Why not use the iOS Photos app to compress?

iOS Photos has no explicit compression export. Sharing options like Mail or Messages will reduce video for known small caps, but the result is opaque (you can't pick a target size) and only triggers when sending. For everything else (Discord, WhatsApp, Drive, AirDrop) you get the raw file.

Does it really work in Safari on iPhone?

Yes — iOS Safari 16+ supports WebAssembly with SharedArrayBuffer, which is what ffmpeg.wasm needs. The compression engine downloads once (~30 MB) and is cached. After the first compression, subsequent ones start instantly. Older iOS versions (15 and below) lack the required browser features.

How long does it take on iPhone?

iPhone 13 / 14 / 15 / 16: a 30-second 1080p clip takes about 60–90 seconds. iPhone 12: closer to 2 minutes. Older iPhones may take 3+ minutes for the same clip. 4K footage takes 2–3× longer.

Where does the compressed file save on iPhone?

By default it saves to the Downloads folder in the Files app (iOS 13+). If you tap-and-hold the download link you can also pick Save Video to add it to your Photos library.

Compress a Video on iPhone

Updated June 2026 · Free, runs in Safari, no app install required (iOS 16+)

A 60-second iPhone video at default settings is 100–300 MB. Discord rejects it (25 MB cap). WhatsApp rejects it (16 MB cap). Email bounces (20–25 MB caps). This page walks through compressing your iPhone video in Safari — without installing an app, without uploading to a cloud service. Works on iOS 16 and later.

Why iPhone videos are so big

iPhones record at high resolution and bitrate by default. The Settings → Camera → Record Video screen lets you lower it, but most users never change the default. Typical sizes:

Recording mode	~Size per minute	Notes
4K @ 60 fps (HEVC)	400 MB	Default on iPhone 14 Pro / 15 Pro / 16 Pro if changed from 4K30.
4K @ 30 fps (HEVC)	170 MB	The default on Pro models since iPhone 12 Pro.
1080p @ 60 fps	130 MB	Default on iPhone 8 through 13 non-Pro.
1080p @ 30 fps	60 MB	Smallest "modern" preset.
720p @ 30 fps	40 MB	Older / lower-end.

HEVC (also called H.265) is the codec iPhones use by default since iPhone 7 — it compresses ~50% better than the older H.264 standard. But it's still big.

Compress an iPhone video in Safari

Open the tool. Tap the button below to open the compressor in mobile Safari.
Pick your video. Tap "Choose Videos" — your iPhone photo library opens. Select the video.
Pick a target. The default preset is Discord 25 MB. If you're sending to WhatsApp or email, use the corresponding preset (or pick a custom size). Big quality preserved? Pick "Custom quality (CRF)" with CRF 22.
Wait. Compression runs on your iPhone's CPU. A 30-second 1080p clip takes 1–2 minutes on iPhone 13+; older devices take longer.
Save and share. Tap Download — the compressed file saves to Files. Open WhatsApp / Mail / Discord and share from Files.

Open the compressor

Free, no app install. Works in Safari on iOS 16+.

Open compressor →

Pre-selected presets: Discord 25 MB · WhatsApp 16 MB · Email 19 MB

Pick the right size target

The right compression target depends on where you're sending the video:

Discord chat (free tier): 25 MB cap → preset targets 24 MB
WhatsApp chat: 16 MB cap → preset targets 15 MB
Email: 20–25 MB caps → preset targets 19 MB
iMessage / Messages: 100 MB cap (cellular) / unlimited (iCloud-attachment for iCloud-to-iCloud) — usually no compression needed; the tool's pre-flight check will tell you
AirDrop: no cap, no compression needed
Reddit / X / Bluesky: compress to 100 MB

Why use a browser tool instead of an app

No App Store download. Some users (work-managed devices, family controls) can't install apps freely. The browser tool needs no permission grant.
No account. Most compressor apps want signup. We don't.
No background data collection. Apps can phone home with usage data; a browser tab is sandboxed and you can verify with the Network tab.
Same tool on every device. Compress on your iPhone today, on your Mac tomorrow — same UI, same presets.
Privacy is verifiable. Disconnect from cellular and Wi-Fi after the page loads — the tool keeps working. The "no upload" claim is testable.

Try it now

Compress your iPhone video

Free. In Safari. No app, no signup, no upload.

Open compressor →

FAQ

Why are iPhone videos so big?

4K 60 fps records at ~400 MB per minute. Even 1080p 30 fps is ~60 MB per minute. The HEVC codec helps but doesn't make the files small.

Does this really work in Safari on iPhone?

Yes, on iOS 16 and later. Safari supports the WebAssembly + SharedArrayBuffer features ffmpeg.wasm needs. The engine downloads once (~30 MB) and caches for the session.

How long does compression take on iPhone?

iPhone 13 / 14 / 15 / 16: 60–90 seconds for a 30-second 1080p clip. iPhone 12: about 2 minutes. Older devices: 3+ minutes. 4K takes 2–3× longer.

Does my video upload anywhere?

No. Compression runs locally on your iPhone via WebAssembly. The video never leaves your device.

Where does the compressed file save?

To the Downloads folder in the Files app by default. Tap-and-hold the download link to also offer Save Video (adds to Photos).

Why not just use the Photos app to share?

iOS share-extensions reduce video for some destinations (Messages over cellular, Mail) but the result is opaque and only applied when sharing. For Discord, WhatsApp, Drive, or AirDrop you get the raw file — too big for most platforms.

More compression targets

Part of the Essex Video Compressor docs. Free, in-browser, by Essex Software.