Example: a 27-frame animated GIF, 719 × 540
A public-domain 3D animation from Wikimedia Commons, with PicoDiet's default settings. Every frame and its timing are kept in both results.
Why GIFs are so big
GIF is a format from 1987. Each frame holds at most 256 colours and is compressed with LZW, which is efficient for flat cartoons and poor for anything photographic, video-like or dithered. A few seconds of screen recording or a clip from a video easily reaches 5–20 MB, too big for many chats and slow on any page.
Two ways to make a GIF smaller
Keep it a GIF. GIF opens everywhere, from old email clients to forums. PicoDiet re-encodes it at the lowest setting where the animation still looks the same at your quality setting, and keeps the result only when it is smaller. In our tests that saved 36% on a 3D animation, while an old, already tightly packed Amiga animation didn't shrink at all; then you keep the original.
Turn it into animated WebP. Animated WebP stores the same frames with modern compression and full colour. In the example above it is a fifth of the GIF's size. All current browsers play it; check that the app or site you post to accepts WebP. Choose Auto and PicoDiet compares GIF, WebP and animated PNG and keeps the smallest, or pick WebP under Options.
How to compress a GIF
- Drop your GIF files above or choose them. Animations can have up to 100 megapixels in all frames together (for example, 300 frames at 640 × 480).
- Keep the default quality score of 80, or switch to File size to get the GIF under an upload limit.
- Open the result to play it next to the original, then download it or the whole batch as a ZIP.
Animated WebP, GIF or video?
| Format | Size | Plays in |
|---|---|---|
| GIF | Largest | Everywhere, including old email clients |
| Animated WebP | Often 2–5 times smaller than GIF | All current browsers, many apps |
| Animated PNG | Between the two; exact colours | All current browsers |
| MP4 video | Smallest for long clips | Needs a video player; PicoDiet doesn't make video |
What happens to your images
Uploaded over HTTPS to the nearest of our servers, processed automatically, and deleted within 3 minutes after you finish. Never shared, sold or used for training. No account needed. Privacy policy
GIF questions
Does PicoDiet keep the animation?
Yes. Animated GIFs, animated WebP and animated PNG (APNG) stay animated, with every frame and its timing. The quality score comes from up to 12 frames spread through the animation.
How small can a GIF get?
As GIF, from nothing to about 40% smaller in our tests, depending on how optimized it already is. As animated WebP, often 2–5 times smaller: the example above went from 6.98 MB to 1.31 MB.
Can I compress a GIF for Discord?
Yes. Choose File size and enter the upload limit Discord shows you; the GIF stays a GIF. Animated WebP is smaller still, if the place you post it accepts WebP.
Is there a map of where the animation changed?
Not for animations. The details line says how many frames were rated; the change map is for still images.
Can I upload a still GIF?
Yes. A one-frame GIF is treated like any still image and can become PNG, WebP or JPEG.
Are my images private?
Yes. Images are uploaded over an encrypted connection to the nearest of our servers, optimized, and deleted within 3 minutes after you finish. They are never shared, sold or used for training, and there is no account to sign up for. Details are in the privacy policy.