Slimvid

Preset · 16 MB · practical chat MP4

Compress Video for WhatsApp

WhatsApp’s help center does not use a 16MB cap. It says faster connections default to 100MB at 720p, slower connections to 64MB at 480p, and documents can be up to 2GB. The same article lists status videos at up to 90 seconds; a desktop variant has listed 30 seconds, so check the app. This page still preselects 16MB as a practical chat file, not as the official maximum.

Make a smaller H.264 MP4 so WhatsApp has less to recompress when you send it.

Drop videos here, or click to browse

Up to 1GB each · MP4, MOV, WebM or MKV

Choose files

Processed locally in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.

Settings

Add a video and the settings for this tool appear here.

How it works

  1. 1Drop the clip you want to send.
  2. 2Keep 16MB for a sharp short chat video, or raise it toward 64MB if the clip is longer.
  3. 3Compress, download, then send the MP4 in WhatsApp.

Processed locally in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.

Process videos up to 1GB on your device. Nothing is uploaded.

Official limits, and a smaller practical file

WhatsApp recompresses many videos picked from the gallery. A huge camera original often arrives soft, with unreadable text. Starting from a modest H.264 MP4 gives the app less work to do.

16MB is our preset because it is small enough to send quickly and usually stays sharp for a short clip. It is not the limit WhatsApp publishes. If you need the full documented video size, type 64 or 100 in the size box.

Sending as a document uses the 2GB document cap and skips some of the gallery recompression. Status posts are short. Trim first. The file never leaves this device.

WhatsApp limits from its help center

Faster connection
100MB at 720p
Slower connection
64MB at 480p
Documents
Up to 2GB
This preset
16MB, practical, not the cap

Status length is not consistent across WhatsApp’s own articles: the main help page says 90 seconds, and a desktop version of that page has said 30 seconds. Use the limit the app shows.

Checked 2026-10-10.

Pick a target from the real caps

Use 16MB when the clip is short and you care about how it looks after WhatsApp touches it. Use 64MB to stay inside the slower-connection default. Use 100MB only when you know the connection is in the faster tier.

The duration table on this page is calculated for the 16MB preset. Raise the target in the tool if you keep a longer range.

What fits in 16 MB

Planning estimate from Slimvid’s size formula: 97% of the byte cap, a small audio reserve, then a lower resolution when the video bitrate would look bad. It is not a measured encode of one clip. Motion, codec and audio change the file.

DurationTotal budgetVideo bitratePicture the planner picks
15 sec8277 kbps8149 kbps1080p
30 sec4139 kbps4011 kbps1080p
1 min2069 kbps1941 kbps720p
2 min1035 kbps907 kbps480p
5 min414 kbps286 kbps240p
10 min207 kbps79 kbps144p 8fps

Three steps

How to compress a video for WhatsApp

Compress video for WhatsApp online, free, no upload. Help lists 100MB at 720p on faster links and 64MB at 480p on slower ones. Encodes on your device.

  1. 1

    Drop your file

    Drop the clip you want to send.

  2. 2

    Choose settings

    Keep 16MB for a sharp short chat video, or raise it toward 64MB if the clip is longer.

  3. 3

    Download

    Compress, download, then send the MP4 in WhatsApp.

All compress-video pagesVideo upload limits in 2026

Same job, other limits

Related size and platform pages

Compress Video for DiscordHit the 20MB free-upload cap without guessing a bitrate. Hardware encoding, nothing uploaded.For DiscordCompress Video for TelegramTelegram allows large files. 50MB is the preset that sends quickly from a phone.For TelegramCompress Video for WeChatShrink a clip before WeChat recompresses it. The 16MB target is a practical preset, not an official cap.For WeChatCompress Video to 10MBHit a hard 10MB cap for forms, LMS uploads and any box that still says 10MB.10MBCompress Video for EmailLand under the 25MB attachment cap so the clip goes through as a file, not a cloud link.For emailCompress Video for InstagramCut a heavy export down to 100MB before you post a Reel, feed clip or Story.For Instagram

Keep going

Related tools

FAQ

WhatsApp video size FAQ

What is WhatsApp’s video size limit?
WhatsApp’s help center says 100MB and 720p on a faster connection, and 64MB and 480p on a slower one. Documents can be up to 2GB. The 16MB control on this page is a practical preset, not that official ceiling.
Why compress if WhatsApp accepts 100MB?
Because WhatsApp often recompresses gallery videos. A smaller H.264 file usually survives that second encode with more readable faces and captions.
How long can a status be?
The main help article says 90 seconds. A desktop variant of the same article has said 30 seconds. Trim to what your app accepts, then compress.
Should I send it as a document?
If you need the original-looking file and the recipient can download it, WhatsApp’s document limit is 2GB. A document does not autoplay in the chat the way a video message does.

Desktop · Coming soon

Desktop · Coming soon

The desktop app is in development. Join the waitlist for launch updates.

Get early accessCompare web vs desktop
  • No file size limit — 4K, hour-long recordings, anything
  • Batch queues: drop a folder, apply one preset
  • Hardware-accelerated encoding (H.264 / H.265)
  • Works fully offline, same privacy guarantee