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Video to GIF Converter

Convert video to GIF in your browser without uploading the clip. Drop in an MP4, MOV, WebM, MKV or AVI file, pick the part you want with the start and end sliders or the current-frame buttons, and set the frame rate, width, speed and loop. The converter builds a colour palette from your clip, so the GIF looks cleaner than a plain conversion, and you choose 32 to 256 colours and the dithering style to balance quality against file size. Play backwards and boomerang options add a twist for reactions and memes. People use it to turn screen recordings into bug report GIFs, clip a funny moment for chat, or make short product loops for a website. The first run loads FFmpeg, then everything happens on your device.

Always freeNo sign upRuns in your browser

How to use

01

Add a video

Drag a video onto the upload area or click to browse. MP4, MOV, WebM, MKV and AVI work, and the file stays on your device.

02

Pick the clip and settings

Set the start and end, play the selection to check it, then choose frames per second, width, speed, loop, colours and dithering.

03

Convert and download

Click Convert to GIF. The first run downloads the FFmpeg engine, about 30 MB. Preview the GIF, check its size and click Download GIF.

Why Video to GIF Converter

Settings for common GIF jobs

The right settings depend on where the GIF is going. Chat apps and forums often cap uploads at a few megabytes, while a GIF embedded on your own site should be as light as possible so the page stays fast. Start from the row that matches your goal, convert, check the size shown under the preview, and adjust.

GoalWidthFrames per secondColours
Reaction or meme for chat320 to 480 px12128
Screen recording for a bug report800 px or original8 to 1064 to 128
Product loop on a website480 to 640 px15256
Smallest possible file240 px832

Why GIF files get so big, and when to use video instead

GIF dates from 1987. It compresses each frame losslessly and can only show 256 colours per frame, so a few seconds of real video footage produce a file many times larger than the same clip as MP4. That is why the tool builds a custom palette for your clip: picking the 256 colours that actually appear gives far better results than a generic palette.

Use a GIF when it has to play everywhere without a video player, such as in email signatures, some chat apps, README files and older forums. For anything longer than a few seconds on a website, a short muted MP4 or WebM loop, made with the Video Compressor, looks better at a fraction of the size.

  • Keep it short: 2 to 6 seconds covers most reactions and demos.
  • Keep it small: every extra 100 pixels of width adds a lot of data per frame.
  • Avoid camera shake and grain where you can, because changing pixels cost the most.

Common questions

How do I convert a video to a GIF?
Drop the video in, drag the Start and End sliders to the part you want, and click Convert to GIF. The default settings, 12 frames per second at 480 pixels wide, suit most clips. Download the GIF when the preview appears.
How long can a GIF from a video be?
There is no hard limit, but GIF is a very heavy format. A few seconds at 480 pixels is often 2 to 8 MB, and a 30 second clip can reach tens of megabytes. The page shows a rough size estimate before you convert, so trim to the moment that matters.
How do I make a GIF smaller?
Lower the width to 320 or 240 pixels, use 8 to 10 frames per second, shorten the clip, and try 64 or 32 colours with Pattern dithering. Width and length have the biggest effect, because every frame stores every pixel.
What frame rate should a GIF use?
10 to 15 frames per second looks smooth for most clips and keeps files manageable. Use 20 or 25 for fast motion such as sports, and 5 to 8 for screen recordings where little moves between frames.
Can I make a GIF that plays once instead of looping?
Yes. Set Loop to Play once, or to 3 extra times. Most chat apps and browsers respect the setting, though some social platforms convert GIFs to video and loop them anyway.
What is the difference between Pattern and Diffusion dithering in a GIF?
GIFs can hold only 256 colours per frame, so smooth gradients are faked with dithering. Pattern uses an ordered grid that compresses well and flickers less between frames. Diffusion spreads the error more naturally and looks smoother in stills but often makes larger files. None gives flat colour bands.
Can I convert a screen recording to a GIF for a bug report?
Yes. Screen recordings convert well because large areas stay the same between frames. Use 8 to 12 frames per second, the original width or 800 pixels so text stays readable, and trim to the steps that show the bug.
Is my video uploaded when I make a GIF?
No. The conversion runs in your browser with FFmpeg compiled to WebAssembly. Only the engine is downloaded, once, and your video stays on your device.

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