9 Best Free Video Compressors

Videos come in numerous formats, various sizes and with different levels of compression. However, you can use the best video compressors to:

• Reduce file size
• Improve compressed quality
• Better serve your audience

We’re going to list the leading nine video compressor software picks that you can use today for free to enhance your videos.

Table of Contents

9 Best Free Video Compressors

Table of Contents

1. Wave.video
2. Freemake Video Converter
3. Handbrake
4. Movavi Video Converter
5. VLC
6. FFmpeg
7. Inverse.AI Video Converter
8. VidCompact
9. Clideo

Conclusion

9 Top Free Video Compression Software Picks

1. Wave.video

Wave.video is the top video compressor on the market with support for numerous file formats, including: mp4, webm, wmv, avi, mkv, mov, m4v, m2ts, mts, ts and tsv. You can convert any of these video formats to the leading formats online, such as:

 

• .mp4
• .mov
• .webm

 

Users can begin using the platform in minutes thanks to the fast setup process, and videos can be compressed in 360p, 480p, 720p and 1080p resolutions.

 

If you’ve never compressed videos before or don’t want to spend time adjusting the compression levels, you’ll love this platform’s simplicity. Simply choose from one of the two compression options:

 

1. Maximum: A larger file size that maintains image and audio quality.
2. Optimized: Videos still have crisp imagery, but the quality is slightly lower and smaller in size.

 

Users can also resize their videos for use on Instagram, YouTube or TikTok. With a full-fledged video editor and dozens of features, you’ll create professional videos with the best compression in no time with Wave.video.

Pros

• Runs on the cloud
• Includes a thumbnail maker for your videos
• Advanced video editor built-in

Verdict

Wave.video is our top pick for the best free video compressor because it includes a full editor and advanced compression options. Recognized by G2, Capterra, GetApp and others in the industry, the platform can help you take your video compression to the next level.

 

You can even use Wave.video on any device if you have an Internet connection.

2. Freemake Video Converter

Freemake Video Converter is a good, free video compressor for PC users. You’ll have the option to export videos directly to YouTube, and the interface is one of the easiest to use. The platform allows you to easily convert to:

 

• MP3
• MP4
• AVI
• WMV
• 500+ formats

You can also cut, join and rotate clips as well as convert full 4K videos with the converter.

Pros

• Completely free without ads
• Easy-to-use interface
• 100+ million users

Cons

• Only available for Windows

Verdict

Freemake Video Converter is a strong competitor for the best video compressor, but it lacks the advanced editing options and cloud-based hosting that Wave.video offers. If you want compression software that works well on a PC and offers 500+ video conversion formats, this is a great option for you.

3. Handbrake

Handbrake is an open-source video transcoder, and it’s meant for anyone who uses:

 

• Windows
• Mac
• Linux

 

Built-in device presets, file containers, video encoder and other options will allow you to compress your videos with very little quality loss.

Pros

• Batch conversions available
• Supports subtitles
• Offers numerous filter options

Cons

• No mobile support
• An overwhelming number of features

Verdict

Handbrake is an amazing software, perfect for PC, Mac and Linux users. It’s fast and easy to convert video into other formats and compress them. However, there are an overwhelming amount of options and features that can confuse first-time users.

4. Movavi Video Converter

Movavi is one of the best video converters for desktop computers, and it has a robust compression algorithm that allows for fast, quality conversions. The platform’s compression speeds are one of the best in the industry, and you do have the option to convert files to 180+ formats.

 

The interface is user-friendly and easy to navigate, and users on Windows and Mac can run the software.

Pros

• High-speed compression
• Compression options for 180+ formats
• Batch convert videos

Cons

• Only “free” for 7 days, and then you have to pay for it
• Watermarks on videos during the free trial

Verdict

Movavi is a great option if you need to compress a handful of videos and don’t need to use it long-term. However, if you need to use it for more than seven days, you’ll need to pay a premium, which pushes it lower on our list.

 

5. VLC

VLC is a popular, free and open-source multimedia player that’s cross-platform. But this tool is more than just a media player. It also comes with converting and editing features.

 

VLC works on virtually every device, including Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android.

 

The platform supports a vast array of video formats and also acts as a media player and encoder.

Pros

• Supports a wide range of video formats
• Platform is easy to use
• Works on virtually all devices

 

Cons

• The library isn’t easy to navigate
• Updates are limited

Verdict

VLC is a great option if you already have experience with video compression and need a simple, no-frills tool. Because this platform is open-source, updates are infrequent and little-to-no support is offered.

 

6. FFmpeg

FFmpeg is a free, cross-platform converter, recorder and streamer for video and audio. It works on Windows, Mac and Linux devices, and it’s compatible with the most popular video formats.

 

Offering streaming support is a nice perk of using this compressor. It also has a convenient built-in editor for merging, cropping and more.

Pros

• User-friendly interface
• Free and open-source
• Supports the most popular video formats
• Works on Windows, Linux and Mac

Cons

• Steep learning curve
• Conversion can cause quality loss

Verdict

While FFmpeg has a user-friendly interface, there is a steep learning curve for beginners. It’s a tool that’s best for more experienced users and people with knowledge of video conversion. That said, if you do have this experience, you’ll find that this tool offers a wealth of options for your compression, converting and even streaming needs.

7. Inverse.AI Video Converter

Inverse.AI offers a number of free products, including a video converter. Their converter is only available for Android devices, but it supports a number of video formats, including MP4, MPEG, MKV, MOV, MPG, WMV, MTS, FLV, VOB and more.

 

Inverse.AI says it will compress your videos while keeping the original quality. You can also:

 

• Compress videos in batches
• Choose different codecs
• Choose your process speed
• Compare compressed and uncompressed videos
• More

 

Inverse.AI works quickly to compress your videos, but it can also run in the background while you continue with whatever task you are doing.

Pros

• Batch processing
• Runs in the background for minimal disruption
• Supports the most popular video formats

Cons

• Only works on Android devices
• No additional editing features

Verdict

Inverse.AI is a convenient and easy-to-use tool that can convert a wide range of video formats. In addition, batch processing allows you to process several videos at once. However, it will only work with Android devices and doesn’t offer additional editing features.

8. VidCompact

VidCompact is a free video compressor app that only works on Android devices. The app supports a number of popular video formats, including FLV, MP4, MKV and MOV.

 

With extra features like video and audio conversion and lossless compression, VidCompact stands out in the crowd. You can even trim, cut, crop and speed up or slow down your videos.

Pros

• Additional editing and conversion features
• Acts as an all-in-one tool
• Supports the most popular video formats

Cons

• Only works on Android devices
• Only free for a limited time

Verdict

VidCompact is a great all-in-one tool that helps you convert, compress and edit your videos. But it’s only free during the free trial period, and it only works on Android devices.

 

This app may be a great option for users who do most of their video creation on their phones or other mobile Android devices. However, you will need to be prepared to pay for the app once the free trial is up.

 

9. Clideo

Clideo is an online tool that compresses video quickly and securely using the cloud. Because it’s an online platform, it works with most browsers.

 

While quick and effective, Clideo is a no-frills tool that doesn’t have many additional features. One advantage it offers is that you can upload files from your cloud storage and preview them before you start the compression process.

 

Encryption and a user-friendly interface make Clideo a great option for users who are new to video compression and concerned about security.

Pros

• Easy to use
• Web-based (no software to download or install)
• Can be used on any device
• Works with the most popular video formats
• Quick compression speeds

Cons

• A no-frills solution (no extra features like converting or editing)

Verdict

Clideo is a great option for anyone who just needs a compression tool. It lacks some of the additional features that other free compressors offer, but compressions are quick and encrypted. Because the tool is web-based, it can be used anytime, anywhere and from any device, making it a great option for anyone on the go.

Conclusion

These are the best free video compression software options available. They’re easy to use, deliver quality results and often have online tools that make it easy to start the compression process.