How to Compress MP4 Files on Windows and Mac

When I started testing MP4 compressors again this year, I was surprised by how much faster and smarter the tools have become. I ran the same 2‑minute 4K video through each app and watched how much I could shrink it without losing quality (hopefully). Many of the tools finished in seconds. Some needed fine-tuning to avoid blocky playback. Below are my eight top picks for 2025 which have all been tested personally on Windows and Mac. MP4 is among today’s most popular formats, supported on loads of devices and plenty of people are looking to compress the video with a video converter!

When I am making changes to files I don’t have one standard method. It depends on the video size (and how much time I have). There are three ways to compress MP4. You can change the MP4s compression rate, convert it to a lighter format, or cut unnecessary parts. Below, we’ll explain how to do this using Movavi Video Converter. To try the tutorials below, download the installation file for your OS, run it, and launch the MP4 compressor when the installation is complete.

• Option 1. Compress MP4 files by changing the compression rate

• Option 2. Compress MP4 video by lowering the video resolution

• Option 3. Shrink MP4 by trimming the recording

The first way to compress an MP4 video is to set a higher compression rate. I only use this rate when I am happy that I can afford to lose a bit of quality as the main disadvantage of this method is that the more reduction you get, the worse the video quality will be. I highly suggest using it only if you need a small decrease, e. g., up to 10% of the original size.

To compress MP4 video this way, drag and drop the video into the program’s window. Then, in the Video tab, click MP4 and select the MP4 H.264 - Original Size preset.

Now, click the estimated output size in the list of added files. In the pop-up window, set the desired output size value using the File size slider. By clicking Convert sample, you can see if the resulting file still looks good enough. Finally, click Convert. The program will save the shrunk file to the Movavi Library folder.

Sometimes the reason my MP4 file is so big is the resolution. I have found before that I have 4K videos stored on your smartphone. It takes up too much space without giving you the benefit of watching it on a 4K monitor. So, to shrink an MP4, you may downsize its resolution. The downside is that if you choose a resolution that’s too small for the screen, you will end up losing quality. Be sure to check the resolution your device supports before downsizing and choose the most appropriate parameters. If you’re willing to try this option, here’s how to compress MP4 by changing the video resolution.

Again, open the video file with Movavi Video Converter. Open the Video tab and open the MP4 preset list. Select a preset with a resolution smaller than the one of the original video but still suitable for your device (for example, if the video was Full HD (1080p), you can choose HD (720p). If you intend to watch the video on a specific device (like an Android smartphone or tablet, iPhone, iPad, PSP, or even TV), you can check out the Devices tab for a preset designed specifically for your gadget. Now, click Convert. After the process is complete, check out the file in the target folder.

I often just trim the video to the relevant section! It naturally means a smaller file size. This option is best for cases when you need to send a video to someone. By trimming off the excess or separating the video into several parts, you will be able to use a messenger or email to send it. You can also cut off long ending credits from movies if you need to save space on your hard drive.

Add the video to Movavi Video Converter, select an output format, and click Edit to the right of the video in the program. In the window that opens, set a marker to the place you want to cut. To be more precise, zoom in the timeline with the Scale slider. When the marker is precisely where you want to make a cut, click the Scissors icon next to the marker. Repeat this as many times as you need. You can delete unwanted parts or save each segment as a separate video file. For deleting the piece, click the Trash Can icon next to it. To save each part separately, in the Save segment section, select As separate files. When all the editing is done, click Save and Close. Finally, click Convert.

Now you know three ways of compressing MP4 described through using Movavi Video Converter. These ways should work for both high-resolution and low-resolution videos. However, suppose your video has a resolution of Full HD 1080p or higher. In that case, you can downsize the MP4 by changing the resolution to a smaller one (e. g., HD 720p). This option works if you want to watch the compressed video on a small screen, for example, from a phone or a small tablet. To do so, open the video in the program, and, in the Video tab, click MP4 and select MP4 H.264 - HD 720p. Below, you can see the approximate compressed file sizes after changing video resolution from Full HD 1080p to HD 720p using Movavi Video Converter. Of course, these are just average results given as an example.

I’ve explored and reviewed seven of the best free and online video compressors for MP4 videos, and now we’re ready to share with you all the benefits and downsides of each software.

Why I picked it: it handled big files easily and gave me tight control over compression without complex settings

Platform: desktop

OS: Windows 7/8/10/11, macOS 10.13 and higher

I imported a 1.2‑GB MP4 into Movavi and used a built-in MP4 preset. The video dropped to 280 MB with barely any visible loss on my phone. Movavi Video Converter lets you compress MP4s on Windows and Mac by changing the bitrate or resolution of your video.

Ready-made presets were amazing for tweaking my video to a compatible format. The app offers editing tools as well. Some videos I just trim down to size rather than tweaking lots of compression settings.

Here’s how to use this MP4 file compressor:

1. Download and install Movavi Video Converter.
2. Drag-and-drop your file into the program’s window.
3. Select the Video tab, open the MP4 selection of presets, and click MP4 H.264 - Original Size.
4. Click the estimated file size and set the new compression rate. Click the Convert sample button to see if the resulting quality suits you.
5. Hit the Convert button. The compressed file will appear in the Movavi Library folder.

Check out the full guide for more details:
How to compress MP4 with Movavi Video Converter

Why I picked it: it’s the simplest free option if you already use VLC to watch videos

Platform: desktop

OS: Windows (all versions), macOS 10.7.5 and higher, Ubuntu 16.04 and 18.04

VLC is a well-known free and open-source media player. I’ve had it on my system for well over a decade. If you’re used to watching videos using it, you’ll be happy to know that there’s more to it than meets the eye. The VLC media player can also function as a video converter and an MP4 file compressor.

I used Media and then Convert/Save and chose the H.264 + MP3 (MP4) profile, lowering bitrate to 1,200 kbps. It reduced the MP4 file size from 500 MB to about 150 MB. The recent Vetinari update added better HDR handling and faster decoding.

Go to the VLC official website to download the installation file:
The VLC media player website

Launch the downloaded file and follow through with the installation process.

In this guide, we’ve used the Windows version of the software. If you’re using a Mac, instructions will be slightly different.

1. Go to the VLC official website to download the installation file:

The VLC media player website

2. Launch the downloaded file and follow through with the installation process.
3. In this guide, we’ve used the Windows version of the software. If you’re using a Mac, this guide will not likely work for you because of the interface differences.
4. Launch the software, open the Media menu, and click Convert/Save. You’ll see a new window pop up.
5. In the File tab, click Add and locate the file you want to compress. Then click the Convert/Save button.
6. Now, you need to choose a profile for your video. Since we want the video staying as an MP4, let’s select Video - H.264 + MP3 (MP4).
7. To set the compression parameters, click the Wrench icon. In the window that opens, open the Video codec tab. Set the bitrate at a lesser value than the video currently has. Unfortunately, the software doesn’t let you see your video's current bitrate; you'll have to guess it yourself. This is where the trial-and-error part of the process lies. You may have to try different bitrates to see which one works best. When the bitrate is set, click Save.
8. Now we need to locate the folder to save the file. Click Browse, find the desired target folder, and, in the File name field, enter the name for the future file, including the “.mp4” extension. If you don’t enter the file name with the extension, the resulting file may end up botched, so you won’t be able to open it. Click the Save button again.
9. When everything is set, click Start. The app will show no progress bar, but it will take some time to process the entire file. So, take a few-minute break and then come back to check out the output file.

Why I picked it: I like how much control I get over things like bitrate without paying for the software

Platform: desktop

OS: Windows 10/11, macOS 10.13 and higher, Linux

I love free tools that actually do a decent job – HandBrake is open-source software to compress MP4 videos to a smaller size for free. I tested 2 out of 3 versions – they’re available for Mac, Windows, and Linux, this software is accessible to almost anyone.

The support isn’t amazing and it isn’t always easy to work out what to do with the settings. However, if you’re good at troubleshooting and you want a free MP4 video compressor, this may be a good option for you. Here’s how to make a video file smaller with HandBrake:

1. Download and install HandBrake on your computer.
   Download HandBrake
2. Open the program and click Open Source in the top left corner of the window.
3. Choose your video file and click Open.
4. Click Browse to choose where you want to save your converted file.
5. Select Save As and type the name you want for your compressed MP4. Click Save.
6. Select MP4 File from the Format dropdown.
7. Choose H.264 as your video codec. Enter the bitrate between 5000 and 10000. Change the video frame size and resolution as you wish.
8. Once you’re happy with all of your settings, click Start Encode to compress your file.

Why I picked it: it’s the most powerful compression tool I use for batch work

Platform: software

OS: macOS, Windows, Linux

FFmpeg runs entirely from the command line, but once you learn the basics, it’s incredibly fast and flexible. I use it when I need precise control over codecs or when I want to automate compression tasks. When I used to just do occasional conversions, this wasn’t worth the time to learn. Now, it actually saves me some time.

How to use the FFmpeg MP4 size reducer to compress a video:

1. Download FFmpeg from the official site and follow the setup instructions for your OS.

Download FFmpeg

2. Open Terminal or Command Prompt.

3. Run a simple compression command:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vcodec libx264 -crf 26 -preset medium output.mp4

-crf controls quality: lower numbers mean better quality (and larger files). 23–28 is good for general compression.

-preset balances speed vs. efficiency. “medium” is default; try “slow” for better compression.

4. For smaller size (H.265):

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libx265 -crf 28 -preset medium output_h265.mp4

H.265 gives about 25–50% smaller files than H.264.

Why I picked it: it offers a very straightforward interface with multiple compressions options

Platform: online

OS: any (web-based)

Clideo is a web app that allows you to compress MP4 videos to a smaller size online for free with a watermark. It offers a straightforward interface and easy conversions, but output videos will include a watermark. I didn’t choose to pay for the premium service to remove the watermark.

How to compress MP4 files online with Clideo:

1. Go to the Clideo website.
2. Click the Choose file button to choose a file from your computer, or you can choose a file from Google Drive, Dropbox, or a URL by clicking the down arrow next to the button.
3. Once you’ve selected your file, compression will begin automatically.
4. Wait for your file to compress, and then select whether you want to download it with a watermark or pay to remove the watermark.

Why I picked it: I use this site when I just need a quick browser compression and no login

Platform: online

OS: any (web-based)

Another online MP4-file reducer is FreeConvert.com. I uploaded a 400 MB MP4 and selected Compress > Medium. It dropped significantly in under a minute. The free plan allows up to 1 GB uploads

This website also has a generous file size limit of 1 GB and supports MP4 and many other video formats. I found that the controls were really simple to understand – it walks you through the settings and allows you to download a smaller video.

Here’s how to compress MP4 files online with FreeConvert.com:

1. Go to the FreeConvert.com website: FreeConvert.com
2. Click Choose Files and upload the video you want to compress to the website.
3. Click the Cogwheel icon. You’ll see the advanced options. Drag the Target Size slider to set the desired compression value. Remember that the further left you place the marker, the lower the quality of the video will be. Click Apply Settings to save the changes.
4. Hit Compress Now to start processing. Finally, click Download MP4 to save the compressed file to your hard drive.

Why I picked it: The site gives me precise control over bitrate and other settings for short clips

Platform: online

OS: any (web-based)

I only use this for short clips. Online-Convert.com is one more option to compress MP4 videos online. I used this for a YouTube video I downloaded and plan to share and store on devices. They have a credits system of payment which I find frustrating and confusing. It means there’s only a matter of minutes of conversion on the free plan. 

 Here’s how to make video files smaller with Online-Convert.com:

1. Go to the Online-Convert.com website: Online-Convert.com
2. Click Choose Files and upload your video to the platform.
3. In the Set file size field, enter the approximate size for the future file in megabytes. The compressor will try to make the file size as close to the requirements as possible. However, if you want to match some requirements (e. g., if the file should be smaller than 10 MB), try entering a smaller number than the requirements say (in this example, 9.5 MB).
4. Click Start conversion.

There are plenty of free and online ways to compress an MP4 video. After testing all of these tools, I found that desktop apps like Movavi and HandBrake are best for frequent compression and batch jobs. FFmpeg is my go‑to when I need automation and lots of files processed. For fast online work, Kapwing saved me time and hassle (but it has its limitations).

If you’re a beginner and you want the software to make the process easier and more understandable, I recommend trying Movavi Video Converter. The program has sample conversion that will help you check out the quality of the compressed video. With a precise cutting interface, you can divide the video into several parts or cut out what’s unnecessary. Get the trial version and see if the software suits you!

Here are some reasons why you might need to compress your MP4 files.