How to compress a pdf file on mac without losing quality

If you're wondering how to compress a PDF file on Mac, you might think that zipping it is the simplest answer. It's true that you can right-click any PDF and choose "Compress [filename].pdf" to create a ZIP archive, and this will definitely create a smaller package for sharing or emailing.

ZIP archiving does have its uses. It's great for bundling multiple PDFs together into one file, and it can make file transfers more convenient by reducing the number of items you're sending. It's also a native macOS feature that requires no extra software, so it's completely free and simple to use.

So, if you need to combine files or just want to package things up neatly, ZIP is perfect. But if your goal is to significantly reduce a PDF's file size, you're better off using Preview's "Reduce File Size" filter or Automator's Quartz Filters, which actually re-encode the images and content inside the PDF. ZIP archiving is quick and free, but as a method for how to compress a PDF file on Mac, it's more of a packaging tool than a true compression solution.