How to convert MP4 to GIF

Choose an MP4 above, or drop it onto the box.
Set the start and end of the part you want. A GIF can be up to 30 seconds long here; shorter loops look better and stay small.
Pick a width and frame rate. The suggested values depend on the length of your clip.
Select Convert to GIF, check the preview, then download it.

Settings that keep a GIF small

Width matters most. Doubling the width roughly quadruples the pixels in every frame. 480 px is plenty for chat and docs; use 640 to 800 px for a README or a landing page.
Frame rate: 10 fps is enough for screen recordings and UI demos. Use 12 to 15 fps for fast motion.
Length: trim to the moment that matters. Every extra second adds frames.
Busy footage (camera video, gradients, noise) compresses worse than flat app screens.

Why the GIF is bigger than the MP4

MP4 stores only what changes between frames and uses millions of colors. GIF stores every frame as its own picture with at most 256 colors, compressed with a much older method. A GIF of the same clip is often several times larger than the MP4. For anything longer than a short loop, share the MP4 instead.

Convert MP4 to GIF with FFmpeg

If you prefer the command line, this FFmpeg command makes a good GIF in one pass. It builds a custom palette from your clip first, which keeps colors clean:

ffmpeg -ss 2 -t 8 -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "fps=10,scale=640:-1:flags=lanczos,split[a][b];[a]palettegen[p];[b][p]paletteuse" \
  -loop 0 output.gif

-ss 2 -t 8 starts 2 seconds in and keeps 8 seconds. fps=10 and scale=640:-1 set the frame rate and width (height follows). -loop 0 loops forever.

Record GIFs on your Mac with JiffyRecord

If your GIF starts as a screen recording, you can skip the conversion. JiffyRecord records your Mac screen, lets you edit the recording, and exports the whole video or just a selected clip as a GIF. On the Free plan, GIFs carry a small JiffyRecord mark.

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Questions

Is this MP4 to GIF converter free?

Yes. There is no sign-up, no limit on how many GIFs you make, and no watermark.

Is my video uploaded?

No. Your browser decodes the video and builds the GIF on your device. The file is never sent to JiffyRecord or anyone else.

Which formats work?

MP4 with H.264 video works in every modern browser. MOV, M4V and WebM work when your browser can play them; HEVC (H.265) files usually play only in Safari. If a file will not open, try Safari or convert it to MP4 first.

How long can the GIF be?

Up to 30 seconds per GIF. Longer GIFs become very large and slow to load, so trim to the part that matters.

Does it work on a phone?

It is built for desktop browsers. Phones can convert short clips, but they have less memory, so keep the width and length low.