GIF or Video: Which Should You Use?
Updated November 5, 2026
Use a GIF for a short, silent loop that has to work in places that don't play video, like some emails and docs. For everything else, use MP4: it's far smaller, looks better and can have sound.
Why GIFs are so big
GIF is a very old format. Each frame can show only 256 colors, and it compresses poorly, so a few seconds can take more space than a much longer MP4.
How to keep a GIF small
These three settings make the biggest difference.
- 1Keep it short: 2 to 5 seconds is usually enough.
- 2Make it smaller: 480 pixels wide suits most uses.
- 3Lower the frame rate: 10 to 15 frames a second looks fine.
Sharing on chat apps
Most chat apps loop short MP4s just like GIFs, so a small MP4 usually gives you better quality at a smaller size.