Best Export Settings for Course Videos on Kajabi, Teachable and Thinkific

You finish editing a lesson, it looks sharp on your computer, you upload it to your course platform, and it plays back soft and blurry. Or the upload fails at 97% after forty minutes. Both usually come down to export settings.

The good news is that one set of settings works on all three of the big course platforms. Here's what each platform recommends, the settings we use, and what to check when a video looks worse after upload.

The short version

If you only want the numbers, these settings work on Kajabi, Teachable and Thinkific:

At 8,000 kbps, a 10-minute lesson comes out at roughly 600 MB, which is comfortably under every platform's limit.

What each platform says

The three platforms publish slightly different guidance. All of them agree on MP4 and 1080p.

Kajabi

Kajabi's video format guide recommends:

• MP4 for the most consistent performance
• A 16:9 frame, between 640 and 3840 pixels wide
• A bitrate of 5,000 to 10,000 kbps
• AAC stereo audio at 128 to 160 kbps
• A maximum file size of 4 GB

Kajabi also suggests staying at or below 1080p and inside that bitrate range to reduce upload errors, and notes that audio exported at higher rates such as 320 kbps can degrade after processing.

Teachable

Teachable's content file types page recommends:

• MP4, MOV or AVI
• 1080p (1920 x 1080)
• 24 to 30 frames per second
• A recommended maximum of 2 GB per video, with a platform upload limit of 20 GB

Thinkific

Thinkific's help centre recommends H.264 video in an MP4 file, 1080p, a 16:9 frame, a constant frame rate and a bitrate of 5,000 to 8,000 kbps. Thinkific supports resolutions up to 1080p, so uploading 4K doesn't give students a sharper picture. Individual video files need to stay under the size limit shown in your course builder, which is currently 2 to 3 GB depending on which builder you use.

Why your video looks blurry after upload

If a video looks sharp on your computer and soft on the platform, check these in order.

1. Processing isn't finished. Platforms re-encode every upload into several versions for different connection speeds. Kajabi notes that processing can take 15 to 30 minutes, and previews during that time may not show the final quality. Wait, then check again.

2. The player picked a lower quality. Most course players adjust quality to the viewer's connection. Open the player's settings and choose 1080p manually before you judge the picture.

3. The export bitrate was too low. Screen recordings with small text need enough bitrate to stay crisp. If you exported at 2,000 kbps to save space, re-export in the 5,000 to 8,000 range.

4. The resolution doesn't match. If you filmed in 4K and exported at 1080p, that's fine. If you recorded your screen at a smaller size and stretched it to 1080p, text will look soft no matter what. Record screens at 1920 x 1080 from the start.

5. Variable frame rate. Phones, Zoom and many screen recorders record at a variable frame rate, which can cause stutter and sync problems after upload. Export at a constant frame rate.

Common export mistakes

• Exporting in 4K "to be safe". It makes files four times larger and slower to upload, and students on a laptop won't see the difference. Thinkific doesn't play above 1080p anyway.
• Using a "high quality" preset with a huge bitrate. Bigger isn't better past a point. It just means longer uploads and more failed uploads.
• Exporting ProRes or MOV straight from the edit. These are editing formats. Fine for archiving, too big for a course platform.
• Mixing settings between lessons. If lesson 3 was exported at 25 fps with quiet audio and lesson 4 at 30 fps with loud audio, students notice. Save one export preset and use it for the whole course.

Settings in common editing software

Most editors have a preset close to what you need. Start there and check the numbers:

• Premiere Pro: H.264 format, "Match Source - High bitrate" preset, then set the target bitrate to about 6 to 8 Mbps.
• DaVinci Resolve: Deliver page, H.264 MP4, 1920 x 1080, set the quality to a restricted bitrate of about 8,000 kbps.
• Final Cut Pro: Share, Export File, H.264, 1080p.
• Camtasia: Export to local file, MP4, 1080p.
• HandBrake (to shrink a file that's too big): the "Fast 1080p30" preset is a good starting point.

A quick check before you upload a whole course

Upload one finished lesson first. Wait until processing is done, then watch it on a laptop and a phone, with the player set to its highest quality. Check that small text is readable, the audio level matches your other lessons, and there's no stutter. If that lesson looks right, export the rest with the same preset.

If the sound is the problem rather than the picture, our guide to fixing echo and bad audio covers what can be repaired.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best export setting for Kajabi videos?

MP4 with H.264 video at 1920 x 1080 and a bitrate between 5,000 and 10,000 kbps, with AAC stereo audio at 128 to 160 kbps. Kajabi's maximum file size is 4 GB, and it recommends staying at or below 1080p to reduce upload errors.

What resolution should I upload to Teachable?

Teachable recommends 1080p (1920 x 1080) at 24 to 30 frames per second, as MP4, MOV or AVI. Keep each video under 2 GB where you can, even though the platform accepts uploads up to 20 GB.

Does Thinkific support 4K video?

Thinkific supports video up to 1080p (1920 x 1080). You can upload a 4K file within the size limit, but students will see it at 1080p at most, so exporting at 1080p saves upload time with no visible loss.

Why do my course videos look blurry after uploading?

Usually because the platform is still processing the upload, the player has chosen a lower quality for the viewer's connection, or the export bitrate was too low. Wait for processing to finish, set the player to 1080p, and if it's still soft, re-export at 5,000 to 8,000 kbps.

Should I export course videos in 4K?

For most courses, no. 1080p is what Kajabi recommends as a practical ceiling, what Teachable recommends, and the maximum Thinkific plays. 4K files take much longer to upload and fail more often, without a visible benefit for most students.