PNG → GIF
PNG to GIF
Convert your image right in your browser — no upload, no account.
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Maximum file size: 100 MBAll formats
More conversions
PNG → JPG
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Convert PNG → WEBPPNG → SVG
Convert PNG → SVGWEBP → GIF
Convert WEBP → GIFSVG → GIF
Convert SVG → GIFJPG → PNG
Convert JPG → PNGJPG → WEBP
Convert JPG → WEBPConversion guide
PNG to GIF conversion guide
PNG to GIF reduces the image to 256 colours and flattens transparency onto white, so it is rarely an improvement visually. It is mainly a compatibility conversion for legacy systems, old email clients or software that refuses modern formats.
Why convert PNG to GIF?
- Meets the requirements of legacy software that only reads GIF.
- Loses smooth gradients because the palette is capped at 256 colours.
- Flattens soft transparency and converts the file to a single still frame.
PNG vs GIF
PNG — PNG is a lossless format made for sharp graphics and screenshots. It keeps exact pixel values and full alpha transparency, which usually makes files larger than JPEG or WEBP.
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 PNG to GIF
- Legacy software, an old mail client or a widget only reads GIF.
- The graphic is a simple icon or shape that fits inside 256 colours.
- You need a small still image for a system that rejects newer formats.
What to watch out for
- Transparency is flattened onto white, so cut-outs lose their clean edges.
- Gradients and soft shadows break into visible bands and only one frame is kept.
PNG vs GIF at a glance
| Property | PNG | GIF |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless within a 256-colour palette |
| Transparency | Full alpha channel | Binary (a pixel is on or off) |
| Animation | Only in the separate APNG variant | Supported |
| Colours | 16.7 million and beyond (up to 48-bit) | 256 colours per frame |
| Typical file size | Large on photos, moderate on flat graphics | Small for flat graphics, poor for photos |
| Best suited to | Screenshots, logos, text, transparency | Short animations, simple graphics, legacy systems |
How to convert PNG to GIF
- Choose your PNG file with the Select file button, or drag and drop it onto the box above.
- Press Convert now and wait a moment while the PNG to GIF conversion runs in your browser.
- Download the finished GIF file. Nothing was uploaded, so no copy is stored on a server.
PNG to GIF frequently asked questions
- Is the transparency of my PNG preserved in GIF?
- No. This conversion flattens transparent areas onto a white background, so see-through regions become opaque.
- Will the GIF be animated?
- No. A PNG contains one frame, and the converter writes a single-frame GIF.