Is PDFWix really free?

Yes. Every tool on PDFWix is free to use with no daily task limits and no watermarks added to your files. We may charge for high-volume API usage in the future, but the web tools stay free.

Do I need to create an account?

No. Every tool works without signing in. An optional free account just keeps a history of your conversions (filename and tool only — never your files) and unlocks the developer API.

Do you store my files?

Most tools (merge, split, rotate, watermark, edit, JPG↔PDF, etc.) run entirely in your browser — your file never reaches our server. The two tools that need server processing (Protect PDF, Unlock PDF) process your file in memory and never write it to disk.

What's the maximum file size?

Browser-side tools handle PDFs as large as your device's RAM allows — roughly 100 MB on a typical laptop, less on phones. Server-side tools (Protect, Unlock) accept files up to about 25 MB per request.

Do you add watermarks to my PDFs?

No. PDFWix never adds a watermark, footer, or branding to anything you create. The output is exactly what you asked for, nothing else.

Does PDFWix work on iPhone, Android, and Chromebook?

Yes. PDFWix is a web app — it runs in any modern browser on any device. There's nothing to install. You can also add it to your home screen on iOS or Android for a one-tap launcher.

How is PDFWix different from iLovePDF or Smallpdf?

Three differences: most PDFWix tools run inside your browser (your file never leaves the device), there are no daily task caps on the free tier, and we never put a watermark on your output. As of June 2026, PDFWix has 24 live tools across merge, split, compress, sign, redact, and convert with no daily task limit and no file upload for 22 of them.

Is PDFWix safe for confidential documents?

For browser-side tools, yes — your file is processed locally and never transmitted anywhere. For the two server-side tools (Protect, Unlock), files travel over HTTPS and are processed in memory only. We never read, scan, or train AI on your documents.

Can I use PDFWix for commercial work?

Yes. There's no license restriction on what you produce with PDFWix. Use it for client work, internal documents, contracts, anything. The developer API is available if you need to embed PDF processing into your own product.

What happens if a tool fails or I find a bug?

Email support@pdfwix.com or use the "Report an issue" link in the footer. We read every message and ship fixes quickly.

Which PDF tools run entirely in my browser?

Twenty-two of the 24 PDFWix tools run entirely in your browser using WebAssembly — your file never leaves your device. The two exceptions are Protect PDF and Unlock PDF, which require server processing but handle your file in memory only and never write it to disk.

Is there a file size limit?

Browser-based tools handle files up to the available RAM on your device — typically 500MB or more on modern computers. Server-side tools (Protect, Unlock) currently support files up to 100MB.

Does PDFWix work on iPhone and Android?

Yes. All 24 PDFWix tools are fully optimised for mobile browsers. No app install required — open pdfwix.com in Safari on iPhone or Chrome on Android and every tool works exactly the same as on desktop.

How to Compress a PDF to Under 5MB Free

Reduce PDF to under 5MB free for WhatsApp Business and Telegram. Browser-based — your file never leaves your device. No signup, no watermark, instant result.

compress 4 min read · Updated June 2026

Open PDFWix Compress PDF and select Recommended compression. Most PDFs reduce to under 5MB in seconds. Processing happens entirely in your browser — your file never leaves your device. No signup, no daily limit, no watermark.

Why 5MB matters for WhatsApp and Telegram

WhatsApp allows PDF file sharing up to 100MB on personal accounts and up to 2GB on WhatsApp Business for documents shared in chats. However, many users report that PDFs above 5MB take significantly longer to send and receive on mobile data. The practical sweet spot for fast WhatsApp PDF sharing is under 5MB. Telegram has a 2GB file limit but previews PDFs inline only when they are under 5MB — larger files appear as a plain download icon with no preview.

Beyond messaging apps, the 5MB threshold applies to LinkedIn profile attachments, many government tender document portals, and professional association submission systems.

How to compress PDF to under 5MB

Open PDFWix Compress PDF.
Upload your PDF — stays in your browser entirely.
Choose Recommended compression. This is almost always sufficient for the 5MB target unless the PDF contains dozens of high-resolution photographs.
Download the result. Check the file size before sending.

Compressing PDFs for WhatsApp sharing

For WhatsApp specifically, compressing to under 5MB ensures the PDF sends quickly and previews inline in the chat thread. For very large documents (100+ pages), consider using PDFWix Split PDF to break the document into sections before compressing and sharing each part. See also our guide to compressing PDFs for social platforms.

Use the free PDFWix tool:

Compress PDF Free →

Frequently asked questions

What is WhatsApp's PDF size limit?: WhatsApp personal accounts support document sharing up to 100MB. WhatsApp Business allows up to 2GB. However, for practical fast sharing on mobile networks, keeping PDFs under 5MB is recommended for quick delivery and inline preview.
Why do large PDFs fail to send on WhatsApp?: WhatsApp has no hard 5MB limit for PDFs, but files over 16MB are restricted on some older Android versions. The real issue is mobile data speed — a 50MB PDF may time out on slow connections. Compressing to under 5MB ensures reliable delivery on any connection speed.
Does Telegram preview PDFs inline?: Yes, but only for PDFs under approximately 5MB. Larger PDFs appear as a file download icon in the chat without a preview thumbnail. Compressing to under 5MB enables the built-in Telegram PDF viewer for your recipients.

Sources:

WhatsApp file sharing FAQ