[2024] 10 Best Free Video Compression Software

Large videos can take up ample space on your device, making it difficult to share with your friends or upload to social media. Hence, compressing the video files for easy sharing is a must. In such a case, you can seek video compression software.

In this article, we will see ten competent free video compression software for different platforms like Windows, Mac, and Linux. We have provided their features, pros, and cons to help you choose the best one wisely. Let’s look.

What is a Video Compressor?

Video compressor software helps users reduce their video file size by specifying the compression ratio or target video file size. It lets you change the video format, encoding settings, and more for a compressed yet impressive video.

Many video compressors support compressing popular audio and video formats like MP4, WebM, FLAC, MKV, AVI, etc. You can avail of one depending on your use and compatible OS. They are available for Windows PCs, Mac computers, smartphones, and online.

List of Best Video Compression Software for a Desktop

Check out the comprehensive list of the best video compressor software to compare and pick the best one, considering the compression ratio, speed, output video quality, and compatible operating software.

1. UniFab Video Converter Pro

Best for beginners and professionals to convert and compress multiple video formats without loss and in original quality.

UniFab Video Converter Pro

It is the best video compression software. You can compress video files into any format and set the file size suitable for your social media platform while preserving the original quality, while it also includes 3-in-1 video editing tools like video conversion, video editing, and video production filters. It can convert over 1000 video formats without compromising on the quality.

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Key Features:

• Effortlessly converts videos to any video format without losing quality
• Compress videos to any video while preserving the original quality
• Offers flexible customization of videos
• Simple and efficient video trimming functions like split, crop, rotate, etc.
• Supports professional video creation tools

Pros

• Supports 50x faster conversion/compression/editing speed due to GPU acceleration
• Allows editing multiple videos using batch processing

Cons

• Available only for Windows PCs from Windows 7 and above

2. VLC Media Player

Best for beginners to convert video files for free to multiple formats on any OS

VLC Media Player is a cross-platform free video compression software that supports playing multiple media files on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers. It helps reduce the file size of any video type, be it MP4, MKV, AVI, or MOV format. It has many ready-made options like H.264 + AAC and H.265 + MP3 to help you choose your own audio/video codec, bitrate, frame rate, etc.

Key Features:

• Offers several video format options
• Supports editing video files
• Provides x264 encoding capabilities
• Useful filters like motion blur, distort, crop, and more

Pros

• Convenient keyboard shortcuts
• Comparatively lower CPU usage when compared with other freeware

Cons

• Limited software updates
• Difficulty while navigating the media library

3. Freemake Video Converter

Best for beginners and casual editors looking for a decent free compressor with several features

Freemake Video Converter is another free video compression software for Windows users. It helps compress popular video and audio formats, but the process can be relatively slow. The software does not support adding a customized watermark, but the output files will have a Freemake watermark by default. Upgrade to a premium account to unlock and use advanced features and remove the watermark.

Key Features:

• Offers preset output profiles for Android phones like Samsung, Nokia, etc., tablets, and game consoles
• Rips and burns home and unprotected DVDs/Blu-rays
• Compress videos by setting the customized output file size
• Allows adding/editing subtitles and supports basic video editing functions like cut, rotate, join other clips

Pros

• Simple and appealing user interface without ads
• Numerous tools for video compression
• Allows adding subtitles like SRT and ASS/SSA

Cons

• It crashes frequently, and even the final video output has a Freemake watermark
• HEVC, VPN, and many popular formats are unavailable
• Not available for Mac users

4. QuickTime Player

Best for Mac users looking for free and fast video compression software to compress MPEG formats

QuickTime Player is a decent free video compressor Mac that lets you reduce the video size regardless of the picture or sound quality. Practically, it is not an exclusive software to compress videos, but you can use it for decent compression to get the job done and upload your files properly. Though QuickTime Player is built-in on Mac computers, Windows users can also use it on their systems.

Key Features:

• Record the entire screen or a desired portion and webcam on Mac computers
• Allows editing a movie like trimming, rearranging, and rotate
• Seamlessly capture the screens of iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch
• It supports splitting the video into multiple clips and modifying each one individually

Pros

• Simple and free to use
• Preinstalled on Mac computers

Cons

• Requires high CPU usage with extremely low compression speed
• Automatically turns the compressed videos to MP4 format

5. FFmpeg

Best for professionals and experts with technical knowledge of editing and conversion to compress videos depending on their needs and requirements

FFmpeg is an open-source and free video compressor for Mac, Windows, and Linux computers. It offers support for various video formats like MOV, MP4, API, etc., making it an excellent choice for professionals and advanced users seeking a powerful compressional tool. FFmpeg can record, convert, compress, and stream audio and video files. FFmpeg has ready-made setting profiles for major platforms, giving you complete control over video parameters.

Key Features:

• Easy to navigate, user-friendly interface
• Supports a massive range of video formats
• Provides a built-in video editor to crop, merge, etc.
• Capture and record screen effortlessly

Pros

• It offers additional features besides compression, like recording, converting, streaming, etc.
• Supports streaming with screen capture

Cons

• FFmpeg has a steep learning curve for beginners
• The file compression process is time-consuming

6. Windows Movie Maker

Best for beginners and casual editors to compress videos and directly share them on social media platforms

Windows Movie Maker is a great video compressor for PCs that lets you compress MP2, MPEG2, MP4, H.264, WMA, and more file formats. It comes preinstalled on Windows 7, and users find it convenient for basic file compression. Moreover, its GPU-accelerated fast speed makes the compression process speedy. However, Windows Movie Maker cannot compress many popular formats like VP8/VP9, AV1, HEVC, etc.

Key Features:

• Allows compressing videos in common formats like MPEG, AVI, and MP4
• Supports basic video editing
• GPU accelerated high compression speed
• Allows to share the compressed video on social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Gmail, etc.

Pros

• Relatively fast compression speed due to hardware acceleration
• Free, simple, and easy to use

Cons

• Output video files are in H.264 MP4 and WMV formats only
• Available only for Windows 7 computers

7. Online Converter

Best for novices to easily compress videos in MP4, MPG, 3GP, WMV, and more formats online without compromising storage space.

Online Converter is one of the best video compression software available for free. It can compress and convert all kinds of file types like audio, video, ebook, images, and documents. You can compress multiple formats, but the restaurant output file will be in MP4 video only.

Key Features:

• Allows compressing video by setting the preferred output file size
• Supports a maximum 200 MB video file size
• Offers basic editing tools like adding images/background, transitions, and color corrector
• Compress videos, audio, ebook, and pictures, document files

Pros

• Easily compress multiple video formats like GIF, 3GP, WMV, etc.
• It does not require any registration or installation, as it is available online

Cons

• The compression speed is relatively slow, especially during a low internet connection
• Neither can you see nor customize the video parameters like bitrate, resolution, etc.

8. Handbrake

Best for beginners and professionals to compress videos for free on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers

Handbrake is an open-source, free video compression software with several features to help compress videos without hassle. It allows batch processing with DVD ripping. Handbrake supports many trendy file formats that make it most effortless to use for compression. Moreover, the user-friendly interface of Handbrake makes it easy to use for beginners. Even professionals can use the advanced features to make the overall video impressive.

Key Features:

• Built-in device presets
• Supports a vast range of video formats
• Allows batch conversion
• Supports CFR and VFR

Pros

• Packed with many advanced features
• Allows batch conversion with many video formats

Cons

• Slow compression speed with high CPU usage
• Outputs compressed videos in MKV, MP4, and WebM formats only

9. FreeConvert

Best for new users to convert and compress short video clips with small file sizes for free online

FreeConvert is a great and one of the best video compression online tools to compress video files. It can compress multiple formats like AVI, MP4, MKV, and other video files from Google Drive, local drive, and Dropbox. You can add your video and adjust the file size, change the bitrate, and tune the picture quality to suit your specifications. However, FreeConvert supports only HEVC and H.264 encoders.

Key Features:

• User-friendly and easy-to-understand interface
• Supports to merge files
• Converts video files of up to 1.5 GB for free
• Supports a rapid download speed

Pros

• Effortlessly handles popular video formats
• Supports batch conversion

Cons

• Larger file conversion requires upgrading to the pro version
• The free version of FreeConvert has a daily conversion limit
• The pro version can be glitchy

10. Zamzar

Best for beginners and novices who need to convert or compress a small quantity of files or file sizes

Zamzar is an online, free video compressor software that works seamlessly on any web browser with a stable network connection. Zamzar supports a massive range of file types, but the free version can be limited in use. To avail of the full functionality of Zamzar, you must upgrade to a paid plan.

Key Features:

• Supports more than 1200 file formats
• Offers personal storage to handle files
• Converts and compresses numerous files simultaneously
• Provides responsive support through email

Pros

• It does not have ads or a watermark
• It does not require account registration or software installation

Cons

• The free version limits only two file compression/conversions in 24 hours
• You cannot work with videos over 400 MB in the free version and must upgrade to the business plan

The Final Words

We hope we have helped you find the best free video compression software that works seamlessly on Windows, Mac, Linux, or online. The market is flooded with video compressor software, but while choosing one, you must be careful of your needs and purpose and whether it is compatible with your OS for smooth video compression. Also, ensure you pick the one that delivers a high-quality output video file. Are you looking to take your video content to the next level? Experience crystal-clear video quality with UniFab Video Enhancer AI.