Ijharul Islam
Discord's Help Center says the maximum upload for users without Nitro is 20 MB per file; Nitro Basic raises it to 50 MB and Nitro to 1 GB. To fit a video in 20 MB, trim it and compress it: at 720p about 1 minute 30 seconds fits, and at 480p about 3 minutes. For longer videos, share a link instead.
More on this topic: Video specs by platform, every guide in one place.
Discord also notes it is experimenting with upload limits, so some accounts may see a different number. Here's how to check yours, what fits, and how to get there.
The short answer
Free Discord accounts can upload files up to 20 MB, Nitro Basic up to 50 MB and Nitro up to 1 GB. Trim the clip, then compress it: about 1 min 30 s fits at 720p (about 1.5 Mbps) and about 3 minutes at 480p (about 0.7 Mbps). Keep the result as MP4 with H.264, which Discord previews in chat. Anything longer: upload to YouTube or a cloud drive and paste the link.
Key takeaways
- Limit as of October 2026: 20 MB without Nitro, 50 MB with Nitro Basic, up to 1 GB with Nitro. Discord says it's testing other limits with some users.
- Bitrate budget for 20 MB: about 2.6 Mbps for 1 minute, 1.3 for 2 minutes, 0.9 for 3 minutes (sound included).
- Clips for chat rarely need 1080p; 720p looks fine in the Discord player.
- Under 15 seconds and no sound needed? A GIF or a short muted MP4 is often smaller still.
Disclosure: we make QuickVeed and show how to do this in it, along with other ways. Details about other products come from their public pages, checked in October 2026 and linked at the end.
What is Discord's file size limit?
| Account | Upload limit per file | Source |
|---|---|---|
| No Nitro | 20 MB | Discord File Attachments FAQ |
| Nitro Basic | 50 MB | Discord Nitro FAQ |
| Nitro | Up to 1 GB | Discord Nitro FAQ |
Discord's File Attachments FAQ lists MP4 with H.264, HEVC/H.265 or AV1 video and MOV among the common file types, and says it's experimenting with upload limits for some users. If Discord accepts a bigger file from you, that's why; if a friend can't, the 20 MB rule is the one to plan for. Older guides that say 8, 10 or 25 MB are out of date.
How long a video fits in 20 MB?
File size depends on bitrate times length, not on the extension. With QuickVeed's free Video Compressor:
| Compressor setting | Video bitrate | About per minute, with sound | Fits in 20 MB | Fits in 25 MB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light (up to 1080p) | ~3 Mbps | 23 MB | under 1 minute | about 1 minute |
| Smaller (up to 720p) | ~1.5 Mbps | 12 MB | about 1 min 30 s | about 2 minutes |
| Smallest (up to 480p) | ~0.7 Mbps | 6 MB | about 3 minutes | about 4 minutes |
| Length | Total bitrate that fits 20 MB | Suggested setting |
|---|---|---|
| 30 seconds | about 5.3 Mbps | Original quality may already fit; else Light (1080p) |
| 1 minute | about 2.6 Mbps | Smaller (720p) |
| 2 minutes | about 1.3 Mbps | Smallest (480p) |
| 3 minutes | about 0.9 Mbps | Smallest (480p), or trim |
| 5 minutes | about 0.5 Mbps | Too low for good video: share a link |
The second table divides 20 MB by the length with a small margin. The free video bitrate calculator does the same sum for any size, including 50 MB or 1 GB.
How to compress a video for Discord in your browser
The Video Compressor is free, runs in your browser, never uploads your file and adds no watermark. It takes videos up to 500 MB and 10 minutes.
- Trim the clip to the moment that matters with the free video trimmer. A 40-second clip is easier to fit, and to watch, than a 3-minute one.
- Open the Video Compressor and drop the video in.
- Pick a setting from the table above: Smaller (720p) for about a minute, Smallest (480p) for 2-3 minutes.
- Click Compress and keep the tab in front while it plays through.
- Check the size it reports is under 20 MB, then drag the file into Discord.
The browser plays the video once and records the new copy, so it takes about as long as the video. Keep the tab open and in front. The result is MP4 where your browser can record MP4 (Chrome, Edge and Safari can) and WebM otherwise. Discord previews MP4 in chat; if your browser saved WebM, it still uploads.
Other ways to fit a clip into Discord
- Crop out the edges. A gameplay or screen clip often only needs part of the frame; the free video cropper cuts the rest, which also cuts the file size. See how to crop a video.
- Make it a GIF. For a silent reaction under 15 seconds, the free Video to GIF converter makes a looping GIF; at 480 px and 10 fps it's often a few MB. See how to convert a video to GIF.
- Drop the sound if it isn't needed: the compressor's Keep the sound box saves about 0.7 MB a minute.
- Record smaller in the first place. If you capture clips with a screen recorder, choose 720p; QuickVeed's free screen recorder offers 1080p or 720p. See how to screen record.
- Use FFmpeg for exact control, e.g.
ffmpeg -i in.mp4 -vf scale=-2:720 -c:v libx264 -b:v 1500k -maxrate 1800k -bufsize 3000k -c:a aac -b:a 96k out.mp4.
When a link is better
For anything over about 3 minutes at watchable quality, upload to YouTube (unlisted works), Google Drive, OneDrive or Dropbox and paste the link; Discord shows a preview for many links. That keeps the original quality, and nobody has to download a big file. For bitrate figures by platform, see the video bitrate guide. For email, the limits are different: how to compress a video for email.
Frequently asked questions
What is Discord's video size limit without Nitro?
20 MB per file, according to Discord's File Attachments FAQ (checked October 2026). Older guides that say 8, 10 or 25 MB are out of date.
What is the Discord file size limit with Nitro?
Nitro Basic allows 50 MB and Nitro up to 1 GB per file, per Discord's Nitro FAQ.
How do I send a video longer than 20 MB on Discord?
Compress it to 720p or 480p, trim it, or upload it elsewhere and paste a link.
How many minutes of video can I send on Discord for free?
About 1 minute 30 seconds at 720p or about 3 minutes at 480p, with sound, within 20 MB.
Why won't my video play in Discord?
Discord previews common formats such as MP4 with H.264. Other codecs may upload as a download-only file; convert to H.264 MP4.
Can I send a 50 MB video on Discord without Nitro?
Not as a file: the limit without Nitro is 20 MB. Compress or trim it, or share a link instead.
Try it with your own video
Shrink the clip for free, then add captions or cut longer recordings into short highlights. Upload a recording, pick a caption style, and judge the result for yourself. QuickVeed plans start at $18/month, and new accounts get a 14-day trial with 250 credits, no card needed. Sign up or see pricing.
Sources
Competitor details in this post were checked against these public pages in October 2026. Products and prices change, so confirm with each vendor before you decide.
