Compress Video
Start with Balanced compression, then compare the downloaded MP4 with your original. Use Smaller file only if you still need a lower size; presets do not guarantee an exact MB target.
Drop your file here
or
Up to 250 MB per fileYour uploaded file is used for this job and deleted from the server after processing completes.
Choose a compression preset
| Preset | Use it when | Check before keeping it |
|---|---|---|
| Balanced | You want a first delivery copy for sharing. | Faces, captions, fast motion and final size. |
| Smaller file | Balanced is still above your size target. | Fine detail, shadows and block artifacts. |
| Higher quality | Detail matters more than maximum size savings. | It may produce a larger file than the other presets. |
These are quality settings, not fixed output sizes. A long clip or a complex moving scene can need more data than a short, simple clip at the same setting. Already efficient videos can become larger after another encode.
Need a video under a specific MB limit?
- Confirm the actual limit where you will upload the file.
- Trim unused time and choose an appropriate canvas with Resize Video if needed. Those tools also create re-encoded copies; keep your original.
- Try Balanced and check the downloaded file’s byte count. If it is still too large, try Smaller file from the same source.
- Stop when size and playback both meet your needs. Use a share link if meeting the limit makes the content unreadable.
The Video File Size Calculator can estimate a bitrate budget, but it does not set that bitrate in this compressor. For an attachment workflow, see the video-for-email guide.
Compare the actual files below
The camera sample is 964,911 bytes before compression, 243,705 bytes with Balanced and 122,658 bytes with Smaller file. It keeps 960 × 540 pixels and approximately five seconds. These are measurements of one source, not a promised saving for your recording. Play the moving detail as well as checking size.
Can I enter an exact output size?
No. The current tool offers three presets. You must check the result against your limit after processing.
Will compression change the video dimensions?
The compression presets do not request a resize. If you need a different width or height, use Resize Video separately.
Is the compressed video identical in quality?
No lossy re-encode is guaranteed identical. Compare fine text, motion, gradients and audio before using the delivery copy.
Compare compression on camera footage
This five-second camera clip shows a flower and a bee at 960 × 540. Compare moving detail as well as file size. It is one source, not a prediction for your video.
| Setting | Input bytes | Output bytes | Size reduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flower footage · Balanced | 964,911 | 243,705 | 74.7% |
| Flower footage · Smaller file | 964,911 | 122,658 | 87.3% |
Balanced uses CRF 25; Smaller file uses CRF 30. Both re-encode the picture. Smaller files can lose fine detail, and already compressed sources can grow. Preview the outputs before choosing.
Flower footage · Balanced — preview and repeat
Download input · Download output
Flower footage · Smaller file — preview and repeat
Download input · Download output
Source: Flower footage — MDN Web Docs contributors. CC BY-SA 2.5 under the MDN shared-assets content license. Audio and metadata removed; H.264 video stream retained. Outputs re-encoded using the indicated Mediaivo presets. Video derivatives and extracted poster frames are offered under CC BY-SA 2.5.
Processed with the same Mediaivo tool code. Measurements, settings and SHA-256 hashes · Credits and reuse terms. One short nature clip and one prepared speech excerpt. These results do not represent every phone, speaker, codec, recording or scene. No claim of lossless compression, noise removal, loudness normalization or endorsement by the source creators.
Balanced vs Smaller file: static and moving charts
Both inputs are original, silent four-second 640 × 360 H.264 clips. One has fixed markers; the other contains motion and detail. They are controlled test charts, not a benchmark for faces, sport or camera footage.
| Input / preset | Source bytes | Output bytes | Size change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Static chart · Balanced | 9,632 | 7,049 | 26.8% smaller |
| Static chart · Smaller file | 9,632 | 6,417 | 33.4% smaller |
| Moving chart · Balanced | 828,493 | 278,181 | 66.4% smaller |
| Moving chart · Smaller file | 828,493 | 165,005 | 80.1% smaller |
Both presets retain the canvas dimensions and nominal duration. Balanced uses CRF 25; Smaller file uses CRF 30. Neither promises an exact MB target or zero quality loss. Inspect edges and moving detail, not just the byte count. An already efficient input can even grow.
Static chart · Balanced — inspect and repeat
Download input · Download Static chart · Balanced output
Static chart · Smaller file — inspect and repeat
Download input · Download Static chart · Smaller file output
Moving chart · Balanced — inspect and repeat
Download input · Download Moving chart · Balanced output
Moving chart · Smaller file — inspect and repeat
Download input · Download Moving chart · Smaller file output
Need a different canvas? Resize first. Need to remove footage? Trim it. For an estimated size based on duration and bitrate, use the Video File Size Calculator.
Measured with the actual Mediaivo processor. Settings, file hashes and encoder version · Test pack and method. Results can vary with the source and encoder version.
How to Compress a Video Without Losing Too Much Quality
A practical guide to reducing video file size while keeping faces, text, motion and colour looking clean.