Convert PNG to GIF Online — Free
Runs 100% in your browser — your files never leave your device.
Occasionally an upload form simply demands GIF. This converter maps your PNG onto an optimized 256-color palette and writes a standard GIF89a file with a local JavaScript encoder — no server, no watermark. If the result matters more than the container, keep the PNG: it is the lossless copy.
How it works
- 1
Drop your PNG file
Drag a PNG image into the box, or click to browse. Nothing leaves your device.
- 2
Convert to GIF
Click Convert. Colors are mapped to a 256-color palette and the GIF is written locally.
- 3
Download the result
Save the GIF with one click, or drop another PNG to convert.
About this tool
Converting PNG to GIF
A PNG file png stores every pixel losslessly and supports full transparency, which makes it the standard for screenshots, logos, and graphics — at the cost of larger files for photographs.. GIF gif is limited to a 256-color palette with 1-bit transparency — ancient by technical standards but universally supported, and still the format of simple animation.. Converting moves your image from the first set of trade-offs to the second: file size shifts with the format's compression style, transparency survives where supported, and pixel data is re-mapped to the target format exactly.
What to check after converting
Open the result and check the two things conversion can change: transparency and size. Transparency is carried over exactly where the target format supports it. GIF compresses lossily, so this conversion re-encodes your image — reasonable settings keep the difference invisible, extreme ones do not. Your original file stays untouched on your device either way, and the download is a brand-new file.
Frequently asked questions
Will converting to GIF reduce the quality?
Some re-encoding is inevitable — GIF compresses lossily. At default settings the difference is invisible; only extreme sizes or repeated re-saves produce visible artifacts. Your original file always stays untouched.
Is my image uploaded anywhere?
No — the conversion runs entirely in your browser. The image is processed on your device and never sent to any server, which you can verify by disconnecting after the page loads.
Why convert PNG to GIF instead of the other way around?
The direction follows what the destination needs: simple animation and maximum compatibility versus graphics, screenshots, and anything needing transparency. Converting back is always available — but each lossy hop re-encodes the image, so keep the highest-quality format as your working copy and convert toward the destination.