Free Video to GIF Converter Review: Make Animated GIFs from Videos

very good
key review info
application features
  • Video trimming options
  • (5 more, see all...)

Free Video to GIF Converter is a straightforward graphic application that packs the necessary features for helping you create GIF files. It is free and can be run on all Windows platforms out there. 

The application is able to create animated GIFs from user-defined videos and comes with support for several frame adjustment options. Converting clips to GIF animations requires only two steps: extracting the videos to pictures/frames and merging the images into the GIF.

Clean and simple looks

Aesthetically speaking, this is not one of the most modern layouts that we have ever worked with so far, but it is actually practical. There are two main tabs incorporated in the GUI: one is responsible for grabbing frames from clips, while the other offers the required tools for creating the GIF.

Supported file formats and extraction options

Free Video to GIF Converter works with different video formats, such as AVI, MP4, FLV, MOV, WMV, 3GP, VOB, and MPEG. Clips can be imported in the working environment using browsing options (you cannot use the drag-and-drop support).

The application automatically reveals several pieces of information about the video that you add in the main window, namely duration and image size, as well as suggests the width and height of the frames that you want to include in the GIF.

If the video is too long, you can specify the start and end positions by manually inputting the information in hours, minutes and seconds.

The multi-tabbed layout allows easy frame extraction and adjustments.
The multi-tabbed layout allows easy frame extraction and adjustments.

What’s more, you can alter the photo resolution (width and height), keep aspect ratio, as well as specify the number of frames per second (frame rate). Additionally, you can reload the video.

There’s support for an online help manual in case you want to find out more about the program’s configuration settings, but reading the tips is not a mandatory step. The configuration settings are intuitive and you can decode them on your own.

Create animated GIFs

Free Video to GIF Converter automatically enumerates all frames included in a video and lets you preview each frame directly in the main window. You can scroll throughout the list with generated frames or use the built-in buttons for jumping to the next or previous frame.

You can make the utility reload the frames in case not all of them are displayed in the main window, make the GIF file smaller by removing the selected frames, and adjust the play speed to a custom number of frames or keep it the same as the source video.

The color matching mode is developed specifically for helping you create small or big GIF animations. The smaller ones present a normal quality, while the bigger ones have very good quality.

In order to complete the GIF creation process, you need to provide the filename and saving directory. At the end of the task, a popup panel reveals information about the GIF location, total number of frames, duration, picture size, and file size. Additionally, you can open the GIF via Internet Explorer


The Good

The generated GIF animations have very good output results. Of course, you may experience some pixelated results in case you opt for lower image resolution.

The configuration settings are intuitive and easy to work with. The GIF creation process doesn’t take too much time. You do not need to go through a comprehensive setup process as the GIF creation task is resumed to only two steps, making it a perfect candidate for rookies and professionals alike.

It doesn’t eat up too much CPU and memory so your computer’s performance is not hampered. You may generate 800KB GIF with normal quality, 600X330 image resolution, and aspect ratio.

The Bad

The utility doesn’t not offer support for a preview mode in the main panel, but it allows you to open the generated animations via Internet Explorer.

Each time you switch from the ‘Extract Video’ to ‘Create GIF’ panel, the app automatically recalculates the frames included in a video. It is not able to remember the frames so it wastes extra time on processing the number of frames over and over again.

You are not allowed to embed watermarks for protecting your content against theft. You cannot pick a default saving directory, so you need to manually provide the location and filename each time you want to save a GIF animation. 

The Truth

Whether you want to make animated GIF files for using them as your avatar, screensaver, or website objects, Free Video to GIF Converter helps you get the job done fast and easily. It blows away many competing applications with its clean looks and perfectly balanced amount of options for customizing the GIFs.

Free Video to GIF Converter does not embed a bunch of useless (or rarely used) options. It includes the essential features for trimming videos, adjusting the image resolution and playback speed, and removing frames. 

user interface 4
features 4
ease of use 5
pricing / value 5


final rating 4
Editor's review
very good
 
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Free Video to GIF Converter (2 Images)

The multi-tabbed layout allows easy frame extraction and adjustments.You can preview each frame individually and delete the selected one.