Video to GIF Converter

Keep it short

GIFs store every frame as an image, so file size grows quickly with length. Three to eight seconds is the sweet spot for reactions, product demos and tutorials. Many chat apps and forums limit GIF uploads to around 8–15 MB.

Choosing width and frame rate

A 480-pixel width looks sharp in messages and on social media. Use 320 pixels to keep files small, or 640 pixels when detail matters. Ten frames per second is smooth enough for most clips and keeps the file light; 15 fps is better for fast motion. As a rough guide, a 5-second clip at 480 px and 10 fps is usually between 1 and 4 MB, depending on how much the picture changes.

Why GIF colours can look different

The GIF format can only show 256 colours per frame. Our encoder chooses the best 256 colours for every frame, which works well for most footage. Scenes with smooth gradients, such as skies, may show some banding — that is a limit of the format itself.

When to use something other than GIF

For long clips or when you need sound, a short MP4 is far smaller and better quality. GIF is ideal when you need an image that loops automatically and works everywhere, including email and older apps.