Compress Video
Make a video smaller on your device with clear quality and resolution controls.
- Runs in your browser — files never leave your device
- Instant — no waiting, no queue
Drop a video here, click to choose, or paste
MP4, MOV or WebM that your browser can play
Your video is re-encoded in this browser. It is never uploaded.
How to use
- Drop a playable MP4, MOV or WebM video, choose it from your device, or paste a copied video file.
- Confirm the source preview and choose a compression level and maximum resolution.
- Check the estimated output size, then select Compress video and keep this tab in the foreground.
- Preview the local WebM result, compare its exact size with the original, and download it if it is suitable.
What changes file size
A video’s approximate data budget is bitrate × duration. This tool records the decoded video at a lower video bitrate and can cap the short edge at 1080p, 720p, or 480p. A 1920×1080 source capped at 720p becomes 1280×720: that is 44% as many pixels per frame. Lowering resolution is often more effective than lowering bitrate alone for a 4K phone clip intended for a small screen.
Why the result is WebM
The browser’s MediaRecorder API records a MediaStream and lets a site request a container and audio/video bitrates; supported codecs differ by browser. This tool checks the browser’s supported WebM recorder types and downloads the result as WebM rather than pretending it can create an MP4 everywhere. WebM plays in current Chromium, Firefox, and many modern apps; use a desktop encoder when a recipient specifically requires MP4.
Local processing and practical limits
The selected file is opened through a temporary browser URL, drawn to an in-memory canvas, and re-recorded in the same tab. No video bytes are sent to Betterbit. Re-encoding runs at normal playback speed and its time, memory use, and battery use depend on your device. Keep the tab visible; browsers can throttle background work. Very long or 4K files are better handled on a desktop with sufficient memory.
Frequently asked questions
Are videos uploaded to compress them?
No. This compressor reads the selected file from your device and re-encodes it in the current browser tab. The input video and resulting WebM are never uploaded to a Betterbit server.
Why is the compressed video a WebM file instead of MP4?
The Web MediaRecorder API can record browser media streams, but supported MP4 codecs and containers vary by browser. This tool uses a supported WebM recording type so the format is honest and predictable rather than assigning an MP4 extension to incompatible bytes.
How do I make a video much smaller?
Choose the Smallest level and a 720p or 480p cap. A 1080p frame has 2.25 times as many pixels as a 720p frame, so downscaling can lower the bitrate needed for watchable sharing much more than a quality setting alone.
Why is my result larger than the original?
A source can already use a lower bitrate or a more efficient codec than the browser’s new WebM recording. The result panel reports the exact original and output sizes, including a larger result, so you can keep the source instead of downloading a worse copy.
Can I compress a video on a phone?
A current mobile browser can select and play supported videos, but local re-encoding uses the phone’s CPU, memory, and battery. Short clips work best; for a long 4K recording, use a desktop browser and keep the tab open until the result is ready.
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Updated 2026-10-24