Free Video Compressor
Video too large to upload? Shrink MP4 files for TikTok, Instagram, WhatsApp, and more. Pick a platform preset or set your own target — everything runs in your browser.
Compress to fit:
Choose a platform preset or use Custom if you already know the file size you want.
Drop your video here or click to upload
Supports MP4 and MOV — up to 500 MB
Verified Publishing References
This page now uses one shared source of truth with the video resizer page. Where a platform publishes a limit publicly, we cite it. Where it does not, we say so and use a conservative working target instead.
Last reviewed: April 9, 2026
| Target | Published guidance | Preset in this tool | Source / trust note |
|---|---|---|---|
TikTok 9:16 vertical 1080 x 1920 | 10 min recorded / 60 min uploaded TikTok Help Center says videos recorded in TikTok can be up to 10 minutes, and videos you upload can be up to 60 minutes. | ~72 MB Conservative working target: ~72 MB | TikTok publishes duration limits in Help Center, but we could not verify a stable public MB cap in the consumer help docs during review. This preset is intentionally conservative to keep uploads fast and reduce extra platform recompression. |
Instagram Reels 9:16 vertical 720p minimum; 1080 x 1920 preferred | 1.91:1 to 9:16; 720p minimum; 20 min reels Instagram publishes reel aspect-ratio and resolution guidance, and says reels can be recorded and edited up to 20 minutes. We did not find a stable public file-size cap in the help docs we could verify during review. | ~50 MB Conservative working target: ~50 MB | This preset is tuned as a safe upload target rather than an official hard cap. It is meant to preserve quality while keeping Instagram uploads manageable and reducing avoidable recompression. |
Phone-friendly MP4 720p to 1080p source | No stable public consumer cap verified We could not verify a stable public consumer video-upload size cap in WhatsApp’s help docs during review. | <= 16 MB Compatibility target: <= 16 MB | This preset is a conservative compatibility target, not an official published hard limit. Use it when you want the best odds of a clip sending cleanly in chats or status workflows. No public official doc found during review |
MP4 (H.264/AAC) 720p to 1080p depending on clip length | 25 MB in personal Gmail Gmail says personal accounts can send attachments up to 25 MB. Larger files are converted to Drive links. | ~10 MB Safer delivery target: ~10 MB | A 10 MB target is usually easier on forwards, mobile downloads, and inboxes beyond Gmail. Use the full 25 MB only if you know the recipient can accept it. |
X 16:9 or 1:1 Up to 1920 x 1200 | 512 MB / 140 sec (non-Premium) X says non-Premium accounts can upload videos up to 140 seconds long with a maximum file size of 512 MB. Premium subscribers can upload longer videos up to 16 GB. | ~50 to 200 MB Feed-friendly target: ~200 MB | This preset is designed for standard feed posts, not Premium long-form uploads. Staying well below the maximum usually means faster upload and fewer playback issues. |
1:1, 4:5, or 16:9 256 x 144 to 4096 x 2304 | 5 GB / 15 min desktop LinkedIn publishes upload requirements up to 5 GB, up to 15 minutes on desktop, and up to 10 minutes in the mobile app. | ~100 to 200 MB Feed-friendly target: ~200 MB | LinkedIn can accept much larger files than this preset, but smaller exports usually process faster and are easier for viewers on slower connections. |
What These Six Presets Are Tuned For
This page is intentionally scoped to six common delivery targets: TikTok, Instagram Reels, WhatsApp, email, X, and LinkedIn. If you need anything else, use the custom target and treat it as a manual export.
TikTok
~72 MBPreferred format: 9:16 vertical
Preferred resolution: 1080 x 1920
Published guidance: 10 min recorded / 60 min uploaded
TikTok publishes duration limits in Help Center, but we could not verify a stable public MB cap in the consumer help docs during review. This preset is intentionally conservative to keep uploads fast and reduce extra platform recompression.
Instagram Reels
~50 MBPreferred format: 9:16 vertical
Preferred resolution: 720p minimum; 1080 x 1920 preferred
Published guidance: 1.91:1 to 9:16; 720p minimum; 20 min reels
This preset is tuned as a safe upload target rather than an official hard cap. It is meant to preserve quality while keeping Instagram uploads manageable and reducing avoidable recompression.
Preferred format: Phone-friendly MP4
Preferred resolution: 720p to 1080p source
Published guidance: No stable public consumer cap verified
This preset is a conservative compatibility target, not an official published hard limit. Use it when you want the best odds of a clip sending cleanly in chats or status workflows.
Preferred format: MP4 (H.264/AAC)
Preferred resolution: 720p to 1080p depending on clip length
Published guidance: 25 MB in personal Gmail
A 10 MB target is usually easier on forwards, mobile downloads, and inboxes beyond Gmail. Use the full 25 MB only if you know the recipient can accept it.
X
~50 to 200 MBPreferred format: 16:9 or 1:1
Preferred resolution: Up to 1920 x 1200
Published guidance: 512 MB / 140 sec (non-Premium)
This preset is designed for standard feed posts, not Premium long-form uploads. Staying well below the maximum usually means faster upload and fewer playback issues.
Preferred format: 1:1, 4:5, or 16:9
Preferred resolution: 256 x 144 to 4096 x 2304
Published guidance: 5 GB / 15 min desktop
LinkedIn can accept much larger files than this preset, but smaller exports usually process faster and are easier for viewers on slower connections.
Representative Before / After Examples
These are concrete examples based on the tool's current bitrate model. Real output depends on motion, grain, screen text, audio bitrate, and how heavily the source file was already compressed.
30 sec talking-head reel at 1080 x 1920
Before
38 MB source export
After
18 to 28 MB typical output
Instagram preset: Usually preserves face detail well if the original is already H.264.
60 sec UGC clip at 1080 x 1920
Before
84 MB source export
After
35 to 55 MB typical output
TikTok preset: A good fit when you want a fast upload and less platform-side recompression.
45 sec screen recording at 1920 x 1080
Before
52 MB source export
After
8 to 12 MB typical output
Email preset: Best for review links or inbox attachments when text on screen is large enough.
2 min product demo at 1920 x 1080
Before
220 MB source export
After
90 to 160 MB typical output
LinkedIn preset: Still usually clean enough for feed playback, but motion-heavy scenes may need more bitrate.
Expected Output Ranges by Clip Type
Use this as a gut-check before you start. If your file falls outside these patterns, it usually means the footage is unusually detailed, the source export is already heavily compressed, or you should resize before compressing.
| Duration | Source | Target | Typical result | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 to 30 sec | 1080 x 1920 vertical clip | TikTok or Instagram | 12 to 28 MB | Usually easy for modern desktop browsers. |
| 45 to 60 sec | 1080 x 1920 vertical clip | TikTok or Instagram | 24 to 55 MB | This is the sweet spot for short-form social posting. |
| 90 to 120 sec | 1920 x 1080 landscape clip | X or LinkedIn | 70 to 160 MB | Resize to 720p first if motion is heavy and you need smaller files. |
| 2 to 4 min | 1080p clip of any aspect ratio | Email or WhatsApp | Often too aggressive for quality | Split the clip or resize before compressing. |
Tips for Compressing Video Without Losing Quality
Small decisions before you compress make a big difference in the output.
Always compress from the original
Never re-compress a video that has already been compressed. Each compression pass removes more data. Start from the highest-quality source file you have — ideally the raw export from your editing software.
Trim before you compress
Cut out silent intros, outro padding, and any sections you don't need before compressing. Shorter videos compress faster and the file will be proportionally smaller — meaning higher quality at the same target size.
Shoot at 1080p, not 4K
Most social platforms display video at 1080p or lower. Shooting in 4K and downscaling doesn't improve the final quality on Instagram or TikTok — it just makes the source file 4× larger and harder to compress.
Use platform presets, not custom sizes
The presets in this tool are calibrated to each platform's recommended encoding settings, not just the size limit. Using them produces better results than entering a custom MB target, because the bitrate allocation is optimised for each platform's display pipeline.
Reduce resolution if size is critical
If you need to hit a very tight limit (like WhatsApp's 16 MB), dropping from 1080p to 720p is often the right call. Use the Social Video Resizer first to downscale, then compress here. Resolution is the biggest lever for file size.
Check the preview before downloading
After compression, play back the result in the preview window before you download. Look for blocky artefacts in fast-motion scenes. If quality is unacceptable, try a slightly larger target size using the custom option.
Compression vs Resizing — Which Do You Need?
They solve different problems. Here's how to tell them apart.
Compression
Reduces file size without changing pixel dimensions. Same 1080×1920 frame — just fewer MB on disk by re-encoding at a lower bitrate.
- File is too large to upload
- WhatsApp / email size limits
- Avoiding double-encoding by TikTok
Resizing
Changes the actual pixel dimensions — turning a 16:9 landscape into a 9:16 Reel. Doesn't automatically reduce file size.
- Video is the wrong aspect ratio
- Need to crop or reframe content
- Turning landscape into a square or portrait
In practice, you often need both: resize the video to the right aspect ratio first, then compress it to the right file size. A good workflow is to use the Social Video Resizer to crop and reframe your footage for a specific platform, then bring it here to hit the size limit. That two-step approach gives you control over both dimensions and file weight — which is what every platform actually needs.
How it works
Three steps. No account needed.
Upload your video
Drop an MP4 or MOV file up to 500 MB. It stays in your browser — nothing is sent to a server.
Choose a size target
Pick a platform preset (TikTok, Instagram, WhatsApp…) or enter a custom target in MB.
Download the smaller file
Compression runs locally using FFmpeg. When it's done, save the H.264 MP4 directly to your device.
Your video never leaves your device
All compression is handled by FFmpeg.wasm — a WebAssembly build of FFmpeg that runs directly in your browser. No video data is transmitted to any server, logged, or stored. Close the tab and everything is gone.
Browser & Device Limitations
Because this tool runs locally in your browser, device memory and CPU matter as much as file size. These are the limitations most likely to affect your results.
Low-memory phones struggle first
Older iPhones, low-RAM Android phones, and budget tablets can run out of memory on longer 1080p clips. If mobile compression fails, retry on desktop.
500 MB is the app limit, not the comfort zone
The tool accepts files up to 500 MB, but most browsers are happiest below roughly 150 to 250 MB. Larger files can still work, but processing time and crash risk go up.
Safari and Chrome are the best first tries
Current desktop Safari, Chrome, and Edge tend to be the most predictable. Corporate browsers with strict blockers or privacy extensions can interfere with the FFmpeg engine load.
Screen recordings compress differently
Tiny UI text and cursor motion are harder to compress cleanly than talking-head footage. For screen recordings, choose a larger target or resize first.
Troubleshooting Low-Quality or Failed Compressions
Most failures come down to three things: the source file is too large for the device, the target is too aggressive for the footage, or the browser blocks the FFmpeg engine from loading.
Compression engine will not load
A network blocker, VPN, or extension may be preventing the FFmpeg assets from loading. Try another browser, disable blockers for this page, or switch networks.
Result is still too large
The clip is probably too long or too detailed for the target size. Split it into shorter segments, resize it to 720p, or choose a less aggressive preset.
The output looks blocky or soft
Fast motion, grain, confetti, water, and tiny on-screen text need more bitrate. Use a larger target or resize before compressing so the bitrate is not spread too thin.
The browser tab crashes
Close other tabs, remove extensions that inject scripts, and retry with a smaller file. Desktop browsers generally have more headroom than phones.
Audio drifts or playback feels odd
Some source exports are already heavily compressed or use unusual codecs. Re-export the original as a standard H.264/AAC MP4 first, then run it through this tool.
Frequently asked questions
Schedule compressed videos automatically
Once your video is the right size, post it at the perfect time. SocialCal lets you schedule videos across TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, and more — from one place.
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