PureTools
Compress Video for Discord, WhatsApp & Social Media
Reduce video file size directly in your browser. Choose a social media preset (Discord, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube) or set a custom target. No upload, no watermark, 100% private, works offline.
Drop your video here
or · up to 500 MB
Select a platform. The compressor targets its file size limit automatically based on your video duration.
Enter a size between 1 and 500 MB. The compressor calculates the required video quality automatically.
Quality mode does not guarantee a specific file size, it optimizes visual quality at the chosen compression level instead.
Preparing…
How to use the Video Compressor
This tool reduces the file size of any video directly in your browser, no account required, no file uploaded to a server, and no watermark added to the result. Choose a social media preset to hit a platform's exact size limit, enter a custom target, or use Quality mode for direct control over compression strength. The tool works on desktop and mobile and keeps working offline once loaded for the first time.
- Select your video, drag and drop a video file onto the drop zone, or click Browse. MP4, MOV, AVI, WEBM and MKV formats are all supported, up to 500 MB.
- Choose a compression mode, the three tabs let you pick between Presets (platform size limits), Custom size (any target in MB), and Quality (direct control with CRF levels).
- Select your preset or set your target, in Presets mode, click the platform you are compressing for. In Custom size mode, type your target in MB. In Quality mode, choose a level from Best to Smallest.
- Set the output filename, the filename field is pre-filled with the name of your source file. Change it as needed; the
.mp4extension is added automatically. - Click Compress Video, the first time you use this tool, it downloads a one-time local compressor file (~30 MB). After that, subsequent uses load instantly from your local cache.
- Download your file, the result card shows original vs. compressed size and the percentage saved. Click Download MP4 to save the file. No watermark is added.
Social media file size limits explained
Each platform enforces a strict maximum file size for video uploads. Discord allows up to 25 MB for free users (Nitro raises this to 500 MB). WhatsApp caps video messages and status clips at 16 MB. Instagram accepts Reels and feed videos up to 100 MB. TikTok allows uploads up to 287 MB from the app. YouTube Shorts supports files up to 500 MB. When you select a preset, the compressor automatically adjusts the video bitrate, the amount of data per second, so that the output fits within the limit based on your video's duration. A 30-second clip can carry far more quality per MB than a 10-minute video at the same file size.
Understanding CRF quality levels
The Quality setting controls the visual quality of each frame without targeting a specific file size. Best quality is near-lossless, most viewers cannot distinguish it from the original, but the file remains large. High is the standard recommended level used by most video editors as a default export. Balanced noticeably reduces file size while keeping the video watchable for most content. Smallest applies heavy compression and is suitable for preview clips or content where storage space is the top priority. For a related private browser tool, see the Video to MP3 converter.
Frequently asked questions
Is my video uploaded to a server?
No. Your video file never leaves your device. The entire compression runs inside your browser without any server. PureTools has no server infrastructure to receive your files. You can disconnect from the internet after the page has loaded and compression will continue without interruption. Your file is held only in your browser's memory and cleared the moment you close the tab. Your data is never used to train AI models or improve machine learning systems.
How do social media presets work?
Each preset targets the official file size limit of the corresponding platform. Discord free accounts allow 25 MB, WhatsApp allows 16 MB, Instagram Reels and feed videos allow up to 100 MB, TikTok allows up to 287 MB, and YouTube Shorts allows up to 500 MB. The tool reads your video duration, then calculates the video bitrate needed to hit the target. The lower the bitrate, the more compression is applied. Audio is always kept at 128 kbps for clear sound.
What is the difference between Presets, Custom size and Quality modes?
Presets mode compresses to a specific platform file size limit, calculated automatically from your video duration. Custom size mode lets you type any target size in MB, useful when you need a precise file size for email attachments or storage quotas. Quality mode uses a CRF value instead of a size target: you choose from Best, High, Balanced or Smallest, and the compressor optimizes quality at that level without a guaranteed output size. Quality mode generally produces better visual results when size is not the primary concern.
What video formats are supported?
The tool accepts MP4, MOV (Apple QuickTime), AVI (Audio Video Interleave), WEBM and MKV (Matroska), the five most widely used video container formats. The output is always an MP4 file (H.264 video, AAC audio) for maximum compatibility across all devices, browsers and social platforms. No watermark is added to the output at any compression level.
Why is my compressed video not smaller than the original?
This happens when the source video is already highly compressed, typically with a modern H.264 or H.265 encoder at a low bitrate. Re-compressing an already-compressed video can sometimes yield a file of about the same size or marginally larger, because the encoder struggles with artifacts from the previous compression. In this case, try reducing the target size further in Custom mode, or switch to Quality mode and choose Smallest. Screen recordings and videos downloaded from messaging apps are common examples of already-compressed sources.
Is there a file size limit for the input?
Yes. The maximum input file size is 500 MB. This limit protects your device's memory, the entire file is loaded into RAM for processing. For a typical social media clip (30 seconds to 5 minutes), this limit is rarely reached. If your source file exceeds 500 MB, consider splitting it into shorter segments first. Mobile users with large files may also experience slowdowns, a warning appears automatically on detected mobile browsers.
Does the tool work offline?
Yes, after your first visit. PureTools saves the tool locally on your device so it can be used without an internet connection. The compressor downloads a one-time local file of about 30 MB on first use and then stores it in your browser cache. On all subsequent visits, including offline, the page loads from your local cache. Compression runs entirely without a network connection. For the most reliable offline use, open the merger once while online, then keep the browser cache intact before using it without a connection.
Will there be any quality loss?
Yes, compressing a video always reduces quality to some extent, because compression works by discarding data. The degree of loss depends on how aggressively you compress. For preset and custom modes, longer videos compressed to a small target will show more visible quality reduction than short clips. Quality mode gives you direct control: Best (CRF 18) is nearly lossless, High (CRF 23) is the standard recommended level, Balanced (CRF 28) is a strong general-purpose setting, and Smallest (CRF 35) applies the most compression. No watermark is ever added.
Is my data erased when I close the tab?
Yes, completely. Your video file exists only in your browser's memory while the tab is open. Your settings, compression mode, selected preset, custom size and quality level, are saved only for the current session and erased automatically when you close the tab. No file content, video data or personal information is ever written to permanent storage by this tool or transmitted to any server. Closing the tab clears everything instantly.