MotionShineShort answer: The quickest free way on a Mac is QuickTime Player: open the video, choose File, Export As and pick a smaller size such as 720p. Apple's page says the exact resolution and data rate of the export depend on the original. If you need to hit a size, such as 25 MB for email, use the free video compressor, which runs in your browser and lets you type the target.
Checked on 23 October 2026. Apple facts come from Apple Support pages: "Export movies to other file formats and resolutions using QuickTime Player on Mac", "Automation tips in QuickTime Player on Mac" and "Share or export your iMovie video". None shows a publish date. HandBrake's facts come from its own documentation.
What makes a video file big
Three things: the picture size, the frames each second and the bitrate, which is the data spent on each second. Compressing means lowering one or more of them. What is video bitrate? has the sum, and what is 4K video shows why a bigger picture costs more.
Five ways at a glance
| Way | What you control | Output | Hits an exact size? | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QuickTime Player, Export As | Picture size, and codec for 4K and 1080p | .mov | No | Built in |
| Finder, Encode Selected Video Files | Picture size, quality or compatibility | Apple page does not say | No | Built in |
| iMovie, Share | Resolution, quality (MP4) | Video file | No, but warns about email size | iMovie must be installed |
| Video compressor in your browser | Target size or quality, picture size, frame rate, sound | MP4 (H.264) | Yes, checks the real size | Free |
| HandBrake | Many settings | MP4, MKV or WebM | Settings only | Free |
Way 1: QuickTime Player
- Open the video in QuickTime Player.
- Choose File, Export As.
- Pick 4K, 1080p, 720p or 480p.
- For 4K and 1080p, open Format. Smaller File Size uses HEVC. Greater Compatibility uses H.264.
- Name it, choose where to save and click Save.
Apple's page says 720p uses H.264 up to 1280 x 720, and 480p up to 640 x 480. Sizes larger than your movie are dimmed. It also says QuickTime Player does not export MP4. The file is a .mov. If you need MP4, see convert QuickTime to MP4 on Mac. For the codec choice, see H.264 vs HEVC for screen recordings.
Way 2: Finder, Encode Selected Video Files
Apple's QuickTime Player guide says to Control-click a media file in Finder and choose Encode Selected Video Files. It says you can change the resolution and choose between higher quality and compatibility with more devices. The page does not say what file type comes out or how small it gets, so try it on a copy and compare. A related Apple page puts the same action under Services, so the menu may differ on your macOS version.
Way 3: iMovie
If iMovie is on your Mac, Apple's page says to lower the Resolution when the file is too big. It says lower resolutions give smaller files that upload faster, and that iMovie shows a warning on the share screen when a video is over the recommended limit for email (usually 10 MB). For an MP4 export you can set Quality to Medium or Low. Apple's page does not say how much any setting saves.
Way 4: A free video compressor in your browser
The MotionShine video compressor is the one way here where you can type the size you want.
- Drop in your video. It is compressed in your browser, and the file is not uploaded.
- Choose Get under a size and click 10, 25, 50 or 100 MB, or type your own. Or pick a quality level.
- Optionally lower the picture size, frame rate or sound.
- Start, then save the MP4.
The page says it works out a bitrate from your target and the video length, checks the real size, and tries again up to three more times if it is over. If a video is already well compressed, the result can be the same size or larger, and the page says so. It needs a current Chrome, Edge or Safari. It has no watermark. For email, see also compress video for email.
Way 5: HandBrake
HandBrake's documentation describes it as an open-source video transcoder that converts videos mainly to MP4, MKV or WebM. It says everyone can use it for free, on Linux, Mac and Windows. It has many settings, which is useful if you want control and a learning curve is fine. I have not tested its presets for this post.
Which way to pick
- One quick shrink, no extra app: QuickTime Player.
- A file that must fit a limit: the browser compressor.
- Lots of settings: HandBrake.
- Already editing in iMovie: iMovie's Share.
Make smaller files from the start
Compress less by recording less. A smaller picture, 30 fps instead of 60 and a tighter recording all help, as covered in video editing tips for screen recordings. MotionShine is a free Mac screen recorder, made by the writer of this blog. Free exports go up to 720p at 30 fps with no watermark and no time limit, which is already a small size, and Pro unlocks 1080p, 1440p, 4K and 60 fps. It is not for you if you only need to shrink a file you already have. Use Way 1 or 4.
FAQ
How do I compress a video on a Mac for free?
Use QuickTime Player's File, Export As with a smaller size, or the free browser compressor. Both cost nothing.
How do I make a video under 25 MB?
Use the video compressor, choose Get under a size and enter 25. Lower the picture size too if it still does not fit.
Does compressing lose quality?
Yes, a little. Any smaller file has less detail. High quality with the original size keeps the loss hardest to see.
Does QuickTime Player compress video?
Exporting at a smaller size makes a smaller file, but Apple's page gives no size controls. It says the data rate depends on the original.
Why is my screen recording so big?
Screen recordings are saved at a high bitrate. The bitrate calculator shows what a length and bitrate cost in size.
Can I compress without uploading?
Yes. The browser compressor works in your tab, so the file stays on your Mac. QuickTime, Finder and iMovie are also local.
