How to Compress Videos on Mac Using Free and Premium Tools

Compressing videos on Mac is an essential skill for everyone these days. Whether you use emails to share videos for work, upload content on platforms like YouTube, share personal videos with friends, or find another use for videos, it's imperative that you know how to compress them. Without compression, videos can often become too big to share, upload, or use for other purposes. Mac users have multiple options to compress videos easily and effortlessly. In this guide, we'll cover the best ways to compress videos on macOS, including Mac and MacBook computers.

Part 1. The Best Video Compression Software for Mac

While there is no dearth of options for compressing videos on Mac, Univd Video Compressor for Mac stands apart from the rest. Univd is a universal media compressor capable of compressing any video, audio, and image file format. It uses advanced compressing algorithms to deliver a superior compression experience that's unmatched in the industry.

How to Reduce Video Size on Mac with HitPaw Univd

Step 1: Import Videos to Univd for Mac

Launch HitPaw Univd for Mac>> Go to 'Compressor'>> Drag videos directly into the tool or use the 'Add Video' button.

Step 2: Customize Compression Settings

Click on the 'Gear' icon beside an imported video to open its Compression Settings >> Choose between 'Precise compression' and 'Quality compression' based on your needs.

Use the Compression Bar at the bottom for batch compression.

Step 3: Compress Videoson Mac

Click 'Compress' or 'Compress All' to start video compression process on Mac device.

Pros

Extensive format support
Extensive compression customization
Highly efficient compression with size-to-quality balance
Fast and powerful
Easy to use

Cons

Some features need premium subscription

Part 2. Built-in Free Video Compression Software on Mac

iMovie is generally the first choice for Mac users looking to do anything with videos, whether it's editing or compressing. And, it's not just a convenient choice either. iMovie is perfectly capable of compressing videos, although it does not offer the same degree of customization as HitPaw Univd does. With basic customization options, simple editing tools, and a highly optimized compression experience, iMovie easily meets the needs of most casual users.

How to Compress Videos on Mac with iMovie

Step 1:Launch iMovie on your Mac >> Find the 'Projects/Library' menu >> Click the '+' button >> Select 'Movie'>> Choose an appropriate theme >> Give a name >> Click on the 'Downward Facing Arrow' on the top left corner to import video for compression.
Step 2:Click on 'Share'>> Select 'File'. This will open the export settings window. Then, you can adjust the resolution and quality settings to reduce video file size according to your needs.
Step 3:Adjust to lower theResolution, Quality, and Compression settings. Once you have satisfied with your adjustments, click "Next" and choose a save location for your compressed video.

Pros

Free
User-friendly and familiar interface
Preinstalled on all Mac devices, so no additional installation required
Simple compression settings and customizations

Cons

Lacks advanced features
Lacks batch processing
Suited for casual users

Part 3. Top Free Video Size Reducer for MacOS

VLC Media Player has consolidated its position as one of the top media players in the industry. But few people know that it's also an excellent video compression tool. Granted, it's not the most user-friendly tool for video compression, but it does the job pretty well, especially for casual users. The free and open-source tool is loaded with video profiles that make it easy to compress videos to standard sizes and settings for different platforms and use cases.

How to Shrink Video File Size on Mac with VLC media player

Step 1:Launch VLC Media Player >> Go to 'File'>> Choose 'Convert/Stream'.
Step 2:Drag the video directly into the first box or use the 'Open Media' button.
Step 3:Choose a video profile in the 'Choose Profile' section >> Click 'Customize'>> Go to 'Video Codec' tab >> Customize compression settings >> Hit 'Apply.'
Step 4:Choose the destination folder for the compressed video using 'Browse' button >> Click 'Save.'

Pros

Free and open-source
Can compress almost all video formats
Familiar tool for most users
Basic compression customizations are available

Cons

Complex compression process
Lacks advanced customizations
Lacks batch processing

Part 4. Best Free Online Video Compressor for Mac

For users looking for a cross-platform tool that can compress videos on Macs, MacBooks, iPads, iPhones, and even non-Apple devices, HitPaw Online Video Compressor is the answer. It is an online file converter service with a powerful video compression tool. It's designed for maximum convenience and lets users upload videos from their devices. It's a pretty handy tool, especially for users who are on the move and frequently switch between devices. With extensive support for video formats, HitPaw is a highly convenient video compression tool.

Pros

Free
Fully online. Can be accessed from any browser-compatible device
Easy to use and beginner-friendly
Supports a vast range of video file formats
Basic compression settings

Cons

Lacks advanced compression settings
Not suitable for large videos
Advanced features locked behind a paywall

FAQs on Compressing Videos on Mac

Q1. Can I compress videos without losing quality on Mac?

A1. Yes. You can convert the video compression encoding from an older format like H.264 to H.265 to achieve superior compression without sacrificing quality. To simplify this, you can use HitPaw Univd and choose the highest quality setting for compressing videos using the most efficient algorithms. Univd can compress videos without sacrificing quality at all.

Q2. Will compressing a video make it blurry or pixelated?

A2. The quality of the compressed file depends largely on the settings you choose during compression. If you choose the lowest quality settings, such as extremely low resolution or the most aggressively low bitrate, then the compressed video may end up blurry or pixelated. Ideally, take a trial-and-error approach to experiment with different settings until you achieve the right quality-size ratio.

Q3. Can I compress a batch of videos at once?

A3. Not many tools offer batch compression features as a standard. HitPaw Univd is one of the few tools that does. Univd natively supports batch video compression on Mac so that you can compress thousands of them in a single batch.

Conclusion

Whether you're a casual user wanting to trim video size for email or a professional managing hundreds of large media files, there are many ways to compress videos on Mac devices. However, if you need full customization, lossless compression, and batch capabilities, HitPaw Univd is the only perfect option. Univd offers advanced video compression tools alongside a potent video editor, video converter, and many other tools. Take it on a test drive today.

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