Formatomat
FRENIT

Convert MP4 to GIF

Turn your MP4 videos into GIF images right in your browser, so your files are never uploaded to a server. How long it takes depends on the video’s length and your device.

  • Files never uploaded
  • Free, no sign-up
  • No queue

or drop them here. You can also paste an image (Ctrl+V).

Free · No sign-up · No upload

How to convert MP4 to GIF

  1. 01

    Add your MP4 files

    Click “Choose MP4 files” or drop them on the page. You can add several at once.

  2. 02

    Check the GIF format

    GIF is already selected. Set the start, length, width and frames per second.

  3. 03

    Convert and download

    Click “Convert”, then download your GIF file. With several files, grab everything at once as a ZIP.

MP4 to GIF: what to know

GIF is still handy wherever a video won’t start on its own: emails, documentation, forums, bug reports. In the settings, Start sets the starting point in half-second steps and Length sets how long the clip lasts, up to 60 seconds. The width ranges from 320 to 800 px, never wider than the video, and smoothness from 8 to 24 frames per second. The GIF loops forever, without sound.

Each frame gets its own 256-colour palette, without dithering. Screen recordings and flat colours come out well, whereas gradients in a sky or on skin may show banding. Watch out for vertical videos: the chosen width gives a tall picture, 854 px high for a 480 px width from a 9:16 phone video, so the GIF is much heavier than a landscape one.

MP4 vs GIF: what’s the difference?

MP4MPEG-4 Part 14

The most compatible video format, played by almost every phone, computer, TV and social network.

GIFGraphics Interchange Format

A 1987 format limited to 256 colours. It is still the favourite for short looping animations, but it is a poor fit for photos.

Compression
Lossless, 256 colours
Transparency
Yes
Animation
Yes

MP4 to GIF: frequently asked questions

How can I make a GIF created from a video smaller?

Adjust the three settings that matter: the width, since going from 640 to 320 px cuts the file to roughly a quarter; the smoothness, since 12 frames per second instead of 24 roughly halves it; and the length. Every GIF frame is stored in full, so a few well-chosen seconds beat a long clip.

Can I make a GIF longer than 60 seconds from an MP4?

No, a clip is limited to 60 seconds, which is already a lot for a GIF that can quickly reach several tens of MB. For a longer sequence, create several GIFs with different start points, or keep it as a video: a short MP4 shares just as easily and weighs far less.

Are my MP4 files uploaded to the internet?

No. The file is read and converted by your browser, on your device. Nothing is sent to a server, and nothing is kept after you close the page.

Does converting MP4 to GIF reduce quality?

GIF is limited to 256 colours and has no sound. By default the first 10 seconds are converted at 12 frames per second; change the start, length, width and smoothness in the settings.

How many MP4 files can I convert?

As many as you like, for free and without signing up. Add them all, then download the results one by one or in a single ZIP. The maximum size depends on your device and browser, with a few caps that protect its memory (for example 20,000 files per archive or 5 million filled cells per workbook: see the home page FAQ); a file over one of them is not converted, and a message says so.

Does it work on iPhone and Android?

Formatomat is designed for recent browsers on computers, iPhone and Android, with no app to install. A conversion the browser cannot do (a format it cannot read or write) is refused with a message that says so.