Video Compressor Online — Compress Video & Reduce Video Size (MP4 Supported)

Best video compressor to compress video and reduce video size. Our MP4 compressor shrinks files up to 90% while keeping quality. Fast, free, secure.

compress Reducing Video File Sizes 90% high_quality MP4 Compressor Quality security Secure Compressing MP4

movie

Drag and Drop Your Video Here

or click to select MP4 video file to compress

MP4, MOV, AVI, WebM, MKV | Get compressed file up to 500MB

tune Compression Engine

Choose Your Compression Mode

Estimated result: ~50% smaller

Video Quality (CRF)

Better Quality Smaller File

Resolution

Bitrate

Frame Rate (FPS)

Audio Quality

Estimated compressed size: ~50% smaller

psychology How Video Compression Works (Quality vs File Size)

A video file is basically a sequence of images (frames) plus audio. When you "compress video," you're reducing the amount of data needed to represent those frames and the sound. Most modern video compression is done by a codec (like H.264 or H.265/HEVC), which uses a mix of clever tricks to shrink files while keeping the video looking similar to the original.

There are three main ideas behind compression:

1) Spatial Compression

Instead of storing every pixel exactly, the encoder groups pixels into blocks and stores an approximation. Areas with smooth gradients (like sky or walls) compress extremely well. Noisy or highly detailed areas compress worse because they contain more random detail.

2) Temporal Compression

In many videos, the background doesn't change much from frame to frame. Codecs store full frames occasionally (I-frames), and in-between frames mostly store "what changed" (P-frames/B-frames). This is why shaky footage or fast motion increases file size.

3) Perceptual Optimization

Encoders prioritize what your eyes are more sensitive to. They may reduce detail in areas where it's less noticeable, and keep sharper detail on edges and faces—especially at higher quality settings.

The most important lever is usually bitrate (how many bits are used per second of video). Lower bitrate means smaller file size, but also more compression artifacts: blockiness, blurry textures, banding in gradients, and loss of fine detail. Another lever is resolution (e.g., 1920×1080 → 1280×720). Reducing resolution can cut size dramatically, often with a smaller perceived quality drop than aggressive bitrate cuts.

A good video compressor should make it easy to balance: File size (MB), Quality (visual clarity), and Compatibility (MP4 plays almost everywhere).

tune Choose a Compression Level (Best Settings for MP4)

Most users don't want codec jargon—they want the right output for their purpose. That's why compression "levels" are practical: you pick a target (smaller size vs best quality) and let the tool choose settings.

Compression Level Comparison (Recommended Defaults)

Level	Best for	Typical Size Reduction	Visual Quality	Suggested Changes	Notes
Light	Already decent videos, small trim	10–30%	Very close to original	Slight bitrate reduction	Best when you want minimal risk
Balanced	Most users, web sharing	30–60%	Good	Moderate bitrate reduction	Best default for "compress video"
Strong	Email limits, messaging apps	60–85%	Noticeable loss	Lower bitrate + maybe 720p	Works great for "reduce video size"
Extreme	Very strict limits (e.g., 5MB)	85–95%	Heavy artifacts	Much lower bitrate + lower resolution	Use only when size matters most

Best Practice for MP4 Compression

• Keep MP4 (H.264) for maximum compatibility
• If file is still too large, reduce resolution (1080p → 720p) before pushing bitrate too low
• For talking-head videos, you can often compress more than fast-action footage

devices Common Use Cases: Email, Social Media, Storage

1) Reduce Video Size for Email

Email attachments usually have strict limits (often 10–25MB depending on the provider). To compress videos for email:

•Choose Strong compression
•Consider 720p output for 1080p sources
•Trim unnecessary seconds at the start/end
•If you still can't fit: use a share link instead

2) Social Media Uploads

Even though platforms recompress your upload, a well-compressed file helps:

•Upload faster on mobile data
•Avoid repeated "processing stuck" issues
•Reduce the chance of double-compression quality loss

Recommended: Balanced, keep resolution matched to the platform (often 1080p or 720p).

cloud

3) Save Storage on Phone or Cloud

If you have many clips, compression quickly adds up. For archiving:

•Use Balanced for "keep it nice"
•Use Strong for "keep it small"
•Organize by folder/date after compressing

Tip: batch compress large folders to reclaim storage.

video_file Supported Video Formats & What to Export

Input Formats (What You Can Upload)

MP4

Most common

MOV

Apple/iPhone

AVI

Windows legacy

MKV

High quality

WEBM

Web video

M4V

iTunes

3GP

Older mobile videos

Output Format Recommendation

check_circle MP4 (H.264)

Best compatibility across Windows/macOS/iOS/Android and video editors. Works everywhere, plays on any device.

Our video compressor exports to MP4 by default—this actually helps conversions because it's "simple and compatible." No need to worry about format compatibility issues.

tips_and_updates Tips to Compress Video Without Losing Quality

People often search "compress MP4 without losing quality." Technically, any compression changes something, but you can make the difference nearly invisible. Use these practical tips:

Lower bitrate gradually

Rather than jumping to extreme compression, reduce bitrate step by step to find the sweet spot.

Reduce resolution before destroying bitrate

1080p → 720p can cut size a lot while still looking sharp on phones.

Avoid compressing already-compressed videos

Each round compounds artifacts. Start from the original when possible.

Keep frame rate unless you must

Dropping 60fps → 30fps can reduce size, but can look less smooth for motion videos.

Trim first

Cutting even 10 seconds can save more size than aggressive settings.

Use "Balanced" as default

It usually preserves faces/text while reducing bulk.

Why Compress Videos?

cloud_upload

Faster Uploads

Upload videos to social media and cloud storage faster

Email Attachments

Make videos small enough to send via email

storage

Save Storage

Free up space on your device and cloud storage

Easy Sharing

Share videos on messaging apps without size limits

public

Web Optimized

Faster loading times for website videos

lock

Secure & Private

Your videos are processed securely

shield Privacy & Data Handling

• Processing is done on our server using FFmpeg via api.fastlyconvert.com/api/convert/video.
• We don't store your original text/content and we don't use uploads for training.
• Uploaded videos are automatically deleted within 24 hours.
• Files are used only to run the conversion you requested and then removed.
• If you need earlier deletion, simply close the page after downloading—your file will still expire automatically.
• Transfers are protected via HTTPS.

settings How it works

1 Upload a video (up to 500MB on the free plan).
2 Pick a compression preset (Light / Balanced / Strong / Extreme).
3 We compress it server-side with FFmpeg and export MP4 (H.264) for best compatibility.
4 Download the compressed file. Output filename: originalname_compressed.mp4.

tune Compression presets (4 levels)

Light (10–30%)

Small optimization with minimal risk.

Balanced (30–60%) (recommended)

Best quality/size ratio for sharing.

Strong (60–85%)

For email limits and messaging apps.

Extreme (85–95%)

For strict targets (e.g., very small files).

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I compress video to 5MB?

Use Extreme compression, shorten the clip (trim), and reduce resolution (e.g., 1080p → 720p or 480p). Recheck the output size and repeat with stronger settings if needed.

How do I reduce video size for email attachments?

Choose Strong compression and export MP4. If the file still exceeds your email limit, reduce resolution or share a cloud link instead of attaching.

Can I compress MP4 without losing quality?

You can't reduce size with zero change, but with Light or Balanced compression the visual difference is often minimal—especially for simple scenes or talking-head videos.

Is this video compressor online free?

FastlyConvert offers a free option for quick compression. For higher volume or larger files (500MB+), you can upgrade Pro for more usage.

What is the best format for compressed videos?

MP4 (H.264) is the safest choice for playback compatibility on most devices and platforms. It works on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and all major browsers.

Why is my compressed video still large?

Videos with fast motion, noise, or high detail compress less efficiently. Try reducing resolution, trimming length, or increasing the compression level.

Will compression reduce video resolution?

Depending on the level you choose, compression may reduce bitrate only or reduce both bitrate and resolution. Lower resolution is often the fastest way to cut size.

Does compressing a video affect audio quality?

It can. Most tools keep audio quality reasonable, but extremely small targets (like 5MB) may reduce audio bitrate as well.

How long does it take to compress a video?

Time depends on video length, resolution, and the compression level. Smaller clips and balanced settings usually finish faster—typically a few seconds to a couple of minutes.

Is my video private when I compress it online?

Yes. FastlyConvert deletes temporary files automatically after processing. We don't store or share your videos—your privacy is protected.

What formats are supported?

MP4, MOV, AVI, WebM, MKV.

What's the output format?

MP4 (H.264) by default. WebM may be available as an alternative.

Is it really free?

Yes—free plan supports files up to 500MB. Larger files may require Pro.

Will you keep my videos?

No. Uploads are automatically deleted within 24 hours.

Can I compress a video for email (like under 25MB)?

Use Strong or Extreme, and consider trimming the video length.

Does compression reduce quality?

Higher compression levels trade quality for smaller size. Balanced is the recommended default.

Related Guides

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How to Compress Video for Email Without Losing Quality

Read our in-depth guide →

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Compress Videos for Every Situation

Whether you need to send a video via email, share on WhatsApp, or upload to social media, our video compressor handles it all.

Compress Video for Email

Most email services limit attachments to 25MB. Our video compressor can reduce your video file size to fit email limits while keeping watchable quality. Use the "Max Compress" setting to get videos under 10MB.

✓ Gmail: 25MB limit
✓ Outlook: 20MB limit
✓ Yahoo: 25MB limit

chat

Compress Video for WhatsApp

WhatsApp has a 16MB video limit (64MB on some devices). Reduce video size without losing too much quality. Perfect for sharing moments with friends and family on messaging apps.

✓ WhatsApp: 16-64MB limit
✓ Telegram: 2GB limit
✓ iMessage: 100MB limit

Compress Video for Social Media

Faster uploads to Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook. Compress MP4 videos to optimal sizes for each platform while maintaining visual quality that looks great on mobile screens.

✓ Instagram: 650MB / 60min
✓ TikTok: 287MB / 10min
✓ Twitter: 512MB / 2min 20s

target

Compress MP4 to Target Size

Need to compress video to 5MB, 10MB, or 25MB? Use our advanced options to fine-tune compression. Adjust CRF, resolution, and bitrate to hit your exact target file size.

✓ Compress to 5MB for Discord
✓ Compress to 10MB for forums
✓ Compress to 25MB for email

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