App promo video vs App Store preview: what's the difference?
| App Store preview | Google Play preview | Promo video | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where | Your App Store listing | Your Play Store listing | Launches, ads, website, social |
| Length | 15–30 s | No max; first 30 s autoplay | 15–90 s by channel |
| Footage | Screen captures of the app only | Mostly real app experience | Anything: motion graphics, people, UI |
| Upload | File, up to 500 MB | YouTube URL, ads off | Native upload per platform |
What are Apple's App Store preview rules and specs?
- Length and file: 15 to 30 seconds; up to 500 MB; at most 30 fps; H.264 or ProRes 422 (HQ) (Apple).
- How many: up to three per device size and language. Previews appear before screenshots; the poster frame defaults to the 5-second mark.
- Sizes: recent iPhone classes accept 886×1920 portrait or 1920×886 landscape; iPads take 1200×1600 or 1600×1200; Mac and Apple TV 1920×1080. Check Apple's table for your exact devices.
- Footage: "previews may only use video screen captures of the app itself"; narration and text overlays are allowed (App Review Guideline 2.3.4).
- No hands or devices on camera: Apple's guidance says don't film people interacting with a device, such as fingers tapping the screen (Apple).
- Copy: autoplay is muted, so use captions; no specific prices; disclose in-app purchases, subscriptions or required logins; use fictional account data.
What are Google Play's preview video rules?
- Format: one YouTube video URL per listing (not a playlist or channel), public or unlisted, embeddable, not age-restricted, with ads and monetisation turned off (Google Play).
- Autoplay: inline and muted, for up to the first 30 seconds only. Put the real app experience in the first 10 seconds.
- Copy: no "Best", "#1", "New", "Discount" or "Sale", no "Download now" calls to action, and no time-sensitive taglines. Add captions.
- Orientation: landscape or portrait, with no black bars on portrait.
What specs does a promo video need for social?
| Platform | Aspect ratio | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube | 16:9 standard; vertical and square accepted | Up to 15 min (unverified accounts); 12 h max | MP4, H.264; 1080p at 8 Mbps |
| YouTube Shorts | Vertical | Up to 3 min | Max 1080p |
| LinkedIn (video ads) | 16:9, 1:1, 4:5, 9:16 | 3 s to 30 min; 15–30 s recommended | MP4, up to 500 MB, under 30 fps; captions as SRT |
| X (video ads) | 16:9, 1:1, 9:16, 4:5 and more | Up to 2:20; 15 s or less recommended | MP4/MOV, up to 1 GB; captions strongly recommended |
| Instagram Reels (ads) | 9:16, 1440×2560 | Up to 15 min | Keep the top 14% and bottom 35% clear of key content |
| TikTok (ads) | 9:16 recommended | Up to 10 min | Up to 500 MB |
| Product Hunt | Any (YouTube embed) | No limit set | YouTube link only, full URL, not private |
From each platform's own help or ad-spec page, checked November 2, 2026. Where a platform only publishes ad specs, those are shown.
What makes an app promo video work?
- Open on the outcome. The thing the app gets done, in the first three seconds.
- Show the real app. Even in a promo film, viewers want to see the screens they'll use.
- Captions everywhere. Every store and feed autoplays muted.
- One master, many cuts. 16:9 for YouTube and your site, 9:16 for Reels, Shorts and TikTok, and a 15 to 30 second screen-captured version for the stores.
Launching a web app or SaaS rather than a mobile app? The same promo film doubles as your launch video on Product Hunt, X and LinkedIn. nod makes that film from your product page; for the App Store preview itself, you'll still need screen captures of the app.