How to convert MP4 to GIF

I recently got into the hobby of converting some of my favorite videos from MP4 to GIF on my Mac. The more of them I made, the more I realized I was not comfortable sharing my data with shady websites. 

So I found a way to convert to GIF that was fast, efficient, and secure. I’ll show you how I managed it below.

Why convert MP4 to GIF

GIFs are popular for many reasons. I like to use them because their size and compatibility make them great for my web visuals and emails. For others, they are a language for memes and social media. Their automatic looping also makes them perfect for product placements and sports analysis. Their convenience often surpasses that of MP4s, especially for quick, eye-catching content. 

Here’s a closer look at how to convert short MP4 to GIF:

Best way to convert MP4 to GIF on Mac

Now, as I started creating more GIFs, I needed a converter that could handle my large videos in batches. I was also conscious of the safety of the data that was being uploaded, which led me to Permute.

The app takes just about any file type and turns it into any popular one (including GIFs, of course). It runs a simple drag-and-drop interface that requires no configuration. If you’re going to convert MP4 to animated GIF often, this will be the right media converter you’ll need.

To change an MP4 video to an animated GIF using Permute:

1. Install and open Permute on your Mac.
2. Click Permute in the menu bar > Settings.
3. Click Presets > Select GIF Animation. If the preset is not in the list, click Add New Preset and choose GIF Animation.
4. Go back to the Permute window and click the + tab at the bottom left.
5. Choose the video file you want to convert.
6. Click the Play icon to convert and wait for the process to complete.

   

   ✕ Remove app banner

I frequently work with different types of media, and the Presets menu has been a lifesaver. When I’m preparing a video for presentations, I convert it to MOV for smoother playback. For quick web uploads, I use the WebM format to ensure compatibility.

How to convert MP4 video to animated GIF free

If you’d like to make GIF from MP4 for free, you can do that in two ways: online converters or Terminal commands like FFmpeg. Let’s dive into how each method works.

Convert MP4 to GIF using Terminal commands and FFmpeg

FFmpeg is a powerful open-source tool used for processing multimedia files, including videos and GIFs. It gives you precise control over the conversion process and can be automated for batch processing. So, if you’re an advanced Mac user, you should try this method.

To use FFmpeg for MP4 to GIF conversion:

1. Install FFmpeg on your Mac via Homebrew. Open Terminal, type brew install ffmpeg, and press Return.
2. Once FFmpeg is installed, open Terminal again. 
3. Navigate to the folder where your MP4 file is located. In Terminal, type cd to go to the folder containing your MP4 file. For example, if your MP4 file is in the Downloads folder, type cd ~/Downloads.

   

4. Now, you can use FFmpeg to convert the MP4 to a GIF. Type ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "fps=10,scale=320:-1:flags=lanczos" output.gif.

   

5. In the command, replace input.mp4 with the name of your video file, output.gif with the name you want for the GIF, and adjust the frame rate (fps=10) and scale (width=320) to your preferences.

Once the process is finished, you’ll find the GIF file in the same directory as your MP4 file. You can also check out this article on how to make a GIF. 

Clop automatically compresses videos, like the ones I screen-record daily, and shrinks them to a shareable size with minimal quality loss. Plus, it works on images and PDFs, so it’s my go-to for keeping file sizes down when emailing or uploading to cloud storage. You can optimize your files with drag and drop from your desktop:

But when I need to create GIFs right away, no matter the size, I use Gifox. With the app, I can capture my own animated GIFs. It is accessible via the menu bar, and you can edit recent recordings without interrupting your other work. Plus, If you’ve got a video file you want to turn into a GIF, just drag and drop it into Gifox, and it’ll transform your file into an animation within seconds.

Turn MP4 videos to animated GIFs online

An online MP4-to-GIF converter is pretty useful. Most are free, but quality varies wildly, and you really don’t know what you’re going to get. They can also be buggy with ads or trackers. What’s more, online videos to GIF maker can use your uploaded videos at their discretion. 

While online services like Adobe Express or Canva and app-based services offer convenient conversion options, they can have limits on file size, daily conversions, and quality. Still, it's essential to stay mindful of privacy when using both, as some of them can pose risks. Look for red flags like excessive ads, pop-ups, permission requests, or poor reviews.

Converting to GIF has never been easier

Making MP4 to GIF in high quality is much easier when you have the right tools. Online converters can be useful, but they expose you to data and privacy breaches you don’t find with local and reputable apps.

That’s why I recommend using Permute if you need to quickly convert MP4 to GIF in high resolution. Other apps like Gifox and CleanShot X can create GIFs directly from live recordings of your screen, and Clop can optimize your photos and video recordings, shrinking them to save space like a GIF would. 

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