Why Compress Videos on Mac?
Modern smartphones and cameras record in 4K, creating massive video files. A single minute of 4K video can take up 300-400MB of storage. If you have hours of family videos, travel footage, or screen recordings, they can quickly fill up your Mac's storage.
The problem: Most Mac users have 256GB or 512GB of storage. Videos often account for 50-80% of used space.
The solution: Compress your videos using modern codecs like HEVC (H.265) to reduce file sizes by 50-60% without any visible quality loss.
How MediaOptim Compresses Videos
HEVC/H.265 Encoding
Uses the most efficient video codec available, supported by all modern Macs and iPhones.
100% Local Processing
Your videos are processed entirely on your Mac. Nothing is uploaded anywhere.
Preserve Metadata
Keep your video's date, location, and other important metadata intact.
Supported Video Formats
- Input: MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, WebM, M4V, and more
- Output: MP4 (H.265/HEVC) or WebM (VP9)
Step-by-Step: Compress Videos with MediaOptim
- Download MediaOptim - Free for Mac, no account required
- Drag and drop your videos into the app
- Choose quality preset - "Balanced" works great for most videos
- Preview the compressed version before saving
- Save and reclaim your storage space
Comparison: MediaOptim vs Other Mac Video Compressors
| Feature | MediaOptim | Handbrake | Online Tools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy to use | Complex | ||
| 100% Private | Uploads files | ||
| Batch processing | Limited | ||
| HEVC output | Varies | ||
| Preview before save | No | No |
Real-World Compression Results
Here's what you can expect when compressing different types of videos:
| Video Type | Original Size | Compressed | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 4K video (5 min) | 1.8 GB | 720 MB | 60% |
| Screen recording (10 min) | 800 MB | 280 MB | 65% |
| GoPro footage (15 min) | 4.2 GB | 1.7 GB | 59% |
| Wedding video (1 hour) | 18 GB | 7.2 GB | 60% |
When Should You Compress Videos?
- Mac storage is full - Videos are usually the biggest space hogs
- Sharing via email - Most email services limit attachments to 25MB
- Uploading to social media - Faster uploads, same visual quality
- Archiving old footage - Keep everything but use half the space
- Before iCloud backup - Reduce what you're paying to store in the cloud
When NOT to Compress Videos
Compression isn't always the right choice. Keep original quality when:
- Professional editing - If you'll color grade or heavily edit the footage
- Client deliverables - When clients specifically request uncompressed files
- Archival masters - Keep one uncompressed copy as your "master" backup
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose video quality?
No. MediaOptim uses perceptual quality optimization, meaning it removes data that humans can't perceive anyway. The result looks identical to the original but takes up 50-60% less space.
How long does compression take?
It depends on your Mac and video length. On Apple Silicon Macs (M1/M2/M3/M4), compression is very fast thanks to hardware acceleration. A 10-minute 1080p video typically takes 1-2 minutes.
Does it work with iPhone videos?
Yes! MediaOptim is perfect for compressing iPhone videos, which are often recorded in high-efficiency formats but can still be compressed further.
Can I compress multiple videos at once?
Yes. MediaOptim supports batch processing - just drag an entire folder of videos and it will compress them all automatically. Perfect for processing your entire video library overnight.
What's the difference between H.264 and HEVC/H.265?
HEVC (H.265) is the newer, more efficient codec. It produces files 40-50% smaller than H.264 at the same quality level. All Macs from 2017+ and all iPhones from iPhone 7+ support HEVC playback.
Is MediaOptim better than HandBrake?
HandBrake is powerful but complex - it has dozens of settings that can be overwhelming. MediaOptim is designed for simplicity: drag, drop, compress. If you want results without learning video encoding terminology, MediaOptim is the better choice.