Video Compressor for WhatsApp
Updated June 2026 · Free, in-browser, fits the 16 MB chat video cap
WhatsApp caps videos shared in chat at 16 MB. Even a 20-second iPhone clip blows past that. This page walks through compressing your video to fit, in your browser — no upload, no signup, no watermark, no app install. Works on iOS Safari, Android Chrome, and any desktop browser.
WhatsApp's video size limits
| How you send it | Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chat video (Photo / Video picker) | 16 MB | Shows as inline-playable preview in chat. |
| Document (long-press attach) | 100 MB | Recipient sees a file icon, taps to download then play. |
| WhatsApp Status | 30 sec. | No MB cap stated, but WhatsApp re-encodes server-side. |
| Channels (broadcaster) | 100 MB | Same Document-send pathway under the hood. |
Compress a video for WhatsApp
- Open the compressor. Click the button below — the WhatsApp (15 MB target) preset is already selected, leaving 1 MB headroom under the 16 MB cap.
- Drop or pick your video. On desktop, drag onto the page. On mobile, tap Choose Videos and pick from your photo library.
- Wait for compression. Browser targets 15 MB output. A 30-second 1080p clip takes 30–90 seconds on most phones. Cancel button is available if you want to stop.
- Open WhatsApp and share. The compressed file lands in your downloads (or photo library on iOS). Attach in WhatsApp as a normal video. Sends instantly.
Open the WhatsApp-ready compressor
Pre-set to target 15 MB — fits WhatsApp's 16 MB chat video cap with headroom.
Other targets: Discord 25 MB · Email 19 MB · custom size
Or send as Document (100 MB)
If your video is between 16 MB and 100 MB after compression and you don't want to lose more quality, WhatsApp lets you send it as a Document instead:
- In WhatsApp, tap the attach (+) icon
- Pick Document (not Photos / Videos)
- Select your video file
Tradeoff: the recipient sees a file icon, not a playable thumbnail. They tap to download then play. Better quality than chat-video for the same size.
For Document-friendly compression, use the Custom size preset and pick 90 MB.
Try it now
Compress your video for WhatsApp
Free. In your browser (iOS, Android, desktop). No signup, no upload.
FAQ
What is WhatsApp's video size limit?
16 MB for chat videos (shown inline with playable preview). 100 MB if you send as Document. WhatsApp Status caps at 30 seconds with no explicit MB limit but server-side re-encoding applies.
Does it work on my iPhone or Android phone?
Yes — runs in mobile Safari (iOS 16+) and Chrome / Edge / Firefox on Android. Pick from your photo library via the standard mobile file picker. Compression speed varies with your phone's CPU.
Does my video upload to your server?
No. Compression runs entirely in your browser via ffmpeg.wasm. Your video never leaves your device.
How long does compression take?
30–90 seconds for a typical 30-second 1080p clip on a modern phone or laptop. Older devices take longer.
Will the quality look bad?
The 16 MB WhatsApp cap is tight. For a 30-second clip the bitrate works out to about 4 Mbps for video + audio combined — similar to what WhatsApp does internally for native shares. Casual chat quality is fine; cinematic clarity is not realistic at this size.
Can I just send as Document for better quality?
Yes — long-press the attach button in WhatsApp, pick Document, select your video. Limit goes to 100 MB, quality is much better. Recipient sees a file icon instead of an inline preview.
Other compression targets
- Compress for Discord (25 / 50 / 500 MB)
- Compress for email attachment (19 MB)
- Compress an iPhone video
- Pick any size or use quality-based (CRF) compression
Part of the Essex Video Compressor docs. Free, in-browser, by Essex Software.