Video Converter

Convert MP4 Video to Animated GIF

Drop an MP4, pick the number of frames and playback speed, and download a looping GIF — all in the browser with no server upload.

Convert to GIF
Convert MP4 Video to Animated GIF
Free Tool

MP4 to GIF Converter

Upload an MP4, set frame count, FPS and resolution, then download a looping animated GIF.

Drop an MP4 here

MP4 files only

MP4 video loaded in a dark player ready for GIF conversion
01

Video Player Drop Zone

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Dark settings panel with frame count, width, and FPS controls
02

Frame Count, Width, and FPS Controls

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Animated GIF previewed in a dark result card
03

Preview and Download GIF

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How It Works

Convert MP4 to GIF in three steps

1

Upload your MP4

Drop an MP4 file onto the player or click Browse. The video loads instantly with native controls so you can preview the clip before capturing.

2

Set frame count, width, and FPS

Choose how many frames to capture (2–100), the output width in pixels, and the GIF playback speed in FPS. Use custom per-frame delays for precise timing control.

3

Capture, encode, and download

Click Capture Frames to extract stills, then Create GIF to encode them. Preview the looping result and download the GIF file when you are happy.

Deep Dive

How the MP4 to GIF Converter Works

All processing happens in the browser using the HTML5 Canvas API and the gif.js encoder library.

How the MP4 to GIF Converter Works
01

Step 1: Frame capture via Canvas seek

The MP4 is loaded into an HTMLVideoElement. For each requested frame, video.currentTime is set to the target timestamp and the tool waits for the seeked event before drawing the frame onto a hidden Canvas element via ctx.drawImage().

FormatPNG data URLs from canvas.toDataURL("image/png")
DistributionFrames evenly spaced from 0 s to the last frame
02

Step 2: GIF encoding with gif.js

Captured frames are re-drawn onto the canvas one by one and added to a gif.js GIF encoder using gif.addFrame(). The encoder runs its LZW color quantisation in a background Web Worker to keep the UI responsive. A progress event streams the encoding percentage.

Worker script/libs/gif.worker.js (served as a static asset)
Color depth256 colors per frame (GIF specification limit)
03

FPS and per-frame delays

The frame delay stored in the GIF header (in centiseconds) is derived from the FPS setting: delay = 1000 / fps ms. When custom delays are enabled, each frame can have a different delay, allowing pause-and-play effects or variable-speed animations.

Range0.1 to 10 FPS (global), or 10–5000 ms per frame (custom)
04

Color quantisation and dithering

GIF supports only 256 colours per frame. gif.js analyses each frame's pixel data and builds an optimal palette using a median-cut algorithm. Dithering (disabled by default) can approximate additional colours by interspersing pixels of similar hues.

NoteFor videos with gradients or many colours, a lower output width reduces artefacts
Benefits

Why Use This MP4 to GIF Converter

🎞️

2–100 Frames

Extract and encode 2 to 100 frames evenly distributed across the video.

Adjustable FPS

Set global playback speed from 0.1 to 10 FPS, or set custom delays per frame.

📐

Custom Resolution

Output width up to 1920 px; aspect ratio is preserved automatically.

🔒

Browser-Only

Video and GIF data never leave your device — all encoding runs in the browser.

Who Uses It

Who Converts MP4 to GIF

From social media creators to developers writing documentation, here are the most common uses.

People using an MP4 to GIF converter
01

Social Media Creators

Clip short reactions, product demos, or highlight moments from video and share them as GIFs on X, Reddit, or messaging apps — no video player required.

02

Developers and Technical Writers

Embed animated GIFs in READMEs, wikis, or bug reports to show UI interactions, CLI output, or step-by-step walkthroughs without attaching a video.

03

Marketing and Product Teams

Turn product demo clips into lightweight GIF animations for landing pages, email campaigns, or Slack announcements that auto-play without a click.

04

Educators and Presenters

Embed looping GIF animations in slide decks or online course materials to illustrate a concept that benefits from repeated viewing.

05

Designers and Animators

Export a quick looping GIF from a motion design or screen-recorded prototype to share with stakeholders without exporting from the design tool.

06

Casual Users

Clip a funny moment from a video, convert it to a GIF, and share it in a group chat — fast, free, and without installing anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which video formats are supported?

The tool currently accepts MP4 files (video/mp4). For other formats such as WebM or MOV, use the Video to Frames tool first and then the Images to GIF tool.

How many frames can I convert to a GIF?

Between 2 and 100 frames. More frames produce smoother animation but also larger file sizes. For short clips, 15–30 frames at 10 FPS is a good starting point.

Why does GIF have limited colors?

The GIF specification allows a maximum of 256 colours per frame. Videos with rich gradients or many colours may look posterised. Reducing the output width or choosing clips with simpler colour palettes improves the result.

What is the FPS setting?

FPS (frames per second) controls how fast the GIF plays back. A higher FPS means faster, smoother animation. The range is 0.1 to 10 FPS. Enable Custom Delays to set different durations per frame.

Can I set different delays per frame?

Yes. After capturing frames, enable the Custom Delays toggle. Each frame shows a millisecond input (10–5000 ms). This lets you hold specific frames longer or create variable-speed animations.

How large will the GIF be?

GIFs are typically 5–10 times larger than equivalent MP4 files. Reducing the output width and frame count is the most effective way to keep the file size manageable.

Can I download individual frames instead of a GIF?

Yes. After the frame capture step, click Download All Frames to receive a ZIP of all extracted PNGs before GIF encoding.

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Ready to Convert Your MP4?

Drop an MP4, set your frame count and FPS, and download a looping GIF in seconds.