About the GIF to APNG
APNG (animated PNG) is an animation format that every modern browser shows, like GIF, but without GIF's 256-colour limit and with smooth, partially transparent edges. This converter reads every frame of an animated GIF with its exact timing and writes an APNG you can use on websites, in Discord and in apps that support it. Choose whether it plays forever, once or three times. The file keeps a .png name, which is how APNGs are normally saved. Conversion happens entirely in your browser.
Updated October 2026
How to use the GIF to APNG
- 1Choose how many times the animation plays.
- 2Click Select GIFs or drop GIF files on the page.
- 3Wait while the frames are converted.
- 4Check the animated preview in each row.
- 5Download the APNG files or a ZIP.
How the conversion works
The GIF is decoded frame by frame, including the disposal rules that decide how each frame replaces the last, so every frame becomes a complete picture. Each picture is saved as a full-size PNG frame inside one APNG file, with the original delay in milliseconds.
GIF limits APNG removes
GIF dates from 1987 and has hard limits that APNG doesn't.
- 256 colours per frame vs millions in APNG
- On/off transparency vs smooth 8-bit alpha
- Delays in hundredths of a second vs milliseconds
Choosing loops
Forever suits stickers, loaders and reaction images. Once suits intros and animations that should end on a final frame. Some apps ignore the loop count and repeat anyway.
Browser support
All major browsers have supported APNG since 2017 to 2020. If your target app doesn't animate it, keep the GIF version for that app.
APNG on websites
Use an APNG in an img tag exactly like a GIF. Browsers that understand APNG animate it; anything older shows the first frame, so choose a first frame that works as a still image. Because APNG supports smooth transparency, animated logos and icons look clean on both light and dark backgrounds.
File size tips
To keep APNGs small, convert short, small animations. A 480 × 270 GIF of 40 frames might become a few megabytes as APNG with full frames. If size matters more than the format, keep the GIF or use our GIF Compressor; if you need the best quality animation for the web, a short video or animated WebP is usually smaller still.
Checking the timing
The animated preview in each row plays at the original speed. If a GIF used a 0 or very small delay, browsers usually play it at about 10 frames per second; the APNG keeps the delays as written, so a few old GIFs may play faster as APNG than they did as GIF.
Phone and computer
Convert on any device. The animated preview in each row lets you check the result before downloading. To make a new GIF, use GIF Maker, and to split it into pictures, GIF to Images.
Features
- Every frame and delay kept
- Loop forever, once or three times
- Full colour and alpha in the output
- Batch conversion
- ZIP download
- Nothing uploaded
Frequently asked questions
What is APNG?
An extension of PNG that stores several frames and their timing. Browsers that don't understand the animation simply show the first frame, so it fails gracefully.
Will the APNG look better than the GIF?
It looks identical, because the colours come from the GIF. The benefit is that you can now edit it in full colour, or make APNGs from new frames without GIF's limits.
Is APNG smaller than GIF?
Often not: GIF's limited palette compresses very well. This converter stores full frames, so APNGs can be larger. Use it when you need the APNG format, not to save space.
Where can I use APNG?
Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari show APNGs, as do Discord stickers and many messaging apps. Some image editors and social networks still treat them as still images.
Why does the file end in .png?
APNG files use the .png extension so existing software can at least show the first frame. Some sites accept the .apng extension too; rename it if needed.
Are my GIFs uploaded?
No. Frames are decoded and encoded in your browser.
Can I edit the APNG afterwards?
Yes, in tools that support animated PNG, such as some online APNG editors. Most photo editors open only the first frame.