Compress Video

How to compress a video

1. Choose a video file, or drop one onto the box.
2. Pick a compression level.
3. Optionally downscale the resolution.
4. Press Compress video, then download the smaller file.

Making a video file smaller

As a video compressor this tool re-encodes your video with H.264 at a quality level you choose, which is the usual way to reduce video size and make a video smaller. It is the straightforward way to shrink video file sizes or compress mp4 clips that are just over a limit. Lower quality means a smaller file. It also offers a downscale to 720p or 480p width, which often saves more than quality alone, because resolution has a large effect on how much data a video needs. The result is an MP4 that plays more or less anywhere.

Quality or resolution

If a file is only slightly too big, a light or balanced compression level usually does it without a visible drop. If it needs to be much smaller, downscaling helps more: a 4K clip shrunk to 720p loses a lot of pixels you may not need for sharing or email. Combining a stronger level with a downscale gives the smallest file. Try balanced first and go further only if you must.

When a file barely shrinks

Not every video compresses well. If your file is already efficiently encoded, for example a clip straight off a modern phone or one that has been compressed before, there may be little left to remove, and the output can even come out slightly larger. The tool shows the before and after sizes plainly, including when the file did not get smaller, so you are not misled. In that case try a stronger level or a lower resolution.

Speed and privacy

The compression runs on your own device, so nothing is uploaded and there is no size limit. That also means it is slower than a server-based service: a short clip is quick, a long or high-resolution video can take several minutes and use a lot of memory. The first use downloads a converter of about 31 MB, once, which your browser then caches.

FAQ

How do I make a video file smaller?

Choose the file, pick a compression level, and optionally downscale it. The tool re-encodes it with H.264 and shows how much smaller the result is.

How much smaller will my video get?

It depends on the source. A large, lightly compressed video can shrink dramatically, while an already-compressed clip may barely change. The tool reports the actual saving either way.

Does compressing lose quality?

Yes, some. H.264 is lossy, so a stronger level trades visible quality for size. The balanced level is chosen to keep the loss hard to notice for everyday use.

Why did my file get bigger?

Because it was already well compressed, so re-encoding added overhead rather than removing data. Try a stronger compression level or a lower resolution instead.

Is my video uploaded?

No. Everything happens in your browser and the file never leaves your device.