Videos have become an important part of the consumption of all those users who surf the Internet on a daily basis and use social networks and messaging services. All this caused by the increasing quality of mobile cameras that allow us to record videos with great quality, even at resolutions that reach 8K. But as the video is of higher quality it also takes up more space, making it difficult for us to share it.
That is why, to solve this problem, we can choose different options to compress videos for WhatsApp or other messaging applications so that it is faster and more accessible to share them. Before we are going to see previously what this compression process consists of, as well as the two types that we can find. Later we will focus on the use of both programs and web applications with which we can carry out this process.
What is compressing a video
When we talk about video compression we are referring to a file encoding process. In this way, we get it to consume less space than the original file so that it is easier to transmit over the Internet. Using this compression technique reduces the size of video file formats by removing redundant and non-functional data from the original video file.
This process is carried out through a video codec that works with one or more compression algorithms, eliminating images, sounds and/or scenes that are repeated within a video. Once the video has been compressed, we obtain another file with a different format than the original, which will vary depending on the codec used. In order for us to be able to view it on our device, it will be necessary for the video player to support and accept this new video format or to be integrated with the compression codec to be able to play it.
Compression means that the file information must be packed into a smaller space, so this can be done with two different types of compression:
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Lossy Compression: It means that the file has been compressed with less data than the original file includes, dispensing with the images and sounds that are repeated throughout the original video as they are considered unnecessary. This can end up causing us to obtain lower quality files because information has been lost. Most of the files that are uploaded to the Internet or shared on WhatsApp use lossy compression to obtain the smallest possible file with high quality.
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Lossless compression: it is exactly what its name indicates, since both the original and the compressed version are almost identical since neither loses data during the compression process. These formats are not as useful as lossy compression because the final size does not usually vary much from what it was before compression.
Programs to compress videos for WhatsApp
Next, we are going to see different programs for Windows with which we can compress our videos, so that they are smaller and we can send them faster through WhatsApp.
Prism Video Converter
If we want to compress videos for WhatsApp we can use a tool like Prism Video Converter, which is compatible with formats like AVI, MP4, MPG, among others that have a codec based on DirectShow. It also supports batch conversion so that we can convert and compress multiple videos simultaneously. Prism has a free version that is available for non-commercial use and that we can download directly from your developer website.
Once we run the program, its main menu appears where we must add the file that we want to compress, for which it will be enough to drag and drop on its interface or from the “File” tab and “Add file to the list”.
Later, in the “Format” section at the bottom left, we select the desired format for the conversion, being able to choose some such as 3gp that take up little space or some other that interests us. Now we just have to click on the “Convert” button and wait for the process to finish.
Simple Video Compressor
When it comes to compressing our videos for WhatsApp, we can use a tool like Simple Video Compressor, which, as we can guess from its name, will allow us to reduce their size, all with a very simple user interface use. we can taste it by downloading a trial version of 25 days and in case we want to use it permanently we can buy its license at a price of 9 dollars.
Once we run we run into its main menu where we must add the video we want to compress. To do this, simply drag and drop the file or click on the “Add file” or “Add folder” button located in the toolbar at the top.
Later we must select the compression mode that we are going to perform from the bottom where we find a slider bar that we can move to the left or right, depending on whether we want a greater or lesser compression. We can also click on the drop-down menu on the left to select the most appropriate option. The higher the compression, the less it will take up, but the more quality it will lose. We can also select the size of the video and the type of codec.
Once finished, click on the “Compress videos” button to start the process, the time of which will depend on the size of the original video and the compression quality that we have selected.
Video Cutter & Compressor
If we have videos that we want to compress to send via WhatsApp, we can opt for an application like Video Cutter & Compressor. It is a free tool that allows us to be able to cut, convert and compress videos to send faster and easier via WhatsApp or other messaging applications. If we want to use it we can download from the Microsoft Store. Although if we want to take advantage of all the functions that it incorporates, it will be necessary to buy its Pro version.
Once installed, we run it and its main interface appears where we must add the video that we want to compress. At the bottom of we find all the available tools, although many of them are only available for the paid version. However, we can cut the content and compress it so that it takes up less space and thus share it more easily on WhatsApp.
So, to cut it, click on «Trim» and choose the duration of the cut that we want to make, marking the beginning and the end of it. Later we click on “Save” and another screen appears where it lets us establish the degree of compression of the video through a sliding bar. If we want a larger file, we move to the left and a smaller one to the right, indicating the size it occupies. If, in addition, we click on “Show Advanced” we can configure the video resolution.
Once finished, click on “Save As” to save it on our hard drive.
clipchamp
We are talking about an online service with which we are going to be able to edit, crop, change the brightness, optimize, compress and share our videos without having to install any program on our computer. This service is called Clipchamp and with only create a free account, we will be able to do all these things on our videos. In addition, we have the possibility of being able to record videos from the computer’s webcam to later process them.
Later we must insert the video, which we can edit if we want to rotate it, cut it to make any other previous adjustment. We can also change the quality or resolution from its menu. When we have it to our liking, we can choose if we want to optimize it to publish it on the web, share it via mobile or even as a GIF and start the optimization or compression and download it to our computer or share it on our social networks.
Just press the “Export” button and select a 480p quality, more than enough to send to our contacts on WhatsApp.
videosmaller
It is a web service that will allow us to compress videos to send it by WhatsApp or other messaging applications and social networks much faster, it can reduce the file, but without losing quality with it. All this from the browser and without losing quality. It supports such popular formats as MP4, AVI, MPEG and MOV and allows us to upload videos of up to 500 MB. To use VideoSmaller just click on this link to their official website.
Once we have accessed, click on “Explore” to select the video that we want to compress. Later we can choose to use a low level of compression if we want to obtain a better quality, scale the video width and remove the audio from the video, all this in a completely optional way. Now we only have to click on the Upload video button. This process will take time depending on the size of the video, as well as the connection speed.
Once the upload is complete, it will inform us of the size of the video that we have uploaded, as well as the size of the new one, where we can check the difference between the two. Just click on “Download File” to download the new compressed video or click on some of the icons below to share it with WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook and other social networks.
Clideus
To compress videos we can also use this web service, because once uploaded it will take care of establishing the necessary parameters to reduce its size and maintain quality as much as possible. This website works with such popular formats as MP4, WMV, MOV, VOB, AVI and other less common ones. In this case, the conversion process is free, but includes a watermark. Can we start accessing your web platform.
Once we have accessed, click on Upload a file, something we can do from our computer or using the storage services of Google Drive or Dropbox. Once it has been loaded, a new window will appear where it will indicate the percentage of comprehension made. Here it tells us how much the original size was and how much is the new created size. Just click on the “Download” button to download it to our computer or copy it to Dropbox or Google Drive. In order to remove the watermark it will be necessary to pay a subscription of 9 dollars.
fastreel
When it comes to compressing our videos, we can also use a page like Fastreel, as it will allow us to reduce its size without losing quality. For which it offers compatibility with MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI and WMV formats, while the uploaded file must have a maximum weight of 500 MB. It has a free version which will show a watermark after conversion. To use it, just click on this link to your website.
Once we have accessed, just click on the “Add file” button and select the video that we want to compress, whether it is hosted on our hard drive or on Dropbox. After a few seconds the video will load and will allow us to select the compression level, either high, medium or low. In each of them, the original size is shown crossed out and it shows the new size that we will obtain after compression. Once selected, click on Export Result. On the next page we must contract a subscription plan or opt for the free download in SD quality (480p), for which we will need to create a new account or log in with our Google or Facebook account.
