Video to GIF Converter
Turn a video into an animated GIF. Add an MP4, WebM, or MOV file, pick the part you want (up to 30 seconds), choose the width and frame rate, and download the GIF. The video is converted in your browser, so it is never uploaded.
Drag and drop a video here, or
MP4, WebM, or MOV up to 200 MB. The GIF can be up to 30 seconds long. Nothing is uploaded.
What the video to GIF converter does
A GIF is an image file that can hold many pictures and show them one after another, like a flip book. Unlike a video, it plays on its own almost anywhere an image can go, with no play button and no sound.
The converter opens your video in the browser and takes still frames from the part you picked, at the frame rate you chose. Ten frames per second over five seconds gives a GIF of 50 frames. Each frame is shrunk to the width you set, reduced to the 256 colors a GIF frame can hold, and added to the file.
The audio is left out, because the GIF format cannot store sound. The GIF keeps the shape of the video, so a vertical phone video makes a tall GIF.
Why use our video to GIF converter
- ·Free. No signup, no watermark, no daily limit.
- ·No upload. Your video stays on your device, so private recordings stay private.
- ·Pick the exact part. Drag the handles or set the start and end while you watch, down to a tenth of a second.
- ·See the size first. The frame count and pixel size are shown before you start, and the file size as soon as the GIF is made.
- ·Accurate timing. The GIF plays at the speed of the original video.
How to convert a video to a GIF
- 1
Add your video
Drag an MP4, WebM, or MOV file onto the box, or click to pick one. Videos up to 200 MB work. The video opens in your browser and is not uploaded.
- 2
Pick the part you want
Drag the two handles under the video to set where the GIF starts and ends, or play the video and use Start here and End here. A GIF can be up to 30 seconds long.
- 3
Choose the size and frame rate
Pick a width from 240 to 800 pixels and a frame rate from 5 to 25 frames per second. Leave Loop forever on for a GIF that repeats, or turn it off to play it once.
- 4
Make the GIF and download it
Click Make GIF. The video plays through the part you picked once, so it takes about as long as that part. When it is done, check the preview and click Download GIF.
Video to GIF converter options
- ·Part of the video to use. The two handles set where the GIF starts and ends, in steps of a tenth of a second. A new video starts with the first 10 seconds picked. The GIF can be up to 30 seconds long; if you drag past that, the other handle moves along with it.
- ·Width. 240, 320, 480, 640, or 800 pixels, and the height follows the shape of the video. The default is 480. Sizes larger than the video are not offered, because enlarging a video only makes it blurry.
- ·Frame rate. 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 frames per second (fps). The default is 10. More frames look smoother and make a bigger file.
- ·Loop forever. On by default, so the GIF repeats without end. Turn it off for a GIF that plays once and stops.
If you change an option after making a GIF, click Make GIF again to build a new one with the new settings.
Video to GIF limits and supported formats
| Video file size | Up to 200 MB |
| GIF length | Up to 30 seconds, taken from any point in the video |
| GIF width | 240 to 800 pixels, never larger than the video |
| Frame rate | 5 to 25 frames per second |
| Video formats | Any video your browser can play. MP4 (H.264) and WebM work in all modern browsers. |
| Sound | Not included, because GIFs cannot store sound |
The converter uses your browser's own video player to read the file, so it opens the same videos your browser can play. MOV files from a Mac or iPhone usually work when they use H.264. iPhones often record in HEVC (H.265) instead, which Safari plays but some other browsers do not. Older formats such as AVI and some MKV files may not open at all. If a video will not open, try a different browser, or export it as MP4 from your phone or video editor.
How to make a GIF smaller
A GIF is usually many times bigger than the same clip saved as an MP4 video, because it saves every frame as a full picture. The number of frames is the length in seconds times the frame rate, and each frame grows with its width and height. So a GIF gets smaller when you cut any of these:
- ·Use a shorter part. Going from 10 seconds to 5 seconds halves the number of frames. A reaction GIF rarely needs more than a few seconds.
- ·Use a smaller width. Going from 640 to 320 pixels wide leaves a quarter of the pixels in each frame, which has the biggest effect.
- ·Lower the frame rate. Going from 20 fps to 10 fps halves the number of frames. For screen recordings, 5 or 10 fps is usually enough.
Busy scenes with lots of movement and fine detail compress poorly, and simple scenes with flat colors, such as a screen recording, compress well. The planned frame count and size are shown next to the Make GIF button, so you can check them before you start.
When to turn a video into a GIF
- ·Reactions and memes. A GIF plays on its own, with no play button and no sound, in chats, forums, and comment sections that accept images.
- ·Bug reports and how-to guides. A short screen recording turned into a GIF shows a problem or a few steps right inside a GitHub issue, a README, a help article, or a support ticket.
- ·Email newsletters. Most email apps do not play video inside a message but do show GIFs, so a GIF is the usual way to add motion. A few apps only show the first frame, so make sure it makes sense on its own.
- ·Slides and documents. PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Keynote play GIFs like any other picture, so a short demo loops on the slide without a video player.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I convert a video to a GIF?
- Add the video to the converter above, drag the handles to pick the part you want, choose a width and frame rate, and click Make GIF. When it finishes, click Download GIF. Everything happens in your browser.
- How do I convert an MP4 to a GIF?
- Use the same steps. MP4 is the most common video format and works in every modern browser. Add the MP4, pick the part you want, and click Make GIF.
- How long can the GIF be?
- Up to 30 seconds. The video itself can be longer (up to 200 MB), and you pick which 30 seconds or less to use. GIFs store every frame as a full picture, so longer GIFs quickly become very large files.
- Why is my GIF file so big?
- A GIF saves every frame as a separate picture with only light compression, so it is usually many times larger than the same clip saved as an MP4 video. To make it smaller, use a shorter part of the video, a smaller width, or a lower frame rate. Halving the width cuts the number of pixels in each frame to about a quarter.
- What frame rate should I use for a GIF?
- 10 frames per second is a good default and keeps the file small. Use 15 to 25 for fast movement, such as sports or games, where 10 looks choppy. Use 5 for slow changes, such as a screen recording of someone typing.
- How long does it take to make a GIF?
- About as long as the part of the video you picked. The converter plays that part once to read its frames, so a 10 second clip takes about 10 seconds, and a little longer at a large width or a high frame rate. Keep the tab open while it works. If you switch to another tab, it pauses until you come back.
- Does the GIF keep the sound?
- No. The GIF format has no way to store sound, so the audio from the video is left out. If you need sound, share the video itself.
- Why does my GIF look grainy or have bands of color?
- A GIF can use at most 256 colors in each frame, while a video has millions. The converter picks the best 256 colors for each frame, which works well for screen recordings and cartoons. Smooth gradients, such as a sunset sky, can show visible bands.
- Why won't my video open?
- The converter can only read videos your browser can play. MP4 (H.264) and WebM work everywhere. iPhone videos are often saved in HEVC (H.265), which not every browser can play. Try Safari, or on the iPhone go to Settings, then Camera, then Formats, and choose Most Compatible to record new videos in H.264.
- Can I make a GIF that plays only once?
- Yes. Turn off Loop forever before you click Make GIF. The GIF then plays one time and stops on the last frame.
- Can I turn a screen recording into a GIF?
- Yes. Screen recordings from a Mac (MOV), Windows (MP4), or a browser screen recorder (WebM) work. Pick a width close to the size people will see it at, and 10 frames per second is usually enough for clicks and typing.
- Is my video uploaded?
- No. The video is read and the GIF is built inside your browser, so the file never leaves your device and nothing is stored anywhere.