JPG → GIF
JPG to GIF
Convert your image right in your browser — no upload, no account.
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Maximum file size: 100 MBAll formats
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JPG to GIF conversion guide
A JPEG squeezed into GIF is limited to 256 colours, so smooth skies, skin tones and gradients turn into visible bands. Transparent pixels are flattened onto white as well. GIF only makes sense here when an old tool or system specifically demands a GIF file.
Why convert JPG to GIF?
- Great for compatibility with very old software that only accepts GIF.
- Reduces the photo to a 256-colour palette, which adds banding to gradients and shadows.
- Produces no animation — the result is a single still frame.
JPEG vs GIF
JPEG — JPEG is a lossy photo format. It compresses continuous-tone images into small files, but it cannot store transparency and loses a little detail every time it is re-saved.
GIF — GIF is a legacy format limited to 256 colours per image. It supports simple animation and binary transparency, but photographs converted to GIF show visible banding.
When to convert JPG to GIF
- An old widget, form or application accepts GIF files and nothing else.
- The picture is simple, with few colours and large flat areas.
- A very small file matters more than colour accuracy.
What to watch out for
- Photographs lose smooth shading and show visible colour banding.
- Transparency becomes an all-or-nothing mask and the output is a single frame.
JPG vs GIF at a glance
| Property | JPEG | GIF |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy, adjustable per save | Lossless within a 256-colour palette |
| Transparency | Not supported | Binary (a pixel is on or off) |
| Animation | Not supported | Supported |
| Colours | 16.7 million (24-bit) | 256 colours per frame |
| Typical file size | Small for photographic content | Small for flat graphics, poor for photos |
| Best suited to | Photographs, camera output, email attachments | Short animations, simple graphics, legacy systems |
How to convert JPG to GIF
- Choose your JPG file with the Select file button, or drag and drop it onto the box above.
- Press Convert now and wait a moment while the JPG to GIF conversion runs in your browser.
- Download the finished GIF file. Nothing was uploaded, so no copy is stored on a server.
JPG to GIF frequently asked questions
- Can a JPG become an animated GIF here?
- No. A JPEG holds one frame, so the GIF result is a single still image. Animation can only come from an animated source.
- Why does the converted image look blotchy?
- GIF can only store 256 colours. Photographs contain far more, so similar tones are merged and smooth areas show banding.