Video to GIF Converter

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gif vs animated webp vs mp4

GIF, animated WebP or MP4: which format for a short clip

In the Format field, choose GIF, WebP or video and watch the file estimate change at once. With GIF selected, a line shows how much the same clip would weigh as WebP and as short video, so you can decide before generating.

How each format stores the frames

GIF stores each frame as an indexed image with at most 256 colors, and the compression is lossless (LZW) within each frame. Each frame time is written in hundredths of a second, so 30 frames per second becomes a sequence of 3, 4 and 3 hundredths that adds up to the right time. The advantage is near-universal compatibility, even on sites and apps that do not accept video. The cost is the weight and the grainy look on photos.
The animated WebP in this tool is built from lossy WebP frames produced by the browser canvas and packed into an animated container, with each frame duration in milliseconds. Since every frame is independent, the file does not exploit similarity between frames the way a video does, but it gains full color and a per-frame compression better than GIF. The option appears only where the browser can generate WebP on a canvas, and not every site or app accepts the format.
Short video (MP4 with H.264 or WebM with VP9, depending on the browser) uses compression between frames and is usually the smallest of the three with the same look. It has no sound in this tool and stores no repeat count, so the player decides whether it loops. It suits places where video is accepted, such as your own pages, presentations and many messaging apps. The option depends on the browser having a video encoder, which the tool detects by itself.

Checked examples

GIF palette

Input: GIF
Expected output: ≤ 256 colors

Each frame uses at most 256 colors; the tool lets you choose 16, 32, 64, 128 or 256.

GIF timing at 30 fps

Input: 3 frames @ 30 fps
Expected output: 3 | 4 | 3 cs

Three frames add up to 10 hundredths, the same as 3/30 s, with accumulated rounding.

GIF timing at 12 fps

Input: 3 frames @ 12 fps
Expected output: 8 | 9 | 8 cs

8.33 hundredths per frame does not exist; the sum of 25 hundredths is preserved.

WebP timing at 12 fps

Input: 3 frames @ 12 fps
Expected output: 83 | 84 | 83 ms

In milliseconds the rounding is finer, and the 250 ms sum is preserved.

Safety caps

Input: 30 s | 1500 frames | 300M px
Expected output: max

Clip length, frames and total pixels above these values are blocked to protect browser memory.

Full tool FAQ

How do I convert a video to GIF without uploading the file?

Pick the file, mark the clip and click Generate. The tool extracts frames with the browser's own player, draws each one on a canvas and builds the GIF in memory, all on your device. Nothing is sent to a server, so there is no queue, no upload limit and no copy of your video anywhere.

What FPS and width should I use?

Why is the GIF so heavy?

What is the difference between None, Bayer and Floyd-Steinberg dithering?

Global or per-frame palette? What is optimizing repeated pixels?

How do I add a caption to the GIF?

GIF, animated WebP or short video: which one?

What is the maximum clip length?

How do I make the GIF play once, repeat or ping-pong?

Does it work on phones and in any browser?

Frequently asked questions

Why does the tool show WebP and video only sometimes?

Because they depend on the browser. WebP requires the canvas to be able to produce WebP images, which not every browser does, and video requires a WebCodecs encoder. GIF is built by our own code and works in any browser that can play the source video.

Does the generated MP4 loop?

The file does not carry that instruction; looping comes from the player. On a web page the loop attribute of the video element is enough, with muted and autoplay to play by itself. The result preview in the tool itself already plays on a loop.

Which format has the best image quality?

Video and WebP, since they are not limited to 256 colors. In GIF, quality comes from dithering and palette: Floyd-Steinberg and a per-frame palette approximate photos better, at the cost of a larger file. For drawings and flat-color screen captures, a GIF with few colors comes out good and light.

Next steps

How each format stores the frames

GIF stores each frame as an indexed image with at most 256 colors, and the compression is lossless (LZW) within each frame. Each frame time is written in hundredths of a second, so 30 frames per second becomes a sequence of 3, 4 and 3 hundredths that adds up to the right time. The advantage is near-universal compatibility, even on sites and apps that do not accept video. The cost is the weight and the grainy look on photos.

The animated WebP in this tool is built from lossy WebP frames produced by the browser canvas and packed into an animated container, with each frame duration in milliseconds. Since every frame is independent, the file does not exploit similarity between frames the way a video does, but it gains full color and a per-frame compression better than GIF. The option appears only where the browser can generate WebP on a canvas, and not every site or app accepts the format.

Short video (MP4 with H.264 or WebM with VP9, depending on the browser) uses compression between frames and is usually the smallest of the three with the same look. It has no sound in this tool and stores no repeat count, so the player decides whether it loops. It suits places where video is accepted, such as your own pages, presentations and many messaging apps. The option depends on the browser having a video encoder, which the tool detects by itself.

Checked examples

GIF palette

Input: GIF
Expected output: ≤ 256 colors

Each frame uses at most 256 colors; the tool lets you choose 16, 32, 64, 128 or 256.

GIF timing at 30 fps

Input: 3 frames @ 30 fps
Expected output: 3 | 4 | 3 cs

Three frames add up to 10 hundredths, the same as 3/30 s, with accumulated rounding.

GIF timing at 12 fps

Input: 3 frames @ 12 fps
Expected output: 8 | 9 | 8 cs

8.33 hundredths per frame does not exist; the sum of 25 hundredths is preserved.

WebP timing at 12 fps

Input: 3 frames @ 12 fps
Expected output: 83 | 84 | 83 ms

In milliseconds the rounding is finer, and the 250 ms sum is preserved.

Safety caps

Input: 30 s | 1500 frames | 300M px
Expected output: max

Clip length, frames and total pixels above these values are blocked to protect browser memory.

Full tool FAQ

How do I convert a video to GIF without uploading the file?

What FPS and width should I use?

Why is the GIF so heavy?

What is the difference between None, Bayer and Floyd-Steinberg dithering?

Global or per-frame palette? What is optimizing repeated pixels?

How do I add a caption to the GIF?

GIF, animated WebP or short video: which one?

What is the maximum clip length?

How do I make the GIF play once, repeat or ping-pong?

Does it work on phones and in any browser?

Frequently asked questions