These 2 free compression tools protect your privacy
Sometimes you just need to make a file smaller, quality be darned. Maybe it’s your kid’s school play performance that probably doesn’t need to be preserved in pristine 4K resolution. Or perhaps it’s a PDF that won’t fit within your email provider’s attachment size limits. Whatever the case, it’s worth bookmarking a couple of free tools that can squish your files down without uploading them to…
Two free online tools, vidshift.io and nanofile.io, enable you to compress files without compromising quality or privacy. These services, developed by the same creator, allow you to reduce the size of videos, images, audio files, and documents. The entire compression process occurs locally on your device, ensuring your data remains secure and private.
Nanofile.io is particularly useful for images, audio files, and documents. Upon visiting the site, you can upload your file or drag it directly onto the page. Nanofile identifies the file type automatically and provides options to minimize its size. For MP3s, you can adjust the bit rate, switch from stereo to mono, and even remove cover art.
With PDFs, there's a quality slider and an option to compress any embedded images. A comparison feature lets you assess any discernible differences between the original and compressed files. Once you're satisfied with the results, click the Download button to save your compressed file.
Vidshift.io, on the other hand, focuses primarily on video compression. To use it, visit the Compressor page, select your video, and choose a target size from predefined presets or customize the size to your preference. Vidshift excels at compressing videos with minimal loss in quality, though higher compression can result in visible blocky artifacts. The site also offers video editing tools such as a trimmer, cropper, and GIF converter, although these features don't contribute to file size reduction.
Both tools are accessible through any web browser, although they function best on desktop devices. They are free to use without registration or usage limits. The websites collect aggregate data on visitor behavior and compression preferences, but they do not access your content or share it for marketing purposes. Incorporating these tools into your workflow can help optimize file sizes while maintaining acceptable quality, all without sacrificing your privacy.
Written by urgent.news from Fast Company's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
