Skip to content
SPECIFICTION
Get listed

Gifski

gif.ski

Free plan WindowsmacOSLinux
Visit gif.ski
Spec score 7.8 #16 of 33 in GIF Maker Software

What it is

Gifski is a GIF encoder that turns video clips into smooth animations. It uses pngquant palettes and temporal dithering to produce frames with thousands of colors, alongside lossy LZW compression, temporal smoothing, and denoising. Users can resize animations and adjust compression to fit upload size limits. Quality is prioritized over small output by default; reducing dimensions, frame rate, or quality can make GIFs smaller. The site links to a free Windows graphical app and a macOS app, while command-line binaries are available for Linux, macOS, and Windows. The command-line workflow converts video through PNG frames, so ffmpeg may be needed to extract them. The macOS app includes trimming, cropping, dimension and speed controls, preview, looping and bounce options, and sharing integrations. It converts video rather than creating GIFs from added text or other elements, and it does not support QuickTime Animation. The library is open source for free software use; closed-source apps or services require a commercial license.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Gifski is a GIF encoder that makes smooth animations from video clips.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gif.ski
Support
The Mac app listing directs users to the Send Feedback button in the app’s Help menu.Read 11 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Color quality
It uses pngquant palettes and temporal dithering and can achieve thousands of colors per frame.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gif.ski
Command line
CLI binaries are available for Linux, macOS, and Windows, and the site shows installation through cargo.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gif.ski
Compression
It supports true lossy LZW compression, temporal smoothing, and denoising.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gif.ski
Desktop apps
The site links to a free Windows GUI and a macOS app through the App Store or direct download.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gif.ski
Input workflow
The CLI converts video via PNG frames, and the site says ffmpeg may be needed to extract those frames.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gif.ski
Library integrations
The library supports C#, Swift, Rust, C, C++, and other languages with a C FFI.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gif.ski
Licensing
The library is open source for free software use, while closed-source applications or services require a commercial license.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gif.ski
Mac app features
The Mac app listing describes video trimming and cropping, dimension and speed controls, GIF preview, looping and bounce options, a share extension, system service, and Shortcuts support.Read 11 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Mac app limitation
The Mac app listing says Gifski converts videos rather than creating GIFs and does not support adding text or other elements.Read 11 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Privacy disclosure
The Mac App Store listing says the developer indicated that diagnostics, including crash data, may be collected unlinked to the user; Apple says this information has not been verified.Read 11 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Quality tradeoff
Gifski maximizes quality by default at the cost of file size, and the site recommends reducing dimensions, frame rate, or quality to make smaller GIFs.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gif.ski
Size controls
Users can resize animations and adjust compression levels to fit upload file size limits.Read 11 Oct 2026 · gif.ski
Video format support
The Mac app supports video formats that macOS supports, but not QuickTime Animation format.Read 11 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com

Plans and prices

Gifski Free Windows GUI is free; open-source library is available for free software use Read 11 Oct 2026 · gif.ski

Every Gifski plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Temporal dithering and palettes support rich frame color.
  • Resize and compression controls help manage file size.
  • Command-line binaries for Linux, macOS, and Windows.
  • macOS app includes trimming and cropping.

Limits

  • Default quality settings favor larger files.
  • CLI video workflow may require ffmpeg for PNG frames.
  • Mac app does not add text or other elements.
  • Closed-source library use requires a commercial license.

Who it suits

Gifski suits people converting video into GIFs who want control over dimensions and compression. Developers can use its library, with commercial licensing required for closed-source applications or services.

Verdict

Gifski focuses on converting video to GIF, with desktop and command-line options across the listed platforms. Its quality-first defaults can produce larger files, so plan to adjust dimensions, frame rate, or quality when size matters.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to GifskiAll alternatives →