Video to GIF Converter
Turn part of a video into an animated GIF. A color table (palette) is built for that part first, so banding is less likely. Width and FPS set the quality and the file size.
Equivalent FFmpeg command
CLI command for your current settings. Updates live as you change controls.
ffmpeg -ss 0 -t 5 -i input.mp4 -vf "fps=15,scale=320:-1:flags=lanczos,palettegen" palette.png
ffmpeg -ss 0 -t 5 -i input.mp4 -i palette.png -filter_complex "[0:v]fps=15,scale=320:-1:flags=lanczos[x];[x][1:v]paletteuse" output.gifVisual concept
* Actual results depend on source duration / complexity (illustrative example)
How to use
- Pick a videoMP4, MOV, WebM and so on, up to 200 MB. Long videos are slow, so pick a short part.
- Set start / endEnter the range in seconds (60 seconds at most). Ten seconds or less keeps the file small.
- Pick width / FPSThe defaults are 320px and 15 fps, a balance of quality and size.
- ConvertPress "Convert to GIF". When the preview appears, download it.
Recommended settings
When it goes wrong
The GIF is too big
Cause: The clip is long, the FPS is high, or the width is large.
Fix: Cut to 5–10s, 320px wide, 10–15fps.
Banding visible
Cause: A GIF frame can use only 256 colors. The palette is shared by the whole clip, so scenes with different colors compete for them.
Fix: Shorten the clip to one scene, or share it as MP4 instead.
Looks choppy
Cause: The FPS setting or the source FPS is too low.
Fix: Use 15 fps or more and check the source.
Questions
GIF or MP4 — which is smaller?
MP4, by a wide margin, for the same length and look. If the destination plays MP4, send the MP4.
Can I make a transparent GIF?
There is no transparency setting. Ordinary videos have no transparent areas, so the GIF is not transparent either. GIF transparency is only on or off, so for animation with soft, semi-transparent edges use APNG, WebP or WebM.
Why ≤30s recommendation?
The longer the range, the bigger the GIF and the more memory the conversion needs. The range can be up to 60 seconds.
What does palettegen do?
It looks at the colors in the range, builds a table of up to 256 colors that fit this video (the palette), and then makes the GIF with that table (palettegen and paletteuse). This gives less banding than a fixed color table.
Mobile?
Yes, but a warning appears for sources over 50 MB, because memory runs out more easily. Pick a shorter range, or trim or compress the video first.
GIF looks heavy / blurry on Slack or Discord
GIF is limited to 256 colors, so gradients suffer. Aim for 320px width and 10–15 fps. If it is still heavy, send an MP4 instead of a GIF.
Can I make it play once instead of looping?
Not in this tool: its GIFs always loop. With FFmpeg, change `-loop 0` to `-loop -1` in the command and the GIF plays once.
Does vertical / portrait video work?
Yes, the aspect ratio is kept. A 9:16 video at 320px wide becomes about 569px tall. If that is too tall, use 240px.
More detail (settings, limits, FFmpeg commands)
What each setting means
Browsers and limits
- Max 200MB input
- 256-color limit (no smooth gradients)
- Range up to 60 seconds (30 seconds or less recommended)
The same job with the FFmpeg command line
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -ss 5 -to 10 -vf "fps=15,scale=320:-1:flags=lanczos" -loop 0 output.gifffmpeg -i input.mp4 -ss 5 -to 10 -vf "fps=15,scale=320:-1:flags=lanczos,split[a][b];[a]palettegen[p];[b][p]paletteuse" -loop 0 output.gif