How to convert a GIF to WebP
- Choose, drop or paste animated GIFs — as many as you like.
- Keep quality 80, move the slider, or tick Lossless for exact pixels.
- Optionally shrink the size and choose how many times it loops.
- Compare the GIF and the WebP playing side by side, then Download WebP or all as a ZIP.
Why WebP is smaller than GIF
GIF dates from 1987. Each frame can use only 256 colours, transparency is on or off, and the pixels are packed with LZW, which is weak on photos and gradients. Animated WebP, from Google, uses the same compression as WebP photos: lossy mode predicts each block of pixels from its neighbours and stores only the difference, and lossless mode uses much stronger tools than LZW. It also allows millions of colours and smooth, 8-bit transparency. This converter rebuilds every full GIF frame, compares it with the previous one and encodes just the rectangle that changed, so still backgrounds cost almost nothing. The frames are then packed into an animated WebP with the GIF's delays and loop count. Because the GIF has already thrown colours away, WebP can't bring them back — but it can store what's there in far fewer bytes. The encoder is the standard libwebp, compiled to WebAssembly and running in your browser.
Facts at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Price | Free — no watermark |
| Sign-up | Not needed |
| Upload | None — converted in your browser (libwebp in WebAssembly) |
| Output | Animated WebP (.webp), same frames, delays and loop |
| Quality | 10–100 lossy, or lossless |
| Size | Original, 75%, 50% or 33% |
| Loop | Forever, once, or 2 / 3 / 5 / 10 times |
| Batch | Yes — ZIP download |
| Plays in | Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari (14+ on Mac, iOS 14+), Android |
GIF vs WebP vs APNG
| GIF | Animated WebP | Animated PNG (APNG) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colours per frame | 256 | Millions | Millions |
| Transparency | On / off | Smooth (8-bit) | Smooth (8-bit) |
| Compression | LZW, lossless | Lossy or lossless | Lossless (deflate) |
| Typical size of the same clip | Largest | Smallest | Close to GIF |
| Plays everywhere | Yes, even old email apps | All modern browsers | All modern browsers |
| Best for | Maximum compatibility | Websites, chat, smallest files | Exact pixels with smooth edges |
Keep a GIF when it has to play in old email clients or apps that only accept .gif. Use WebP for websites and anywhere file size matters.
GIF to WebP converters compared
| Feature | This page | ezgif | CloudConvert | FreeConvert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where the GIF is processed | In your browser — never uploaded | Uploaded by default; local batch mode | Uploaded to a server | Uploaded (deleted after 8 hours) |
| File size limit | No fixed cap | 200 MB | Not stated | 1 GB, more after sign-up |
| Quality / lossless | Yes / yes | Shown after upload | Shown after upload | Yes / yes |
| Resize | Yes | Separate tool | Shown after upload | Yes |
| Loop count | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Batch + ZIP | Yes | Local batch mode | Yes | Yes |
| Side-by-side preview with sizes | Yes | After upload | No | No |
Competitor details are as shown on their own pages on 5 November 2026; tools change, so check before you rely on a feature.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert an animated GIF to WebP?
Choose the GIF here and press Download WebP. Every frame, delay and the loop setting are kept, so the WebP plays exactly like the GIF.
Is WebP smaller than GIF?
Almost always, and often by more than half for photo or video GIFs at quality 80. Flat cartoons with very few colours shrink less; try Lossless for those.
Does the WebP keep the animation?
Yes. The result is an animated WebP with the same number of frames and the same timing.
Which quality should I use?
80 is a good default. 90+ for detailed art, 60–70 when size matters most. Lossless keeps every pixel exactly as in the GIF.
Is my GIF uploaded?
No. The conversion runs in your browser using libwebp compiled to WebAssembly.
Can I convert many GIFs at once?
Yes. Drop them all; the same settings apply to every file and “All (ZIP)” downloads them together.
Does Discord or WhatsApp play animated WebP?
Most modern apps and every current browser display animated WebP. If a site or app only accepts .gif, keep the GIF and compress it instead.
Will transparency be kept?
Yes. Transparent pixels in the GIF stay transparent in the WebP.
Can I turn a WebP back into a GIF?
Not on this page — it converts GIF to WebP. Keep your original GIF if you may need it later.
Updated · By the imagetojpg.app team