Apps & Tools

Platform Video Specs Reference

Pick a platform to see its current duration, resolution, aspect ratio, and file size limits, or scroll the full comparison table below.

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Full Comparison Table

Platforms change limits frequently. Treat this as a working reference and double-check against the platform's own upload screen before a critical delivery.

Knowledge Base

Why Platform Specs Matter

Every platform re-encodes your upload to fit its own delivery pipeline. Uploading outside spec (wrong aspect ratio, oversized file, too-long runtime) means the platform crops, letterboxes, or re-compresses your video for you, usually with worse results than doing it yourself in your NLE.

Aspect Ratio Is the Biggest Trap

16:9 (landscape) still rules long-form YouTube and LinkedIn. 9:16 (vertical) is the default for Shorts, Reels, TikTok, and Stories. 1:1 (square) still performs well in Instagram and Facebook feeds. Design your safe area for the platform you're exporting to first, cropping after the fact loses headroom and can clip lower thirds.

Bitrate vs. File Size

Most platforms cap file size, not bitrate directly, but bitrate is what determines the file size for a given duration. If you're near a file size ceiling, lower the bitrate rather than the resolution. Viewers notice compression artifacts less than a downscaled frame.

FAQ

Q: Should I always upload at the platform's maximum resolution?
A: Upload at the highest resolution you actually shot in, up to the platform's supported maximum. Uploading upscaled footage doesn't add detail, it just wastes bitrate.

Q: Why did my video get compressed so badly?
A: Usually a mismatched frame rate or an unsupported codec forced a full re-encode. Match the platform's recommended codec (typically H.264 or H.265) before upload.