The Best Video Compressors for Mac (M1/M2/Intel)
Looking for the best video compressor for Mac to reduce file size? Check out our roundup list below.
It is a real bummer to get the “file too large” error when you are trying to upload the video to YouTube, Discord, Emails, etc.
While today’s iPhones and cameras usually allow us to shoot 4K and UHD videos, it’s not always easy for sharing.
Facebook Messenger sets a 25MB limit, Discord 8MB, email attachments 25MB, WhatsApp 16MB, and YouTube violently compresses your large videos without sophisticated settings.
Video compressors are applications to make a video smaller in file size, by changing bitrate, using an efficient codec to achieve a higher compression ratio, and altering other codec settings.
They help us to save storage space, enjoy faster uploading speed, and preserve the quality too. Below are the best video compressors for Mac under various situations.
The Best Video Compressors for Mac in 2023 – Overview
- VideoProc Converter — Overall best video compressor for Mac (Editor’s Choice)
- Handbrake — Best Mac Video Compressor for Skilled Users
- VLC — Compress Video on Mac for Occasional Usage
- 8MB Video Compressor — Compress Video on Mac for Discord Videos
- FFmpeg — Best Mac Video Compressor for Code-Savvy Users
- QuickTime Video Player — Compress Video on Mac Quickly with a Trick
6 Best Video Compressors for Mac
1. VideoProc Converter (Editor’s Choice)
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Best Video Compressor for Mac Overall
VideoProc Converter is the overall best video converter for Mac, considering its feature set, ease of use, output quality, and robust performance.
Besides the existing compression options loved by its users (use a better codec, lower bitrate, alter frame rate, and more), VideoProc Converter now has a time-saving Video Compress Tool built-in.
Any user can easily make a video smaller – from 10% to 90% the size of the original file – by dragging the compressing slider, or simply entering the value for the intended size. No skills or compressing knowledge are required.
With the level-3 Hardware Acceleration tech, it can boost the compressing speed to 47x. This tool runs on Mac M1/M2 series/Intel and Windows PC and is lightweight for old and slow computers.
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Features:
- Built-in compressor to reduce the file size by percentage or intended value easily
- Advanced compressing algorithms to balance file size and video quality
- Ability to manage bitrate mode, GOP, FPS, codec, aspect ratio, and audio settings
- Worry-free profiles for YouTube, SNS sharing, TVs, and device playback
- 370+ input/420+ output formats, best for 4K, 360 VR, HEVC, MOV, QuickTime, GoPro…
- Beginner-friendly toolkit to edit, convert, record and save videos. No learning curve
Pros |
Cons |
 7 ways to compress video for different scenarios |
 The free trial version is free for an unlimited number of videos under 5 minutes each |
| Reduce video file size by 10% – 90% as you wish |
|
| Powered by High-Quality Engine and Adaptive Image Scaling algorithm |
|
| Level-3 hardware acceleration and multi-core CPU processing |
|
| Cheaper price with more features than its competitors |
2. Handbrake
Best Mac Video Compressor for Skilled Users
Handbrake is another nice choice in the list of best video compressors for Mac. Although it only supports compressing to three formats: MP4, MKV, and WebM.
The notable absence is the MOV support, which is widely used on Mac devices. Still, there’s not much to complain about since it is free.
Handbrake is designed with a geeky interface, daunting for beginners but powerful for professionals. For instance, there are RF value settings to balance video file size and quality, provided that the users have experience in manually adjusting the value based on video resolution, FPS, and other parameters.
Features:
- Compress and convert videos to different formats
- Support constant quality or average bitrate mode
- Offers Encoder Profile and Level settings for power users to compress video
- Compress multiple videos in the queue
Pros |
Cons |
| Support 2-pass encoding that takes a long time to compress |
Only support MP4, MKV, and WebM output format |
| Select chapters from videos to compress and convert |
No option to compress the video to the intended file size |
| Add filters to the video upon compressing |
It will always re-encode the video because it doesn’t support video remux |
| Doesn’t support video-to-audio conversion |
3. VLC Media Player
Compress Video on Mac for Occasional Usage
It’s no secret that VLC Media Player can be repurposed as the best video compressor for Mac without paying anything.
The tradeoff is a not-so-smooth workflow and some learning curve. You need to check the resolution, FPS, and bitrate profiles of the source video, and then manually enter numbers to nudge them down. Alternatively, you can compress video with HEVC H265, which is more efficient than H264.
Since many of us already has VLC installed as a media player, it can be quite handy to compress video on Mac for temporary usage. You can check the detailed steps here to make videos smaller in VLC.
Features:
- Convert and compress video to MP4, WebM, TS, ASF, etc.
- Support streaming videos and audio online
- Support non-commercial DVDs, CDs, and Blu-ray
Pros |
Cons |
| Free and open-source software |
No 1-click profile to easily compress videos |
| Active communities and abundant tutorials online |
Cannot estimate the compressed file size |
| Runs natively on M1/M2 Macs |
Doesn’t support compressing to MKV out-of-the-box |
4. 8MB Video Compressor
Compress Video on Mac for Discord Videos
8MB Video Compressor is the best video compressor for Mac and Discord users. Unlike other tools that compress your video to an unpredictable size, this online tool does exactly what its name says – reducing your video file to less than 8MB.
It also offers another three options: 25MB, 50MB, and 100MB, corresponding to Discord Nitro Classic (50MB) and Discord Nitro (100MB).
Features:
- Option to remove sounds from the video
- Compress the video by trimming off the start and end parts
- Support a wide range of input formats
Pros |
Cons |
| Quick and handy for occasional usage with small files |
Severe quality loss if you squeeze it too much |
| Compress video to a specific size range |
The free tool only supports videos under 5 minutes |
| Free for videos under 2GB, no watermark |
The server crashes on demanding videos such as HEVC |
5. FFmpeg
Best Mac Video Compressor for Code-Savvy Users
FFmpeg is a command-line based video processing tool. Its coding nature is a daunting front door that wards off many beginners. But once you get the hang of it, you will find FFmpeg the best video compressor for Mac.
You can specify the intended compressing codec, bitrate value, bitrate mode, and other parameters to reduce video file size. If the resolution isn’t a concern, you can compress large 4K to 1080p or 720p to make the video smaller.
Features:
- Free command-line tool without restrictions
- Compress MKV, MOV, MP4, FLV, and more formats with codes
- You can use the experimental builds on GitHub with more features
Pros |
Cons |
| Support a large range of video and audio formats |
Not a graphical way to compress videos |
| Option to convert, trim, and split videos and audio files |
The compressing can take a long time without proper settings |
| Support the latest AV1 video compressing |
6. QuickTime Video Player
Compress Video on Mac Quickly with a Trick
QuickTime Video Player can easily export a video into MP4 at several resolutions. So the trick is, when you export the video, the file size will be reduced, especially when you downgrade the resolution.
It is the best video compressor for Mac when you only need to convert one file, in a hurry, and not to think much about bitrate or other codec settings that can enhance the quality.
Features:
- Compress MOV, FLV, MPEG4 and many more to MP4 for free
- There is also a hidden video recording option in QuickTime
- Option to trim a video to make it smaller
Pros |
Cons |
| No need to install it, the application is free and safe to use |
No advanced settings to preserve video quality |
| Support open image sequences |
Not a dedicated video compressor |
| High CPU usage for 4K, HEVC, and large videos |
How to Choose the Best Video Compressor for Mac
Depending on your scenarios and use case, one or some of the applications on this list will be your best video compressor for Mac for specific tasks.
The overall best choice is VideoProc Converter. It is lightweight and powerful, with the largest formats, a 1-click compressing tool, and advanced settings to balance quality level and file size. I
t is time-saving, efficient, and has far more features than free tools, and a cheaper price tag than other paid software – nearly half of the price with a similar feature set.
For a detailed test with compression ratio, CPU usage, and processing time, you can refer to this blog on best video compressors, which included applications for Mac and Windows OS with a comprehensive review.
For a one-time task, Handbrake and VLC are both nice choices. If you want to compress specifically to 8MB, 25MB and so on, you can use the online 8MB video compressor, or the 1-click compressing tool in VideoProc Converter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a third-party app to compress a video on Mac?
Is there a video compressor on Mac?
Does video compressing reduce the video quality?
Yes, while compressing a video, specific data is removed to make the file size smaller. This results in loss of clarity and detail in the images. However, choosing the right compression method and settings will help in preserving the quality to an extent .
Is there a way to make a video smaller other than compression?
Yes, you can opt to trim down your video or choose a lower resolution(720p or 480p) to reduce the file size.
The Best Video Compressor for Mac – Summary
It’s time to narrow down your selection of the best video compressor for Mac. Our list includes the features, benefits, and drawbacks of each video compressor to help you choose the one that best fits your needs.
If you are a professional video editor and looking for a video compressor, we recommend the VideoProc Converter. It offers rich features at a reasonable cost and produces results of the highest caliber.
If you do not intend to choose a subscription plan, Handbrake is an ideal choice for you. This tool is capable of compressing and converting videos to different formats (MP4, MKV, and WebM).
Whereas, QuickTime Video Player is a great alternative if you’re looking for a simple way to export your videos quickly.
What is your favorite video compressor in this list? Let us know in the comment section.
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