Video Compressor
Shrink an MP4, MOV, or WebM so it's easy to email, upload, or share — without a noticeable drop in quality. Pick a quality and resolution, and it compresses right in your browser. Free, no watermark, nothing uploaded.
Balanced is the sweet spot for demos
Downscale for an even smaller file
How the video compressor works
The tool re-encodes your video to H.264 at a target quality level, using your device's hardware video encoder (WebCodecs). Screen recorders often capture at a very high bitrate to avoid any loss, which makes files far larger than they need to be. Re-encoding to a sensible quality strips that overhead — a 50–80% size reduction is common with no visible difference.
Two dials control the result: quality (how aggressively each frame is compressed) and resolution (the pixel dimensions). Most screen recordings look great at 1080p or even 720p, so downscaling is the fastest way to a tiny file that's still crisp.
Want a different output? Turn the clip into an animated GIF, or convert a QuickTime recording with the MOV to MP4 converter. To plan a bitrate by hand, try the bitrate calculator.
Video compressor FAQ
How do I compress a video without losing quality?
Pick the Balanced preset — it re-encodes with modern H.264 at a smart quality level that usually cuts file size by half or more with no visible difference. For an even smaller file, drop the resolution to 1080p or 720p, which most screen recordings don't need to exceed.
How do I make a video small enough to email or upload?
Use the Smaller file preset and set the resolution to 720p. That combination shrinks most clips dramatically while keeping text and UI readable — ideal for email attachments, Slack, or staying under a platform's upload cap.
Does this upload my video anywhere?
No. The whole compression runs inside your browser with hardware-accelerated WebCodecs, so your video never leaves your device. That also means there's no queue and no file-size cap from a server — only your computer's memory.
What format does the compressed video use?
It exports MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio — the most widely compatible combination, playable on every phone, browser, and editor, and accepted by YouTube, LinkedIn, and every social platform.
Why is my screen recording so large to begin with?
Screen recorders often capture at a high bitrate to stay lossless, which balloons the file. Re-encoding with a target quality removes that overhead. Recording with a tuned exporter like SmoothCapture avoids the bloat in the first place.
Small files, straight out of the recorder
SmoothCapture exports quality-tuned MP4s sized right for YouTube, App Store previews, and social — so your demos look sharp without the bloated file. Record and edit free; one-time purchase to export.