How to compress video online and offline without losing quality: 5 ways

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

With just a few clicks, your files will be reduced by 50-80%.

What you need to know

Video compression is the process of transcoding a video with different settings. The size of the video file is influenced by the resolution, frame rate, encoding parameters, bitrates of the audio and video stream. Unfortunately, not all of them can be changed without degrading the final image.

Compressing a video so that the quality does not suffer is, by and large, possible only by lowering the bitrate. For not very dynamic videos, a decrease in the frame rate is also acceptable.

Changing the resolution will also work, but only at the expense of degrading the picture quality. However, this is relevant when optimizing video for devices that do not physically support high resolutions and will not be able to display it. Reducing the bitrate of the audio stream has very little effect on the final size, so you don't have to bother with it.

The choice of the compression rate directly depends on the video resolution. The higher it is, the more bitrate is needed. You can focus on the following indicators:

• 4K - 35-50 Mbps;
• 2K - 16-24 Mbps;
• Full HD - 8-12 Mbps;
• HD - 5-7.5 Mbps.

Compression can reduce the file size by 50–80%. Higher compression will degrade image quality.

How to compress video offline

1. Using Handbrake

A powerful yet free video converter for Windows, macOS and Linux, perfect for optimizing your videos. Thanks to ready-made presets and a lot of settings, it will be easy to reduce the size of both one element and immediately a series of videos.

Install Handbrake software and run it specifying the required file.

Choose one of the templates provided.

Leave the settings unchanged or set your own. In the latter case, it makes sense to correct only the "Video" section by setting the following parameters:

• Video encoder - H.264.
• Frame rate (FPS) - the same as in the original file.
• Quality - 18–24 when choosing a constant quality (the less the better). Alternatively, set the average bit rate in the range of 8,000-10,000 kbps. Optionally, you can enable two-pass encoding with accelerated first pass to improve quality.
• Preset - fast, medium or other (the higher the speed, the worse the quality, and vice versa).

Click “Select” in the lower right corner to specify where to save the file, then “Start” or “Add to Queue” if you want to compress multiple videos at once.

2. Using VLC

A popular open source media player that is available for free on all platforms. It allows you not only to view the video, but also to edit it. Using the conversion function, it is quite easy to compress videos.

Download and install VLC from the official one, launch and go to the menu "File" → "Convert / Transfer …".

Drag the video into the application window. Select the Video - H.264 (MP4) profile and click "Configure".

On the Video Codec tab, set the bitrate to 6,000-8,000 kbps and click Apply, leaving the other parameters unchanged.

Click "Browse" and specify a folder for the finished file, and then click "Save".

How to compress video online

1. Using YourCompress

A very simple and free service that, despite the absence of any settings, perfectly compresses video without noticeable deterioration in quality. Files up to 500 MB are supported. There are no watermarks or other restrictions.

Follow the link and click "Select file …" to specify the path to the video. Click the Download and Compress File button.

When the conversion is complete, click "Download". The final size and percentage of compression compared to the original file will also be displayed here.

2. Using 123Apps Video Converter

Another online tool with a minimal amount of customization. Unlike the previous one, it allows you to select the resolution and codecs, as well as estimate the approximate file size. Free video limit is 1 GB.

Go to the service at the link below and click "Open File" to select a video. Specify the MP4 format, the resolution is the same as in the original. But if you wish, you can change it. Click the "Settings" button.

Use the slider to adjust the required output file size, and leave the rest of the options unchanged. Click "Convert" and wait for the process to complete.

3. Using Cloudconvert

More advanced service for converting various files, including video. It provides many compression settings and supports batch processing. Of the limitations - only the size of videos up to 1 GB. There are no watermarks or anything else.

Open Cloudconvert from the link below, click Select File and upload the video from a folder on your computer, cloud or in another way.

Click the ellipsis button and select MP4.

Next, click on the wrench icon.

Use a constant quality setting from 18 to 24 - the less the better. Select the medium encoding preset. Leave the rest of the settings unchanged and click the Okay button.

If you want to compress multiple videos at once, click Add more files and configure settings for them. When everything is ready, click Convert and wait while the videos are processed.