How to make a GIF from a video
- Choose the GIF’s width and frame rate.
- Choose your video or drop it on the box above. A player opens.
- Play the video and press Use current time at the moment the GIF should start, then again where it should end. Or type the times.
- Press Make GIF and download the animated GIF. It loops forever, as GIFs usually do.
Choosing size and frame rate
| Setting | Smaller file | Smoother or sharper |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 320 px | 640–800 px |
| Frame rate | 8 fps | 15–20 fps |
| Length | 2–3 seconds | Longer clips |
480 px at 12 fps suits chats, social media and websites. Use 320 px for reaction GIFs and messaging, and 640 px or more only when detail matters.
Where GIFs work best
- Reactions and memes in chats, forums and social media.
- Short product demos and how-to steps in emails, where video often doesn’t play.
- Animated screenshots in documentation and support articles.
- Loops for presentations and slides.
GIF or MP4?
Some sites, including X (Twitter), convert uploaded GIFs to video behind the scenes, because video is many times smaller for the same clip. Use GIF where you need a plain image file that animates everywhere, such as emails and documents. For anything longer or where quality matters, keep it as a short video.
Making a smooth loop
GIFs repeat endlessly, so the jump from the last frame back to the first is noticeable. For a seamless loop, choose a start and end where the scene looks almost the same, such as one full swing of a pendulum or a gesture that returns to its starting position. Short, steady shots loop best; shaky handheld footage makes the jump obvious.
Privacy
The video is decoded and the GIF is created in your browser, using Mediabunny and gifenc, two open-source libraries. Nothing is uploaded.
Questions
How long can the GIF be?
Up to 30 seconds. GIF is an old, inefficient format, so long GIFs become huge files that load slowly. Most good GIFs are 2–6 seconds. For longer clips, a short MP4 is a better choice and plays everywhere GIFs do.
Why is my GIF so large?
GIF stores every frame with limited compression. Size grows with width, frame rate and length, so 480 pixels at 12 fps for a few seconds is a good balance. Halving the width roughly quarters the file size.
Does the GIF have sound?
No. GIF is a picture format and can't hold sound. For a clip with sound, trim the video instead.
Why do colours look a little grainy?
A GIF frame can only use 256 colours, while video has millions. The converter picks the best 256 colours for each frame separately, which keeps most clips looking natural, but smooth gradients such as skies can show banding.
Last reviewed 9 November 2026