GifLoop

GifLoop is an iPhone and iPad app for turning photos, video frames, or camera captures into animated GIFs, with a blank canvas for work built frame by frame. It is best suited to iOS users who want precise GIF encoding and local, offline editing; people who need a desktop or web workflow should look elsewhere.

Overview

GifLoop brings frame editing and GIF output controls into one native app. Filters, text, drawing, onion skinning, glitch and jitter effects, and background removal cover both utility edits and stylized animation. The encoder adds control over palette, dithering, lossy compression, file size, and resolution, which is useful when an export has to fit a size target without giving up more image quality than necessary.

Imports, editing, rendering, and exports run on the device, and the maker says creative content is not uploaded to its servers. The privacy policy says the app uses no analytics, advertising, crash-reporting, or tracking technologies. Content stays in app storage, while the trial counter is kept in Apple Keychain. Editing and all five export formats work offline, though Pro purchases and restores depend on the App Store.

Key features

Sources, timing, and loops

Projects can begin with photos, camera captures, video frames, or a blank canvas; video import is supported. That makes GifLoop suitable for both repurposing existing footage and creating animations from scratch. Pro adds per-frame timing, so different images can stay on screen for different lengths of time. Its seven loop modes include ping-pong, random, fade loop, and play-once, giving Pro users more than a simple repeated sequence. Free includes only two modes, so users who need a particular loop treatment may reach the upgrade limit early.

Export and editing controls

Free exports GIF and MP4, while Pro adds MOV, Live Photo, and frame strip. GIF output can be transparent, and the encoder's palette, dithering, compression, resolution, and file-size controls are a strong fit for users who care about the final asset rather than just making a quick animation. The editing toolkit is broad for a focused GIF app, but per-frame timing and the full loop selection are reserved for Pro.

Pricing

GifLoop uses a freemium model. Free costs nothing, billed forever, and allows up to 15 frames per project, two loop modes, and GIF and MP4 export. It is a sensible way to make short, occasional animations, but the 15-frame ceiling limits longer sequences. A watermark appears after three free Pro exports, making the free tier less suitable for repeated watermark-free work.

GifLoop Pro costs $1.99, paid once, billed as a one-time purchase, yours forever, with no subscription. It raises the project limit to 50 frames, unlocks all seven loop modes and per-frame timing, and includes audio, effects, text, drawing, and background removal. Pro also adds MOV, Live Photo, and frame strip export and removes the watermark. For regular use, the one-time price is a direct way to avoid Free's frame cap and watermark restriction; occasional users who need only short GIFs can stay on Free.

A free trial is available. No trial length is stated, so it is best treated as a way to try Pro rather than as a defined evaluation period.

Platforms

GifLoop runs on iPhone and iPad and requires iOS 17 or later. Its offline editing and exports suit users who want to work without a network connection, but the iOS-only requirement rules it out for Android, desktop, and browser-based workflows.

Who it's for

Choose GifLoop if you make GIFs on an iPhone or iPad and want control over encoding, loop behavior, and export formats without sending creative content to a service. It is also a good fit for people who value offline editing and a one-time Pro purchase. It is a weaker choice for long animations beyond 50 frames, anyone on an older iOS version, or people who need the same editor across desktop and mobile platforms.

Pros and cons

Pros: Encoder controls for palette, dithering, compression, size, and resolution support deliberate output tuning.

Pros: Offline editing and all five export formats, alongside on-device processing and no tracking technologies, suit private or disconnected workflows.

Pros: Pro is a one-time 1.99 USD purchase with no subscription and removes the watermark while adding three export formats.

Cons: Free is capped at 15 frames and two loop modes, and the watermark appears after three free Pro exports.

Cons: Pro's 50-frame ceiling and the iOS 17 requirement leave out longer projects, older devices, and non-Apple platforms.

Alternatives

Browse GIF maker software if you want to compare more tools by category. Choose Brush Ninja instead if broad platform coverage matters: it runs on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, the web, and Windows, and its free tier includes core animation tools without an account. FlexClip is a web-capable alternative with a free plan that allows 12 online projects and videos up to 10 minutes, a better fit when video projects matter more than GifLoop's focused frame-based GIF controls.

Gifsicle is worth considering for free GIF work on Linux, macOS, or Windows rather than iPhone and iPad. GIPHY Create is another free option across Android, iOS, and the web. Piskel suits people looking for a free browser-based pixel-art editor with an offline desktop version; its code is open source. Wigglegram Creator is a free alternative for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Pick Gifox instead for macOS screen recording: its Basic plan supports 10-second recordings, while Pro is a one-time purchase at $14.99 a month as stated for the plan. Gifski is a free option for Linux, macOS, and Windows, with a free Windows GUI and an open-source library for free software use.

Verdict

GifLoop is a strong choice for iPhone and iPad users who want offline GIF creation, meaningful encoding controls, and a Pro tier without recurring charges. Choose it for short-to-medium animations where its 50-frame Pro limit is enough; look elsewhere if you need desktop or web support, longer projects, or a broader cross-platform workflow.