How do I convert PNG to GIF?

Upload your PNG file above. It is converted to GIF automatically (change the output format or quality in the Settings tab if you need to), then click Download. There is nothing to install.

Does converting PNG to GIF lose quality?

GIF is limited to 256 colours per frame, so photos lose colour detail; graphics with few colours convert cleanly.

Will the GIF keep the transparent background?

Partly. GIF keeps transparency as on or off per pixel, so soft edges and shadows become hard-edged.

PNG or GIF: which should I use?

Use PNG for screenshots, logos, text graphics and cut-outs. Use GIF for short animations, stickers and flat-colour graphics. Keep in mind the main drawback of GIF: only 256 colours and on/off transparency.

PNG stores every pixel exactly and supports smooth transparency, which makes it the go-to format for screenshots, logos and graphics, at the cost of large files for photos.

Is the PNG to GIF converter free?

Yes. Convert, preview and download a single result without creating an account. Premium adds batch conversion (many files into one ZIP) and larger uploads.

Convert PNG to GIF — GIFs for Chat, Email and Web

Convert PNG to GIF online for a simple GIF for chat, email and the web. No software to install. Preview one free or batch-convert with Premium.

Drop your PNG file or click to browse

Why convert PNG to GIF?

GIF files are usually smaller than PNG for the same picture, so pages load faster and uploads finish sooner.
GIF is made for short animations, stickers and flat-colour graphics.

What to expect when converting PNG to GIF

GIF transparency is on or off per pixel, so soft edges and shadows become hard-edged.
GIF shows at most 256 colours per frame, so photos and gradients are dithered and may show banding.

PNG vs GIF

Feature	PNG	GIF
Full name	Portable Network Graphics	Graphics Interchange Format
Origin	Published as a W3C standard in 1996	Introduced by CompuServe in 1987
Compression	Lossless	Lossless, but limited to 256 colours
Transparency	Yes — smooth, partial transparency	On/off only (one transparent colour)
Animation	No	Yes
Colour	Up to 16 bits per channel	Up to 256 colours per frame
Where it opens	All browsers, phones, computers and image editors	All browsers, email apps and messaging apps
Best for	screenshots, logos, text graphics and cut-outs	short animations, stickers and flat-colour graphics
Main drawback	large files for photographs	only 256 colours and on/off transparency

In short: choose PNG for screenshots, logos, text graphics and cut-outs; choose GIF for short animations, stickers and flat-colour graphics.

PNG logos and stickers to GIF: palette and edge decisions

Flat artwork is where GIF still makes sense: a logo with a few solid colors, a simple badge, a pixel-art sprite, a banner for an email. Graphics with fewer than 256 colors convert without visible change, because the palette has room for every color they use. Gradients, drop shadows and photos are another story; they get dithered into a dotted texture.

Transparency is the bigger trap. PNG allows partly transparent pixels, which is how smooth, anti-aliased edges blend into any background. GIF only has fully clear or fully solid pixels, so those soft edge pixels must pick a side, and a logo designed on a transparent background can show a jagged or pale fringe on a dark page. The preview shows the GIF against this page's background only, so if it will sit on a darker color, test it there before publishing.

If the fringe shows, the cleanest fix is a version of the art with a solid background that matches its destination. When GIF is not actually required, PNG or a transparent WebP keeps the soft edges. Planning an animation? Assemble ordered PNG frames into a looping GIF.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert PNG to GIF?: Upload your PNG file above. It is converted to GIF automatically (change the output format or quality in the Settings tab if you need to), then click Download. There is nothing to install.
Does converting PNG to GIF lose quality?: GIF is limited to 256 colours per frame, so photos lose colour detail; graphics with few colours convert cleanly.
Will the GIF keep the transparent background?: Partly. GIF keeps transparency as on or off per pixel, so soft edges and shadows become hard-edged.
PNG or GIF: which should I use?: Use PNG for screenshots, logos, text graphics and cut-outs. Use GIF for short animations, stickers and flat-colour graphics. Keep in mind the main drawback of GIF: only 256 colours and on/off transparency.
What is a PNG file?: PNG stores every pixel exactly and supports smooth transparency, which makes it the go-to format for screenshots, logos and graphics, at the cost of large files for photos.
Is the PNG to GIF converter free?: Yes. Convert, preview and download a single result without creating an account. Premium adds batch conversion (many files into one ZIP) and larger uploads.

What you can do with PNG to GIF

Review the main capabilities before you begin.

Convert PNG files to GIF online
Keep animation when the source is an animated GIF or WebP
Switch to any other output format in Settings
Batch-convert many PNG files into one ZIP
Preview the result before you download

Use this tool

Settings reference

Available controls for PNG to GIF.

Settings

Output formatDropdown: Chooses the file type you download. The page opens on its own output format; switch to any other format before converting.Options: JPGPNGWebPAVIFGIFTIFFBMPICOPDF
QualitySliderRange: 20–100 · Default: 90: For JPG, WebP, AVIF and image-to-PDF output: higher keeps more detail but makes a bigger file; 60–80 suits most photos. Documents (Publisher, XPS, EPS…) become PDFs with every page and sharp text, with no quality setting.
Lossless modeOn / Off: For WebP and AVIF output: keeps every pixel exactly (best for logos, graphics and transparency) at the cost of a larger file.
Background fillColor picker: For JPG, BMP and image-to-PDF output, which can’t store transparency: the colour that fills transparent areas (white by default).