WhatsApp’s video sharing is convenient and private, but it’s frustrating when you fail to send a video due to the strict file size limits. Of course, you can trim the video within WhatsApp to reduce its size, but what if we want to send a large video like 500 MB? Compressing videos is essential to guarantee successful sending. Here, in this guide, we will show you 3 proven ways to compress videos for WhatsApp while maintaining quality.
Table of Contents:
- WhatsApp’s Video Size Limits
- Solution 1: Use a Desktop Video Compressor
- Solution 2: Use Mobile Video Compressor Apps
- Solution 3: Use Online Tools
- Final Thoughts
WhatsApp’s Video Size Limits
The max video file that can be sent on WhatsApp varies according to the video type.
- Direct Video Sharing: Maximum 100 MB and 720P resolution, or 64 MB and 480P for users with a slower internet connection.
- Document File: Maximum 2 GB. But the video is not playable within WhatsApp, the recipients have to download the file manually.
Therefore, if you want to send a playable video message or share a Status video on WhatsApp, you need to compress your video to 100 MB or less. Also, if you have larger videos and want to keep high quality like 1080P, make sure it’s under 2 GB and send it as a document file.
1. Use Video Compressor Software on Computer – Most Effective
Pros
- High quality output
- Set the output file size
- Preview before compression process starts
- Batch compress files
- Private and safe with no ads
Cons
- The free trial allows you to compress 3 files
Cisdem Video Compressor is a tool dedicated to compressing video files on Windows and Mac, helping users to get the smallest video and audio file without compromising the quality. You can set the target output file size by percentage, and choose video format, resolution, encoding method and more, to make it easier to share and manage any video files. It supports a wide range of formats including MP4, MKV, MOV, WebM, 3GP and full HD videos up to 8K.
Steps to compress videos for WhatsApp on Windows/Mac:
- Download and install Cisdem Video Compressor from its official website www.cisdem.com/video-compressor.html.
- Open the compressor and simply drag your video files onto its interface.
- Click the gear icon on the video entry to customize the file size and all compression settings. Recommended compression settings for WhatsApp are:
- Bitrate encoding method: VBR (more efficient compression than CBR)
- Format: MP4 or 3GP (status video)
- Resolution: 720p or lower
Auto settings for other options.
- Click the Preview button to preview the first 20s of the video to check if the quality is acceptable.
- Click the Start button to start compressing the video to 2 GB, 100 MB, 64MB or a smaller size.
Once the compression is complete, you can click the check icon to locate the compressed video file.
2. Use Video Compressor Apps on iPhone/Android
Pros
- Free version available
- Share size-reduced video to WhatsApp directly
- Offer compression presets
Cons
- Free version contains adverts
- Most advanced features require payment
- Potential failures
Video Compressor: Save Space is a video compression app for iOS, developed by Inverse AI. It also provides Android version – Compress Video Size Compressor. The features and usage are the same. It lets you input an exact output file size, such as 100 MB, and then the app will reduce the video resolution and bitrate to achieve this. Note that compression can fail if the scale is set too high.
Upgrading to the Pro version ($19.9) allows users to adjust the compression speed, video codec and format as well as preview the compressed video.
How to compress videos for WhatsApp on iPhone & Android:
- Install the ‘Video Compressor: Save Space’ from the iOS App Store, or ‘Compress Video Size Compressor’ from Google Play.
- Open the app, tap Compressor, and import the video you want to compress from your camera roll or files/cloud.
- Scroll down and choose Fit to Size, enter your desired file size.
- Tap the COMPRESS button to begin the compression process.
- Once the compression is complete, tap Share to send the video to WhatsApp.
2. Compress Videos for WhatsApp Online for Free
Pros
- Works on all platforms
- No software installation required
- Free trial
Cons
- Few compression settings
- Limited free compression time
- No preview feature
Compress2go.com is an easy-to-use online file compressor that allows you to compress videos by entering the target file size. The output format is MP4 H.264 only, which is highly compatible with WhatsApp. It provides no other settings so you can’t determine the video resolution, codec, frame rate and other parameters. If your video is not huge and you don’t mind minor quality loss, online tool is a feasible solution.
Steps to compress videos for WhatsApp online:
- Visit www.compress2go.com/compress-video.
- Upload the video file from your device to the website.
- Specify the file size that meets WhatsApp requirement.
- Click on Start to start the compression.
- Download the compressed mp4 file to your device.
More Tried Online Tools to Compress Video for WhatsAPP:
- Clideo
- FreeConvert
- Riverside
Final Thoughts
Apps like Cisdem Video Compressor are best tools for reducing the MB and GB of a video without losing much quality. Besides dedicated compressors, you can also shrink video file size using video editor and converter software, such as iMovie and HandBrake, by lowering the video resolution, framerate, CRF value, etc., which is especially effective for high-quality source files.
Furthermore, you can also share large video files on WhatsApp without compressing via cloud services (e.g. Google Drive) and video hosting platforms (e.g. Streamable). So you only need to send a video download/sharing link.
Lastly, if you found this guide helpful, please share it to other social media platforms!
