Updated
To make a GIF from a video, drop the clip, choose a start time and a length of a few seconds, and download the result. The conversion runs on our servers in Germany, and our default of 10 frames per second at 480 pixels wide suits screen recordings and quick reactions well.
Your video reaches us over an encrypted connection, and we delete both the upload and the GIF within two hours, automatically. Because a GIF plays by itself and repeats endlessly, it works in places that refuse video, such as email signatures, issue trackers, documentation, older content systems and some chat apps.
How to make a GIF from a video
- Drop the video, or a folder of clips, onto the page.
- Type where the GIF should begin and how many seconds it should run (by default, the first 5 seconds).
- Adjust the frame rate and the width if the defaults of 10 fps at 480 pixels do not suit the clip.
- Convert, then save the GIF and look at its file size before posting it.
What decides the file size
GIF is an old image format, and video was never part of its design. Every frame can hold no more than 256 colors, and the compression is far weaker than any modern video codec, so a GIF lasting only a few seconds can outweigh a full minute of MP4.
Three settings control the weight. Start with length. A typical GIF lasts two to six seconds, and 60 seconds is the upper limit. Long GIFs turn into huge files that many platforms reject. Frame rate scales the size in proportion, so doubling it roughly doubles the file. At 10 fps, motion looks a little choppy but acceptable, and the ceiling is 30.
Width matters most. Halving it makes the GIF about four times smaller. Widths between 32 and 1280 pixels are accepted, the height is set from the video's proportions, and a Lanczos filter handles the scaling so edges stay crisp.
Colors and sound
With only 256 colors per frame, the palette decides how good a GIF looks. The tool studies the clip first and creates a palette from its own colors, then fills the in-between shades by dithering in a fine, regular pattern. Flat graphics, animations and screen recordings come out very clean. Gentle gradients, like a sunset sky or a face, may still show a little banding. Sound does not survive, because GIF cannot carry audio.
Making GIFs from a set of clips
Release notes, help pages and tutorials often need a whole series of GIFs with a matching look. Drop the folder, and a pipeline turns every clip into a GIF with the same settings. Download each GIF on its own or all of them in one ZIP.
Each GIF counts as a video job. That means 3 a day if you have no account and 5 once you sign up for a free one, with a 50 MB limit per file. Pro lifts files to 500 MB, takes batches of up to 500 and has no daily allowance. For a single job without a subscription, credits work: each one covers 25 files in a batch or pipeline, and they never expire. Pipelines are free to try on up to 3 files.
FAQ
Does the GIF repeat on its own?
Yes. Every GIF we make loops forever.
Should the clip be cut down before converting?
No. The start and length fields already select the part you want, so the full video can go in as it is. To cut a video clip rather than make a GIF, use the video trimmer.
Can text or captions be added?
Not with this tool. Put the captions into the video with an editor first, then convert it.
Is a GIF the right choice for a website?
Often not. On a web page, a silent MP4 or WebM set to loop usually weighs much less than the equivalent GIF and looks better. GIF is the fallback for places that block video.