Vertical or horizontal? Picking the right format for each platform
A quick guide to 9:16, 1:1 and 16:9, and which one to use for TikTok, Reels, Shorts, the Instagram feed and YouTube.
The same video can perform very differently depending on its shape. Here's the short version.
9:16 vertical
Use it for: TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, Stories.
Vertical fills the whole phone screen, which is where most people watch. On Vidsou, a vertical music video uses the best 60 seconds of your song, the part with the most energy.
1:1 square
Use it for: the Instagram feed and Facebook posts.
Square takes more space in a scrolling feed than a horizontal video, and still looks good on a computer.
16:9 horizontal
Use it for: YouTube videos, websites, TVs and presentations.
Horizontal is the only format that makes sense for a full-length song. Vidsou renders it in full HD 1080p.
Our advice
- Make the full 16:9 video first if the song is yours, then a vertical cut to promote it.
- Product ads work best vertical: people discover products while scrolling.
- Keep text away from the edges. Each platform puts its own buttons on the right and at the bottom.