ShrinkIt For Mac

There are tons of video editing and compression apps out there, but while some are very straightforward, they generally require at least some basic knowledge of the encoding process.

ShrinkIt is aimed at users who either don’t know anything about video editing or just want to reduce their file size as quickly as possible without caring too much about the output quality. The app works via drag and drop, and it only requires you to choose a quality preset before processing your clips.

Naturally, anyone who is in any way concerned with fine-tuning output quality should look elsewhere. ShrinkIt was designed for those who just want to make a file small enough for a specific purpose, and definitely not professionals.

Once the main window is up, simply drop a video (or several if you upgrade to the Pro version) after selecting the desired video and audio presets. Processing will begin immediately, and the compressed file will be found in the output folder.

If you go to the settings tab, you have the option to reduce the video’s dimensions as well, which is a good idea if compression can’t get the file size low enough without reducing the bitrate to unacceptable levels. Even with this setting, you select a percentage instead of the actual resolution, in the interest of simplicity.

Compression is similarly handled via intuitively-named presets, from Lowest to Highest. Some trial and error will probably be necessary until you get the right file size and quality. You also have the option to remove the audio track in the Pro version, for that little bit of extra file size reduction.

Users who like to get their hands dirty already have plenty of apps to cater to their needs. ShrinkIt is intended for anyone who wants to just cut down a video’s file size as quickly possible without knowing anything about compression. It does the job, and the free version should be more than suitable for most users.