How to upload videos faster: A content creator’s guide to beating slow upload speeds

You've filmed a video. Edited it. Time to publish and drink in the views… or so you think. Watching the upload increase percentage at a hair-pulling rate. It’s a painful feeling.   

Slow upload speeds are one of the most frustrating parts of being a content creator.   

A lot of people assume they just need faster internet and call it a day. And sometimes that's the answer. But most of the time? You can actually speed things up dramatically.   

In this guide we're gonna walk through exactly how to upload your videos faster, from the files themselves to your network setup, and when it actually makes sense to upgrade your connection.   

What is upload speed? Why does it matter if I’m a content creator?  

Download speed is what everyone talks about. It's how fast you can pull stuff from the internet. Netflix, YouTube, browsing, all that uses download speed. 

Upload speed is the opposite. It's how fast you can send data from your computer to the internet. And for content creators, this is actually way more important than download speed. 

When you're uploading a video, you're sending a massive file (that can sometimes be 5GB, 10GB, even 50GB+ for high-quality content) from your computer to their servers. The faster your upload speed, the faster that file gets there. 

Why most people have terrible upload speeds

Most NBN plans in Australia are asymmetrical, meaning your download speed is way higher than your upload speed. While you have 100 Mbps download, your provider only offers 20 Mbps upload.  

To put that in perspective: uploading a 5GB video on a 10 Mbps connection takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes. On a 40 Mbps connection? About 17 minutes.  

That's why you’ll need to end up blocking out your whole arvo just to upload one video.

How Can I Make My Video Files Smaller Before Uploading? 

Before you even think about your internet connection, you need to look at the file you're uploading. A 10GB file is always going to take longer than a 2GB file, no matter how fast your internet is. 

How can I compress the video without losing quality?  

The trick here is compressing your video so the file size drops but it still looks good. Go too small and your travel video of the Maldives will look like one large blue blob.  

• Use H.265 (HEVC) codec instead of H.264 — H.265 can cut your file size in half while maintaining the same quality. The only downside is that your CPU/GPU has to work a bit harder, so your exports take longer. Most editing software supports this now (Premiere Pro, Final Cut, DaVinci Resolve) and can use your GPU to speed things up slightly.   

• Two-pass encoding — This takes longer but produces better quality at smaller file sizes. Your editing software analyses the video twice to figure out the best way to compress it. 

• Variable bitrate (VBR) over constant bitrate (CBR) — VBR adjusts the bitrate based on what's happening in the video. Fast action gets more data, static shots get less.  

What Format Should You Actually Use? 

Different platforms prefer different formats, but here's the general rule: 

• YouTube/Vimeo — MP4 with H.264 or H.265 

• Instagram/TikTok — MP4 or MOV 

• Twitter — MP4 

MP4 is basically the universal format. When in doubt, always revert to that.  

Do You Actually Need to Upload in 4K? 

YouTube and TikTok give priority to higher-resolution videos in their algorithm, and 4K videos get the VP9 codec, which looks better even when people watch at 1080p. So there's an argument for uploading in 4K even if most viewers won't watch it that way.  

But if you're uploading multiple videos a week and upload time is killing you, dropping down to 1080p can cut your file size (and upload time) by 60-70%.  

What's the Best Technical Setup for Faster Uploads? 

Alright, so you've edited your file. Now let's edit your network. 

Use Ethernet Instead of Wi-Fi 

This one's huge. Wi-Fi is convenient, but it's not stable. Walls, other devices, and interference from your neighbour's router — all of that slows you down. And when you're uploading a massive file that takes 30+ minutes, any interruption or slowdown adds up. 

An Ethernet cable gives you a direct, stable connection. You can increase your upload speed with less dropouts. 

If your modem’s too far away, you don’t need to run a crazy long cable. You can use a powerline adapter, which uses your home’s electricity to carry the internet, or a MoCA adapter that works over your Pay TV coax cables. Both give you that reliable wired connection without having a mess all over your house. Not exactly ideal when you’re filming lifestyle vlogs.   

Use File Sharing Platform for Large Files 

Use tools like Dropbox Transfer or WeTransfer instead of uploading to a platform. These services can break files into chunks, resume interrupted uploads and give your client a ready-to-download link. It’s easy and you avoid email size limits or straight-up failed transfers.  

Upload Through Desktop App 

Most file sharing platforms have options to upload file through browsers and desktop app. Use the desktop app when you can. 

Browser uploads can be interrupted if you accidentally close the tab, your browser crashes, or your computer goes to sleep.  

Also, some desktop apps support batch uploads, so you can queue multiple videos and walk away. 

What's Eating Your Upload Bandwidth in the Background? 

While you're uploading, other stuff on your network is probably using your internet without you realising it: 

• Cloud backup services (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive) 

• Software updates (Windows, Adobe, Steam) 

• Other people in your house streaming or gaming 

• Smart home devices 

Close or pause everything you can before you start uploading. Every bit of upload bandwidth you free up speeds things up.  

Avoid Peak Hours to Upload Files 

NBN traffic gets congested during peak hours, roughly between the hours of 7 pm and 11 pm. This is when everyone is home and everyone heads onto streaming and gaming after dinnertime. If you can, schedule your uploads for late night or early morning. 

Most platforms, including Meta Business Suite (Facebook and Instagram), TikTok Scheduler and YouTube, let you schedule uploads anyway, so you can upload at 2 am when the network is quiet, and the video goes live whenever you want it to. 

When Should You Actually Upgrade Your Internet Plan? 

Okay so you've done everything right, but everything is still slow. That's when it's time to look at upgrading. 

What Upload Speeds Do Content Creators Actually Need? 

Here's a rough guide based on how often you upload: 

• Casual creators (1-2 videos per month) — 10-20 Mbps upload is fine 

• Regular creators (1+ video per week) — 20-40 Mbps minimum 

• Full-time creators (daily uploads or livestreaming) — 40-100 Mbps 

If you're livestreaming, you need at least 10 Mbps upload just for a stable 1080p stream, and that's just the stream. You'll want extra headroom on top of that. 

Check If FTTP Is Available in Your Area 

FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) is S-tier connectivity. It's faster, more stable, and has way better upload speeds than older NBN connections like FTTN or HFC. 

If FTTP is available at your address and you're serious about content creation, it's worth switching. The upload speeds alone make a massive difference.  

Why Exetel's The One Plan Works for Content Creators 

If you're uploading videos regularly, this plan is one that actually makes sense: 

• 500 Mbps download, 50 Mbps upload* — that 50 Mbps upload is perfect for regular creators. A 5GB video uploads in about 13 minutes. *Typical evening speed 500/40 Mbps. 

• Warp Speed increase — need to upload a massive file or a 4K video? Hit the Warp Speed button in the app, increase to 1000 Mbps* (with 100 Mbps upload) for $1/day. *Typical evening speed: 860/85 Mbps. 

• $80/month — No promo tricks. No price hikes. Just fast internet that won’t sting you later, that’s cheaper than the Australian average of $85/month  

• Less congestion during peak hours — your uploading speeds will remain pretty good even when everyone else is online.   

Subscribe to fast uploads with Exetel  

Slow uploads are the worst. There’s no way to cushion that blow.  

If you’re uploading several times a week (good on you!) and still spending your afternoons staring at progress bars that move slower than an early 2000s website then maybe it’s about time to find a plan with better upload speeds.  

The hours you get back are worth way more than the extra monthly cost.  

For creators who need awesome performance without shelling out for some fancy enterprise plan, switching to Exetel makes sense. You’re not paying for speeds you don’t need, but you’ve always got them in your pocket when you need to hit publish before your audience moves onto the next thing.  

Smash that ‘Like’ button and ‘Subscribe’ (metaphorically!) to an internet provider that looks out for creators like you.  

FAQs 

What's a good upload speed for YouTube videos? 

• For 1080p videos, you should aim for at least 20 Mbps upload.  

• 4K needs even more. As in, approaching 40 Mbps.  

What upload speed do I need to stream on Twitch?  

Twitch increased bitrates from 7.5 Mbps to 9 Mbps for 2k (1440p) HEVC and from 6 Mbps to 7.5 Mbps for 1080p AVC. Some partners and affiliates can go even higher. This is why you should go for at least 20 Mbps upload if you’re streaming at regular intervals.  

Can I pause and resume uploads? 

Most platforms let you resume uploads if you use their desktop app. Browser uploads are less reliable. You might have to start from scratch, which is brutal when you're 90% through a 50GB file. If you can, just set aside the time to upload in one go and save yourself the stress.  

How long should a 5 GB video take to upload? 

It depends on your upload speed:  

• On 20 Mbps upload: about 35 minutes.  

• On 50 Mbps: about 13–14 minutes.  

• On 100 Mbps: about 6–7 minutes. 

This is why the upload number in your plan matters a lot more than people think.  

How do I increase my upload speed?  

The faster wins are to switch to an Ethernet connection, close background apps and cloud sync services and upload during off-peak hours (scheduling the upload late night or early morning). 

If you have done all that and your upload is still slow, it’s your plan. Look at upgrading your plan to a higher upload speed tier, or check if FTTP is available at your address.