How to Compress a Video for Discord (Under 10 MB)
Get a clip under Discord’s 10 MB free upload limit without Nitro: pick 10 MB and the tool sets the quality and size to fit, in your browser. Free, no upload.
3 min read ·
Without Nitro, Discord limits uploads to 10 MB per file. To post a bigger clip, open Compress Video to Size, add it, choose 10 MB, and press Compress to 10 MB. The tool calculates the bitrate and, if needed, a lower resolution so the file lands just under 10 MB — then drag it into Discord.
Compress for Discord step by step
- Trim first. A 20-second highlight looks much better at 10 MB than a 3-minute recording. Cut it with the Video Cutter.
- Open Compress Video to Size and add the clip.
- Under Get it under, choose 10 MB (or 8 MB if a server or older client still uses the old limit).
- Look at the Plan — the resolution and bitrate it will use.
- Press Compress to 10 MB. It encodes in two passes to hit the size exactly; allow two to four times the clip's length.
- Download it and drop it into the Discord chat.
Discord upload limits
| Account | Limit per file |
|---|---|
| Free | 10 MB |
| Nitro Basic | 50 MB |
| Nitro | 500 MB |
Boosted servers can allow bigger uploads in that server. Limits change from time to time, so the tool also lets you type any size.
What fits in 10 MB?
| Clip length | What to expect |
|---|---|
| 10–15 seconds | 1080p, crisp |
| 30 seconds | 720p, good |
| 1 minute | About 540p, fine in chat |
| 3+ minutes | 360p or lower — trim it |
Gameplay with lots of motion (fast shooters, racing) needs more bitrate than talking-head clips, so trim action clips harder.
Tips for gaming clips
- Record shorter: set your capture software's replay buffer to 15–30 seconds.
- Lower the frame rate in the recording if your clips are 120 fps; 60 fps is plenty for chat.
- Cut the sound if it's just game noise: silence leaves more room for the picture — use Mute Video first.
- Loop-worthy moment? A short silent clip can work well as a GIF — try Video to GIF, though GIFs are often larger than an MP4 of the same clip.
Why not just upload to YouTube?
You can — an unlisted YouTube or streaming link plays inline in Discord with no size limit. Compressing is quicker for short clips you want to post straight into the chat.
No exact limit in mind?
If you just want a clip smaller — say for a server with a bigger limit, or to save space — Compress Video lets you choose a strength and a resolution instead of a target size, and shows how much smaller the result is.
Posting from your phone
Discord's mobile app uses the same limits. Compress the clip in your phone's browser, then in Discord tap +, choose the file from your gallery or downloads, and send. On iPhone, save the compressed file to Photos first (Share › Save Video) so Discord's picker can see it.
Privacy
The clip is compressed in your browser with ffmpeg (WebAssembly); it's never uploaded to iPixHub. No watermark, no sign-up.
Frequently asked questions
The result says 9.9 MB — will Discord accept it?
Yes. The tool counts a megabyte as 1,000,000 bytes (the stricter way) and aims just under, so it fits whichever way Discord counts.
Why is my clip only 480p?
The clip is too long for 10 MB at a higher resolution — a sharp 480p looks better than a blocky 1080p. Trim it to get a higher resolution.
Does it work on phones?
Yes, in a mobile browser. Two-pass encoding is slower on a phone, so short clips are best.