ReelWorkshop renders every export as a vertical 9:16 MP4 using H.264 video and AAC audio. Inside that fixed container, you choose resolution and whether to keep or mute the source audio. Those two choices are where most of the practical decisions live.
Resolution: 1080x1920 vs 720x1280
1080x1920 is the sharper option and matches what most platforms display compilations at when viewed full-screen on a modern phone. 720x1280 renders faster in the browser and produces a smaller file for the same length and content, which matters if you're close to your monthly storage or export minute limits, or uploading over a slow connection.
If the source clips you imported were shot at 720p or lower, exporting at 1080x1920 will not add detail that isn't there — the render just upscales. In that case 720x1280 gives you a smaller file with no visible quality loss.
Audio: keep or mute
You can keep the audio from your source clips or mute it entirely. Keeping audio is the default choice for most compilations — ambient sound, dialogue, or event audio usually carries part of the story. Muting makes sense when your source clips have wind noise, overlapping voices, inconsistent volume between clips, or when you plan to add music or narration afterward in a separate tool, since ReelWorkshop doesn't do multi-track audio mixing.
If some clips have clean audio and others are noisy, muting the whole edit is usually better than leaving it inconsistent — jarring audio jumps between scenes read as more amateurish than no audio at all.
Matching settings to your export minutes budget
The Starter plan includes 60 exported minutes per calendar month. A 60-second edit uses one minute of that allowance regardless of resolution — the limit is based on output duration, not file size. That means resolution choice doesn't cost you export minutes directly, but it does affect render time and storage use, which count against your 25 GB.
| Setting | 1080x1920 | 720x1280 |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpness | Higher, best for full-screen viewing | Lower, fine for smaller feeds or previews |
| Render time | Longer | Shorter |
| File size | Larger | Smaller |
| Best use | Final publish-ready exports | Quick drafts, storage-constrained accounts |
A workflow for choosing settings
- Check your source footage resolution
If your clips are genuinely 1080p or better, export at 1080x1920 to preserve that detail.
- Preview the edit plan first
Use the live preview to check pacing and framing before you commit render time to a setting choice.
- Decide on audio deliberately
Listen to a few source clips directly — don't assume; check for wind, mic handling noise, or clashing volume levels.
- Render one test at your intended settings
Confirm the output before batch-rendering multiple edits at the same settings.
Mistakes to avoid
- Exporting at 1080x1920 from clips that are already lower resolution, wasting render time and storage for no visible gain.
- Keeping audio by default without previewing it, then discovering noisy or inconsistent sound after the export minute is already spent.
- Re-rendering the same edit repeatedly to test settings instead of using the preview, which burns through the monthly export minute allowance.
- Assuming resolution changes what platform the video is compatible with — all exports are the same 9:16 MP4 container regardless of resolution.
When this isn't the right tool
If you need color grading, precise audio mixing across multiple tracks, or export formats other than MP4 H.264/AAC, ReelWorkshop's export settings won't cover that. Finish the color or audio work in a general editor like DaVinci Resolve or Premiere first, or handle that pass after exporting from ReelWorkshop.
Does a higher resolution export use more of my monthly export minutes?
No. The export minute allowance is based on the duration of the rendered output, not its resolution or file size.
Can I change resolution after rendering?
No, resolution is set at render time. Re-render the edit plan at the resolution you want.