Compress GIF: bring the file size down to your target
With this tool you can compress a GIF without uploading it: choose the file, enter a target size in KB, and the tool tries stronger settings until the GIF is small enough. Or set width, number of colours and frame rate yourself. The animation is kept.
Source: W3C – Graphics Interchange Format Version 89a. Updated: .
How it is calculated
How to compress a GIF
- Drop in a GIF, choose one or paste it with Ctrl + V.
- Enter a target size in KB – or switch to “Set it myself” and pick width, colours and frame rate.
- Press “Compress GIF” and download the result. Next to it you see the size before and after.
What makes a GIF large
A GIF is made of many frames with up to 256 colours each. Its size grows with the number of frames, the pixels per frame and the variety of colours. That is why three settings help: make it narrower (half the width saves about three quarters of the pixels), use fewer colours and drop frames. When frames are dropped, their display time is added to the kept frames, so the animation keeps its speed.
The automatic mode
In target-size mode the tool tries a ladder of settings – first just re-encoding, then fewer colours, then a smaller width and fewer frames – and takes the first one below your target. If even the strongest step is not enough, you get the smallest result and a notice.
Transparency and privacy
GIF only knows fully transparent or fully opaque pixels. When compressing, transparent areas are filled with the chosen background colour. Everything runs locally in the browser; the file never leaves your device.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compress a GIF?
Choose the GIF, enter a target size in KB and press “Compress GIF”. The tool reduces colours, width and frames until the target is reached.
Does the GIF lose quality?
Somewhat: fewer colours and fewer pixels are visible. The automatic mode starts with the gentlest step and goes only as far as needed.
Is the animation kept?
Yes. Even when frames are dropped, the display time is adjusted so the speed stays the same.
How small can a GIF get?
It depends on the content: flat colours compress well, photos and many frames badly. Try a lower target or set width and frame rate yourself.
What happens to transparent areas?
They are filled with the chosen background colour, white by default.
Is my GIF uploaded?
No. The GIF is processed in your browser and stays on your device.
Sources and legal basis
- W3C – Graphics Interchange Format Version 89a
- MDN – HTMLMediaElement: seeked event
- gifenc – Matt DesLauriers (MIT)
- Open-source licenses of the libraries used (MIT, LGPL-3.0)
As of: · Editorial policy
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