Optimize PDF Tools

Improve a PDF before delivery by reducing file size, fixing damaged files, making scans searchable and locking final page content.

Use this hub when the PDF already exists but needs to be smaller, cleaner, more reliable or easier to review. These tools sit between creation and final sharing: they help reduce upload failures, repair broken documents, prepare scanned files for search and keep finished forms or annotations stable.

Choose the right optimize PDF tool

Compress PDF Reduce the file size of your PDF online.

Repair PDF Repair a damaged PDF and recover data from a corrupt file.

OCR PDF Turn scanned PDFs into searchable, selectable text

Compare PDF Upload two PDFs and instantly highlight every difference between them

Flatten PDF Flatten a PDF so form fields, annotations, and layers become permanent page content.

PDF to PDF/A Convert your PDF to PDF/A for long-term archiving.

Summarize PDF AI summarizes a long PDF into key points

PDF to Text Extract all the text from a PDF into a plain TXT file for free.

PDF Accessibility Checker Check a PDF for common accessibility problems and get a plain report with fixes.

PDF/A Checker Pre-check a PDF against common PDF/A requirements and see what to fix.

Compare the options

Tool	Best when	Use next
Compress PDF	Reduce the file size of your PDF online.	Resize PDF, Merge PDF
Repair PDF	Repair a damaged PDF and recover data from a corrupt file.	Compress PDF, Merge PDF
OCR PDF	Turn scanned PDFs into searchable, selectable text	Scan to PDF, Scan to PDF/A
Compare PDF	Upload two PDFs and instantly highlight every difference between them	Merge PDF, Edit PDF
Flatten PDF	Flatten a PDF so form fields, annotations, and layers become permanent page content.	Create & Fill PDF Forms, eSign PDF
PDF to PDF/A	Convert your PDF to PDF/A for long-term archiving.	PDF/A Checker, Compress PDF
Summarize PDF	AI summarizes a long PDF into key points	Chat with PDF, Translate PDF
PDF to Text	Extract all the text from a PDF into a plain TXT file for free.	PDF to Word, OCR PDF

What to consider before choosing

Reduce size before email or upload

Use Compress PDF when a file is too large for email, portals or form uploads, and Resize PDF when the page dimensions themselves are wrong - for example an oversized scan that should print on A4 or Letter. Compress after merge, organize or signing so the final delivered file is the one being reduced. If the target is an inbox, see how to compress for an email attachment under 25 MB.

Compress PDF Resize PDF Merge PDF

Fix or prepare difficult PDFs

Use Repair PDF when a file will not open correctly, PDF to PDF/A when it needs an archive-ready format, and OCR PDF when a scan should become searchable. When repair fails, the guide to repairing vs re-converting a corrupted PDF explains when to fix the file and when to export it again.

Repair PDF PDF to PDF/A OCR PDF

Finalize review and form output

Use Compare PDF before approving changes, Flatten PDF when forms or annotations should become permanent, and Summarize PDF when a long document needs quick review.

Compare PDF Flatten PDF Summarize PDF

Check a PDF before you publish or archive it

Use the PDF Accessibility Checker before posting a document for the public, and the PDF/A Checker before sending a file to an archive, court or records system. Both only read the file and give you a report of what failed and how to fix it. They are automated pre-checks: reading order, alt-text quality and color contrast still need a person, and formal PDF/A validation needs veraPDF. The PDF accessibility checklist for ADA and WCAG covers the manual steps.

PDF Accessibility Checker PDF/A Checker PDF to PDF/A

Quality checks before you download

Check visual quality after compression, especially on image-heavy reports and scanned PDFs.
Repair a damaged document before trying to compress, convert, sign or protect it.
Flatten only after signatures, form fields and comments are final because the output is meant for delivery.

Best workflow

Repair first if the file has errors, missing pages or trouble opening.
Run OCR when the PDF is scanned or image-only and you need searchable text.
Compare, flatten and compress near the end so the final document is stable and easy to send.

Common use cases

Shrink a PDF that is too large for email or upload limits.
Repair a file before converting, merging or signing it.
Make scanned PDFs searchable before AI review or text extraction.
Compare two versions before approving or publishing a document.

Specialized tools in this workflow

These focused tools solve narrower jobs that often sit between larger PDF workflows.

Flatten PDF Compare PDF Summarize PDF PDF Accessibility Checker PDF/A Checker

Related PDF guides

PDF/A-1 vs PDF/A-2 vs PDF/A-3 Choose the archival profile that matches the receiving organisation instead of assuming the newest level is always accepted.

What Does Free OCR Do to a Scanned PDF? Learn what OCR changes in a scan, what stays visible, the free guest and account limits, and when the PDFBEAR badge appears.

How to Validate a PDF/A File Before Submission Use a repeatable convert-check-review workflow before an archive or filing portal receives the document.

Accessible PDF Forms: Labels, Instructions and Error Messages Make interactive PDF fields understandable to keyboard and screen-reader users.

How to Check PDF Reading Order Before Release Review multi-column pages, sidebars and captions in the order assistive technology will announce them.

How to Fix a PDF Missing Its Title and Language Fix two small metadata omissions that create disproportionately confusing screen-reader experiences.

Why Screen Readers Skip Text in Some PDFs Diagnose image-only scans, broken reading order and untagged content that screen readers cannot interpret correctly.

PDF/UA vs WCAG: What Each Standard Checks Understand how PDF/UA and WCAG overlap and why a conformance label does not replace user testing.

Convert to PDF Convert from PDF PDF to OpenDocument Organize PDF Edit PDF PDF Security AI PDF Tools

Common questions

Should I compress before or after editing a PDF?

Compress after editing, organizing, signing or flattening so the final version is the one reduced for delivery.

What is the difference between OCR and PDF repair?

OCR adds searchable text to scanned pages. Repair PDF tries to recover a damaged file structure when the PDF will not open or process correctly.

Does a clean result from the PDF checkers mean my file is compliant?

No. The PDF Accessibility Checker and PDF/A Checker run automated checks and tell you what they found. Accessibility still needs a human review of reading order, alt text and contrast, and PDF/A conformance is proven with a validator such as veraPDF.