How do I compress a video online for free?

Drag your video onto the upload box (or click to browse), choose a compression mode or a target file size, then press Compress. The tool re-encodes the video locally with FFmpeg and gives you a download link when it finishes. It is completely free, with no sign-up, no watermark and no daily limit.

Is this video compressor really free?

Yes. Compressing videos here is free with no account, no watermark and no artificial file-count cap. The tool is supported by unobtrusive advertising and an optional Pro plan, but the core compression is free forever.

Are my videos uploaded to a server?

No. Compression runs entirely on your device using FFmpeg compiled to WebAssembly. Your file is read in the browser, re-encoded locally, and offered back as a download. Nothing is sent to us or any third party, which makes it private and GDPR-friendly by design.

How can I reduce video file size without losing quality?

Use a CRF-based mode such as Balanced or High Quality. CRF encoding targets a constant perceived quality and only spends the bits each scene needs, so a file can often be halved with no visible difference. Downscaling resolution and switching to an efficient codec like H.265 also shrink files with minimal quality impact.

Can I compress a video to a specific size like 25 MB?

Yes. Switch to “Target file size”, pick a preset such as 25 MB or type a custom value, and the tool calculates the bitrate needed for your clip’s length to land near that size. This is ideal for hitting email (25 MB), WhatsApp (16 MB) or Discord (25 MB) limits.

How do I compress a video for email?

Add the video, choose the Email preset or set a 10 MB target size, and compress. The tool lowers the resolution to around 360–480p and trims the audio bitrate so the result fits comfortably under Gmail’s 25 MB and Outlook’s 20 MB attachment limits.

How do I compress a video for WhatsApp?

Use the WhatsApp preset or set a 16 MB target. It compresses to roughly 480–720p H.264 with lighter audio so the clip sends without WhatsApp’s aggressive re-compression ruining it. Smaller files also send faster on mobile data.

How do I make a video small enough for Discord?

Choose the Discord preset or a 25 MB target size to match the free-tier upload limit (or 50 MB / 500 MB for Nitro). The tool keeps 720p where possible so the clip still looks crisp under the cap.

Which video formats can I compress?

You can compress MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, WEBM, WMV, FLV, MPEG, MPG, M4V, TS, MTS, M2TS, VOB, OGV, 3GP, ASF, F4V, DV and AVCHD. You can keep the original container or output to MP4, MKV, WEBM or MOV.

What output formats are supported?

You can compress to MP4 (the universal default), MKV, WEBM (VP9 + Opus) or MOV, or choose “Keep format” to stay in the source container where possible. MP4 with H.264 is recommended for the widest compatibility.

How much smaller can a video get?

It depends on the source. Phone and drone footage, screen recordings and GoPro clips are often over-bitrate and can shrink 80–90% with no obvious quality loss. Already-compressed web videos have less room — typically 30–60%. The live estimator shows the expected savings before you start.

What is the difference between H.264, H.265 and AV1?

H.264 (AVC) is the most compatible codec and encodes quickly — the recommended default. H.265 (HEVC) makes files roughly 40–50% smaller at the same quality but encodes slower and needs a modern device. AV1 is the most efficient (around 50% smaller) but the slowest to encode and best for web delivery to newer browsers.

Which codec should I use to compress a video?

Use H.264 if you need the file to play everywhere and want fast encoding. Use H.265 or AV1 when shrinking the file matters more than supporting very old hardware — for example for storage or efficient streaming. The Maximum mode picks H.265 automatically.

What is CRF and which value should I use?

CRF (Constant Rate Factor) controls quality for H.264/H.265. Lower numbers mean higher quality and bigger files. CRF 18 is visually lossless, 23–26 is the compression sweet spot, and 30+ is noticeably compressed but tiny. For most sharing, 24–26 gives a big size cut with quality you can barely tell apart.

Will compressing reduce the quality of my video?

Re-encoding always discards some data, but with CRF encoding the loss is usually invisible. Higher-quality modes stay close to the original; Maximum trades a little visible quality for the smallest file. Lossless Optimize re-wraps the streams with zero re-encoding and therefore zero quality loss.

What is lossless video compression?

True lossless re-encoding keeps every pixel but barely shrinks the file. Our Lossless Optimize mode takes a practical approach: it stream-copies the existing video and audio into an optimised container and adds web fast-start, trimming overhead with no visible quality change. It is fastest when the source already matches the target container.

Does compressing remove the watermark or add one?

The tool never adds a watermark to your video. It also cannot remove a watermark that is baked into the footage, since that is part of the picture. Your compressed video looks exactly like the source, just smaller.

Can I compress multiple videos at once?

Yes. Add as many files as you like — or drop a whole folder — and the batch queue compresses them one after another with live progress for each. When everything is done you can download files individually or grab them all as a single ZIP.

Is there a file-size limit?

Because compression happens in your browser, the practical limit is your device’s memory rather than a server cap. Most browsers comfortably handle files up to a couple of gigabytes; for very large 4K videos, use a desktop browser and close other heavy tabs.

How long does compression take?

It depends on the video length, resolution, codec and your device. H.264 at a fast effort is quickest; H.265 and AV1 take longer. A short 1080p clip usually finishes in well under a minute, while long 4K videos can take several minutes. A live progress bar and ETA keep you informed.

Can I change the resolution while compressing?

Yes. In Advanced settings you can downscale to 240p, 360p, 480p, 720p, 1080p, 1440p or 4K, or set a custom width and height. Downscaling is one of the most effective ways to shrink a file and is built into the Maximum mode.

Can I lower the frame rate to save space?

Yes. You can lock the output to 24, 30 or 60 fps, or a custom rate. Dropping a 60 fps screen recording to 30 fps roughly halves the motion data with no impact on slide-based or talking-head content.

Can I trim, crop or rotate while compressing?

Yes. The advanced tools let you trim the start and end, crop to a region, rotate in 90° steps, flip, change playback speed, adjust volume and strip audio — all applied in the same compression pass, so there is no extra quality loss.

Can I compress the audio too?

Yes. You can re-encode audio to AAC, MP3, Opus or AC-3, choose a bitrate from 64–320 kbps, downmix to stereo or mono, change the sample rate, or remove the audio track entirely to save the most space.

How do I compress a 4K video?

Add the 4K file and either downscale it to 1080p (a huge size saving for phone and laptop viewing) or keep 4K and use H.265 with a higher CRF. The Intelligent mode detects very large 4K sources and tunes the settings automatically.

How do I compress a video for YouTube?

Use the YouTube preset (1080p H.264, CRF 21). YouTube re-compresses everything on upload, so a high-quality compressed file uploads faster while still giving YouTube clean source material to work from.

How do I compress a video for a website?

Use the Website preset: 720–1080p H.264 with web fast-start enabled. Fast-start moves the MP4 index to the front so the video begins playing before it finishes downloading, improving page speed and Core Web Vitals.

Does it work on mobile phones?

Yes. The compressor runs in mobile Chrome, Safari and other modern browsers. For long or 4K videos a desktop is faster and less memory-constrained, but short clips compress fine on a phone.

Does it work offline?

After the page and the FFmpeg engine have loaded once, compression itself runs locally and does not need an internet connection for the encoding. The initial ~32 MB engine download requires a connection.

Why is the first compression slower to start?

The first time you compress, the browser downloads and compiles the ~32 MB FFmpeg WebAssembly engine. This happens once per session (and is cached), so subsequent compressions start immediately.

What is bitrate and why does it matter?

Bitrate is how much data the video uses per second, measured in kbps or Mbps. It is the main driver of file size: halve the bitrate and you roughly halve the file. Compression lowers bitrate intelligently — keeping detail where it matters and saving bits on simple scenes.

What is the best video compression setting?

For general use, Balanced mode (H.264, CRF 26) gives a big size cut with quality you can barely tell apart. For the smallest files use Maximum (H.265, downscaled); for creators use High Quality (CRF 21). The Best Settings table on this page lists ideal choices per use-case.

Does compression affect the video resolution?

Only if you choose to downscale. By default the resolution is kept (“Original”) and the file shrinks via bitrate and codec. You can opt to lower the resolution for a bigger size reduction.

Can I compress a video without re-encoding it?

Yes, via Lossless Optimize. When the source already fits the chosen container, the tool stream-copies the streams instead of re-encoding, optimising the container and metadata in seconds with no quality loss. Genuine size reduction, though, requires re-encoding.

How do I compress an MP4 video?

Drop the MP4 in, keep MP4 as the output (or pick another), choose a mode or target size, and compress. MP4-to-MP4 compression re-encodes the video with a more efficient bitrate or codec to make it smaller.

How do I compress a MOV file from my iPhone?

Add the .mov file and compress to MP4 (recommended) or keep MOV. iPhone footage is often high-bitrate HEVC or H.264, so it compresses substantially — the Intelligent mode tunes the settings to the clip automatically.

How do I compress an MKV file?

Upload the .mkv and either keep MKV or output MP4 for wider compatibility. The tool re-encodes the video to your chosen codec and size while keeping the audio you select.

How do I compress an AVI file?

Add the .avi file and compress to MP4 (recommended) or another container. Old AVI files often use inefficient MPEG-4 or DivX, so switching to H.264/H.265 can cut the size significantly.

Can I compress a WebM video?

Yes. You can compress WebM in place (VP9 + Opus) or convert it to MP4 while compressing. Choose WEBM as the output to keep it royalty-free for the open web.

Will the video still play after compression?

Yes. Compressing to MP4 with H.264 produces a file that plays on virtually every device, browser, player and social platform. If you choose an efficient codec like H.265 or AV1, make sure your target device supports it.

Does compression remove metadata?

Re-encoding produces a clean file and drops most non-essential metadata. Lossless Optimize cleans up container metadata while keeping the streams intact. Either way, sensitive metadata is not preserved.

Can I compress a video and keep the audio in sync?

Yes. FFmpeg keeps audio and video synchronised through compression, including when you trim or change speed. Audio/video sync issues from the source are preserved, not introduced.

What is the difference between this and an online cloud compressor?

Cloud compressors upload your video to their servers, queue it, process it remotely and send it back — slower, less private and often watermarked or capped. This tool compresses locally in your browser: nothing is uploaded, there is no queue, no watermark and no file leaves your device.

Is in-browser compression secure?

Yes. Since your video never leaves your device, there is no upload to intercept and nothing stored on a server. It is one of the most private ways to compress a video.

Can I compress a screen recording?

Absolutely — screen recordings are often huge and very compressible. Downscaling to 1080p, dropping to 30 fps and using CRF 26 typically shrinks them 85–90% while keeping text crisp.

How do I compress a video for Instagram or TikTok?

Use the Instagram Reel or TikTok preset (1080p H.264, light CRF). These platforms re-compress uploads, so a lightly-compressed 1080p file uploads faster and survives the platform’s own pass with the most detail intact.

Why did my compressed file get bigger?

This is rare and usually means the source was already heavily compressed and you chose a high-quality setting or upscaled it. The estimator warns you when settings would grow a file — lower the quality, downscale, or pick a more efficient codec to shrink it.

Can I compress a long video, like an hour or more?

Yes, though long high-resolution videos take longer and use more memory. Use a desktop browser, prefer H.264 for speed, and consider downscaling. Target-size mode is great for long videos since it spreads a fixed budget across the whole runtime.

Does compressing a video remove subtitles?

Subtitles muxed as separate tracks are not burned into the picture and are generally dropped on re-encode. Subtitles already burned into the video frames are part of the image and remain.

What does “web fast-start” do?

For MP4 and MOV, fast-start moves the file’s index (the moov atom) to the beginning so the video can start playing before it has fully downloaded. It is recommended for any video destined for a website or streaming.

Video Compressor Free Online – Reduce Video Size Without Losing Quality

Why this is the best free video compressor

Up to 90% smaller

Cut huge videos down to a fraction of their size with modern H.264, H.265, AV1 and VP9 encoding — quality you can barely tell apart.

100% private

Compression runs entirely in your browser with WebAssembly FFmpeg. Your video is never uploaded to a server, so it stays completely private.

Compress to an exact size

Need it under 25 MB for email or 16 MB for WhatsApp? Set a target file size and the encoder calculates the bitrate to hit it.

Five smart modes

Intelligent, Maximum, Balanced, High-Quality and Lossless Optimize — pick a strategy or fine-tune codec, resolution and CRF yourself.

Live size estimator

See the estimated output size, space saved and resulting quality update in real time as you change any setting — before you compress.

No watermark, no sign-up

Free forever, no account, no daily cap and no watermark stamped on your video. Batch-compress as many clips as your device can handle.

Batch + ZIP download

Drop in a folder of clips, compress them in one queue with live progress, then download them individually or all together as a ZIP.

Edit while you compress

Trim, crop, rotate, flip, change speed, adjust volume or strip audio in the same pass — no extra re-encode, no extra quality loss.

What Is Video Compression?

Video compression is the process of reducing a video file’s size while keeping it watchable. A raw video is enormous — thousands of full-resolution images per minute plus audio — so every video you have ever watched is already compressed. Re-compressing simply trades a little visual data you are unlikely to notice for a much smaller, more shareable file.

A modern video compressor works by re-encoding the footage with a smarter or more aggressive codec, a lower bitrate, a smaller resolution, or all three at once. The goal is the best possible quality at the smallest practical size for where the video is going — an email, a chat app, a website, a social feed or long-term storage.

This tool does the whole job inside your browser using FFmpeg compiled to WebAssembly. Nothing is uploaded, there is no watermark and there is no file-count limit imposed by an account — your device does the work, privately.

How Video Compression Works

Four levers control how small a video becomes, and the compressor lets you pull each one — automatically or by hand:

BitrateFewer bits per second = a smaller file. Set a target size or a quality (CRF) level and the encoder allocates bits intelligently.

CodecH.265 and AV1 pack the same quality into roughly half the bits of H.264 — switching codec is a free size win on capable devices.

ResolutionScaling 4K → 1080p or 1080p → 720p removes pixels you may not need and shrinks the file fast.

AudioRe-encoding audio to efficient AAC/Opus, dropping to stereo or muting can shave a meaningful slice off short clips.

Compress Without Losing Visual Quality

The fear with any compressor is a blocky, smeared result. The trick is CRF (Constant Rate Factor) encoding: instead of forcing a fixed bitrate, the encoder targets a constant perceived quality and spends only as many bits as each scene needs. A CRF around 23–26 typically halves a file with no obvious loss; lower values stay closer to the original.

For footage that is already efficiently encoded, the Lossless Optimize mode rewraps the existing streams into an optimised container and adds web fast-start — shrinking overhead and improving streaming with zero re-encoding and therefore zero quality loss.

The live estimator labels the expected quality of every setting (Excellent, Very good, Good, …) so you can push size down with confidence and stop before quality suffers.

Compress a Video to a Target File Size

Sometimes the size matters more than anything else — a 25 MB email cap, a 16 MB WhatsApp limit, a 10 MB forum rule. Switch to Target file size, choose a preset (5, 10, 16, 25, 50, 100 or 250 MB) or type a custom number, and the tool calculates the exact video bitrate needed for your clip’s duration to land near that size.

Because the maths depends on length, a 30-second clip and a 30-minute clip aimed at the same target end up at very different bitrates — the estimator reflects this instantly so you can see whether the quality will still hold up.

Compress a video in 3 steps

Add your video

Drag and drop your video onto the box, or click to browse, paste, upload a whole folder or import from a URL. The tool instantly analyses resolution, duration, codec and bitrate.

Choose how to compress

Pick a compression mode, set a target file size or quality level, or open Advanced to control codec, resolution, frame rate and audio. The live estimator shows the space you will save.

Compress & download

Press Compress. FFmpeg re-encodes the video locally with a live progress bar and ETA, then a Download button (and ZIP for batches) appears the moment it finishes.

The Four Levers of Video Compression

Bitrate reduction

Bitrate is the amount of data used per second of video. Lowering it — directly or via a quality target (CRF) — is the single biggest lever for file size. Modern encoders spend those bits where the eye notices most.

Codec optimisation

Switching to a more efficient codec like H.265 or AV1 can halve the size at the same visual quality versus older H.264 or MPEG-4, because newer codecs compress motion and detail far more cleverly.

Resolution scaling

Downscaling a 4K clip to 1080p, or 1080p to 720p, removes pixels you may not need on a phone screen and shrinks the file dramatically — often the fastest way to a big size cut.

Audio optimisation

Audio can be a surprising share of a small file. Re-encoding to efficient AAC or Opus at 96–128 kbps, downmixing to stereo, or muting silent footage trims more bytes with no visible impact.

H.264 vs H.265 vs AV1 vs VP9

The codec you pick decides how small your video gets at a given quality — and how widely it will play. Here is how the main options compare.

Codec	Efficiency	Encode speed	Compatibility	Best for
H.264 / AVCDEFAULT	Baseline	Fastest	Universal — every device & browser	Safe default, sharing, compatibility
H.265 / HEVC	~40–50% smaller	Slower	Most modern devices	Big size cuts at the same quality
AV1	~50% smaller	Slowest	Newer browsers & devices	Maximum efficiency for the web
VP9	~30–40% smaller	Slower	Chrome, Firefox, Android, WebM	Royalty-free open-web delivery
MPEG-4	Least efficient	Very fast	Legacy hardware	Old players & devices only

For most people, H.264 is the right choice — it plays everywhere and encodes quickly. Reach for H.265 or AV1 when shrinking the file matters more than playing on very old hardware.

Efficiency figures are typical averages at equal visual quality; real results depend on the footage. High-motion video benefits most from newer codecs.

Best Video Compression Settings

The right settings depend on where the video is going. These are proven starting points — the matching presets set them for you in one click.

Use case	Resolution	Codec	Quality / target	Notes
Email attachment	360–480p	H.264	Target 10 MB	Fits under Gmail/Outlook limits with audio at 64–96 kbps.
WhatsApp / Telegram	480–720p	H.264	Target 16 MB	Lands under the 16 MB send cap; stays sharp on phones.
Discord	720p	H.264	Target 25 MB	Matches the free 25 MB upload limit.
YouTube	1080p	H.264	CRF 21 (High)	High quality for re-encoding; YouTube compresses again on upload.
TikTok / Reels	1080p vertical	H.264	CRF 23–24	Light compression keeps detail through the platform’s own pass.
Website / streaming	720–1080p	H.264 / H.265	CRF 24–26 + fast-start	Fast-start lets playback begin before the file finishes loading.
Long-term storage	Original	H.265 / AV1	CRF 26–30 (Maximum)	Most efficient codecs give the biggest archival space savings.

Why Compress Videos?

Save storage space

Compressed videos take far less room on your phone, laptop, SD card or cloud drive — fit more clips in the same space.

Faster uploads

A smaller file uploads to YouTube, Drive or social media in a fraction of the time and is less likely to fail on a weak connection.

Faster downloads & streaming

Viewers download and start playing a lighter video sooner, especially on mobile data — fast-start keeps playback instant.

Fits email attachments

Squeeze a clip under Gmail’s 25 MB or Outlook’s 20 MB limit so you can attach it directly instead of sharing a link.

Send on chat apps

Get videos under WhatsApp’s 16 MB, Discord’s 25 MB and Telegram caps so they actually send instead of being rejected.

Better website performance

Lighter videos improve Core Web Vitals, reduce bandwidth bills and keep pages fast for everyone who visits.

Real-World Compression Savings

Typical results with the Balanced mode. Actual savings vary with the footage — the live estimator shows your file’s exact prediction before you compress.

4K phone clip · 1 min

~350 MB~45 MB

~87% smaller

1080p screen recording · 5 min

~600 MB~70 MB

~88% smaller

1080p drone footage · 2 min

~480 MB~80 MB

~83% smaller

720p webcam · 10 min

~900 MB~120 MB

~87% smaller

GoPro 1080p60 · 3 min

~700 MB~95 MB

~86% smaller

Old AVI movie · 90 min

~1.4 GB~480 MB

~66% smaller

Video Size Limits by Platform

Compress to fit each platform’s upload cap. The one-click presets target these limits automatically.

Platform	Size / length limit	Recommended compression
WhatsApp	16 MB (status), 2 GB (chat)	480–720p H.264, ~16 MB
Email (Gmail)	25 MB	360–480p H.264, ~10 MB
Discord (free)	25 MB	720p H.264, ~25 MB
Telegram	2 GB	720p H.264
X / Twitter	512 MB / 2:20	720p H.264
Instagram	~650 MB / 60 min	1080p H.264, CRF 23
TikTok	~287.6 MB (mobile)	1080p H.264, CRF 24
YouTube	256 GB / 12 hrs	1080p H.264, CRF 21

Supported Video Formats

Compress any of these formats — and keep the container or output to MP4, MKV, WEBM or MOV.

MP4

MOV

MKV

AVI

WEBM

WMV

FLV

MPEG

MPG

M4V

MTS

M2TS

VOB

OGV

3GP

ASF

F4V

AVCHD

Privacy First: No Upload, No Tracking

Unlike cloud compressors that send your video to a remote server, this tool processes everything locally. Your footage stays yours.

No uploadYour video is read straight from disk into the browser and compressed there. It never travels to a server.

No accountNo sign-up, no email, no login wall. Open the page and compress immediately.

Nothing storedFiles live only in your tab’s memory and are gone the moment you close or refresh it.

GDPR-friendlyBecause no personal data or footage leaves your device, the tool is private by design.

How the Compression Technology Works

FFmpeg in your browser

The compressor runs FFmpeg — the same engine behind YouTube, VLC and most professional video pipelines — compiled to WebAssembly so it executes natively inside your browser tab. Every compression is a genuine, full-quality transcode, not a preview or a fake progress bar.

Multi-threaded encoding

On browsers that support SharedArrayBuffer and cross-origin isolation, the tool loads a multi-threaded FFmpeg core and encodes across several CPU cores at once, dramatically speeding up large H.265 and AV1 jobs. Where that is unavailable it falls back automatically to a reliable single-thread core.

Smart stream-copy

When you choose Lossless Optimize and the source already fits the target container, the tool stream-copies the existing video and audio instead of re-encoding them. That finishes in seconds with zero quality loss — only the container and metadata are optimised.

Honest, live estimates

The size and space-saved figures come from a real bitrate model based on your settings and the clip’s metadata. They are clearly labelled estimates because the true size depends on scene complexity and motion — but they track closely so you can plan with confidence.

Pro Tips for Compressing Video

1Start with BalancedIt halves most files with quality you cannot tell apart. Only reach for Maximum when a hard size limit demands it.

2Downscale before you drop bitrateGoing 4K → 1080p often saves more than crushing the bitrate, and looks better on phones and laptops.

3Use H.265 for storageFor archiving where playback speed is not urgent, H.265 or AV1 gives the biggest space savings at the same quality.

4Match the resolution to the screenThere is no point keeping 4K for a video that will only be watched on a phone — 1080p or 720p is plenty.

5Lower the frame rate for screen recordingsSlides and demos look fine at 24–30 fps; dropping from 60 fps roughly halves the motion data.

6Cut dead air with TrimRemoving intros, outros and pauses shrinks the file and tightens the video at the same time.

7Drop to stereo or muteSurround audio is wasted on a chat clip; stereo at 96–128 kbps, or muting silent footage, saves bytes.

8Keep web fast-start onFor MP4/MOV destined for a website, fast-start lets the video begin playing before it fully downloads.

9Batch similar clips togetherApply one setting to a whole folder and download the results as a single ZIP.

10Trust the estimatorWatch the live size and quality readout while you tune — stop the moment quality dips below what you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

A video compressor is a tool that reduces the file size of a video while keeping it watchable. It re-encodes the footage with a more efficient codec, a lower bitrate or a smaller resolution so the result takes up far less space and is much easier to email, message, upload or store. This compressor does all of that inside your browser, so your video is never uploaded.

Troubleshooting Guide

Why this is the best free video compressor

Up to 90% smaller

Cut huge videos down to a fraction of their size with modern H.264, H.265, AV1 and VP9 encoding — quality you can barely tell apart.

100% private

Compression runs entirely in your browser with WebAssembly FFmpeg. Your video is never uploaded to a server, so it stays completely private.

Compress to an exact size

Need it under 25 MB for email or 16 MB for WhatsApp? Set a target file size and the encoder calculates the bitrate to hit it.

Five smart modes

Intelligent, Maximum, Balanced, High-Quality and Lossless Optimize — pick a strategy or fine-tune codec, resolution and CRF yourself.

Live size estimator

See the estimated output size, space saved and resulting quality update in real time as you change any setting — before you compress.

No watermark, no sign-up

Free forever, no account, no daily cap and no watermark stamped on your video. Batch-compress as many clips as your device can handle.

Batch + ZIP download

Drop in a folder of clips, compress them in one queue with live progress, then download them individually or all together as a ZIP.

Edit while you compress

Trim, crop, rotate, flip, change speed, adjust volume or strip audio in the same pass — no extra re-encode, no extra quality loss.

What Is Video Compression?

How Video Compression Works

Four levers control how small a video becomes, and the compressor lets you pull each one — automatically or by hand:

BitrateFewer bits per second = a smaller file. Set a target size or a quality (CRF) level and the encoder allocates bits intelligently.

CodecH.265 and AV1 pack the same quality into roughly half the bits of H.264 — switching codec is a free size win on capable devices.

ResolutionScaling 4K → 1080p or 1080p → 720p removes pixels you may not need and shrinks the file fast.

AudioRe-encoding audio to efficient AAC/Opus, dropping to stereo or muting can shave a meaningful slice off short clips.

Compress Without Losing Visual Quality

The live estimator labels the expected quality of every setting (Excellent, Very good, Good, …) so you can push size down with confidence and stop before quality suffers.

Compress a Video to a Target File Size

Compress a video in 3 steps

Add your video

Drag and drop your video onto the box, or click to browse, paste, upload a whole folder or import from a URL. The tool instantly analyses resolution, duration, codec and bitrate.

Choose how to compress

Pick a compression mode, set a target file size or quality level, or open Advanced to control codec, resolution, frame rate and audio. The live estimator shows the space you will save.

Compress & download

Press Compress. FFmpeg re-encodes the video locally with a live progress bar and ETA, then a Download button (and ZIP for batches) appears the moment it finishes.

The Four Levers of Video Compression

Bitrate reduction

Codec optimisation

Switching to a more efficient codec like H.265 or AV1 can halve the size at the same visual quality versus older H.264 or MPEG-4, because newer codecs compress motion and detail far more cleverly.

Resolution scaling

Downscaling a 4K clip to 1080p, or 1080p to 720p, removes pixels you may not need on a phone screen and shrinks the file dramatically — often the fastest way to a big size cut.

Audio optimisation

Audio can be a surprising share of a small file. Re-encoding to efficient AAC or Opus at 96–128 kbps, downmixing to stereo, or muting silent footage trims more bytes with no visible impact.

H.264 vs H.265 vs AV1 vs VP9

The codec you pick decides how small your video gets at a given quality — and how widely it will play. Here is how the main options compare.

Codec	Efficiency	Encode speed	Compatibility	Best for
H.264 / AVCDEFAULT	Baseline	Fastest	Universal — every device & browser	Safe default, sharing, compatibility
H.265 / HEVC	~40–50% smaller	Slower	Most modern devices	Big size cuts at the same quality
AV1	~50% smaller	Slowest	Newer browsers & devices	Maximum efficiency for the web
VP9	~30–40% smaller	Slower	Chrome, Firefox, Android, WebM	Royalty-free open-web delivery
MPEG-4	Least efficient	Very fast	Legacy hardware	Old players & devices only

For most people, H.264 is the right choice — it plays everywhere and encodes quickly. Reach for H.265 or AV1 when shrinking the file matters more than playing on very old hardware.

Efficiency figures are typical averages at equal visual quality; real results depend on the footage. High-motion video benefits most from newer codecs.

Best Video Compression Settings

The right settings depend on where the video is going. These are proven starting points — the matching presets set them for you in one click.

Use case	Resolution	Codec	Quality / target	Notes
Email attachment	360–480p	H.264	Target 10 MB	Fits under Gmail/Outlook limits with audio at 64–96 kbps.
WhatsApp / Telegram	480–720p	H.264	Target 16 MB	Lands under the 16 MB send cap; stays sharp on phones.
Discord	720p	H.264	Target 25 MB	Matches the free 25 MB upload limit.
YouTube	1080p	H.264	CRF 21 (High)	High quality for re-encoding; YouTube compresses again on upload.
TikTok / Reels	1080p vertical	H.264	CRF 23–24	Light compression keeps detail through the platform’s own pass.
Website / streaming	720–1080p	H.264 / H.265	CRF 24–26 + fast-start	Fast-start lets playback begin before the file finishes loading.
Long-term storage	Original	H.265 / AV1	CRF 26–30 (Maximum)	Most efficient codecs give the biggest archival space savings.

Why Compress Videos?

Save storage space

Compressed videos take far less room on your phone, laptop, SD card or cloud drive — fit more clips in the same space.

Faster uploads

A smaller file uploads to YouTube, Drive or social media in a fraction of the time and is less likely to fail on a weak connection.

Faster downloads & streaming

Viewers download and start playing a lighter video sooner, especially on mobile data — fast-start keeps playback instant.

Fits email attachments

Squeeze a clip under Gmail’s 25 MB or Outlook’s 20 MB limit so you can attach it directly instead of sharing a link.

Send on chat apps

Get videos under WhatsApp’s 16 MB, Discord’s 25 MB and Telegram caps so they actually send instead of being rejected.

Better website performance

Lighter videos improve Core Web Vitals, reduce bandwidth bills and keep pages fast for everyone who visits.

Real-World Compression Savings

Typical results with the Balanced mode. Actual savings vary with the footage — the live estimator shows your file’s exact prediction before you compress.

4K phone clip · 1 min

~350 MB~45 MB

~87% smaller

1080p screen recording · 5 min

~600 MB~70 MB

~88% smaller

1080p drone footage · 2 min

~480 MB~80 MB

~83% smaller

720p webcam · 10 min

~900 MB~120 MB

~87% smaller

GoPro 1080p60 · 3 min

~700 MB~95 MB

~86% smaller

Old AVI movie · 90 min

~1.4 GB~480 MB

~66% smaller

Video Size Limits by Platform

Compress to fit each platform’s upload cap. The one-click presets target these limits automatically.

Platform	Size / length limit	Recommended compression
WhatsApp	16 MB (status), 2 GB (chat)	480–720p H.264, ~16 MB
Email (Gmail)	25 MB	360–480p H.264, ~10 MB
Discord (free)	25 MB	720p H.264, ~25 MB
Telegram	2 GB	720p H.264
X / Twitter	512 MB / 2:20	720p H.264
Instagram	~650 MB / 60 min	1080p H.264, CRF 23
TikTok	~287.6 MB (mobile)	1080p H.264, CRF 24
YouTube	256 GB / 12 hrs	1080p H.264, CRF 21