How to Compress H.264 Video: Windows, Mac & Online Ways

H.264 is a popular video format used on cameras, smartphones, and many media players. The only problem is that these videos can be large and hard to store or share. But do not worry about the file size anymore. In this guide, we will show different ways to compress H.264. Please check out each method and see which one works best for you!

Part 1. Why Do You Need to Compress H.264 Videos

H.264 is a popular video codec because it keeps good quality with high compression. In H.264 vs. H.265, H.264 files are often larger. Compressing H.264 makes videos easier to store, faster to share, saves bandwidth, reduces backup space, and helps with editing or transfer.

Part 2. Compress H.264 Videos Quickly on Windows and Mac

You can compress H.264 videos in just a matter of seconds with Tipard Video Converter Ultimate. It supports many H.264 video presets and lets you customize each one to match your needs.

This program has a dedicated video compressor to shrink files easily. It also supports batch conversion for multiple videos at once and uses hardware acceleration to make the process faster.

Step 1 Download and install Tipard Video Converter Ultimate on your Windows or Mac by clicking the Download buttons below.

Step 2 Open the program, navigate to the More Tools tab, and select Video Compressor from the list.

Step 3 It is time to import your H.264 video by clicking the Add button or simply selecting and dropping the file from your computer folders.

Step 4 Set your desired file size by moving the Slider or using the Up/Down arrows. You can also change the format and resolution. The bitrate will adjust automatically based on the size you set.

Step 5 You can watch your video to check the changes by clicking the Preview option. Once you are okay with that, proceed to click Compress at the bottom-right corner to start compressing your H.264 video.

Below are the other features that make it stand out:

Part 3. Compress H.264 Videos with HandBrake

HandBrake is a free program that helps shrink large videos. It works well with H.264 videos and lets you change resolution and trim parts you do not need. You can also reduce the audio size to make videos smaller. If your video is corrupted or not playing properly, you can also re-encode it to fix corrupted H.264 videos using HandBrake.

Step 1 Open HandBrake, click File and select the H.264 you want to compress.

Step 2 On the right side, you will see presets. For medium compression, choose Very Fast 720p30. For smaller files, try Fast 480p30 or Super Fast 480p30.

Step 3 Adjust the Encoder Preset to Slower or Very Slow for better compression. Raise the Constant Quality value to around 28-30 for smaller files. In the Audio tab, reduce the bitrate to 96 kbps or lower.

Step 4 Click the Dimensions tab to reduce the resolution. For example, change the width to 640 pixels while keeping the aspect ratio locked. You can also trim unneeded parts of the video in the Range section of the Summary tab. Set start and end times to cut extra sections.

Step 5 Hit Browse to choose where the compressed file will go and give it a name. Then, press Start Encode. After it finishes, proceed to check the file size.

Part 4. 3 Ways to Compress H.264 Videos Free Online

You can compress H.264 videos online for free easily. These tools do not need installation and work on any device, but they rely on your internet connection, so make sure your internet connection is stable and fast.

1. Rotato

You can shrink your H.264 videos online by up to 90% without losing visible quality. Rotato does this securely in your browser, so nothing leaves your device. You can pick Medium, High, or Low compression depending on speed and quality needs.

Step 1 Go to the Rotato - Video Compressor official website.

Step 2 Click Select Video or drag your H.264 video into the page.

Step 3 Choose a compression level. Medium gives balanced quality and size, High keeps sharper images but larger files, and Low makes the smallest file fast. Pick what fits your needs.

Step 4 Click Compress and please wait. You will see the percentage of size saved. Once settled, press Download to save your compressed H.264 video to your device.

2. Clideo

Clideo makes compressing H.264 videos easy. You can choose basic for medium size and high quality, strong for the smallest file with lower quality, or superb for small size with high quality. It shows the expected size instantly and lets you preview the video.

Step 1 Open the Clideo - Compress Video website.

Step 2 Click Choose File or upload your H.264 video from Google Drive or Dropbox.

Step 3 Select a compression type. Basic keeps good quality with medium size, Strong makes the file smallest with lower quality, and Superb keeps high quality with small size.

Step 4 Click Compress and please wait while the video is processed. You will see how much the file was reduced. Once done, click Download to save your compressed H.264 video.

3. FreeConvert

Last but not least, FreeConvert is a simple online tool to compress H.264 videos up to 1 gigabyte for free. You can see how much space you save and then store your video on your device, Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. Plus, signing up allows larger files.

Step 1 Visit the FreeConvert - Video Compressor website.

Step 2 Click Choose Files or upload from Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, or a link.

Step 3 After the video is loaded, click Compress Now! to start the compression. Please wait until it finishes and check the saved percentage of your file.

Step 4 Click Download to save your compressed H.264 video to your device.

Part 5. FAQs of Compressing H.264