Job portals, graduate schemes and application systems often cap each upload at 200 KB. This page opens the compressor already set to 200 KB and keeps your CV’s text selectable — which applicant tracking systems need — whenever it can.
Last updated: October 22, 2026
| Price | Free |
|---|---|
| Signup | None needed |
| Watermark | None |
| File limits | 50 MB per file, 200 MB per task; target preset to 200 KB (change it any time) |
| Where files are processed | On your device, in the browser — never uploaded |
| Works on phone | Yes — Android and iPhone browsers |
Career sites, government job portals and some graduate schemes limit each attachment, and 200 KB is a common figure for CVs, cover letters and certificates. A normal text CV is usually far below that; the files that go over are CVs with a large photo or logo, CVs exported as images, and scanned certificates or transcripts.
If the portal lists the limit in MB, remember that 0.2 MB is the same as 200 KB here: sizes use 1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes, as upload pages count them.
Applicant tracking systems read the text inside your PDF. A compressor that turns every page into a picture makes a small file the system cannot read. This tool tries Light compression first: it shrinks the images and leaves your text, fonts and links as they are, so the CV stays selectable and searchable.
If Light is not enough and the pages have to become images, the result tells you. For a CV, that is a sign to fix the cause instead — usually an oversized photo — and export the CV again. A CV made with ParaFree’s free CV builder already downloads as a text PDF, typically well under 200 KB.
The usual reasons are a high-resolution profile photo, a decorative background image, a logo pasted in at full size, or a CV that was printed to PDF as an image. Fonts rarely matter. Replacing the photo with a smaller one, or removing it if the country does not expect photos, often takes a CV from megabytes to under 100 KB.
If your CV started as a Word file, convert the .docx to a fresh text PDF rather than compressing a scan or screenshot of it.
Scanned documents are pictures anyway, so turning their pages into images costs nothing: compress them to 200 KB with confidence, then zoom in to check names, grades and stamps are readable. A one-page certificate fits easily; a long transcript may need a larger limit, or uploading just the pages asked for.
Some applications want one file with everything; others want each document separately. For one file, merge the CV, cover letter and certificates in the order requested, then compress the merged PDF. For separate uploads, compress each file on its own — each gets the full 200 KB.
Open the compressed CV, select a line of text to confirm it is still text, and check that links such as your email or LinkedIn still work. Name the file clearly, for example firstname-lastname-cv.pdf. No upload, no waiting — your file is processed on your device.
How do I compress my CV to under 200 KB for a job portal?
Choose the CV here — the target is already 200 KB — and click Compress PDF. Light compression is tried first, so the CV’s text stays selectable for applicant tracking systems.
Will compressing my CV stop applicant tracking systems reading it?
Not with Light compression, which keeps the text layer. If pages have to become images to fit, the result tells you; then shrink the photo in your CV and export it again instead.
My CV is already under 200 KB — should I compress it?
No. If it is under the limit, upload it as it is; the tool also tells you when a file is already small enough.
Can I compress a scanned certificate to 200 KB?
Usually, yes — a one-page scan fits easily. Zoom in afterwards to check that names, grades and stamps are readable.
Is my CV uploaded anywhere?
No. No upload, no waiting — your file is processed on your device.
Can I pick a different limit?
Yes. The target is preset to 200 KB, but you can choose 100 KB, 500 KB, 1 MB, 2 MB or a custom size.