Convert GIF to WebP
Convert animated GIFs to modern WebP with better compression, free, in your browser.
.webp, .png, .jpg · up to 50 MB
Why use it
GIF to WebP: better animation, less weight
Native browser support
Animated WebP works in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Opera — over 95% of modern browsers.
100% private
Conversion happens in your browser. Your GIF is never uploaded to any server.
Superior quality
WebP supports millions of colors vs GIF's 256. Smoother animations with better visual fidelity.
Instant
Conversion happens directly on your device in seconds.
How it works
Three steps, no hassle
Upload your GIF file
Drag or select your animated or static .gif file. Up to 50 MB, no signup.
Convert to WebP
Your GIF converts to WebP in your browser. WebP offers better visual quality with smaller files.
Download your WebP
Get a lighter, better-quality WebP ready for use on modern websites.
FAQ
Got questions?
Yes. Animated WebP was introduced by Google in 2010 and supports looping animations like GIF. Additionally, WebP uses lossy or lossless compression, while GIF only supports 256 colors per frame. This means animated WebP can have photographic quality, something impossible with GIF.
Animated WebP is typically 30-50% smaller than an equivalent GIF while maintaining better visual quality. The exact reduction depends on content: animations with gradients and complex colors benefit more. Simple 2-3 color animations will see less reduction.
Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, and Safari (since version 14, 2020) support animated WebP. Global coverage is over 95% of browsers in active use. For the small percentage that doesn't support WebP, you can keep the GIF as a fallback in HTML using the picture element.
Yes, noticeably. GIF is limited to 256 colors per frame, causing the characteristic dithering effect on gradients and photos. WebP supports up to 16 million colors (24-bit) and 8-bit transparency, producing much smoother and more realistic animations.
Keep GIF when you need maximum compatibility with older platforms or when the target platform doesn't accept WebP (some emails, older Slack, certain CMS). GIF is also easier to create and edit with simple tools. For any modern web use, WebP is superior in virtually every aspect.
GIF to WebP: modernizing web animations for better performance
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) was created by CompuServe in 1987 and became popular in the 1990s as the standard format for web animations. Its main technical limitation is the 256-color palette per frame and the absence of efficient compression for photographic content. A good-quality animated GIF can weigh several megabytes, directly impacting page load times.
Animated WebP was introduced by Google in 2010 as part of the WebP project, designed to replace both JPEG and GIF and PNG on the web. The WebP animation spec allows lossy inter-frame compression (similar to how video works) and lossless compression, while supporting millions of colors and 8-bit transparency. Google recommends WebP as the modern image format for the web, and Google's Core Web Vitals reward pages that use efficient formats.
Animated image performance on mobile devices is critical: a heavy GIF can consume significant bandwidth on mobile connections and drain the battery faster than an equivalent WebP. Convertir.ai processes GIF to WebP conversion directly in your browser, allowing you to optimize your animations without uploading files to any server.