Convert a video to GIF in five steps
- Open the converter and add your videoGo to the video to GIF converter and drop your clip onto Drop a video or images here, or tap Choose files. MP4, MOV and WebM all work, including videos from iPhone and Android cameras.
- Trim to the momentDrag the yellow Trim handles to the part you want. Aim for 2 to 6 seconds.
- Set the width and frame rateUnder Size, start at 480 px. Under Motion, start at 15 fps. Adjust from there using the live size estimate.
- Add a caption (optional)Open Caption, type your text, and pick a Style (Outline, Shadow or Box) and a Position (Top or Bottom).
- Check the size and exportLook at the Where it fits strip under the preview. If a platform shows a cross, tap Fit. Then tap Export GIF and Download GIF.
Choosing the moment
The best GIFs are one action, start to finish: a jump, a laugh, a door slamming. Two to six seconds is long enough to read and short enough to replay without getting old. Longer clips also mean more frames, and frames are what make a GIF heavy.
Look for a clip that ends close to where it starts, so the loop hides the cut. If yours doesn't, set Direction under Motion to Boomerang. It plays forward, then backward, and the seam disappears.
Width and frame rate: the size tradeoffs
A GIF stores every frame as a full image, so file size grows with pixels times frames. For a 16:9 clip, 480 px wide is 480 × 270, about 130,000 pixels per frame. Drop to 320 px (320 × 180) and each frame has less than half as many pixels. Frame rate works the same way: a 4-second clip is 80 frames at 20 fps and 48 frames at 12 fps.
| Clip type | Width | Frame rate |
|---|---|---|
| Chat reaction or meme | 320 to 480 px | 12 to 15 fps |
| Fast motion (sports, dance) | 480 px | 20 fps |
| Screen recording or tutorial | 480 px (640 px with Pro) | 8 to 10 fps |
| Email or newsletter | 320 px | 10 fps |
Colors matter too. Under Advanced, 128 colors often looks almost the same as 256 on everyday video and saves space. Dithering smooths gradients like skies and skin: Smooth looks best but adds size, Pattern is a middle ground, and None is smallest and suits flat graphics and screen recordings.
Adding captions that stay readable
Keep captions to one short line. A GIF often shows up small in a chat, and long text at 320 px wide turns into a smudge. The Outline style reads on almost any footage; use Box when the background is busy and you want a solid band behind the words. For more ideas, see the caption GIF maker.
Sizing for the platform
Every app has its own ceiling. Here are the current targets:
| Platform | Limit | Good starting point |
|---|---|---|
| SlackSlack has no GIF cap of its own. Under 5 MB loads quickly and animates smoothly for everyone. | 5 MBsuggested | 320px, 12 fps, up to 5 s |
| DiscordUpload limit without Nitro since August 2026 (it was 10 MB). Nitro Basic allows 50 MB. | 20 MB | 480px, 15 fps, up to 12 s |
| X (Twitter)GIF limit when posting on the web. The X mobile app allows 5 MB. | 15 MB | 480px, 15 fps, up to 9 s |
| X mobile appGIF limit when posting from the X app on a phone. | 5 MB | 360px, 12 fps, up to 5 s |
| Discord emojiAnimated custom emoji. Square, 128×128 works best. | 256 KB | 128px square, 15 fps, up to 2 s |
| Twitch emoteAnimated emotes (Affiliates and Partners): square, at least 112×112, up to 60 frames. | 1 MB | 112px square, 15 fps, up to 3 s |
| EmailBest practice for newsletters. Classic Outlook for Windows shows only the first frame. | 1 MBsuggested | 320px, 10 fps, up to 3 s |
| TumblrUploads up to 10 MB, but GIFs over 5 MB may show only the first frame. | 5 MB | 540px, 12 fps, up to 4 s |
| Text message (MMS)Approximate: US carriers cap picture messages around 1 MB. iMessage allows far more. | ≈1 MBsuggested | 320px, 10 fps, up to 3 s |
| Google SlidesImage insert limit (also 25 megapixels). GIFs play in slideshows. | 50 MB | 640px, 15 fps |
Limits checked October 22, 2026. See the full list of GIF size limits.
You don't have to do the math. Tap a chip under Fit to an upload limit, or the Fit button next to a platform in Where it fits, and DropGIF chooses settings that bring the file under that limit. The GIF size limits page explains each platform's rules.
Check the loop, then export
Watch the preview loop three or four times before you export. A jump at the seam usually means the trim is a few frames off, so nudge a handle by 0.1 s. Under Advanced, keep Loop on forever for a classic GIF, or choose once or 3 times if you want it to stop.
Tap Export GIF. On the result page you can Download GIF, Copy it into a chat, Share it from your phone, or use Make a copy for Slack for a smaller version. On an iPhone, follow the iPhone guide to save it to Photos.
Frequently asked questions
How do I turn video to GIF for free?
Open DropGIF's video to GIF converter, drop in your video, trim it and tap Export GIF. It changes video to GIF right in your browser, for free and with no watermark.
What's the best frame rate for a GIF?
12 to 15 fps suits most clips. Go to 20 fps for fast motion, or down to 8 to 10 fps for screen recordings.
Why is my GIF file so big?
GIF size grows with width, frame count and colors. Lower the width, trim the clip, drop the frame rate or reduce colors, or tap Fit to do it automatically.
How long should a GIF be?
Two to six seconds works for most GIFs. Free GIFs can be up to 20 seconds long.