PNG to GIF

PNG to GIF is a free tool that converts PNG image files into GIF files entirely in your browser.

How do I convert a PNG to GIF?

Choose the PNG file you want to convert and run the conversion to produce a GIF version. The process takes place entirely in your browser, and the image is never uploaded to a server.

1. Select the PNG image that you want to encode as a GIF.
2. Convert it to GIF and save the resulting file.

Check the converted GIF before using it. GIF supports fewer colours and a simpler form of transparency than PNG, so soft shadows, gradients and translucent edges may look different.

What changes when PNG is converted to GIF?

The image is reduced to a palette of no more than 256 colours, and any partial transparency must be replaced with fully transparent or fully opaque pixels. PNG and GIF both use lossless compression, but palette reduction during conversion can discard colour information.

A single static PNG does not contain additional animation frames. Converting it to the GIF format therefore cannot create meaningful motion by itself. Animation requires several frames or an existing animated source.

When is converting PNG to GIF a good idea?

Conversion makes sense when a website, publishing system or older application specifically requires a GIF file. It is most suitable for small graphics with flat colours, hard edges and little or no anti-aliased transparency.

• A simple logo using 12 solid colours is likely to remain visually close to the PNG.
• A small diagram with a white background and black labels usually fits within GIF's palette.
• A transparent icon with a soft drop shadow will lose the shadow's partial transparency and may develop a hard or speckled edge.
• A photograph containing thousands of shades will need colour quantisation, which may produce visible bands or dithering.

Converting a lossy or already degraded image to a lossless GIF does not restore missing detail. GIF compression can preserve the converted pixels exactly, but it cannot recover colours or detail discarded before conversion.

File size and image quality

The resulting GIF file size depends mainly on the image dimensions, number of colours and visual complexity. A simple flat-colour PNG may produce a GIF of a similar size or a smaller size if the original PNG used full colour. An efficiently compressed indexed PNG can remain smaller than the equivalent GIF.

Photographs are a poor fit for GIF. Reducing a photograph to 256 colours can cause banding in skies and skin tones, while dithering may increase visual noise and file size. JPG generally suits photographs better, while WebP supports full colour, transparency and modern web compression. If web page performance is the reason for converting, PNG to WebP is usually the more relevant comparison.

There is no dependable fixed ratio between the PNG input and GIF output sizes. Compare the saved PNG and GIF files and inspect the GIF at its intended display size rather than assuming that conversion will reduce it.

Why does the converted GIF look different?

The GIF usually looks different because its palette and transparency model cannot represent everything stored in the PNG. The converter must map the PNG's colours to a restricted set. Some converters use dithering to imitate shades that are unavailable.

• Colour banding can appear where a PNG contains smooth gradients.
• Grainy patterns can result from dithering in photographs or shaded artwork.
• Jagged edges can appear when translucent anti-aliasing becomes binary transparency.
• Halos may become visible around an image prepared for a different background colour.

Increasing the GIF's file size cannot remove the 256-colour limit. If colour accuracy, soft transparency or photographic detail matters, keep the PNG or choose WebP instead.

Frequently asked questions

Can I convert an animated PNG to an animated GIF?

Do not assume that APNG animation will be retained unless a converter explicitly states that it reads every APNG frame. Animation is included in the current PNG specification, and a decoder that does not support PNG animation may process only the default image. Depending on the file, that default image may be the first animation frame or a separate image.

Will a GIF animation play in an email?

Many email clients display animated GIFs, but playback varies between applications and versions. Place the essential message in the first frame because some recipients may see only that frame, and provide meaningful alternative text when adding the image to an email.

Can I convert the GIF back to PNG without losing anything?

You can place the GIF pixels into a new PNG file, but the original PNG colours and partial transparency will not return. Information discarded during palette reduction cannot be reconstructed by converting the file back.

Should I use GIF for a website favicon?

GIF is not usually the first choice for a favicon, even though some browsers can display it. PNG works for modern browser icons, while ICO can contain several favicon sizes for wider compatibility. Use PNG to ICO when a site or older desktop system specifically asks for an ICO file.

Is it safe to convert a private image?

The conversion is performed entirely in your browser, so the input image is never uploaded to a server. You should still check the saved GIF before sharing it, particularly if the visible image itself contains names, addresses or other private information.