How to compress a video for sharing

Pick the right target size, keep text readable, and compress to MP4 in one click. This guide shows when to choose 8MB/10MB/25MB/50MB-and links straight into the tool.

In this guide

Choose the right target size
Bitrate math (quick)
Recommended presets
iPhone tips
FAQ

Choose the right target size

8MB

Strict Discord servers/bots that reject 10MB. Use 480p for clips over ~20s, and 24-30 fps.

Go to 8MB tool

10MB

Discord default. Best for short clips and screen recordings. 720p can work for ~10-25s.

Go to 10MB tool

25MB

Common email cap. For 60-120s, try 480p and AAC 96 kbps.

Go to Email tool

50MB

WhatsApp / Cloud. Great balance for fast uploads and previews. Use when you don't need a tiny file.

Open tool at 50MB

Bitrate math (quick)

Size ≈ (video bitrate + audio bitrate) x duration. Keep audio ~96 kbps (64 kbps for tiny targets) and spend the rest on video. If your clip is long, downscale to 720p/480p to preserve detail.

Shortcut: jump into the tool with a preset - 8MB, 10MB, 25MB, 50MB.

Recommended presets by use case

Discord: Start at 10MB; if rejected, switch to 8MB.
Email: Use 25MB. Longer clips? Cloud link after compress.
Generic MP4: Use MP4 compressor with 10/25/50MB chips.
MOV from iPhone: Use MOV compressor or the iPhone page.

iPhone tips (MOV/HEVC → MP4)

Recording at 30 fps (not 60) makes small targets easier.
Export to MP4 (H.264 + AAC) for universal playback.
For text/UI, 24-30 fps and 720p keep things readable.

Compress iPhone video

Quick FAQ

What's the best codec for Discord?

H.264 in MP4 is the safest for previews. HEVC/AV1 can be smaller but aren't universal on older devices.

How long can a 10MB video be?

Roughly 10-25 seconds at 720p with 96 kbps audio. For longer clips, drop to 480p or 24-30 fps.

Do GIFs compress well?

Convert them to MP4-file size plummets and playback is smoother.

Ready to compress? Open the all-in-one tool with your target preset: 8MB · 10MB · 25MB · 50MB.