How long should a Product Hunt video be?
Thirty to sixty seconds. People open your launch page from a list of dozens. The video's job is to show, quickly, that the product is real and does something they want. Two or three flows do that; a full tour loses them before the good part.
What should the video show, and in what order?
The result
Open on the product doing the thing. No logo sting, no title card.
The problem
One line of caption: who it's for and what it saves them.
Two or three flows
The moments that make someone want to try it, each a few seconds long.
The close
Name, URL and the launch offer if you have one, held long enough to read.
Lead with the payoff. If your product writes the report, open on the finished report, then show how it got there.
How do I record it?
Record each flow as its own short clip rather than one long take: it's easier to get each one right, and easier to reorder later. Use a demo account with realistic data, turn on Do Not Disturb, and move slowly.
- For a web or Mac app: how to record a Mac screen for a demo.
- For an iPhone app: how to record your iPhone screen.
- For automatic zooms on your clicks: record in Screen Studio, frame in Mockya.
How do I make it work with the sound off?
Assume it plays muted. Put a short caption on each beat, five to eight words, in large type away from the edges. Music is a bonus. A voiceover is fine, but every point it makes should also be on screen.
Framing the recording in a device helps more than it seems: it tells viewers instantly whether this is a phone app, a Mac app or a website, before they've read a word.
Which sizes do I need for launch day?
| Where | Shape | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Product Hunt gallery video (YouTube) | 16:9 | 1920 × 1080 |
| Product Hunt gallery images | about 5:3 | 1270 × 760 |
| X and LinkedIn launch posts | 1:1 or 4:5 | 1080 × 1080, 1080 × 1350 |
| Reels, TikTok and Shorts | 9:16 | 1080 × 1920 |
| Your landing page | 16:9 | 1920 × 1080 or 4K |
That's four shapes from one recording. In Mockya you tick them all in the export dialog and they render together, each composed for its own frame. More sizes are in social video sizes for 2026.
How do I add the video to Product Hunt?
Product Hunt's launch gallery takes a video as a YouTube link. Upload the 16:9 version to YouTube, unlisted or public, and add the link when you set up the launch. Check the launch form for what it accepts on the day; the gallery's options change from time to time.
What should I check before launch day?
- The first three seconds show the product working.
- It makes sense muted, with captions on every beat.
- It ends on your name and URL, held for two seconds or more.
- You have 16:9, 1:1 or 4:5, and 9:16 versions ready to post.
- The YouTube link plays, and its thumbnail isn't a blurry mid-transition frame.
Questions
How long should a Product Hunt video be?
Thirty to sixty seconds. Long enough to show two or three real flows, short enough that people watch it to the end on the launch page.
Do I need a video to launch on Product Hunt?
No, but a short demo shows what the product does faster than screenshots can, and the same clip doubles as your launch post on X, LinkedIn and in your newsletter.
What size should a Product Hunt launch video be?
16:9 at 1920 × 1080 for the gallery's YouTube video. Gallery images are recommended at 1270 × 760. Make 1:1, 4:5 and 9:16 versions for the social posts that point to your launch.
Should a Product Hunt video have a voiceover?
It can, but don't rely on it. Many people watch with the sound off, so captions should carry the story on their own.
