How to make a GIF from a video
- Choose a video or drag it onto the box. MP4, MOV, WebM, AVI, MTS, and most other formats work.
- Play the video and use the buttons to mark where the GIF should start and end. Shorter clips make smaller, snappier GIFs.
- Pick a width and frame rate. 480 pixels at 12 frames per second is a great balance for sharing.
- Set the speed and loop, then tap Make GIF and preview the result.
- Not happy with the size? Lower the width, frame rate, or colors and make it again, then download.
Tips for small, sharp GIFs
- Keep it short. Two to six seconds is the sweet spot. File size grows with every second.
- Width matters most. Halving the width cuts the file to about a quarter.
- 10 to 15 fps is plenty. Most GIFs online run at this rate and still look smooth.
- Fewer colors for graphics. Screen recordings, text, and logos look great with 64 or even 32 colors.
Frequently asked questions
Why are GIFs so much bigger than videos?
GIF is a format from 1987 that stores each frame as an image with at most 256 colors and no modern video compression. A GIF can easily be ten times bigger than the same clip as an MP4. That's why short, small GIFs work best.
How does the tool keep colors looking good?
It builds a custom 256-color palette from your clip instead of a generic one, then uses smooth dithering to blend colors in gradients like skies and skin. That's the same two-pass method professional tools use.
What size limits do sites have for GIFs?
Limits change often, but many messaging apps and forums cap uploads somewhere between 5 and 15 MB. If your GIF is too big, lower the width first, then the frame rate.
Can I make a GIF from an iPhone video?
Yes. iPhone MOV videos work directly, including HEVC clips, since the pro engine reads them even when the browser can't.
Is my video uploaded?
No. The GIF is made in your browser and your video never leaves your device.