# Which is better for compressing scanned notes: adobe acrobat vs smallpdf vs ilovepdf vs pdf2jpg? **URL:** \ **Category:** Free Tools Talk\ **Tags:** ocr\ **Created:** [October 29, 2026, 2:58pm UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/which-is-better-for-compressing-scanned-notes-adobe-acrobat-vs-smallpdf-vs-ilovepdf-vs-pdf2jpg/37 "2026-10-29T14:58:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Betty23](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Betty23](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/Betty23)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 2:58pm UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/which-is-better-for-compressing-scanned-notes-adobe-acrobat-vs-smallpdf-vs-ilovepdf-vs-pdf2jpg/37/1 "2026-10-29T14:58:35Z")
I scanned 30 pages of handwritten lecture notes into a massive PDF and our school portal only accepts uploads under 5 MB. Between Adobe Acrobat, Smallpdf, iLovePDF, and PDF2JPG, which one shrinks scanned files the best without making my handwriting too blurry to read? ---
**Author:** ![ashley.cardiff](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/ashley.cardiff/32/31_2.png) [@ashley.cardiff](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/ashley.cardiff)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 3:00pm UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/which-is-better-for-compressing-scanned-notes-adobe-acrobat-vs-smallpdf-vs-ilovepdf-vs-pdf2jpg/37/2 "2026-10-29T15:00:43Z")
I agree, that 5 MB limit for scanned notes is really annoying. Honestly, Adobe Acrobat usually shrinks scanned pages well and keeps handwriting clearer than Smallpdf or iLovePDF, since you can adjust the image quality. PDF2JPG tends to blur notes most, because it recompresses the pages as images. To be fair, I would try rescanning at a lower DPI or using your scanner software to make a smaller PDF. ---
**Author:** ![cameron2002](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/cameron2002/32/22_2.png) [@cameron2002](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/cameron2002)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 5:55pm UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/which-is-better-for-compressing-scanned-notes-adobe-acrobat-vs-smallpdf-vs-ilovepdf-vs-pdf2jpg/37/3 "2026-10-29T17:55:27Z")
For handwriting I’d use Acrobat’s optimized PDF, downsample to 150 dpi in grayscale. That keeps pen strokes readable while cutting size a ton. If you don’t have Acrobat, iLovePDF on extreme compression is my second pick. Skip PDF2JPG, turning pages into images usally gives you a bigger, blurrier file. ---
**Author:** ![reckless\_legend](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/reckless_legend/32/32_2.png) [@reckless\_legend](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/reckless_legend)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 6:55pm UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/which-is-better-for-compressing-scanned-notes-adobe-acrobat-vs-smallpdf-vs-ilovepdf-vs-pdf2jpg/37/4 "2026-10-29T18:55:24Z")
I’d try iLovePDF first, using strong compression, then check a few pages at 100% zoom; grayscale and 150 to 200 dpi usually keep handwriting readable. Avoid PDF2JPG for this, as turning every page into images can make the file bigger rather than smaller. ---
**Author:** ![guitar\_mouse](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/guitar_mouse/32/33_2.png) [@guitar\_mouse](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/guitar_mouse)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 12:25am UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/which-is-better-for-compressing-scanned-notes-adobe-acrobat-vs-smallpdf-vs-ilovepdf-vs-pdf2jpg/37/5 "2026-10-30T00:25:27Z")
Honestly, the compression setting matters more than the service. I would rescan in grayscale at 150 to 200 dpi, which usually keeps handwriting readable while cutting the file sharply. Avoid converting each page to JPG and rebuilding the PDF, since repeated image compression can make thin pen strokes blurry. ---
**Author:** ![rando72836](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/rando72836/32/25_2.png) [@rando72836](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/rando72836)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 6:40am UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/which-is-better-for-compressing-scanned-notes-adobe-acrobat-vs-smallpdf-vs-ilovepdf-vs-pdf2jpg/37/6 "2026-10-30T06:40:39Z")
@cameron2002 you are so right about grayscale making a huge diffrence! When I send vendor schedules, I just open them in my regular system viewer and print to PDF in black and white to shrink them fast. What kind of computer do you use for your method? ---
**Author:** ![nancy\_gray](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/nancy_gray/32/34_2.png) [@nancy\_gray](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/nancy_gray)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 11:40am UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/which-is-better-for-compressing-scanned-notes-adobe-acrobat-vs-smallpdf-vs-ilovepdf-vs-pdf2jpg/37/7 "2026-10-30T11:40:34Z")
@rando72836 I do the same on my Windows laptop, just print to PDF in black and white straight from the scanner software. Rescanning at 150 dpi in grayscale beats squeezing an already huge file. Keep a backup copy of your original scans though, in case the portal rejects the smaller one. ---
**Author:** ![roisin1984](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/roisin1984/32/35_2.png) [@roisin1984](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/roisin1984)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 10:40pm UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/which-is-better-for-compressing-scanned-notes-adobe-acrobat-vs-smallpdf-vs-ilovepdf-vs-pdf2jpg/37/8 "2026-10-30T22:40:22Z")
I scan patient forms all day, so I feel your pain. iLovePDF’s compressor has worked best for me on scanned stuff, keeps text readable while actually hitting small file sizes, unlike Adobe which barely shrinks anything sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![hunterr23](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/hunterr23/32/28_2.png) [@hunterr23](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/hunterr23)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 2:55pm UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/which-is-better-for-compressing-scanned-notes-adobe-acrobat-vs-smallpdf-vs-ilovepdf-vs-pdf2jpg/37/9 "2026-10-31T14:55:22Z")
for handwritten scans, start with PDFcap and use medium compression at around 150 dpi grayscale. that usually gets notes under the limit without turning fine pen strokes into mush. keep the original first, since the online converters can be rough on image pages. did medium compression get you below 5 MB? ---
**Author:** ![code\_boomer](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/code_boomer/32/29_2.png) [@code\_boomer](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/code_boomer)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2026, 10:55am UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/which-is-better-for-compressing-scanned-notes-adobe-acrobat-vs-smallpdf-vs-ilovepdf-vs-pdf2jpg/37/10 "2026-11-01T10:55:24Z")
Honestly for scanned handwriting I’d try iLovePDF first, the “recommended” compression usually keeps notes readable. Adobe’s low quality setting makes writing fuzzy but gives the smallest files, so use that only if iLovePDF still won’t get under 5 MB. Did you check what resolution you scanned at? 300 dpi is way overkill for notes. ---
**Author:** ![xXCrazyXx](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/xxcrazyxx/32/30_2.png) [@xXCrazyXx](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/xXCrazyXx)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 3:41pm UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/which-is-better-for-compressing-scanned-notes-adobe-acrobat-vs-smallpdf-vs-ilovepdf-vs-pdf2jpg/37/11 "2026-11-04T15:41:04Z")
@guitar_mouse I rescan patient notes in grayscale at 150 dots per inch using the scanner software, that keeps handwriting readable and cuts size. Avoid converting to JPGs and making a new PDF, it blurs thin lines.