What about QuickTime export?

QuickTime Player on Mac has File → Export As with presets like 1080p, 720p, 480p — but those are resolution presets, not size targets. Output size depends on the input duration and you can't say 'land it under 25 MB.' For size-target compression you need a tool that calculates the bitrate; that's what this browser tool does.

Does the video upload to your server?

No. Compression runs locally in your browser via ffmpeg.wasm — the same ffmpeg engine HandBrake uses, compiled to WebAssembly. The video never leaves your Mac. Verify in DevTools → Network or by disconnecting from Wi-Fi after page load.

How fast is compression on an M-series Mac?

M1 / M2 / M3 / M4 Macs compress a 30-second 1080p clip in roughly 15–30 seconds. M Pro / M Max are faster. The bottleneck is single-threaded x264 encoding speed — ffmpeg.wasm currently uses single-thread mode (~50% slower than native HandBrake) because WebAssembly multi-threading needs explicit setup we haven't enabled yet.

Compress a Video on Mac

Updated June 2026 · Free, in-browser, no HandBrake / no install required (macOS 13+)

macOS has three traditional options for video compression: QuickTime Player export (resolution presets only — no size target), HandBrake (free, powerful, but you have to download and learn it), or iMovie / Final Cut (full editor, overkill for "make this smaller"). This page walks through a fourth option: compress in your browser in 30 seconds, with no install, no upload, no signup.

Existing options on macOS, ranked

Tool	Install required	Hit a specific size target?	Privacy	Best for
This browser tool	No	Yes (calculates bitrate)	Runs in browser, no upload	Quick "make this small enough to send"
HandBrake	App download (~50 MB)	Yes (Web Optimized + size)	Local — no network	Power users, batch presets, advanced filters
QuickTime export	Built-in	No (resolution presets only)	Local	Quick resolution downscale, not size target
iMovie / Final Cut export	Built-in / paid	Indirectly (custom quality)	Local	If you're already editing the clip
CloudConvert / Clideo / VEED web tools	No	Yes	Uploads to their servers	Avoid for sensitive content

Compress a video on Mac in 30 seconds

Open the compressor in Safari, Chrome, Edge, or Firefox.
Drag the video from Finder onto the page (or click Choose Videos).
Pick a target. Discord 25 MB, WhatsApp 16 MB, email 19 MB, or use the Custom size / Custom quality options.
Wait. M-series Mac: ~15–30 seconds for a 30-second 1080p clip. Older Intel Mac: 1–3 minutes.
Find it in Downloads. The compressed file lands in ~/Downloads. Drag it to Mail, Messages, WhatsApp Web, Discord, AirDrop, anywhere.

Open the compressor

Free, no install. Works in Safari / Chrome / Edge / Firefox on macOS 13+.

Open compressor →

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

When to use HandBrake instead

HandBrake is the right tool when:

You're compressing a large library (50+ files) and want a saved preset to re-use
You need advanced filters (deinterlacing, denoise, cropping, chapter markers)
You're encoding for a specific device profile (Apple TV, PlayStation, etc.)
You're working with very large files (10+ GB) where the browser's memory limits become a problem
You want hardware-accelerated encoding via VideoToolbox (M-series Macs get a significant speedup)

For the everyday "compress this clip to send via Discord / email / WhatsApp" task, the browser tool is faster (zero install) and produces equivalent output for typical short clips.

Try it now

Compress your video on Mac

Free. Browser-based. No install, no upload, no signup.

Open compressor →

FAQ

Does this work as well as HandBrake?

For simple "compress to under X MB" tasks, the output is equivalent — both use the x264 encoder. HandBrake wins on advanced filters and saved batch presets. The browser tool wins on zero install and in-browser privacy.

Why not just use QuickTime export?

QuickTime's File → Export As only offers resolution presets (1080p, 720p, 480p). You can't say "land this under 25 MB." For size-target compression you need a bitrate calculator — that's what this tool does.

How fast is compression on M-series Macs?

15–30 seconds for a 30-second 1080p clip on M1 / M2 / M3 / M4. Pro / Max chips are faster. ffmpeg.wasm currently runs single-threaded in the browser, so it doesn't use all your cores — native HandBrake is faster, but the difference for short clips is small.

Does this work on Intel Macs?

Yes — macOS 13 (Ventura) or later with Safari 16+. Encoding is 2–4× slower than on M-series.

Does my video upload to your server?

No. Runs locally via WebAssembly. Verifiable in DevTools or by disconnecting from Wi-Fi.

Can I compress a folder of clips?

Yes. Drag a folder from Finder onto the page or use "Choose folder instead." Files process sequentially with a progress table; each auto-downloads as it finishes.

More compression targets

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