How to Compress a Video on Mac: 6 Easy Methods (2026)

Step-by-step guide to compressing videos on Mac using 6 methods from beginner-friendly to advanced.

Knowing how to compress a video on Mac is one of the most practical skills you can have in 2026. Whether you're trying to email a clip to a client, free up space on a packed SSD, or upload footage without hitting a platform's file limit, video compression turns multi-gigabyte files into something manageable — without visibly degrading what you recorded.

This guide covers six tested methods for Mac users, ranked from the fastest and most beginner-friendly to the most powerful. Each method includes step-by-step instructions so you can get results immediately.

Method 1: Compress with Compresto (Easiest)

If you want to compress a video on Mac in the fewest clicks possible, Compresto is built for exactly that. It uses Apple's hardware acceleration (via the Neural Engine and GPU) to compress video far faster than software-only tools — often processing a 10-minute 4K clip in under two minutes.

How to compress a video with Compresto:

  1. Download and install Compresto from the Mac App Store
  2. Open Compresto
  3. Drag and drop your video file (or entire folder) into the window
  4. Select your target quality or output size
  5. Click Compress — done

Compresto supports MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, and most common video formats. It handles batch compression natively, so you can drop 50 videos at once and walk away. Output files land in the same folder as originals (or a custom destination you set), renamed with a clear suffix so nothing gets overwritten.

Why Compresto wins for most users: No codec configuration, no export dialogs, no format compatibility guesswork. Hardware acceleration means it finishes in a fraction of the time HandBrake or FFmpeg would take. For compressing video without losing quality, Compresto's default settings hit a sweet spot that most other tools require manual tuning to reach.

Method 2: Compress with QuickTime Player

QuickTime Player is pre-installed on every Mac and handles simple compression through its export options. It is not the most powerful tool, but it requires zero downloads and works for basic size reduction.

Steps:

  1. Open your video in QuickTime Player (double-click or right-click > Open With)
  2. Go to File > Export As
  3. Choose a lower resolution: 720p, 480p, or Audio Only
  4. Select a save location and click Save

QuickTime re-encodes the video using H.264 at the selected resolution. A 1080p video exported as 720p typically comes out 40-60% smaller. The trade-off: you cannot set custom bitrate, change codec, or compress without downscaling.

Best for: Quick one-off compression when you just need something smaller for email or Messages and don't want to install anything.

Method 3: Compress with iMovie

iMovie is Apple's free video editor, also pre-installed on Macs. While it's designed for editing, its export options offer more control than QuickTime — particularly around quality levels.

Steps:

  1. Open iMovie and create a new project
  2. Import your video: File > Import Media, select your clip, drag it to the timeline
  3. Go to File > Share > File
  4. In the export dialog, adjust:
    • Resolution: 4K → 1080p → 720p → 540p
    • Quality: Best (ProRes), High, Medium, Low
    • Compress: Faster (smaller file) or Better Quality (larger file)
  5. Click Next, choose a save location, click Save

For most use cases, selecting 720p + Medium quality + Faster compress reduces a large file by 70-80% while keeping it watchable on any screen.

Best for: Users who already have iMovie open, are doing light editing alongside compression, or need slightly more control than QuickTime provides.

Method 4: Compress with HandBrake

HandBrake is a free, open-source video transcoder that gives you granular control over every compression parameter. It's the go-to tool for users who want to dial in exact quality settings without using the command line.

Steps:

  1. Download HandBrake from handbrake.fr and install it
  2. Open HandBrake and click Open Source to load your video
  3. Select a Preset from the right panel — "Fast 1080p30" or "HQ 720p30 Surround" work well for most purposes
  4. Under the Video tab:
    • Set Video Codec to H.265 (HEVC) for maximum compression
    • Use Constant Quality (RF slider) — RF 20-24 for 1080p is a good range; higher RF = smaller file
  5. Click Start Encode

HandBrake's RF (Rate Factor) system is more efficient than setting a fixed bitrate because it allocates more data to complex scenes and less to simple ones. An RF of 22 in H.265 typically produces files 50% smaller than the same video in H.264 at equivalent visual quality.

Best for: Power users who want maximum control, anyone compressing for archival or specific platform requirements, or situations where file size targets are strict.

For more on compressing videos with VLC as an alternative free tool, see our dedicated guide.

Method 5: Compress with VLC

VLC Media Player includes a hidden transcoder that can compress video without additional software. It's less intuitive than HandBrake but useful if VLC is already installed.

Steps:

  1. Open VLC and go to Media > Convert/Save (or Cmd+R)
  2. Click Add, select your video, then click Convert/Save
  3. In the Convert dialog, click the wrench icon next to Profile
  4. Under Video codec, check Video and set your target bitrate or select H.265
  5. Click Save, set a destination file, and click Start

VLC's interface for transcoding is less polished than HandBrake and the progress indicator can be misleading, but it produces solid results. For a full breakdown of VLC compression options, see how to compress video with VLC.

Best for: Users who already have VLC and don't want to install another app.

Method 6: Compress with FFmpeg

FFmpeg is a command-line tool that gives you more control over video compression than any GUI app. It's free, extremely fast, and scriptable for batch operations.

Install FFmpeg via Homebrew:

brew install ffmpeg

Basic compression command (H.264):

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libx264 -crf 23 -c:a aac -b:a 128k output.mp4

High-efficiency compression (H.265):

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libx265 -crf 28 -c:a aac -b:a 128k output.mp4

Parameter guide:

  • -crf = Constant Rate Factor. Range 0-51; lower = better quality, larger file. 18-28 is the practical range.
  • -c:v libx265 = use H.265 codec (50% smaller than H.264 at equivalent quality)
  • -b:a 128k = audio bitrate (96k for voice, 192k for music)

Batch compress all MP4s in a folder:

for f in *.mp4; do ffmpeg -i "$f" -c:v libx265 -crf 28 output_"$f"; done

For a full FFmpeg compression guide, see our FFmpeg compress video walkthrough.

Best for: Developers, power users, or anyone who needs to automate compression across large libraries.

Best Video Compression Settings for Mac

Use CaseResolutionCodecBitrate
Email / Messaging720pH.2642–4 Mbps
Social media (Instagram, TikTok)1080pH.2644–6 Mbps
YouTube upload1080pH.264/H.2658–12 Mbps
Google Drive / Cloud backup1080pH.2654–6 Mbps
Archive (high quality)4KH.26520–40 Mbps
Web embed720pH.2642–3 Mbps
WhatsApp480p–720pH.2641–3 Mbps

For platform-specific compression guides, see how to compress video for WhatsApp, compressing videos for Instagram, and compress video for TikTok.

HEVC vs H.264: Which Codec to Use

When you compress a video on Mac, the codec you choose has the biggest impact on the size-to-quality ratio.

H.264 (AVC):

  • Universal compatibility — plays on virtually every device and platform
  • Well-supported by browsers, social media, TVs, and mobile
  • Larger file sizes at equivalent quality to H.265
  • Best choice when compatibility matters most

H.265 (HEVC):

  • Roughly 40-50% smaller file sizes at the same visual quality
  • Supported natively on all Macs (2017 and later) and modern iOS/Android
  • Not supported by some older browsers and smart TVs
  • Best choice when storage or bandwidth is the priority

Rule of thumb: Use H.264 for anything being shared publicly or embedded on websites. Use H.265 for personal storage, cloud backup, and sharing between Apple devices.

For a detailed side-by-side breakdown, see how to reduce video size and how to make MP4 smaller.

FAQ: Compressing Videos on Mac

How do I compress a video on Mac without losing quality?

Use HandBrake with H.265 and an RF value between 20-24, or use Compresto which automatically applies near-lossless settings. The key is using a modern codec (H.265) rather than just reducing resolution. See compress video without losing quality for a full guide.

What is the best free way to compress video on Mac?

HandBrake is the most powerful free option with full codec control. QuickTime Player and iMovie are built-in and require no downloads. For the easiest experience with hardware-accelerated speed, Compresto is the most efficient option for Mac.

How much can I compress a video without it looking bad?

Typically 50-80% size reduction with no visible quality loss is achievable using H.265 at appropriate bitrate settings. A 1GB 1080p video can often be reduced to 200-400MB with no perceptible difference on typical screens. Aggressive compression beyond that starts showing artifacts in fast-motion scenes.

Can I compress multiple videos at once on Mac?

Yes. HandBrake supports queue-based batch processing. FFmpeg handles batch operations via shell scripts. Compresto supports batch drag-and-drop natively — drop a folder and all videos inside compress automatically.

Does compressing video reduce video length or cut content?

No. Compression only affects file size, not duration. All frames remain intact; the codec just encodes them more efficiently. The only way compression affects content is through slight quality reduction at aggressive settings — never through trimming.

Download Compresto to compress videos, images, and PDFs on your Mac with one click.

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