# Convert a video to GIF (or animated WebP)

> Pick the moment, see a live preview at the size and frame rate you choose, and know how big the GIF will be before you make it.

Open the tool: https://yourbrowsercandoit.com/video-to-gif

Turn a clip into a GIF or WebP, with a live preview and size estimate. Free, no signup. Runs entirely in your browser; files are never uploaded.

## How it works

Drop a video, then drag the handles on the filmstrip timeline to pick the moment (it starts with the first five seconds). The preview plays your selection on a loop at the exact width and frame rate you choose, so you see how smooth and how sharp the GIF will be before making it. The size estimate updates as you change things, and warns when a GIF would be too big for chat apps, with one-click fixes: switch to WebP, go smaller, or use fewer frames. Choose GIF, which plays everywhere, or animated WebP, which is a fraction of the size and plays in browsers, WhatsApp and Slack. Set the width, smoothness (10, 15 or 24 fps), speed from half to double, and whether it loops forever or plays once. GIFs get a palette built from your clip, so colours stay true. Everything runs in your browser with ffmpeg.wasm; your video is never uploaded.

## How to use it

1. **Drop your video.** The first five seconds are selected and previewed.
2. **Pick the moment.** Drag the handles or the whole selection on the filmstrip.
3. **Tune it.** Width, smoothness, speed and loop, with a live preview and size estimate.
4. **Make and download.** Make the GIF or WebP and save it.

## Frequently asked questions

### How do I convert MP4 to GIF?

Drop the MP4, drag the handles to the moment you want, check the preview, and press Make GIF.

### Why are my GIFs so big?

GIF stores every frame with little compression. Keep it short, use a smaller width or fewer frames per second, or choose WebP, which is often a third of the size.

### GIF or WebP?

WebP for chat apps, Discord, Slack and the web: much smaller. GIF when it has to work everywhere, including email and older apps.

### Can I speed it up or slow it down?

Yes. Choose 0.5×, 1×, 1.5× or 2× under Motion; the preview shows the result.

### Is the video uploaded?

No. ffmpeg.wasm runs in your browser.

## Related tools

- [Video to MP3](https://yourbrowsercandoit.com/mp4-to-mp3): Extract audio from any video as MP3.
- [Trim audio](https://yourbrowsercandoit.com/trim-audio): Cut an audio file to a start/end time.
- [Compress audio](https://yourbrowsercandoit.com/compress-audio): Lower the bitrate of an audio file.
- [Trim video](https://yourbrowsercandoit.com/trim-video): Cut a video on a filmstrip timeline, to the exact frame.
- [Compress video](https://yourbrowsercandoit.com/compress-video): Lower the bitrate or resolution.