GIF → PNG
Convert GIF images to PNG – locally in your browser
Why GIF → PNG?
Convert GIF images losslessly to PNG – better quality and transparency. Directly in browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why convert GIF to PNG?
PNG offers better quality than GIF and supports transparency without color limitations.
Are my images safe?
Yes, conversion happens entirely in your browser.
About PNG
PNG (Portable Network Graphics) was released in 1996 as an open standard and developed as a patent-free alternative to GIF after Unisys demanded licensing fees for the LZW algorithm used in GIF in 1994. PNG uses lossless compression based on the Deflate algorithm and supports up to 16 bits per channel as well as full-color transparency through a dedicated alpha channel. The format is particularly suited for graphics with sharp edges, text, logos, and screenshots – anywhere JPEG would produce artifacts through its lossy compression. PNG does not support animation; this gap is filled by the unofficial APNG format, which is supported by most browsers. The interlaced variant (Adam7) enables progressive loading where a coarse preview becomes visible even with minimal data transferred. PNG is the de facto standard for lossless web graphics and is supported by all browsers, operating systems, and image editing programs. For photography, however, PNG is inefficient since file sizes are significantly larger compared to JPEG or WebP, which is why PNG is primarily used for graphics and screenshots.
About GIF
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) was developed by Steve Wilhite at CompuServe in 1987 and is the oldest image format still actively used on the web today. The 89a revision from 1989 introduced animations, transparency, and timed frame changes – features that made GIF the progenitor of animated images on the internet. GIF uses LZW compression, which operates losslessly but is limited to a maximum palette of 256 colors. This limitation makes GIF unsuitable for photographs, yet the format remains extremely popular for simple animations, memes, loading indicators, and short video clips. In 1994, Unisys demanded licensing fees for the LZW algorithm, which led to the development of PNG as a patent-free alternative. The patents have since expired, but the reputational damage accelerated the shift to more modern formats. GIF animations are inefficient: a typical 5-second animation can be several megabytes, while the same animation as WebP or MP4 requires only a fraction. Nevertheless, GIF remains culturally indomitable and is supported by every browser, messenger, and social media platform without exception.
Why convert GIF → PNG?
GIF is an image format from 1987 with critical limitations: the color palette is restricted to 256 colors, there's no true halftone rendering, and LZW compression is inefficient. For static images, GIF produces unnecessarily large files without quality advantages; for animations, WebP (or AVIF) with 50-80% smaller file sizes at better quality is the modern alternative. Converting to PNG improves image quality, massively reduces file size, and increases compatibility. The switch from GIF to PNG is particularly recommended for web use and email delivery.