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GIF to MP4 Converter

Convert GIF to MP4 online, free. Plays on any phone, TV or browser.

  • Free to use
  • No file stored beyond 1 hour
  • Encrypted over TLS 1.2/1.3
  • No watermarks

Drag and drop your files here or click to upload.

Maximum file size is 1GB

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Three steps to your converted file

Everything happens in your browser tab - upload, pick a format, download. The heavy lifting runs on our servers.

  1. Upload your file

    Drag and drop, click to browse, or paste a URL. Batches take up to 20 files at once - 230+ input formats across video, audio, image, document, and archive types.

  2. Choose an output format

    Pick from over a hundred output formats. Filter by category or search by name - every option is open to everyone, no account needed.

  3. Convert & download

    Hit Convert and grab your download link moments later. Originals are erased when the job completes; results are cleared within about an hour.

Why convert GIF to MP4?

GIF is an image file and MP4 is a video file.

  • Where MP4 works best

    Sharing, streaming and playing video anywhere.

GIF vs MP4: what's the difference?

PropertyGIFMP4
TypeImageVideo
CompressionLossless (no quality loss)Lossy (smaller files, some quality loss)
Transparent backgroundYes—
AnimationYes—
Opens inEvery browser, phone and computerEvery phone, computer, smart TV and browser
Best forShort, simple animations and small graphics (256 colors max)Sharing, streaming and playing video anywhere

What is a GIF file?

Graphics Interchange Format

Developed By
CompuServe
Initial Release
1987
MIME Type
image/gif

The Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) is a bitmap image format developed by CompuServe in 1987, distinguished by its use of the Lempel-Ziv-Welch (LZW) lossless data compression algorithm. It supports up to 8 bits per pixel, allowing a palette of 256 distinct colors selected from the 24-bit RGB color space. The GIF89a specification, introduced in 1989, added support for transparent backgrounds, animation delays, and application extensions, establishing it as a standard for simple web animations and low-color graphics.

How to open a GIF file

GIF files possess near-universal compatibility and can be opened natively by all modern web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) and default operating system viewers like Microsoft Photos and Apple Preview. No third-party software is typically required for viewing. For editing frame-by-frame animations or modifying color palettes, raster graphics editors such as GIMP, Adobe Photoshop, or online tools like Ezgif are required.

What is an MP4 file?

MPEG-4 Part 14

Developed By
ISO / IEC
Initial Release
2001
MIME Type
video/mp4

MPEG-4 Part 14 (MP4) is a digital multimedia container format defined by ISO/IEC 14496-14. Based directly on the QuickTime File Format (QTFF), it allows for streaming over the Internet and is the global standard for video compatibility. An MP4 file can store video streams (encoded with H.264/AVC, H.265/HEVC, or MPEG-4 Visual), audio streams (typically AAC or MP3), subtitles, and still images. It utilizes object-oriented structures specifically designed to support initial object descriptors (IOD) and other MPEG features.

How to open an MP4 file

MP4 is the most widely supported video format in existence. It opens natively on virtually all modern operating systems including Windows (via Movies & TV or Windows Media Player), macOS (QuickTime), Android, and iOS. Web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari) also support native MP4 playback via the HTML5 video tag. No external software is generally required, though VLC Media Player is useful for MP4 files containing obscure codecs.

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The fastest way to convert any file

Purpose-built for speed, privacy, and breadth of format support.

  • Convert GIF to MP4 in seconds

    Every GIF to MP4 conversion runs on our servers, so your device stays fast and the output quality stays intact.

  • Fast, cloud-powered

    No queue, no waiting. Files are processed on high-performance servers and returned in seconds, even for large files.

  • Secure & private

    Encrypted in transit and never shared with anyone. Uploads are erased the moment your job completes, and results shortly after.

  • Free - no account needed

    Convert without creating an account - no credit card, no trial clock. Sign in only if you want history and higher daily limits.

Convert GIF to MP4 via API

Automate GIF to MP4 conversions in three steps: create a job, upload your file, then poll for the result.

Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your RunConvert API key. Get your free API key at runconvert.com/api.

# 1. Create job
curl -X POST https://api.runconvert.com/v3/jobs \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "tag": "gif-to-mp4",
    "tasks": {
      "upload-file": {
        "operation": "import/direct/upload"
      },
      "convert": {
        "operation": "convert",
        "input": "upload-file",
        "input_format": "gif",
        "output_format": "mp4"
      },
      "export-result": {
        "operation": "export/url",
        "input": "convert"
      }
    }
  }'

# 2. Upload your file (upload_url of the upload-file task in the response)
curl -X PUT "$UPLOAD_URL&filename=input.gif" --upload-file input.gif

# 3. Poll for result
curl https://api.runconvert.com/v3/jobs/$JOB_ID?include=tasks \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about converting GIF to MP4 with RunConvert.

Upload your GIF file, select MP4 as the output, and click Convert. The result is usually a much smaller file than the original GIF.

MP4 compresses video far more efficiently than GIF, so converting a GIF to MP4 dramatically reduces file size while keeping the same visual content - ideal for sharing on platforms that support video.

Ready to convert GIF to MP4?

Free to use · No account required · Instant download

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