Learn how to compress a video without losing quality in 6 different ways. Discover how to compress a video without losing quality on different devices.
File size is a major issue when dealing with streaming, uploading, sharing and storing video content on the internet.
But, what if I told you that it’s possible to compress a video without compromising its crisp resolution.
In fact, video hosting platforms like Adilo allows you to create, upload and share video without needing to compress it.
Keep reading to discover the best ways on how to compress a video without losing quality and how to do this on different devices.
Let’s dive in.
Key Takeaways
- Encoding settings like frame rate and color depth influences video size. A video encoded at 60fps in HDR will have a larger file size than one at 30fps in SDR.
- Compressing a video into a ZIP file is the quickest way to reduce a video size without losing quality.
- Adilo is a robust unlimited video hosting platform that comes with a free video compressor. It can compress a 1GB video to just 200MB without any quality loss.
- The best video formats for compression are MP4 and MKV. Files in this format have small size without losing video content quality. Also, they are widely compatible across many devices.
- The best video codec for compression is the H.265 (HEVC) which offers about 50% more efficient compression than H.264 while maintaining similar quality.
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What is Video Compression?
Video compression is the process of reducing the file size of a video, making it easier to store, share and stream.
During compression, unnecessary data is eliminated, by analyzing its file code for repetitive information. This includes similar colors, repetitive information, and background elements.
Compression can be lossless or lossy:
- Lossless compression: it involves reducing a file size while retaining all original data.
- Lossy compression: it reduces a video size by discarding some data which causes a slight drop in quality.
Factors That Influences Video File Size
The size of your video content is influenced by the following:
- Video resolution: This refers to the number of pixels in each frame, measured as width x height. For instance, 1920 x 1080 is for full HD. while higher resolution like 4K (3840 x 2160) contains more pixels, resulting in quality images and large file size.
- Aspect ratio: This is the ratio of video frame width to its height. A 16:9 (widescreen) video at 1080p is larger than a 1:1 (square) video at the same resolution.
- Encoding: Encoding is the process of converting raw video data into a compressed format for storage and streaming. Encoding settings like frame rate and color depth influences video size. A video encoded at 60fps in HDR will have a larger file size than one at 30fps in SDR.
- Bitrate: Bitrate is the amount of data processed per second in a video. It is measured in kilobits per second (Kbps) or megabits per seconds (Mbps). A higher bitrate enhances video quality but increases file size, while a lower bitrate reduces file size.
- Codec software: Different codecs like H.264, H.265 and AV1 affect file size by how efficiently they compress data. Newer codecs like H.265 and AV1 offer higher compression, producing smaller files without sacrificing quality.
Why Reduce the Video File Size?
How to compress a video without losing quality is necessary because of following reason:
- Smaller files take up less space on devices and servers
- Allows more videos for storage
- Improves upload speed to social media platform
- Enhances fast download of video
- Small file size requires less bandwidth
- Makes streaming smoother especially on slower internet
- Small file size uses less mobile data
- Small video sizes are easy to share across different platforms.
How To Compress A Video Without Losing Quality
Let’s dive in:
How to Compress a Video File Into a ZIP File
Compressing a video into a ZIP file is the quickest way to reduce a video size without losing quality. ZIp files don’t alter the video content, it only compresses the file for storage.
It’s a straightforward method on Windows or macOS:
- Right click on the video file
- Select send to > compressed (zipped) folder on Windows or compress option on Mac.
This method is best for sharing videos that will be extracted for playback, as playback is often not possible within a ZIP file.
How to Compress a Video by Reducing Video Resolution
Video resolution sizes either increase or decrease video size as they help enhance streaming quality.
Lower video resolution has a smaller file size. It’s possible to reduce a 4K video resolution to 1080p with smaller size, although with less quality.
How to compress a video without losing quality by reducing video resolution is done using softwares like HandBrake, Shotcut or Inshot.
Depending on your chosen software, you can change your uploaded video resolution under the resolution and cropping settings.
How to Compress a Video by Trimming it
Trimming videos works best when you only want a specific part of a video.
When you trim a video file, you remove the unnecessary part of the video, which reduces the file size.
Recommended video trimming apps include iMovie, video editor, and Adobe Premiere pro.
How to Compress a Video by Converting Video Formats
A video file format adds to its file size. There are various video file formats including H.264 (MP4), H.265 (MP4), AVI, and WebM.
However, the MP4 (H.264) video format is widely used because it compresses a file size with no quality loss, compared to AVI video format.
How to Compress a Video by Adjusting Video Bitrate
Bitrate(Kbps) of a video controls the amount of data used per second in a video.
Hence, how to compress a video without losing quality involves lowering the bitrate which leads to small video file size.
For a smaller file size set target bitrates for lower resolutions including 1080p (500kbps), 720p (200kbps), and 480p (100kbps)
How to Compress a Video Using Online Compressor
Online video compressors are great for reducing file size without needing external software download.
Online compressors offer various features to compress your video including adjusting resolution, bitrate, and choosing optimized format.
Here are recommended online video compressors.
Adilo Free Video Compressor
Adilo is a robust unlimited video hosting platform that comes with a free video compressor. It can compress a 1GB video to just 200MB without any quality loss.
This online compressor is straightforward and easy because it comes with a user-friendly interface.
To begin:
- Create a free Adilo account
- Upload your video to be compressed
- Choose your compression option
- Redownload your video to get the encoded (compressed) version.
In addition, creating a free Adilo account is the easiest way to compress a video for free online without any quality loss and without needing to install or buy any software.
Create your free Adilo account by clicking here.
Clipchamp
Clipchamp is a recommended platform for reducing video file size. It is great for sharing social media videos as it offers various options to reduce video sizes without losing quality.
To reduce video size with Clipchamp, simply upload your video, choose your desired setting and redownload your video.
VLC Media Player
VLC media player is a free software that helps compress video without losing its quality.
This software compresses videos by converting and adjusting formats of resolutions by using the convert/save option in the media menu.
- Select the “Media”>”Convert/Save” option.
- Upload your video and choose MP4 as your format which offers a smaller file size without losing quality.
- Next, adjust the resolution and bitrate under the “Edit Profile” section for optimal balance between quality and size.
How To Compress A Video Without Losing Quality on Different Devices
Here is how to achieve this:
How to Compress a Video on a Mac
You can compress a video on a Mac using various built-in and free softwares:
- Using a QuickTime player, go to “File> Export as” and choose a lower resolution such as 1080p and save your exported video file.
- Using iMovie, upload your video and select “File > Share > File” and adjust its resolution, format or compression option. Then export and share your video file.
How to Compress a Video on a Windows PC
How to compress a video without losing quality is easier on Window PCs as it offers multiple options.
The most commonly used is the Windows Video Editor. This is used for basic video compression on Windows 10 and 11.
- Open the Window video editor and add your video to the project option and click “Finish video”
- Next, choose a lower video quality depending on your choice, save your video and have it downloaded.
How to Compress a Video on an iPhone or Android
How to compress a video without losing quality is possible on an iPhone and android devices using different compression apps and online tools.
For iPhone
- iMovie
- Video compressor
- Compress videos and resize
For Android
- Inshot
- Video compress
- VidCompact
With Adilo, You Don’t Need to Compress Videos
Yes, by signing up for an Adilo account, you don’t have to go through the stress of compressing your video.
You can host your video on Adilo with unlimited hosting, and easily share your created video content across different platforms with the appropriate file size.
With Adilo you simply share your video seamlessly on any page with the html embed code created for each video. This saves you the hassle of uploading, compressing to desired size, re downloading and sharing.
Also, it comes with a built-in HD recorder on your dashboard. This allows you to easily record your screen, camera and audio simultaneously up to 4K quality, without needing external softwares or tools.
Adilo comes with a default HLS-protection on all video and other advanced built-in security features, including viewer authentication, DRM and AES protection and many more.
Create a free Adilo account to gain access to these benefits.
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FAQs
What video formats are best for compression?
The best video formats for compression are MP4 and MKV. Files in this format have small size without losing video content quality. Also, they are widely compatible across many devices.
Can I compress a video without changing the resolution?
Yes, you can compress a video without changing the resolution by adjusting the bitrate or using a more efficient codec like H.265 (HEVC).
What is the difference between lossy and lossless compression?
The key difference is that lossy compression reduces a file size by removing some data which affects a video quality. While lossless compression reduces a file size without any data loss, hence, video still retains its original quality.
What tools can I use to compress a video without losing quality?
There are several tools and softwares for video compression depending on your device. This includes iMovie, Windows Video Editor, Video compressor, Compress videos & resize and Adilo free video compressor.
What is the best video codec for compression?
The best video codec for compression is the H.265 (HEVC) which offers about 50% more efficient compression than H.264 while maintaining similar quality.
Final Thoughts on How To Compress A Video Without Losing Quality
Whether you’re adjusting resolution and bitrate, converting video format or using online compression, you can compress your video without sacrificing its crisp quality.
Also, how to compress a video without losing quality can be quick and hassle-free when using the right tools and softwares. So, experiment with all the above methods and find the one that suits your needs.
However, when you host your video on Adilo, you don’t have to go through the stress of compressing your video!
It offers the option to share files in appropriate size on any platform and also share on any page with the html embed code.
Sounds great right?
Create a free Adilo account and start now.
Experience: Happiness Hassan is an SEO content writer and strategist with over 7 years of experience helping brands boost visibility, engagement, and sales.
Expertise: Whether it's keyword research, crafting content, or fine-tuning on-page and off-page strategies, I’ve got you covered. My goal is beyond driving traffic but making your users experience a win-win for everyone!
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When I’m not geeking out over SEO, you’ll find me deep in the world of self-development. As a dedicated student of continuous growth, I write about my growth journey, sharing insights to help others unlock their potential.
Education: Complementing my BSc. Geography and Environmental Management from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, I have honed my skills as an SEO content writer and strategist through comprehensive training at Northpad, where I gained expertise in crafting optimized content to boost search engine visibility. As a certified student of Jobberman Soft Skills Training, I developed strong communication and problem-solving skills, which complement my SEO proficiency.
My dedication to continuous personal learning and online training keeps me updated with the latest industry trends, enabling me to create content that aligns with the ever-evolving demands of search engines and user experiences. I stay connected with top experts to ensure my strategies remain current and effective.
Felix is the Senior Content Editor and Strategist at Adilo, where he harnesses his expertise in social video marketing, online video platforms, video editing, e-commerce, e-learning, and marketing to to help businesses drive results. With a keen eye for storytelling and a pulse on industry trends, Felix crafts actionable content that empowers brands to elevate their video marketing strategies and thrive in the digital landscape.
