How to use GIF to Video Converter
- Choose your GIF.
- Pick MP4 for maximum compatibility or WebM for smaller size.
- Convert, then embed with autoplay, loop, muted and playsinline.
- Expect a size reduction of 90% or more with better colour fidelity.
- muted is required or browsers will block autoplay entirely.
- Conversion runs in your browser; the file is never uploaded.
Why the video is so much smaller
GIF stores each frame almost independently and supports only 256 colours. Video codecs encode the differences between frames and use the full colour range, so an 8 MB GIF routinely becomes a 300 KB MP4 with better colour and no banding. This is why X, Reddit and Discord silently convert uploaded GIFs to video — the bandwidth saving is enormous at their scale.
Replicating GIF behaviour in video
A GIF autoplays, loops and has no sound. To match that with a video tag, use autoplay, loop, muted and playsinline — and muted is not optional: browsers block autoplay with sound, so the video will simply not start without it. playsinline stops iOS opening it fullscreen. With those four attributes a video behaves exactly like a GIF and weighs a fraction as much.
When to keep the GIF
Email, where video does not play in most clients. Some documentation contexts — GitHub renders GIFs inline in README files and handles video less well. And chat platforms where a GIF drops in and plays without a click. Outside those, converting is close to free improvement.
Frequently asked questions
Why convert a GIF to video instead of keeping it as a GIF?
Will the video loop like the GIF did?
Does the animation quality change?
Why convert a GIF to video?
How do I make a video loop like a GIF?
Should I ever keep a GIF instead?
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