Convert GIF to WebM Online Free
Convert animated GIFs to WebM for excellent compression, full color fidelity, and open-format browser compatibility. Ideal for web developers replacing heavy GIF animations on websites.
ChangeThisFile converts animated GIF files to WebM video using FFmpeg and VP9 encoding on our secure servers. WebM is an open format natively supported by Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, with file sizes up to 90% smaller than GIF. Free, no signup, files auto-deleted after conversion.
Convert GIF to WebM
Drop your GIF file here to convert it instantly
Drag & drop your .gif file here, or click to browse
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GIF vs WebM: Format Comparison
Key differences between the two formats
| Feature | GIF | WebM |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Animated image (CompuServe, 1987) | Open video container (Google, 2010) |
| Color depth | 256 colors maximum per frame | Full color (16.7 million colors) |
| File size | Very large for animation duration | Up to 90% smaller for equivalent content |
| Codec | LZW (lossless but palette-limited) | VP8 or VP9 (highly efficient) |
| Alpha transparency | 1-bit (on/off only) | Full alpha channel support |
| Browser support | All browsers | Chrome, Firefox, Edge (not Safari) |
| Looping | Auto-loops natively | Requires loop attribute in HTML |
| License | Patent-free | Royalty-free open format |
When to Convert
Common scenarios where this conversion is useful
Replacing GIF animations on websites
Web developers can replace heavy GIF animations with WebM using the HTML5 video tag with autoplay, muted, loop, and playsinline attributes. This dramatically reduces page weight and improves Core Web Vitals scores.
Background video for web pages
Convert a looping GIF background animation to WebM for use as a lightweight CSS or HTML background video. WebM's superior compression makes it practical for page backgrounds where GIF would be too large.
Open-format video distribution
WebM is a royalty-free open format. Convert GIFs to WebM for distribution on platforms and applications that prefer or require open-format video content.
Animated content for Chromium-based apps
Applications built on Electron or Chromium support WebM natively. Convert GIF animations to WebM for use in web app UI elements, onboarding flows, or in-app tutorials.
Social media and messaging platform uploads
Many platforms accept WebM for upload. Convert large GIFs to WebM to get smaller files that upload faster and render with full color fidelity on supported platforms.
How to Convert GIF to WebM
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1
Upload your animated GIF
Drag and drop your .gif file into the converter or click to browse. Animated GIFs of any size up to 500MB are accepted — including large multi-frame animations.
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2
FFmpeg encodes with VP9
Your GIF uploads securely over HTTPS. FFmpeg extracts each frame, converts the 256-color palette to full 24-bit color, and encodes the animation using VP9 for an open-format WebM file with excellent compression and full color depth.
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3
Download the WebM file
Save the .webm file to your device. Use it on your website with an HTML5 video element, or upload it to supported platforms. Both files are deleted from our servers after you download.
Frequently Asked Questions
WebM is an open-source video container format using VP8 or VP9 codecs, developed by Google. MP4 uses H.264 or H.265 codecs. Both offer similar quality, but WebM is royalty-free. Safari has limited WebM support, while all browsers support MP4.
WebM with VP9 typically achieves 85-95% smaller file sizes than equivalent animated GIFs. A 40MB GIF animation can become under 2MB as WebM.
Yes. WebM supports full 24-bit color depth compared to GIF's 256-color palette. Color banding and dithering artifacts from the GIF are eliminated in the WebM output.
Yes. WebM with VP8 or VP9 supports full alpha channel transparency using the WebM alpha format. This makes it superior to GIF's binary transparency support.
Safari on macOS and iOS has limited WebM support. For universal browser compatibility, also convert to MP4 and use a video element with both source formats: WebM for Chrome/Firefox and MP4 as fallback for Safari.
Use the HTML5 video element: <video autoplay muted loop playsinline><source src="animation.webm" type="video/webm"></video>. The loop attribute makes it play continuously like a GIF.
Yes. FFmpeg reads the delay value of each GIF frame and replicates the timing accurately in the WebM output. Variable-delay animations are handled correctly.
Yes. Both the uploaded GIF and the converted WebM are automatically deleted from our servers after you download the result. Files are never retained or shared.
The upload limit is 500MB. Animated GIFs can be very large, so the generous limit accommodates complex animations with many frames.
Yes — completely free with no account, signup, or payment required.
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