MP4 to GIF Converter
Make a GIF that is guaranteed to upload. Choose the part of your video and the platform’s size limit; the converter tries high quality first and automatically reduces width and frame rate until the GIF fits.
- Files stay on your device
- No sign-up
- Free to use
Part to turn into a GIF
Size target
The converter starts at high quality and steps the width and frame rate down until the GIF fits the target.
Playback
Processing happens on your device with FFmpeg. Keep this tab open; long or high-resolution videos can take several minutes.
How to use MP4 to GIF
- Drop a short MP4, MOV or WebM clip onto the upload area.
- Select the part to convert on the timeline; shorter selections give better-looking GIFs.
- Choose a size target: 10 MB, 5 MB, 2 MB or best quality.
- Select Create GIF and download it.
MP4 to GIF features
Size targets
Presets for Discord, email, GitHub and Slack limits so your GIF uploads first time.
Automatic optimisation
Steps width, frame rate and palette down only as far as needed to fit the target.
Optimised palette
A palette is computed for the clip, with ordered dithering that compresses well.
Precise clip selection
Choose start and end on a timeline or from the playhead.
Loop control
Loop forever or play once.
Private
Converted in your browser with FFmpeg.
When to use MP4 to GIF
- Sharing a reaction clip on Discord without hitting the upload limit.
- Adding a short demo GIF to a GitHub README or pull request.
- Embedding an animation in an email newsletter.
- Posting a quick screen recording in Slack.
- Creating GIFs for forums that cap attachment sizes.
MP4 to GIF FAQ
How is this different from the Video to GIF tool?
Video to GIF gives you manual control over width and frame rate. MP4 to GIF works backwards from a file size limit and finds the best quality that fits automatically.
Why are GIFs so large?
GIF compresses each frame with a 256-colour palette and a simple lossless method from 1987. A few seconds of video become many full frames, so GIFs are often ten times larger than the same clip as MP4.
What if my GIF still does not fit?
The result notes when it is above the target. Select a shorter part of the video; length has the biggest effect on size.
What are the platform limits?
Typical limits are 10 MB for Discord free uploads, 10 MB for GitHub images (5 MB recommended for READMEs), and email attachments that are best kept well under 5 MB. Slack shows previews for images up to a few megabytes. Limits change, so check the platform if unsure.
Is there a better format than GIF?
Short muted MP4 or WebM videos look better and are much smaller, and most modern platforms autoplay them. Use GIF where only images are accepted.
Fitting a GIF into a size limit
A GIF’s file size depends on four things: duration, frame rate, dimensions and how much changes between frames. Duration and frame rate set the number of frames; dimensions set the pixels per frame; motion affects how well each frame compresses. Halving the width cuts the pixels per frame to a quarter, which is why width is usually the most effective lever after length.
This converter starts with a 640-pixel-wide GIF at 15 frames per second and a full 256-colour palette. If the result exceeds the target, it tries progressively smaller combinations, such as 480 pixels at 12 fps, then 320 pixels at 10 fps. It stops at the first attempt that fits, so you get the best quality the limit allows.
Colour handling matters too. GIF frames can use only 256 colours, so the converter analyses the clip to build a palette tuned to it, then uses ordered dithering, a regular pattern that hides banding and compresses better than random noise. It also only re-encodes the rectangles that change between frames.
For the smallest possible results, choose a clip with a steady camera and a simple background. Static backgrounds compress almost to nothing between frames, while camera shake makes every pixel change in every frame.