What is a GIF file?
GIF stands for Graphics Interchange Format. It was created by CompuServe and first released in 1987. GIF stores each frame with a palette of at most 256 colours, so photos turn grainy and animations get large fast. Transparency is on or off per pixel, with no soft edges.
| Type | image |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless |
| Colour | 256 colours per frame from a palette |
| Transparency | Yes |
| Animation | Yes |
| In a browser | opens and animates in every browser |
| Common uses | short looping animations, reactions and simple graphics |
| MIME type | image/gif |
Which format should you convert GIF to?
- GIF to JPG for photos that must open everywhere and stay small.
- GIF to PNG for screenshots, logos and anything with transparency.
- GIF to WebP for the smallest file on a website.
- GIF to PDF to print, or to attach as a document.
- GIF to ICO to use as a website favicon.
GIF is lossless, so converting it to a lossy format is where the file gets much smaller.
How to open a GIF file
Whether a GIF file opens with a double click depends on the device. Here is what works on each, without buying software:
| Windows | The Photos app opens common image formats. If GIF is not among them, a browser or a free viewer such as IrfanView will open it. |
|---|---|
| Mac | Preview opens most image formats and PDF files; Quick Look (press the space bar in Finder) shows a preview without opening an app. |
| iPhone and iPad | The Files app and Photos show common image types and PDF files. Other formats need an app, or converting here. |
| Android | Google Photos and Files by Google open common images and PDFs. Other formats need a viewer app, or converting here. |
| Web browser | GIF opens and animates in every browser. |
Want the technical details? See what a .gif file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
GIF compared with other image formats
How GIF stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Transparency | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GIF | Lossless | Yes | 1987 | short looping animations, reactions and simple graphics |
| JPG | Lossy | No | 1992 | camera photos, web images and email attachments |
| PNG | Lossless | Yes | 1996 | screenshots, logos, diagrams and anything with transparency |
| WebP | Either | Yes | 2010 | images served by websites to save bandwidth |
| HEIC | Lossy | Yes | 2017 | photos taken on iPhones and iPads since iOS 11 |
How to use the GIF converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your GIF files on the box, or press Choose GIF files. Several files can go in at once.
- Adjust the settings if you need to; the defaults suit most people.
- Press Convert and save each file with its Download button. Converting to AVIF, DDS, HEIC, HEIF, PSD uses our server, which deletes the file right after; the rest never leave your device.
Tips for converting GIF files without losing quality
GIF is lossless, so it is a good source for any conversion. Converting it to a lossy format is where the file gets much smaller, and converting it to another lossless format keeps every pixel.
- Choose by content: photos belong in JPG or WebP, while screenshots, logos and anything with transparency belong in PNG or WebP.
- Resize before you send. A modern phone photo is far wider than any screen, and scaling it to 1920 pixels removes most of the file size.
- Keep originals. Re-saving a JPG again and again slowly degrades it; convert from the original each time.
- Converting through the browser removes EXIF metadata such as GPS location, which is useful when sharing photos publicly.
Convert GIF files from the command line
Everything this page does can also be done in a terminal. The most common GIF conversion, to PNG, looks like this with ImageMagick:
magick input.gif output.pngChange the output extension to pick another format. The converter above runs the same kind of conversion inside your browser, so you get the result without installing anything.
GIF converter FAQ
What is a GIF file?
GIF stands for Graphics Interchange Format, an image format created by CompuServe in 1987. GIF stores each frame with a palette of at most 256 colours, so photos turn grainy and animations get large fast. Transparency is on or off per pixel, with no soft edges.
How do I open a GIF file?
GIF opens and animates in every browser. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common GIF conversion?
GIF to PNG is the conversion people search for most. The image is decoded and written as a lossless 32-bit PNG.
Does converting GIF files here upload them?
Only for some conversions. Converting to AVIF, DDS, HEIC, HEIF, PSD uses our conversion server, where the file is deleted as soon as the result is sent back; the other conversions run inside your browser and never leave your device.
Is the GIF converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark. Conversions that use our server accept files up to 25 MB, with a fair-use limit per hour. The site is supported by advertising.
Can I convert GIF files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your GIF files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several GIF files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.