Compressor

What is Compressor?

Compressor is a native video compression app for Android. It’s designed to take video files and compress them on-device using built-in codecs, with the goal of producing smaller outputs without relying on a slow, bulky software-encoding workflow.

The project is open source and uses the Android Media3 library for compression, with support for H.265 and AV1 on compatible devices. The repository also documents performance testing across multiple Android devices using a consistent input video and preset.

Key Features

• Uses Android Media3 (native integration) instead of a wrapper around FFMpeg, aimed at reducing compression overhead
• Supports H.265 and AV1 on compatible devices
• Provides Android Share Sheet support, so compression can be started directly from supported workflows that expose sharing
• Offers an ad-free experience
• Keeps the app lightweight (reported as under 10MB)
• Uses Kotlin for a fully native implementation (not a React Native-based approach)
• Avoids invasive permissions (no storage, no internet, etc., as stated on the page)
• Simple UI with operation on Android 7.0 and up

How to Use Compressor

1. Install and open Compressor on an Android 7.0+ device.
2. Use the app’s UI (or Android Share Sheet support) to select a video for compression.
3. Choose a compression option/preset as provided by the app.
4. Start the compression and wait for the compressed output to be generated on the device.

If you use Compressor in a workflow where the Share Sheet is available, you can initiate compression from that sharing flow rather than manually selecting files inside the app.

Use Cases

• Compressing large 4K videos for easier sharing: The project describes tests using a 25-second, 200MB 4K video with a Medium preset, which is relevant when you need to reduce size while keeping a practical quality level.
• Preparing videos for upload on limited bandwidth connections: Smaller file sizes can make it faster to move a video from your device to another service or device.
• Reducing storage use on older Android devices: The repository includes timing comparisons on multiple devices, offering context for users who want compression to complete quickly on their hardware.
• Comparing native codec-based compression vs software-encoding approaches: The page contrasts Compressor with another Android video compressor that uses ads, noting an ~117x speed difference in their test setup.
• Local/offline compression workflows: The app states it uses no internet and no storage permissions (“no storage, no internet etc”), which aligns with a workflow focused on on-device processing.

FAQ

Is Compressor ad-free? Yes. The repository states “ad free.”

Which Android versions are supported? The page says Compressor works on Android 7.0 and up.

Does Compressor support H.265 and AV1? Yes—H.265 and AV1 support is included, and it applies to compatible devices.

How does Compressor perform compression compared to FFMpeg-based wrappers? The page states it uses the native Media3 library rather than another slow, bulky FFMpeg wrapper. It also provides timing comparisons from its documented tests.

Does Compressor require intrusive permissions or internet access? The page states it uses “No invasive permissions (no storage, no internet etc).”

Alternatives

• Other native Android video compression apps: Many apps compress video using device codecs; workflow and UI will vary, but you may find differences in speed and supported formats.
• Transcoding/compression using general-purpose media tools on Android: If you use apps or libraries that rely on software encoding, they may behave differently in runtime and device compatibility.
• Desktop or server-side video compression workflows: For users who prefer processing off-device (e.g., for batch jobs or more control), moving compression to a computer or service changes the setup and performance trade-offs.
• In-app sharing/transcoding alternatives: If you want to start compression from Android Share Sheet flows, look for apps that integrate with the system share menu so you don’t need to open a separate file picker.