Compress Video for Discord (Under 20 MB)
Shrink clips and screen recordings to 18 MB so they upload to Discord without Nitro. The size target is preset; just drop the video. No upload to us.
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Your files never leave your device
About this tool
Discord lets free accounts upload files of up to 20 MB, and a 30 second phone or gameplay clip is often 40 MB or more. This page compresses video for Discord with the target already set to 18 MB, which leaves safe room under the limit. Drop the clip, press the button and you get an MP4 that uploads without Nitro and plays right inside the chat. The work is done by your own device in the browser, so the clip is not sent to our servers.
How to compress a video for Discord
- Drop the clip on the page or click to choose it.
- By file size and 18 MB (Discord) are already selected.
- For clips longer than about 2 minutes, choose 720p or 480p under Resolution.
- Click Compress video, check the new size and download the MP4.
- Drag the file into your Discord channel or DM.
How long can an 18 MB clip be?
The tool divides 18 MB by the length of your video to get the bitrate, then keeps 96 kbps for the sound. Roughly:
| Clip length | Video bitrate | Best resolution |
|---|---|---|
| 15 seconds | about 9 Mbps | 1080p |
| 30 seconds | about 4.6 Mbps | 1080p |
| 1 minute | about 2.3 Mbps | 1080p or 720p |
| 2 minutes | about 1.1 Mbps | 720p |
| 4 minutes | about 500 kbps | 480p |
With sound, an 18 MB file holds just under 11 minutes. Tick Remove audio and it stretches to about 19 minutes, which suits silent gameplay or UI demos.
Discord upload limits
- Free account: 20 MB per file. Use the 18 MB preset.
- Nitro Basic: 50 MB. Choose the 50 MB chip or type your own size.
- Nitro: 500 MB, enough for most videos without compression.
Discord raised the free limit from 10 MB to 20 MB on 13 August 2026. It changes these limits from time to time, so if an upload is refused, try a slightly smaller target.
Tips for sharp Discord clips
- Fast games such as shooters need more bitrate than slow scenes. Drop to 720p before going below 1 Mbps.
- Screen recordings of code, menus or slides compress very well because little moves.
- Cut the clip short before recording when you can: the highlight is usually 10 to 20 seconds.
Need a different size or quality level? Use the full video compressor. Want a looping reaction instead of a video? Make one with the video to GIF converter.
Features
- 18 MB Discord target preselected, under the 20 MB free limit
- Calculates the exact bitrate from your video's length
- Lower the resolution to 720p, 480p or 360p for sharper results
- Remove the audio to fit longer clips
- MP4 output that plays inline in Discord chats
- Runs in your browser: the clip is never uploaded to us
Frequently asked questions
What is Discord's video size limit?
Free accounts can upload files of up to 20 MB. Nitro Basic raises it to 50 MB and Nitro to 500 MB. This page targets 18 MB so the file fits the free limit with room to spare.
How do I compress a video for Discord without Nitro?
Drop the video on this page. The 18 MB Discord target is already selected, so click Compress video, download the MP4 and drag it into Discord.
How long can a video be to fit in 18 MB?
About 2 minutes stay sharp at 720p and about 4 minutes at 480p. With sound the maximum is just under 11 minutes; without sound it is about 19 minutes.
Why does my compressed clip look blurry?
The bitrate is too low for the resolution. Choose 720p or 480p: a smaller picture with enough bitrate looks much sharper than full HD starved of data.
Will the video play inside Discord?
Yes. The result is an MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio, which Discord plays inline on desktop, web and mobile.
Is my clip uploaded to your servers?
No. Compression runs in your browser using your device's video encoder. The only upload is the one you make to Discord.