Convert a video to GIF in the browser
The video to GIF tool turns an MP4, MOV, WebM, MKV, or AVI clip into an animated GIF. It runs ffmpeg compiled to WebAssembly inside the browser tab, so the video never leaves your device. The same decoders and filters as desktop ffmpeg handle the frames, and a color palette is generated for each clip, so the GIF spends its 256 colors on the shades that appear in your footage rather than on a generic set.
GIF has no sound, so any audio track is dropped.
Frame rate and width decide the file size
GIF is an old format with almost no compression between frames, so size depends on how many frames there are and how big each one is. Two options control that.
Frames per second defaults to 12 and goes from 1 to 30. 12 is smooth enough for screen recordings, UI demos, and reaction clips, and it halves the frame count compared with a 24 fps source. Use 15 to 20 for fast motion like sports or games. Drop to 8 or 10 when the file needs to be small and the motion is slow.
Width defaults to 480 pixels and goes from 16 to 1920. Height follows from the source aspect ratio. 480 wide is the usual choice for chat apps and README files. 320 is enough for a small inline preview. Going above 800 is rarely worth it; GIF files grow fast and most places that display GIFs scale them down anyway.
As a rule of thumb, halving the width cuts the size by about three quarters, and halving the frame rate cuts it in half.
Trimming with start and end
Start and end take a time in seconds or as mm:ss, for example "4.5" or "1:30". Leave both blank to convert the whole clip. Set only start to skip an intro, or only end to cut the tail.
Most good GIFs are short. A 5 second clip at 12 fps and 480 wide is a manageable size for almost any chat or issue tracker. A 30 second clip at the same settings can run to tens of megabytes, and many sites refuse GIFs that large.
Loop
The loop option is on by default, so the GIF repeats forever, which is what most viewers expect. Turn it off to produce a GIF that plays once and stops on the last frame, which suits a short demonstration where the end state matters.
Output name
The output keeps the base name and swaps the extension, so "demo.mov" becomes "demo.gif".
When a GIF is the wrong format
If you need a small, high-quality clip for a web page and sound does not matter, video to WebM or video to MP4 will be far smaller than a GIF at the same resolution, and a video tag can autoplay and loop it. GIF is the right choice when the destination only accepts images, such as a GitHub comment, a chat emoji, or a documentation site that strips video tags.
To shrink a video while keeping it a video, use compress video.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my GIF so large?
GIF stores every frame with almost no compression between frames. Lower the frame rate, reduce the width, or trim the clip with start and end. Width has the biggest effect.
How do I convert only part of the video?
Fill in start and end as seconds or mm:ss, for example '4.5' or '1:30'. Leave either blank to use the beginning or the end of the clip.
Does the GIF have sound?
No. The GIF format has no audio, so the sound track is dropped. If you need the audio, use the video to MP3 tool.
Can I make the GIF play once instead of looping?
Yes. Turn off the loop option and the GIF plays once and stops on the last frame.
What frame rate should I use?
The default of 12 fps looks smooth for screen recordings and reaction clips. Use 15 to 20 for fast motion and 8 to 10 when the file has to be small.
Which video formats are accepted?
MP4, MOV, WebM, MKV, and AVI.