Can I use Shrinkpad for free?

Yes! Shrinkpad offers a free tier that lets you compress up to 10 files per batch with standard compression settings. It's perfect for trying out the app or occasional use. For unlimited batch processing, all formats, and advanced controls, you can upgrade to a Personal or Team license.

What file formats does Shrinkpad support?

Shrinkpad supports a wide range of formats. For images: JPEG, PNG, WebP, HEIC, TIFF, GIF, and BMP. For videos: MP4, MOV, M4V, AVI, and MKV. We also support 30+ RAW camera formats including CR2, CR3 (Canon), NEF (Nikon), ARW (Sony), DNG, and many more.

Does Shrinkpad support video compression?

Yes! Shrinkpad can compress videos just like images. Simply drag and drop your video files or folders, and Shrinkpad will reduce their file size while maintaining visual quality. Video compression is available on Personal and Team licenses.

How many files can I process at once?

With the free tier, you can process up to 10 files per batch. With a Personal or Team license, there's no limit — you can process hundreds or even thousands of files in a single batch.

Are my files uploaded to the cloud?

No, never. All compression happens 100% locally on your Mac. Your files never leave your device, and we have zero access to your images or videos. This makes Shrinkpad perfect for sensitive or confidential content.

Does it work on my Mac?

Shrinkpad runs natively on macOS 13 Ventura and newer, with full support for both Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4) and Intel Macs. The app is optimized to take full advantage of Apple Silicon performance.

Can I use Shrinkpad on multiple devices?

The Personal license ($14) is valid for 1 device. If you have multiple Macs or work with a team, the Team license ($35) covers up to 10 devices. You can transfer your license to a new device if you replace your computer.

Is there a refund policy?

Yes, we offer a 7-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked. If you're not satisfied with Shrinkpad for any reason, simply email support@shrinkpad.app within 7 days of your purchase with your purchase date and order details, and we'll process a full refund.

How to Compress Video for Discord & WhatsApp on Mac (Under the File Limit)

You captured the perfect clip. A clutch play, a hilarious moment, your cat doing something absurd. You try to send it on Discord. "Your files are too powerful."

A 30-second screen recording can easily be 50-100MB. Discord's free limit is 25MB. WhatsApp tops out at 16MB for video. The math never works. Here's how to fix it.

Platform File Limits (Quick Reference)

| Platform | Max Video Size | |----------|---------------| | Discord Free | 25MB | | Discord Nitro | 50MB | | Discord Nitro (Boost) | 500MB | | WhatsApp | 16MB | | Telegram | 2GB | | iMessage | ~100MB (auto-compresses above) | | Slack Free | 1GB (but upload is painfully slow) |

These limits shift occasionally, but the core problem stays the same: your clips are almost always bigger than the platform allows.

The Free Option: HandBrake

HandBrake is free, open-source, and genuinely powerful. You can open your video, set a target file size or quality level, and export.

The issue: HandBrake was designed for encoding movies and TV shows. The interface is packed with options — audio tracks, subtitle streams, filters, chapters — that you'll never need for a Discord clip. For someone who just wants "make this smaller," it's intimidating.

If you're willing to learn it, HandBrake is an excellent free tool. If you want something faster, keep reading.

The Quick Way: ShrinkPad

The key feature here is the real-time file size estimate. You know before compressing whether your video will fit under the platform limit.

Discord Challenge

A 45-second game clip (1080p, 87MB). Target: under 25MB for Discord free.

HandBrake: ~1 minute of fiddling with settings, then 30 sec encode.
ShrinkPad: Drag, slide to ~65% quality, done in 12 seconds. Result: 19MB. Looks great.

Here's the workflow:

Drop your clip onto ShrinkPad.
Watch the file size estimate as you adjust the quality slider. Stop when it's under your target (25MB for Discord, 16MB for WhatsApp).
Compress: Takes seconds for short clips.
Send it: Drag the output file into Discord, WhatsApp, or wherever.

For batch use: if you're compressing a whole folder of clips for a highlight reel, just drop the folder. ShrinkPad processes them all at once.

Stop uploading your files to the cloud.

Compress images and videos locally on your Mac. Fast, private, and no internet required.

Download for Mac Learn more

Tips for Smaller Videos That Still Look Good

Sometimes compression alone isn't enough for very strict limits. Here are additional tricks:

Trim first: Cut out the boring setup before and after the good part. Shorter = smaller. Use QuickTime's Edit → Trim (Cmd+T) for quick cuts.
Resolution matters: If it's going to be watched on a phone screen, 720p is plenty. Nobody's watching your Discord clip on a 4K monitor.
Frame rate: 30fps vs 60fps. If it's not a fast-paced action clip, 30fps halves the data rate with barely any perceived difference.
Audio: If it's a screen recording with no important audio, muting or reducing audio bitrate can shave off 10-15% of the file size.

Don't Let File Limits Win

Arbitrary upload caps shouldn't stop you from sharing moments. A quick compression step — literally 10 seconds — is all it takes.

Dealing with massive MOV files from your iPhone specifically? See How to Reduce MOV File Size on Mac. For a deeper dive on video quality settings, check out How to Compress Video on Mac Without Losing Quality.