SocialToolsVideo · 6 min read · 24 February 2026
Reels vs TikTok: Export Settings Compared
Most creators post the same vertical video to both platforms. The frame is identical, so a single export is possible — as long as you know where each app puts its own interface.
What is the same
- 9:16 aspect ratio at 1080 × 1920
- MP4 container with H.264 video and AAC audio
- 30 or 60 fps, matched to your source footage
- 8–12 Mbps is more than enough; both platforms re-encode
What is different
- Length: TikTok allows up to 10 minutes, Reels up to 3.
- Safe zones: TikTok covers more of the bottom-left with caption text and the username.
- Compression: Instagram is more aggressive on high-motion footage, so keep contrast strong.
- Covers: the Reels cover is cropped square in your profile grid.
One export for both
Keep every important element — faces, on-screen text, product shots — inside the middle 60% of the frame vertically. Leave roughly 250 pixels clear at the top and 350 at the bottom.
That single rule makes a video safe on Reels, TikTok and Shorts without re-editing.