Why is my GIF file so large compared to the original MP4?

GIF is an extremely inefficient format for video — it uses 256-color palettes per frame and a simple LZW compression algorithm designed in 1987. An MP4 that's 5 MB might produce a 20–50 MB GIF. To keep GIFs manageable: keep clips under 10 seconds, use 10 FPS or lower, and limit width to 480px or less. For larger or longer clips, WebP animation or short MP4 loops are far more efficient.

What is two-pass palette generation?

Standard GIF encoding picks 256 colors globally. Two-pass palette generation (palettegen + paletteuse filters in FFmpeg) analyzes the actual colors in your specific clip and builds an optimal 256-color palette for that content. The result is dramatically better color accuracy — skin tones, gradients, and subtle color variations look much better than with a generic palette.

What FPS should I use for my GIF?

For most use cases, 10–15 FPS is the sweet spot. Below 8 FPS starts to look choppy. Above 20 FPS increases file size significantly with minimal visual benefit (GIF playback speed varies by browser). For text animations or simple graphics, 5–8 FPS works fine. For fast action like sports clips, 20–24 FPS is worth the file size increase.

How do I trim exactly the right clip from my video?

Use a video player (VLC, QuickTime) to find the precise timestamp of your desired clip start and end. Enter those times in decimal seconds in the Start and End fields. For example, 1 minute 23.5 seconds = 83.5. The trim is frame-accurate to the nearest frame at your chosen FPS.

Is there a file size limit for the input MP4?

This tool accepts MP4 files up to 500 MB. Files larger than 200 MB will display a processing time warning — a 200 MB MP4 can take 1–3 minutes to process depending on your device. The page remains responsive throughout since FFmpeg runs in a background Web Worker. You can browse other tabs while it processes.

Convert MP4 to GIF — Trim, Resize & Optimize

Turn any clip from an MP4 video into a high-quality animated GIF — right in your browser. Set start and end times to trim the exact moment you want, choose frame rate (lower FPS = smaller file), and pick output width. Uses two-pass palette generation for the best possible GIF color accuracy. No upload, no account, no file size trickery — FFmpeg runs entirely in your browser via WebAssembly.

GIF Options

Start (seconds)End (seconds, blank = full)

Frame rate (FPS)Width (pixels)

Drop files here

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Up to 500.0 MB per file

How to use this tool

Upload your MP4 video
Drop an MP4 file onto the converter. Files up to 500 MB are supported. FFmpeg WASM will download in the background on first use (~30 MB, cached after that).
Set trim points (optional)
Enter a start time in seconds to skip an intro, and an end time to cut off early. Leave "End" blank to convert to the end of the video. For a 5-second clip starting at 10s, enter Start: 10, End: 15.
Choose FPS and width
10 FPS and 480px width (our defaults) produce GIFs that look smooth and stay under 5 MB for short clips. Use 24 FPS for action shots or 5 FPS for minimal file size. Width scales height automatically (aspect ratio is preserved).
Click Convert
FFmpeg runs a two-pass palette-generation process for optimal GIF color fidelity. The first pass analyzes colors; the second encodes the GIF. Progress is shown in real time.
Download your GIF
Click Download when complete. GIFs loop infinitely by default. To share on social media or embed in Markdown, the GIF is ready to use as-is.

Frequently asked questions

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Convert MP4 to GIF — Trim, Resize & Optimize

How to use this tool

Frequently asked questions

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