Does WhatsApp compress the video again?

Sent as a video in the chat, yes, always; a source that is already 720p and lightly compressed comes out of that step looking much better than a 4K original. Sent as a document, it is passed on as it is.

What size should I aim for?

For someone on mobile data, a few megabytes per minute is comfortable. The 16 MB preset is the figure most people search for; documents may be larger, but a smaller file opens faster for the receiver.

Can I do this on the phone itself?

Yes, in a current Chrome or Safari; the encoding is slower than on a laptop, so start with a short clip. The result is saved to Downloads or Files and shared from there.

Compress a video for WhatsApp

Send a video in a WhatsApp chat and the app re-encodes it before it goes out: the picture gets smaller and blurrier, and a long clip can take ages on mobile data. Do the first step yourself and WhatsApp has far less to spoil. This page presets the compressor to a 720-pixel picture and the Low quality level, which is tuned for chat: sharp enough on a phone screen, a fraction of the original size.

Options

Target sizeno target: the quality level decides

QualityLow · for chat and quick sharing

Max resolutionnever upscaled

Frame ratenever raised above the original

Containerplays everywhere

Codecauto picks the one players open most

Audiocopied when it fits, re-encoded when it is too big

Remove audio

Start (s)0 = from the beginning

End (s)0 = to the end

If you need a particular size, choose the 16 MB (WhatsApp) target instead: the bitrate is worked out from the length of the clip so the file lands under it. To keep your quality untouched by WhatsApp, send the result as a document (the paperclip, then Document) rather than as a video; the file arrives as you made it.

The re-encoding runs on your device, in the browser. Nothing is uploaded, and a few minutes of video keep the phone busy for a while; keep the page open until the result appears.

Tips

Trim first: Start and End in the options keep only the seconds that matter, and a 20-second clip is a fifth of a 100-second one.
Tick Remove audio for a clip where the sound is only wind; it saves space and nobody will miss it.
Leave codec and container on Automatic: H.264 in MP4 is what WhatsApp and every phone play.

Why it is private

Everything you type or drop here is handled by your browser, on your device. Nothing is uploaded. To verify, open your browser's developer tools, go to the Network tab, and use the tool: you will see no request carrying your data.

Frequently asked questions

Does WhatsApp compress the video again?: Sent as a video in the chat, yes, always; a source that is already 720p and lightly compressed comes out of that step looking much better than a 4K original. Sent as a document, it is passed on as it is.
What size should I aim for?: For someone on mobile data, a few megabytes per minute is comfortable. The 16 MB preset is the figure most people search for; documents may be larger, but a smaller file opens faster for the receiver.
Can I do this on the phone itself?: Yes, in a current Chrome or Safari; the encoding is slower than on a laptop, so start with a short clip. The result is saved to Downloads or Files and shared from there.

Popular variants

Compress video