How to convert MP4 to GIF
- Press Choose a video and pick an MP4, MOV or WebM from your computer or phone.
- Play it and press Start here and End here to mark the moment, or type the seconds. Keep it short: 2 to 6 seconds makes the best GIF.
- Pick a preset — Chats & Slack, Discord (under 10 MB), Email & small, Sharp — or set the width and frame rate yourself.
- Press Convert to GIF, check the preview, then press Download GIF.
Video to GIF converters compared
Checked on 4 November 2026 on each site's own video to GIF page, logged out. Limits change — check before you rely on them.
| MoveFrame | Ezgif | Convertio | CloudConvert | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where the video is converted | On your device, never uploaded | Uploaded to its server; optional local processing with some features limited | Uploaded to its server | Uploaded to its server |
| Max file size | No limit from us (your device's memory) | 200 MB | 1 GB per file (page shows a sign-up option) | Not stated on the page |
| Trim start and end | Yes, mark it while the video plays | Yes, start and end time in seconds | Not on the first screen | Options panel |
| Presets for where the GIF goes | Chats, Discord under 10 MB, email, sharp | No; width, height, FPS and encoder by hand | No | No |
| Crop, text, speed and other GIF edits | No | Yes, a full set of GIF tools | Separate GIF editor | Not stated |
| Watermark | None | None | Not stated | Not stated |
Ezgif is the better pick when you want to crop, add text, change speed or optimize an existing GIF — it has a whole toolbox. MoveFrame is the quicker choice when you want one clean GIF from a clip without uploading it anywhere.
Settings that keep GIFs small
| Where it's going | Width | Frame rate | Typical 3–5 s GIF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Email, small embeds | 240 px | 10 fps | About 1–2 MB |
| Discord (10 MB free limit) | 320 px | 12 fps | About 2–5 MB |
| Slack, Teams, chats, slides | 480 px | 12 fps | About 4–10 MB |
| Sharp, for a website | 640 px | 15 fps | 10 MB or more |
A GIF stores every frame as a picture with at most 256 colours, so it is usually several times bigger than the MP4 it came from. Halving the width cuts the size by about four; fewer frames per second and a shorter clip cut it further. Busy footage (water, confetti, camera shake) makes the biggest files.
Have a photo instead of a video?
Turn the photo into a short video first, then into a GIF. MoveFrame's AI photo to video makes a person or pet in one photo smile, wave, dance or hug in a 5-second MP4 — your first video is free with no sign-up and no watermark. Bring the MP4 back to this page to make the GIF.
- Make a reaction GIF of yourself: upload a selfie to the AI photo to video tool, choose Animate, then convert it here.
- Make a dancing pet GIF: use the pet motion, then convert.
- Need a GIF from a still photo with no AI? The photo loop maker can also save a looping GIF.
Frequently asked questions
Is this video to GIF converter free?
Yes. The GIF is made by your own browser, so it costs us nothing: free, unlimited, no account and no watermark.
Is my video uploaded?
No. The video is read and converted on your device. It is never sent to MoveFrame or anyone else, which also means there is no upload wait.
How do I convert MP4 to GIF on iPhone?
Open this page in Safari, tap Choose a video, pick the clip from Photos, set the start and end and tap Convert to GIF. Then tap Download GIF, open it and use Share → Save Image to put it in Photos. Older iPhones are slower with long clips, so keep it under 10 seconds.
How long can the GIF be?
Up to 30 seconds per GIF. Most good GIFs are 2 to 6 seconds; longer ones get very large.
Why is my GIF bigger than the video?
GIF is an old image format: it saves every frame as a full picture with up to 256 colours, while MP4 only saves what changes. Use a smaller width, fewer frames per second or a shorter clip to shrink it.
Which video formats work?
MP4, MOV and WebM work in every modern browser. MKV and some HEVC (H.265) files only open in browsers that can play them; if one won't load, try Chrome or save it as MP4 first.
Does it add sound?
No. GIFs have no sound. If you need sound, share the MP4 instead.
Is this AI?
No. Converting video to GIF is plain image processing in your browser. MoveFrame's AI tools are for making a photo move — your first AI video is free.