Videos shot on an iPhone, especially in high resolutions like 4K, are often very large, with even short clips taking up hundreds of megabytes or more. This can quickly fill up storage space and make sharing difficult. In addition, most social platforms, such as WhatsApp, Discord, and email, impose strict file size limits on uploads, often capping videos at a few megabytes. This means large videos need to be compressed before they can be shared.
In this article, we’ll explain how to quickly compress videos on your iPhone using three methods: the built-in iPhone tools, iOS apps, and online video compressors.
Built-in iPhone Compression Tool
As far as I know, iPhones do not have a built-in tool specifically designed for video compression. The only option available is to trim the video into shorter clips using the Photos app. While this reduces the file size, it’s not a practical solution for most cases where the entire video needs to be preserved.
Third-Party Apps
You can install third-party apps from the App Store that offer video compression functionality. Some popular options include:
These apps generally deliver good compression results, but there are some downsides:
- Cost: Most of these apps are either free trials or paid, meaning you’ll eventually need to pay. Some even require a 5-star review to unlock certain features, which feels unprofessional.
- Convenience and Security: Installing an app can be inconvenient, and many are developed by small companies or individuals, which may raise concerns about data security.
Online Video Compressor
Online video compression through a browser is a popular and convenient choice for reducing video sizes without installing additional software. These tools fall into two categories:
1. Upload, Compress, and Download
With this method, you upload your video to a server, the server compresses it, and you download the compressed file. While effective, it has some drawbacks:
- Time-Consuming: Uploading and downloading large videos can take a long time, especially with slower internet connections.
- Costly for Mobile Devices: Data transfer can consume a significant amount of mobile data.
- Privacy Concerns: Sharing private videos to external servers may pose security risks.
A reliable option in this category is Freeconvert.com. It supports videos up to 1 GB for free and offers fast compression with good quality.
2. In-Browser Compression
This method performs the compression directly within your browser, without uploading the video to a server. It has several advantages:
• Faster for Large Files: Avoids the need to upload or download, which saves time.
• More Secure: Videos remain on your device, reducing privacy concerns.
In-browser compression can be slower due to the limitations of browser-based tools but supports larger file sizes, often up to 2 GB.
Redpandacompress.com: A great choice for this category, offering secure and efficient compression for videos up to 2 GB. It also provides an automated size calculation tool for you to know the right size for your video. Learn how large should a 5 minute HD video be.
Both types of online compressors have their pros and cons, and the best choice depends on your priorities—speed, security, or file size limits.
Find the Best Method for Your Needs
Choosing the right method depends on your priorities. If you value speed and ease, third-party apps or server-based online tools might be the way to go. For those concerned about privacy and handling larger files, browser-based options like Redpandacompress.com are excellent choices.
Fei is a skilled software engineer. He previously worked at Google and now at a startup. His expertise includes web media processing, cloud architecture, complex algorithms, and AI training and deployment. Beyond work, Fei enjoys diving into new knowledge and is a big fan of strategy games.