How to edit a GIF
This GIF editor opens the GIF you already have, frame by frame, with its original timing. Nothing is uploaded, so a private GIF stays private.
- Drop the GIFDrag it onto the page, tap Choose files, or paste it with Ctrl/⌘+V. Animated WebP and APNG open the same way.
- Work on the framesThe Frames strip shows every frame. Remove the ones you don't need, drag to reorder, or tap a frame's time to change it.
- Pick your editsUse Size, Crop, Caption, Motion and Advanced. On a phone they're tabs along the bottom, with Advanced under More.
- Check where it fitsThe Where it fits strip shows ✓ or ✗ for Slack, Discord, X, emoji and email. Tap Fit next to any ✗ to shrink the GIF for that place.
- ExportTap Export GIF. Then tap Download GIF on a computer, or Share or save GIF on a phone.
Everything you can do to a GIF
Each edit below has its own page with settings and tips. They all happen in the same editor, so you can stack them: crop, caption and speed up one GIF in a single export.
| Task | Where in the editor | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Play it backward, or back and forth | Motion → Direction: Reverse or Boomerang | Reverse GIF |
| Speed it up or slow it down | Motion → Speed, 0.25× to 4× | GIF speed changer |
| Add a caption | Caption: Outline, Shadow or Box, top or bottom | Add text to GIF |
| Change the shape | Crop: Free, 1:1, 16:9, 9:16 or 4:5 | Crop GIF |
| Make it smaller on screen | Size: 240, 320 or 480 px wide | GIF resizer |
| Make the file smaller | Fit to an upload limit, or Advanced → Colors | GIF compressor |
| Turn it into a video | Advanced → Format: MP4 | GIF to MP4 |
| Remove the background | Advanced → Transparency | Transparent GIF maker |
Edit GIF frames one by one
When a GIF opens, each frame lands in the Frames strip under the preview, numbered in order, with its time underneath.
- Delete frames. Tap the remove button on a frame to cut it. It's the quickest way to trim a slow start or a messy last second, and every frame you remove makes the file smaller.
- Reorder frames. Drag a frame to a new spot, or select it and use the arrows to move it one place earlier or later.
- Retime one frame. Tap the time under a frame and type a new value in seconds, up to 10. Hold a punchline, or hurry through a dull stretch.
Big GIFs open too. DropGIF keeps up to 300 frames and up to 1080 px per frame. If an animation has more frames than that, it keeps 300 spread evenly through it and merges their timing, so the GIF still plays at the same overall speed. A GIF with a see-through background stays see-through.
Get the file size right for where it's going
A lot of GIF edits end with a size problem: the reaction is perfect, but it's too big to post. The Fit to an upload limit buttons pick the width, colors and compression in one tap to get under Slack's 5 MB, Discord's 20 MB or X's 15 MB. The live size estimate updates as you change anything, so you know before you export.
For more control, choose a smaller width or lower Colors under Advanced (32 to 256). Fewer colors cost little on flat cartoons and screen recordings, and the most on smooth gradients like skies. The GIF size limits page lists each platform's cap, and the high-quality GIF maker page covers keeping gradients smooth while you do it.
Some apps don't play GIFs at all. Instagram and TikTok take video, and a GIF can arrive frozen in WhatsApp. On the result screen, Make an MP4 makes a video copy for those apps, free at standard size.
Loop, format and transparency
- Loop is under Advanced: Forever, Once or 3 times. Once suits a GIF that ends on a reveal.
- Format is GIF or MP4 for free. WebP, which keeps transparency at a fraction of a GIF's size, and APNG come with Pro.
- Transparency can also be added: remove a color with the eyedropper, or cut out a person with an AI model that runs on your device.
What this GIF editor doesn't do
DropGIF sticks to the edits above. It doesn't add stickers, drawings or music, caption text doesn't animate, and it can't open a GIF from a link. Save the GIF to your device first, then drop it in.
For words that move on their own, the text GIF maker makes animated text. For overlays like a speech bubble, glitter or an explosion, browse the templates.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free GIF editor with no watermark?
Yes. DropGIF edits GIFs for free with no watermark and no sign-up. Free exports go up to 480 px wide and 20 seconds.
Can I edit a GIF without uploading it?
Yes. DropGIF opens and edits the GIF inside your browser, so the file never leaves your device.
How do I delete frames from a GIF?
Open the GIF in DropGIF and find the frame in the Frames strip under the preview. Tap its remove button, repeat for any others, then tap Export GIF.
Can I edit a GIF on my phone?
Yes. DropGIF works in Safari on iPhone and in Chrome on Android. The controls sit in tabs along the bottom of the screen, and Share or save GIF sends the result to any app.
Can I edit an animated WebP or APNG?
Yes. They open like a GIF, with every frame and its timing. Export the result as a GIF or MP4 for free, or as WebP or APNG with Pro.
How big a GIF can I edit?
DropGIF opens up to 300 frames at up to 1080 px per frame, and thins longer animations evenly so they keep their speed. Free exports go up to 480 px wide and 20 seconds; Pro allows 1080 px and 60 seconds.
Can I add stickers or draw on a GIF?
Not in DropGIF. You can add a caption, and templates such as the speech bubble add a ready-made overlay to an image.