How to Embed Video on Shopify

The Problem

Shopify's native video hosting caps files at 1 GB and 10 minutes, with zero analytics. Most merchants fall back to YouTube embeds, which inject ads (including competitor ads), leak traffic via suggested videos, and add 1.3-2.6 MB of page weight that tanks Core Web Vitals. BigCommerce and Magento don't host video at all — they only accept YouTube or Vimeo URLs. For product pages where every second of load time and every distraction costs conversions, none of these options are acceptable.

What You Need

• No file size or duration caps that force you to compress your best product demos
• A clean, ad-free player that looks like part of your store — not YouTube or Vimeo
• Lightweight embeds that do not slow down your page load or hurt SEO
• Analytics showing which products get watched and where viewers drop off
• Predictable pricing that does not spike with seasonal traffic

How to Do It with host.video

Step 1: Upload your product videos

Drag and drop or use resumable TUS uploads for large files. Any format accepted — host.video transcodes to HLS adaptive bitrate automatically.

Step 2: Copy the embed code

Each video gets an iframe embed code. Use your custom domain so the embed URL matches your brand, not a third-party host.

Step 3: Paste into your Shopify product page

Add a custom HTML block or use the Shopify code editor to paste the iframe into your product template or any page section.

Step 4: Track engagement

View plays, watch time, completion rates, and geographic data from your dashboard. No client-side scripts or cookie banners required.

Why This Matters

Product video on ecommerce listings increases conversion rates by 80% or more according to industry benchmarks, but only when the experience is fast and distraction-free. YouTube embeds undermine this by injecting ads, leaking visitors to suggested videos, and adding seconds of load time. A clean embedded player that starts instantly, stays on your domain, and gives you real analytics turns product video from a liability into a sales tool.

Alternatives

Shopify apps like Videowise and Tolstoy offer shoppable video features at $99+/mo but add complexity and another vendor. YouTube is free but comes with ads, branding, and traffic leakage. Vimeo works but starts at $20/mo with bandwidth caps that trigger forced enterprise upsells.