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Comparison

Giffiti vs Gifski

Gifski is a superb converter that turns videos into high-quality GIFs and deliberately stops there. Giffiti is an editor for building the GIF itself, with captions, layers and effects.

Download for MacFree · macOS 15 or later · Apple silicon

At a glance

Giffiti and Gifski side by side
GiffitiGifski
Main jobMaking and editing GIFsConverting videos to high-quality GIFs
Quality approachColours chosen per clip, flicker reduction, six dithering styles, live previewThousands of colours per frame using cross-frame palettes and temporal dithering
Basic editsTrim, crop, resize, speed, loop styles, frame-by-frame changesTrim, crop, dimensions, speed, loop and bounce, loop delay
Text, layers and effectsCaptions, multi-track timeline, keyframes, transitions, 29 effectsNone by design; it is a converter
ExportGIF, MP4, HEVC, HEVC with alpha, APNG, PNG sequence, WebP where supportedGIF, or the trimmed video without converting
Mac extrasCommand palette, screen and camera recordingShare extension, system service and Shortcuts support
PlatformsMac with Apple silicon, macOS 15 or laterMac app (current version needs macOS 26; an older version runs on macOS 15), Windows app and command-line versions
PriceFreeFree

Choose Giffiti if

  • You want to add captions, pictures, transitions or effects, not only convert.
  • You want to record your screen or camera and edit in the same app.
  • You need APNG, transparent video or a GIF that fits under a set size.

Choose Gifski if

  • You want the highest-quality straight conversion of a video into a GIF, with thousands of colours per frame.
  • You work in Shortcuts or the share menu, or also on Windows or the command line.

Gifski and Giffiti both turn video into GIFs on a Mac, and both are free. The difference is how far each one goes.

Gifski: a converter, and proud of it

Gifski is built around a respected GIF encoder that squeezes thousands of colours into each frame, so gradients and photos look remarkably smooth. The Mac app trims, crops, sets dimensions and speed, loops or bounces, and previews before converting. It also works with Shortcuts and the share menu. Its makers say plainly that it is a converter and will never add text or elements to a GIF.

Giffiti: an editor

Giffiti picks up where a converter stops. Captions that move, a multi-track timeline, keyframes, transitions, effects and cinemagraphs. It also records your screen and camera, exports formats beyond GIF, and can fit a GIF under a set size.

The short version

For the cleanest possible straight conversion, Gifski is excellent. When the GIF needs text, layers or effects, choose Giffiti.

Sources

Details about Gifski were last checked on . Products change; check their site for the latest.

Questions

Which one makes nicer-looking GIFs?

Gifski is known for very high-quality straight conversions, and we don't claim to beat it. Giffiti focuses on editing, with good quality and small files, and a preview so you can judge the result yourself.

Can I use both?

Yes. Edit and caption in Giffiti, export a video, and convert it with Gifski if you prefer its look.

Video to GIF

Open a video, mark where the GIF starts and ends, and press Create. Giffiti handles the frame rate, colours and looping, and you can fine-tune all of it when you want to.

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Smaller GIFs

Tell Giffiti the size you need to stay under and it fits the GIF to it. Or take control yourself, with a preview that shows exactly what you'll get and an estimate of the file size.

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Captions and text

Put classic meme captions on any clip in one click, or style and animate your text with typewriter, word-by-word, pop, slide and per-letter effects.

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Giffiti vs GIF Brewery 3

GIF Brewery 3 made GIFs easy for years, but it was last updated in 2019 and is no longer on the Mac App Store. Giffiti is a modern alternative with the same simple flow and a lot more room to grow.

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Giffiti vs Gifox

Gifox lives in your menu bar and is very quick for one-off screen captures. Giffiti is a full GIF studio with a timeline, captions and effects. Here's how they compare.

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Giffiti vs GIPHY Capture

GIPHY Capture is a free, simple screen recorder that shares to GIPHY. Giffiti is a free GIF studio that keeps everything on your Mac and goes much further on editing and formats.

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Try Giffiti on your Mac

Free for Apple silicon Macs running macOS 15 or later.

Download for Mac