Compress video for Gmail
Gmail doesn't throw an "attachment too large" error — it quietly swaps any video over 25MB for a Google Drive link, so the recipient has to click through and may need to sign into Google to watch it. To send the video as a true attachment they can just download, compress it under 25MB first. The tool above is preset to 25MB.
Quick answer
Gmail caps a whole message (body plus all attachments) at about 25MB; the moment a video exceeds that, Gmail silently replaces it with a Google Drive link instead of a real attachment. To let the recipient get the file itself, compress the video under 25MB. ConvertMeow does it locally in your browser — no upload, no watermark.
Shrink your video to 25MB
Target size
Derives a bitrate from target size ÷ duration and re-encodes; best for short clips.
Gmail's limit and the auto-Drive swap
Gmail caps a single message at about 25MB total — body plus all attachments combined, not just one video. Above that, Gmail uploads the attachment to your Google Drive and drops a link into the email.
If you're attaching other files too, leave headroom — compress the video a little below 25MB so the whole message doesn't just tip over the line into a link.
- To send a real attachment: ≤25MB (≤20MB if other attachments are present).
- Fine with a link: over 25MB Gmail auto-swaps to Drive.
- The recipient's provider may cap lower — smaller is safer.
Attachment vs Google Drive link — which?
Real attachment: the recipient gets the file itself, ready to download, no network dependency and no Google sign-in — ideal for clients who may not even have a Google account.
Drive link: best when the video really is large and must keep original quality. The cost is the recipient needing to be online, click through and sometimes sign in. Pick based on whether you value "instantly in hand" or "original quality".
Frequently asked questions
About 25MB per message (body + all attachments combined). Compress under 25MB to send a real attachment; over that, Gmail switches it to a Google Drive link.
Because it was over ~25MB, so Gmail uploaded it to Google Drive and inserted a link. To let the recipient get the file itself, compress the video under 25MB first.
No. Compression runs entirely locally in your browser with ffmpeg — never uploaded, no watermark, no cap.
Updated · ConvertMeow team