Video Compressor
Reduce video file size with compression presets, resolution control, and optional two-pass encoding.
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MP4, WebM, MKV, AVI, MOV and more. Max 500MB.
Compression Presets
| Preset | CRF | Size Reduction | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | 23 | ~30% | Nearly lossless |
| Medium | 28 | ~50% | Good quality |
| Heavy | 33 | ~70% | Noticeable loss |
Compression Target by Destination
Different platforms have hard upload limits and different quality expectations. Pick the preset that hits the limit without over-compressing.
| Destination | Upload limit | Recommended preset | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp (mobile) | 16 MB | Heavy + 480p | Most aggressive — WhatsApp also re-compresses on send. Aim for 8-12 MB output. |
| Email attachment (Gmail) | 25 MB | Medium + 720p | For larger files, Gmail auto-uploads to Drive; better to share Drive link. |
| Instagram Reel | 100 MB | Medium + 1080p (9:16) | Vertical only. IG re-encodes — start with H.264, AAC audio for least quality loss. |
| YouTube (upload) | 256 GB / 12 hrs | Light + native res | YouTube re-encodes regardless — upload best quality you have, YT does compression. |
| LinkedIn post | 5 GB / 10 min | Medium + 1080p | Quality matters here for professional reach. Don't over-compress. |
| Slack file share | 1 GB | Medium + 720p | For team review uploads. Light preset for client deliverables. |
| Twitter / X video | 512 MB / 2:20 | Medium + 720p | Hard 2:20 limit. Crop in Video Trimmer first if longer. |
| Google Drive / share link | 5 TB | Light + native res | No size pressure. Light preset reduces storage cost ~30% while staying near-lossless. |
What Most Video Compressors Don't Tell You
Each compression is one-way
Re-compressing already-compressed video stacks artifacts — every pass loses quality. If you'll share a video across multiple platforms, keep the original and compress fresh for each destination, never recompress an already-compressed copy.
Resolution downscale >> bitrate cut
Going from 4K → 1080p cuts file size ~75% while looking nearly identical on phone/laptop. Going from 1080p at CRF 23 → CRF 30 saves ~50% but introduces visible blocky artifacts. Always try downscale first.
Two-pass is for size-targeted output
Two-pass shines when you have a fixed file-size target (e.g. exactly 8 MB for WhatsApp). For quality-targeted output (CRF), single-pass with x264's default settings is nearly as good and 2× faster.
Audio bitrate also matters
For a 10-minute video, dropping audio from 256 kbps to 128 kbps saves ~10 MB. For speech-only content (lectures, podcasts), 96 kbps mono is indistinguishable from stereo 256 kbps and saves 5× the space. Use our Audio Compressor to optimize the audio track separately if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can video compression reduce file size?
File size reduction depends on the preset you choose. Light compression reduces size by about 30% with nearly lossless quality, medium compression achieves around 50% reduction with minimal visible difference, and heavy compression can shrink files by up to 70% with some noticeable quality loss.
What is two-pass encoding and when should I use it?
Two-pass encoding analyzes the entire video first to understand which scenes are complex and which are simple, then distributes the bitrate more intelligently during the second pass. Use it when you want the best possible quality-to-size ratio and can afford the extra processing time.
Will compressing a video remove the audio track?
No, the audio track is preserved during compression. The compressor re-encodes the video stream to reduce file size while keeping the audio intact. You can also choose to downscale the resolution for additional size savings.
What does CRF mean in video compression?
CRF stands for Constant Rate Factor and controls the quality-to-size tradeoff. Lower CRF values produce better quality but larger files. A CRF of 18 is considered visually lossless, 23 is the default balanced setting, and values above 28 produce smaller files with noticeable quality reduction.
Is my video processed on a server or in my browser?
Video compression is processed on our server using FFmpeg, a professional-grade encoding tool. Your video is uploaded securely, compressed with your chosen settings, and automatically deleted within one hour after processing completes.