Compress & Shrink Videos

Frequently asked questions

Why MP4 with H.264?

Because it is the only video format that truly plays everywhere: in every browser, on every phone, in Shopify, WordPress and Wix. Newer formats save a few per cent more but fail on one device or another — on a website that is the more expensive mistake. The file also gets its header moved to the front ("faststart") so playback starts before everything has loaded.

Does the video lose quality?

Phones and cameras record at a multiple of the data rate a screen on a website could ever show. Exactly that surplus is removed. At the "Balanced" level the difference from the original cannot be seen on the page — and the preview after the run shows it before you use the video. Your original stays unchanged on your device.

What happens to my data?

Nothing leaves the browser. Reading and re-encoding happen on your device with the video encoder the browser brings along; no video is uploaded or stored. The metadata of the original (device, location) is not carried over either.

What size does a website video need?

Full HD (1920 pixels) for hero videos across the full width, HD (1280 pixels) for product and explainer videos in the content. More only makes the file bigger, not the picture sharper. Background videos should be uploaded without sound — only muted videos may autoplay in the browser.

Why does it not work in my browser?

The tool uses the video interface of modern browsers (WebCodecs). It exists in Chrome, Edge and Safari, and on a computer also in Firefox. If it is missing, the page says so right above the drop area — then switching to Chrome or Safari helps. iPhone videos in HEVC (H.265) can be read by Safari on a Mac and by Chrome; another browser reports it when you drop the file.