PNG to GIF converter that runs in your browser
Free and local. Your files stay on your device, and you can convert a whole batch at once.
To convert PNG to GIF, drop your files on this page, pick a size and quality, and download the results. The conversion runs inside your browser, so nothing is uploaded and no account is needed. It is free, it handles batches, and transparent areas stay transparent, although edges become harder because GIF has no partial transparency.
How it works
- 1
Drop in your PNG files
Add one file or up to 30. They open in your browser's memory, and no upload starts, so a batch doesn't wait on your connection speed.
- 2
Set size and quality
Keep the original size or cap the long edge at 1024, 640 or 320 px, then pick a color level. The same settings apply to every file in the batch.
- 3
Save your GIFs
Download the converted files. If you want the picture to move, send it straight to the AI tool with the "Animate it with AI" button.
A PNG to GIF converter that never sees your files
Most online converters send your image to a server, process it there, and send it back. This one doesn't. The PNG to GIF work happens in a background thread of your own browser, using code that was downloaded with the page. There is no upload step at all, so we have no copy of your file to store, scan or delete.
That matters for screenshots with private details, unreleased designs, or client work. It also means the conversion costs us nothing, which is why it is free and needs no credits. You can add up to 30 files at a time.
You don't have to take our word for this. Open your browser's developer tools, switch to the Network tab, and convert a file. You will see no request carrying your image.
- PNG on your device
- Decoded in your browser
- Encoded to GIF locally
- Saved to your device
Should you convert PNG to GIF at all?
Often you shouldn't, and it is better to know before you lose image quality. PNG can hold millions of colors and smooth transparency. GIF is a much older format: each frame draws on a palette of at most 256 colors. For a still picture on a modern website, MDN recommends PNG over GIF, and PNG to GIF is a step backwards there.
The conversion still earns its place in specific situations.
| Your situation | Convert? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A form or old system accepts only .gif | Yes | The format is the requirement, so quality comes second |
| Simple icon or pixel art with few colors | Yes | Few colors fit the palette with little or no loss |
| You will add frames in a GIF editor | Yes | Starting from GIF frames keeps your workflow in one format |
| You want a smaller file for a detailed picture | No | GIF is often larger for rich images, and looks worse too |
| Soft shadows or glows on transparency | No | GIF can't store partial transparency |
| You want it to animate | Not one file alone | A GIF made from one PNG has a single frame. Combine several, or use AI |
What happens to transparency in PNG to GIF
This is where most surprises come from. A PNG stores transparency per pixel on a smooth scale, so a logo's edge can fade gently into the background. A GIF only allows one palette entry to be marked transparent. Each pixel is therefore either fully visible or fully gone.
Our converter keeps transparent areas transparent, but soft edges have to be pushed one way or the other. The outcome is a slightly jagged outline, and semi-transparent shadows turn solid or vanish. On a white page, that may be hard to see. On a dark background you may see a thin light fringe around the shape.
| Feature | PNG | GIF | Result after conversion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colors per image | Millions | 256 per frame | Gradients may show bands |
| Transparency | Smooth, per pixel | On or off | Hard edges, shadows lost |
| Animation | Only in APNG | Yes | Your GIF has one frame |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless on a limited palette | The loss comes from the color reduction |
For a cleaner edge, flatten the PNG onto the color it will sit on before you convert. The fringe then blends in.
Settings that make a difference
Only two controls affect a PNG to GIF file, and it helps to change them in this order.
- Size first. Capping the long edge at 1024, 640 or 320 px gives the biggest drop in file size, since there are fewer pixels to encode. Pick the option closest to the size it will actually be displayed.
- Quality second. Best keeps 256 colors, Smaller keeps 128 and Smallest keeps 64. Fewer colors shrink the file but make bands more visible in gradients. Flat graphics can go low. Screenshots with soft shading should stay at Best.
- Then compare. Open the result next to the original at the display size, because a fault you need to zoom in to find won't matter to anyone else.
Common PNG to GIF problems and fixes
A few faults come up again and again. Each comes from the format's limits, so you can predict them from your source PNG.
| What you see | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Stripes across a smooth gradient | 256-color palette | Use the Best setting, or keep the PNG |
| White halo around a logo | Soft edge forced to solid | Flatten onto the final background color first |
| Drop shadow disappeared | No partial transparency | Flatten the PNG before converting |
| GIF bigger than the PNG | Detail compresses poorly in GIF | Scale down or keep the PNG |
| Browser slows on a big batch | All files decode in memory | Convert in smaller groups |
From PNG to GIF that actually moves
Many people searching for a PNG to GIF converter are hoping for movement, and a format change can't add that. One still image gives one still frame. If you have a series of PNGs with identical dimensions, tick "Combine into one animated GIF", set a frame time between 20 and 2,000 ms, and they play in order, still entirely in your browser. If you have just one image, something has to draw new frames.
That is what "Animate it with AI" does, next to each file once your PNG to GIF conversion finishes. It takes the same picture into our AI tool, where you choose a motion such as a blink, a bounce or a light sweep, and a model draws a short loop, typically eight frames. Two things change at that point, and we want to be plain about them. Your image does leave your browser, because it is sent to our servers and to OpenAI for processing. And it uses a generation: you get 3 free with no account, and free results carry a small corner watermark.
If your PNG is a logo or a character on a transparent background, the logo and sticker tools are a better fit, because they keep the background clear and export to WebP, which handles soft edges much better than GIF.
Questions
Is this PNG to GIF converter really free?
Yes. It runs on your own device, so it costs us nothing to operate. It uses no credits, adds no watermark and doesn't need an account.
Are my files uploaded?
No. The files stay in your browser the whole time. You can confirm this in your browser's Network tab. Only the optional AI step sends your image anywhere, and it asks you to start it.
Can I convert PNG to GIF in a batch?
Yes. Add several files together and they share the same size and quality settings. You can add up to 30 files at a time, and very large images are best split into smaller groups.
Will my GIF keep its transparent background?
Yes, with hard edges. In a PNG to GIF job, transparent pixels stay transparent, but GIF has no partial transparency, so soft edges and shadows are simplified.
Can I combine several PNGs into one animated GIF?
Yes, if they all have the same dimensions. Add two or more files, tick the combine option and set a frame time. This runs locally like everything else here.
Why does my PNG to GIF result look worse than the original?
GIF is limited to 256 colors per frame, so smooth shading gets simplified. Use the Best setting, or keep the PNG if nothing requires a GIF.
Related tools
Sources
- MDN: Image file type and format guide, checked 2026-11-07
- W3C: GIF89a specification, checked 2026-11-07
Last updated 2026-11-07.