Convert to GIF online

Free online converter for converting files to GIF.

Drag and drop images,
videos or any files

Drag files here. Maximum size — 5 GB

How to convert files to GIF?

1
Upload your file
Click the 'Choose File' button or drag and drop your file into the upload area. Supported formats include MP4, AVI, MKV and more.
2
Select the output format
Make sure GIF is selected as the conversion format. Adjust additional settings if needed.
3
Start the conversion process
Click the 'Convert' button and wait a few seconds. All conversions are performed on our servers.
4
Download the result
Once the process is complete, click the 'Download' button and save the file in GIF format.

Convert to GIF: supported formats

video converter iconMP4 to GIFMPEG-4 Video to GIFvideo converter iconAVI to GIFAudio Video Interleave to GIFvideo converter iconMKV to GIFMatroska Video to GIFvideo converter iconMOV to GIFQuickTime Video to GIFvideo converter iconWMV to GIFWindows Media Video to GIFvideo converter iconFLV to GIFFlash Video to GIFvideo converter iconWEBM to GIFWebM Video to GIFvideo converter iconMPEG to GIFMPEG Video to GIFvideo converter icon3GP to GIF3GPP Video to GIFimage converter iconPNG to GIFPortable Network Graphics to GIFimage converter iconJPG to GIFJoint Photographic Experts Group to GIFimage converter iconWEBP to GIFWebP Image Format to GIF

Convert GIF to other formats

image converter iconGIF to PNGGraphics Interchange Format to PNGimage converter iconGIF to JPGGraphics Interchange Format to JPGimage converter iconGIF to WEBPGraphics Interchange Format to WEBPimage converter iconGIF to BMPGraphics Interchange Format to BMPimage converter iconGIF to PDFGraphics Interchange Format to PDF

.GIF

GIF
Graphics Interchange Format
Data typeImage
MIME typeimage/gif
DeveloperCompuServe
Primary use casesShort looping animations, stickers, memes, simple UI graphics, icons, diagrams, small web visuals

What is the GIF file format?

GIF is a widely supported raster image format best known for short looping animations and simple graphics with limited colors.

GIF file characteristics

Data typeImage
MIME typeimage/gif
CompressionLossless LZW compression
Color depthUp to 8-bit indexed color (256 colors per frame); transparency is typically 1-bit via a transparent color index
Color spaceIndexed RGB palette (up to 256 colors per frame; palette entries are 24-bit RGB)
Transparency supportYes
Animation supportYes
MetadataLimited: Comment Extension, Application Extension (commonly loop count), and other GIF extension blocks; no standard EXIF
Standard / SpecificationGraphics Interchange Format (GIF) specifications: GIF87a and GIF89a
Typical file sizeHighly variable: small for simple icons/short loops, but can become very large for high-resolution or long animations
Year introduced1987

Advantages

The GIF file format offers several advantages that make it suitable for common use cases.

  • Universal support;
  • Simple animation in a single file;
  • Lossless compression for flat-color graphics;
  • Small files for simple loops;
  • Widely compatible across devices and platforms

Limitations

The GIF file format has certain limitations that may affect its use in specific scenarios.

  • Indexed color only;
  • Dithering may be needed for gradients/photos;
  • Animation timing and color palettes can vary by encoder;
  • Transparency edges can look jagged due to 1-bit transparency

Compatibility

GIF images are widely supported and can be viewed on most devices and platforms.

  • Browser support: Yes
  • Mobile support: Yes
  • Backward compatibility: Yes

Security considerations

Treat GIF as untrusted input: malformed files may exploit decoder bugs. Keep browsers/viewers and image libraries updated

License

Historically affected by LZW patents; those patents have expired, so GIF is now freely usable

GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) is a palette-based bitmap format introduced by CompuServe. It supports up to 8-bit indexed color (256 colors per frame), optional 1-bit transparency, and multi-frame animations using extension blocks (GIF89a). GIF uses lossless LZW compression, making it suitable for flat-color graphics and simple animations, but inefficient for photos and video-like content.