How to use Compress Video
- 1Drop your video into the box. MP4, MOV, WebM, MKV and AVI work.
- 2Choose a goal: For email (under 20 MB), Smallest file, Balanced, High quality, or Exact size limit.
- 3For an exact limit, pick 10, 25, 50 or 100 MB or type your own number. Turn on Remove sound if you don't need the audio.
- 4Check the estimated size and output resolution, then click Compress video.
- 5Watch the preview, compare the sizes and click Download MP4.
Presets and size limits explained
Balanced keeps up to 1080p and is the best choice for most videos. Smallest file drops to 720p with a lower bitrate, good for chat apps where the screen is small anyway. High quality keeps the original resolution and only trims wasted data. Each preset shows its resolution and estimated size before you start.
Exact size limit works backwards from the number you enter. The tool divides the allowed size by the video's length, keeps some audio, and then picks the largest resolution that still looks clean at that bitrate. If a hardware encoder overshoots, it re-encodes up to two more times a little smaller, so the file really ends up under the limit. Gmail allows 25 MB attachments and Outlook 20 MB, which is why the email preset aims for 20 MB.
Fast where your device allows it
On current Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox the tool uses the browser's built-in video encoder (WebCodecs), which is usually hardware accelerated: a few minutes of 1080p video often compresses faster than real time. If the browser has no H.264 encoder, it switches to FFmpeg running in the page. That works everywhere but is much slower, and the progress bar says so.
The output is always MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio, the combination that plays on iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, smart TVs and every major website.
Getting the best result
- Shorter is smaller. If only part of the clip matters, cut it first with Trim Video, then compress.
- A very tight limit on a long video makes a soft picture. The tool warns you when the limit is too small for the length.
- Screen recordings and talking-head videos compress much better than sports or confetti.
- Need a moving image for a chat or a slide instead? Try Video to GIF.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a video under 25 MB for Gmail?
Choose Exact size limit and pick 25 MB (Gmail), or use the For email preset, which aims for 20 MB so it also fits Outlook. The tool picks the resolution and bitrate for you and checks the final size.
Is there a file size limit or watermark?
No watermark and no limit from us. Everything runs in your browser, so the practical limit is your device's memory. Phones warn you above about 500 MB.
Does it use FFmpeg?
Most of the time it uses your browser's built-in audio and video engine. For formats the browser can't handle, it uses FFmpeg compiled to WebAssembly (GPL, source linked at /tvid/FFMPEG-NOTICE.txt), a one-time download of about 10 MB that then stays in your browser cache. FFmpeg encoding is single-threaded, so it is slower than the built-in engine.
Will compressing reduce the quality?
Compression always removes some detail, but the presets aim for sizes where the loss is hard to notice on a phone or laptop. High quality keeps the original resolution.
Can I compress an iPhone HEVC video?
Yes. The result is H.264 MP4, which also makes it easier to play on Windows PCs and older devices. Very bright HDR footage can look a little flatter after conversion to standard H.264.
Why is my result not smaller?
If the original is already efficiently compressed, a preset may not shrink it further. The tool tells you; pick Smallest file or set a size limit instead.