GIF to MP4 converter
This GIF to MP4 converter turns an animation into a video in three steps: choose the file, set the repeats, download. The MP4 is usually many times smaller than the GIF and works in WhatsApp, Instagram and presentations. Everything happens in your browser and the GIF is never uploaded.
Source: W3C – Graphics Interchange Format, Version 89a (Bilder, Verweildauer in 1/100 s, LZW). Updated: .
How it is calculated
Why an MP4 is better to send than a GIF
The GIF format dates from 1987 and stores every frame losslessly with at most 256 colours – with no sound and without the frame-to-frame comparison that video formats use to save space. That is why GIFs are so big: a few seconds of animation can weigh several megabytes. An H.264 MP4 stores only what changes from frame to frame and is often many times smaller for the same animation, and it keeps true colours instead of 256. Platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram or Reddit convert uploaded GIFs to MP4 anyway.
How the conversion works
- Drop or choose a GIF.
- Under “Repeats in the video” choose how many times the animation should run in a row – a GIF loops forever, while an MP4 has a fixed end (1 to 10 runs).
- Click “Convert GIF to MP4”, preview it and download.
What happens along the way
- Frames and timing: the tool reads every frame with its display time and keeps the timing exact. Very short delays of 0 or 10 milliseconds are shown as 100 ms by browsers too; we do the same.
- Transparency: MP4 has no transparent areas; they are filled with white.
- Size: odd pixel dimensions are trimmed by one pixel (H.264 needs even dimensions); very large GIFs are scaled down to at most 2048 pixels on the long side.
- No sound: a GIF has no sound, so the MP4 has none either.
Limits and privacy
The GIF is fully decoded, which needs memory: files up to 200 MB are allowed, but very long or huge animations can fail on weak devices. Your browser must be able to encode H.264 (Chrome, Edge, Safari). There is no upload; the open-source library Mediabunny (MPL-2.0) writes the MP4 file. The opposite direction is Video to GIF; an MP4 can be shortened with Trim video or shrunk further with Compress video.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert a GIF to MP4?
Choose the GIF, set the repeats and click “Convert GIF to MP4”. The tool encodes the animation as an H.264 video and offers the MP4 for download. Nothing is uploaded.
How much smaller is an MP4 than the GIF?
It depends on the content, but the MP4 is often many times smaller because H.264 only stores changes between frames. After converting, the tool shows both sizes side by side.
Does the MP4 loop like a GIF?
A GIF runs forever, an MP4 has a fixed end. That is why you can set 1 to 10 runs in a row; the preview plays the video in a loop.
Does the MP4 have sound?
No. GIFs have no sound, so the MP4 stays silent.
What happens to transparent GIFs?
MP4 does not support transparency. Transparent areas are filled with white.
How large can the GIF be?
Up to 200 MB. The GIF is fully decoded during conversion, so very large files need a lot of memory.
Sources and legal basis
- W3C – Graphics Interchange Format, Version 89a (Bilder, Verweildauer in 1/100 s, LZW)
- MDN – Image file type and format guide: GIF (256 Farben) im Vergleich zu Video
- MDN – Web video codec guide: H.264 (AVC)
- MDN – VideoEncoder.configure(): bitrate in Bit pro Sekunde
- MDN – EncodedVideoChunk.type (key/delta)
- ITU-T H.264 – Advanced video coding for generic audiovisual services
- Mediabunny 1.61.0 – Vanilagy (MPL-2.0), Quelltext
- Lizenzen der Medien-Werkzeuge (MPL-2.0)
As of:
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