Video Compressor: Make video files smaller by lowering resolution and bitrate. Input: Video, MP4, WEBM, MOV, M4V, MKV files and values you enter. Output: Results shown on the page and a downloaded file. Privacy: Runs in your browser: inputs and files stay on your device and are not uploaded.
How to compress a video
- Drop the video. Its resolution, length and size are shown.
- 720p and "Small file" are preselected. Choose 480p for a much smaller file or 1080p to keep more detail.
- Trim the start and end to cut unneeded footage; it is the easiest size saving of all.
- Click Convert, then download.
How much smaller?
Phones record at high bitrates: often 15–50 Mbit/s for 1080p or 4K, which is 100–350 MB per minute. Re-encoding at 720p with a modest bitrate typically reduces that by 80–95%, enough to fit email attachment limits (around 20–25 MB), messaging apps and upload forms. Size is roughly bitrate × duration, so halving the length halves the file. Removing the audio track saves a little more.
The compressor re-encodes the video with your browser's built-in codecs (the WebCodecs API), faster than the video plays, and writes an MP4 (H.264 + AAC) or WebM file; the format menu lists what your browser can make. Browsers without WebCodecs record the video while it plays instead, which takes as long as the video. Quality drops a little because the video is re-encoded; check the result before deleting your original. Runs in your browser. Your files are not uploaded.
Example: a 10-second 720p clip
A 10-second 720p MP4 (7.7 MB, about 6 Mbit/s) was compressed with the preselected 720p and Small file settings in Chrome on a laptop. It took 0.9 seconds and gave a 1.65 MB MP4 (H.264 video, AAC audio), 78% smaller, at about 1.3 Mbit/s: roughly 10 MB per minute of video. The picture is softer than the original: it scored 0.93 on SSIM, a similarity measure where 1 means identical, while the desktop encoder x264 reached 0.96 at the same bitrate. For the sharpest result, choose a higher quality and trim the parts you don't need.
How it compares with a free online converter
| This tool | CloudConvert (free) | |
|---|---|---|
| Videos per day | No limit | 10 conversion credits |
| File size | Your device memory | 1 GB per file |
| Processing time per file | No limit | 5 minutes |
Free limits as published by CloudConvert (checked 22 October 2026): CloudConvert pricing. They change often; the paid plans lift them.
FAQ
How long does compression take?
Usually much less than the video's length: a 10-second 720p clip took under a second in Chrome on a laptop. Browsers without WebCodecs record the video while it plays, which takes as long as the video.
Will I get an MP4 or a WebM?
MP4 (H.264 + AAC) by default where your browser can make it, as in Chrome; otherwise WebM. The format menu lists only what your browser supports.
Can I compress a 4K video?
Yes, if your browser can play it. Choose 1080p or 720p for big savings.
How do I compress a video to send by email?
Keep 720p and Small file, then trim anything you don't need. These settings give about 1.3 Mbit/s, roughly 10 MB per minute, so a clip of up to about two minutes fits a 20–25 MB email limit. Choose 480p for longer videos.