Images conversion
Convert GIF to WebP
Updated Jul 2026
GIF is the old animation format everyone recognizes, and WebP is a newer image format that plays the same animation in a much smaller file. To convert GIF to WebP, open the file in a converter and export it as WebP. Doing this on your own computer means the file never has to travel to someone else's server first.
- Extension
- .gif
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Animations, memes
- Transparency
- Supported
- Extension
- .webp
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Modern web images
- Compression
- Lossy
- Transparency
- Supported
Convert GIF to WebP on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert GIF to WebP
- Open Morphjet and drag in the GIF files you want to shrink. Add one file or a whole folder of memes and clips at once.
- Choose WebP as the output format.
- Convert. The WebP files are written next to your originals, and nothing leaves your machine.
GIF vs WebP: what actually changes
| GIF | WebP | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Larger, especially for longer animations | Much smaller, often a fraction of the GIF |
| Color quality | Limited to 256 colors, can show banding | Full color range, smoother gradients |
| Animation support | Yes, the original animated format | Yes, and it plays smoother at a smaller size |
| Transparency | Yes, but hard edges only, no soft fade | Yes, with smooth, partial transparency |
| Compression | Lossless within its 256-color palette | Lossy, small quality trade-off for the size savings |
| Compatibility | Opens everywhere, even very old software | Supported by modern browsers and apps, but not universal |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert GIF to WebP when you want an animated image or meme to load faster on a website, in an app, or in a chat, since the same animation typically comes out much smaller as WebP.
Keep the GIF if it's going somewhere that only accepts GIF, like an older messaging app or a tool that doesn't recognize WebP, since compatibility still matters more than size in those cases.
Why not just use an online converter?
GIFs and animations often come from screen recordings, personal photos, or clips you'd rather not hand over. An online converter has to upload the file to a stranger's server to do the work, and there's no way to know what happens to it after. Converting on your own computer keeps the file, and whatever it shows, on your machine the whole time.
Questions
Does converting GIF to WebP lose quality?
The compression itself is lossy, but because WebP supports far more colors than GIF's 256-color limit, most converted animations actually look cleaner, with less banding, even though it's technically a lossy format.
Will the animation still play after converting?
Yes. WebP supports animation the same way GIF does, so a converted file plays the same sequence, just at a smaller file size.
Is WebP really that much smaller than GIF?
Usually, yes. Animated WebP files commonly come in well under half the size of the equivalent GIF, which is the main reason people convert.
Will WebP work everywhere I want to post it?
Most modern browsers, phones, and apps handle WebP fine, but some older software, email clients, and a few platforms still expect GIF or don't recognize WebP at all. Check where the file is going before you commit to it.
Can I convert GIF to WebP without uploading it anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so it never has to leave your machine or pass through anyone else's server.
Morphjet converts GIF, WebP, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.