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Video to GIF

Turn a short video clip into an animated GIF.

Your files never leave your device.

Uses FFmpeg compiled to WebAssembly (ffmpeg.wasm, core 0.12.10), licensed under the GNU GPL v2 or later. Source code. The first use downloads about 32 MB, which your browser keeps for next time.

When to use it

Use this tool to turn a short part of a video into an animated GIF. GIFs play automatically and loop in chats, emails, documentation and presentations, even where videos are not supported. They are perfect for reactions, quick product demos, or showing a few steps in an app.

How to use it

  1. Click Choose video or drop a file. MP4, MOV, WebM, MKV and more work, up to 1 GB.
  2. Wait while the video tools load and the file is read.
  3. Set the Start and End times. The tool starts with a 5-second section, and GIFs can be up to 30 seconds long.
  4. Choose the settings:
    • Width: 320, 480, 640 or 800 px. The height follows the video’s shape.
    • Smoothness: 10, 15, 20 or 25 frames per second.
    • Colors: 256 (best), 128 or 64 (smaller).
    • Repeat: Loop forever or Play once.
  5. Check the size estimate under the settings, then click Make GIF.
  6. Preview the result and click Download GIF.

Worked example

You recorded a 2-minute screen video and want to show one 4-second click in a help article. Set the start and end around that moment. Keep the width at 480 px and 15 fps. That is 60 frames, and the estimate shows the approximate file size before you start.

If the result is over 8 MB, the tool warns you, since some apps and sites reject large GIFs. Try 320 px or 10 fps, which can cut the size by more than half.

Choosing the right moment

Pick a moment with one clear action, such as a button click, a smile or a ball going into a net. GIFs loop, so a clip that ends close to where it started looks smoother. Play the selection a few times before you make the GIF.

Tips

  • Keep it short. Every extra second adds frames. Two to six seconds is usually plenty.
  • Lower the width first. Halving the width roughly quarters the file size.
  • Use 10 fps for screen recordings. Mouse clicks and menus still look fine and the file is much smaller.
  • Choose fewer colors for simple content. Screenshots and cartoons often look the same at 64 colors.

Common mistakes

  • Making long GIFs. A 30-second GIF at full settings can be tens of megabytes. Use a video for anything long.
  • Picking 25 fps for everything. Higher smoothness mostly helps fast motion and costs a lot of space.
  • Expecting sound. GIFs are always silent.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my GIF so much bigger than the video?

GIF is an old format that stores every frame as a full picture with up to 256 colors. Modern video formats only store what changes between frames. A few seconds of GIF can easily be larger than a minute of MP4.

How long can the GIF be?

Up to 30 seconds. Short clips of 2 to 6 seconds work best, because they stay small enough to share and loop smoothly.

Will the GIF have sound?

No. The GIF format cannot store sound. If you need sound, keep the clip as a video with the Trim Video tool instead.

Is my video uploaded?

No. The GIF is made inside your browser and saved straight to your device.

Why do some colors look grainy?

A GIF can only use up to 256 colors. The tool picks the best colors for your clip and blends them with dithering, which can look grainy on smooth gradients like skies. Choose 256 colors for the best result.

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