Make a real, downloadable GIF from any video
This tool captures frames from your video, builds an optimised colour palette for the clip, and encodes them into a genuine GIF89a file - all inside your browser. Unlike tools that only show a preview animation, Create GIF gives you an actual .gif file to download and share, and your video is never uploaded anywhere.
It's ideal for turning a funny moment into a shareable GIF, making a short looping preview of a screen recording, or pulling a reaction clip for chat apps and forums that accept GIFs but not video files.
How to use the Video to GIF Converter
- Select a video file (MP4, WebM, MOV or OGG) or drop it into the box.
- Scrub the preview to your starting point and press Use current time, then set the duration (up to 8 seconds), frame rate and width.
- Press Create GIF. Frames are captured and encoded, then download the result.
Choosing frame rate, width and duration
GIF files store every frame uncompressed, so the settings matter more than with video. A lower frame rate (8 fps) and smaller width (240 px) keep the file small and load fast in chats - good for reaction GIFs. A higher frame rate (15-20 fps) and larger width (480 px) look smoother and sharper but produce a bigger file. Duration is capped at 8 seconds because GIF file size grows quickly with length, and very long GIFs are usually the wrong format anyway - for anything longer, keep it as video.
Why colours can look slightly different
The GIF format allows at most 256 colours per frame. This tool analyses your clip and builds the best 256-colour palette it can for that specific footage, but any GIF converter will show some colour banding compared to the original video - that's a property of the format, not a bug in this tool.
Common uses
- Turning a funny or reaction moment into a shareable GIF
- Making a looping preview clip for a product demo or app feature
- Creating GIFs for forums, chat apps and emails that don't accept video uploads
- Saving a short highlight from a longer recording as an animated image
Frequently asked questions
Is this video to GIF converter free?
Yes - completely free with no signup, no watermark and no limit on how many GIFs you make.
Is my video uploaded to a server?
No. Frames are captured and encoded into a GIF entirely inside your browser, so your video never leaves your device.
Why is there a duration limit?
GIFs are uncompressed per-frame and grow large fast, and encoding happens on your device's CPU. Capping clips at 8 seconds keeps file sizes and processing time reasonable for any computer.
Why does my GIF look a bit different from the video?
The GIF format only supports 256 colours per frame. This tool builds an optimised colour palette for your clip, but subtle colour banding is normal for the GIF format - it happens with any GIF converter.
Can I control the file size?
Yes - use a lower frame rate and a smaller width for a smaller file, or increase both for smoother, sharper results.