Best site for easily turning videos into GIFs

March 9, 2021

By Kim Komando

You are probably used to sharing photos and videos with others via texts and social media. The pandemic has led to people using these types of tools more than ever.

Did you know you can draw on your photos before sending them through Facebook Messenger? Tap or click here to see how and check out some other cool Messenger tricks.

But GIFs are even more fun. These bite-sized clips can convey any emotion or reaction imaginable. There are countless databases containing GIFs generated from pop culture, stock or generic content. This is all well and good, but what if you want to be more original? You share your own photos and videos without relying on what’s out there and you can do the same with GIFs. Here’s how.

It’s pronounced like the peanut butter

Graphics Interchange Format, or GIF, has been around since the beginning of the internet. This format is easily shareable and compatible with multiple platforms.

It’s not always possible or desirable to share large video clips. GIFs break them down to a few frames so you can send and share with wild abandon. Tap or click here to find out how to convert your old photos into videos.

Before you jump into the GIF pool, remember that copyright rules still apply. Your own videos are yours to convert and share, but if you use copyrighted media, be sure it falls under fair use. If you are using a GIF for personal commentary, criticism or parody, you should be all right. When it comes to your business or company, stay away from using GIFs that contain other people’s work or famous faces.

GIF it up

There are many ways to convert your videos to GIFs, and ezgif.com is among the most straightforward. Visit the website and you’ll have an option to upload a video or link to a video URL. You can upload mp4, AVI, WebM, FLV, WMV and other formats from your smartphone, tablet or computer.

Once your video is in the system, select the section you want to convert by entering the start and end times. If you don’t enter these parameters, the converter will use your video clip’s first five seconds.

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The toolbar lets you crop, resize, and rotate your GIF. You can set the speed for the entire GIF or play it in reverse. There are also options to add text, effects and overlays. Want to censor a part of your GIF? There’s an option for that as well.