video formats

Choosing the right video format can make all the difference in how your content connects with your audience. Whether you’re targeting YouTube’s cinematic landscape or Instagram’s mobile-first crowd, understanding the pros and cons of horizontal and vertical video will help you get the most out of your investment.

Horizontal (16:9)

✅ Works everywhere – Great for YouTube, websites, and even presentations.

✅ Looks professional – Feels cinematic and captures more of the scene.

✅ Flexible – Can be cropped and adjusted to make vertical content for Instagram or TikTok.

✅ Wide appeal – Works well on both mobile and desktop screens.

🚫 Extra work for vertical platforms – Needs cropping/editing to fit Instagram or TikTok, which might cut off parts of the frame.

🚫 Not mobile-first – Doesn’t natively fill the screen on vertical apps without adjustments.

Vertical (9:16)

✅ Perfect for phones – Looks amazing on Instagram Reels, TikTok, and Stories.

✅ Native for social media – Fits the platform perfectly and grabs attention.

✅ Keeps focus – Directs attention to key details in a narrow field of view.

🚫 Not versatile – Won’t work well on YouTube or websites without awkward black bars.

🚫 Smaller frame – You see less of the background, which might limit creativity.

🚫 No turning back – Can’t be adapted to horizontal without big compromises.

Quick Decision Guide

• Want videos for everything? 👉 Go Horizontal.

• Instagram or TikTok only? 👉 Go Vertical.