a time or ZIP and use the upcoming bulk endpoint.
Typical cost for a month of invoices?+
30 invoices × 1 coin = 30 coins. Starter pack ($2.99, 50 coins) covers a month with 20 coins to spare.
Does compressing preserve metadata required by tax auditors?+
Yes — PDF metadata (creation date, author, etc.) is preserved by compression. If you need to strip metadata for GDPR reasons, use /remove-metadata separately.
What about signed / certified invoices?+
Digital signatures invalidate on any modification. Compress BEFORE signing, or keep two copies (compressed for storage, signed for legal).
Why PennyPDF
- No subscription. Ever.
- Coins never expire — use them in 5 years.
- Client-side processing for 14 of 22 tools.
- No watermarks at any tier.
- Per-operation pricing, shown before you click.
- Same coins for web + public API.