Is this PNG to GIF converter really free?

Yes. Up to 5 files at a time, no signup, no catch. The free tier adds a small watermark to image output — Pro ($9.99/mo or $49/yr) removes it, raises the file size limit to 500 MB, and unlocks unlimited batch conversion.

Are my files uploaded to a server?

No — and you can verify it yourself. Open DevTools → Network tab, then convert a file. You'll see zero upload requests. Everything runs right in your browser. We never see your files.

How long does conversion take?

Usually 1–3 seconds for a typical file. The very first conversion on a fresh page load may take 5–20 seconds while the converter engine loads — after that it's instant. Your CPU does all the work locally.

What is the file size limit?

Free: up to 10 MB per file, 5 files per batch. Pro: up to 500 MB per file, unlimited batch. If you're working with large videos or RAW photos, Pro is built for that.

Can I batch convert multiple PNG files at once?

Yes — drop multiple files at once (or Ctrl/Cmd+click to select them) and they all convert in parallel. Free accounts handle up to 5 files per batch; Pro has no limit.

Will the image quality change after conversion?

It depends on the formats involved. Converting to a lossless format like PNG preserves every pixel exactly. Converting to a lossy format like JPEG or WebP applies compression — we default to 85% quality, which looks identical to the original for almost all images. You won't notice a difference unless you zoom in pixel-by-pixel.

Do you support batch image conversion?

Yes — drop multiple images at once and they all convert in parallel. Free accounts handle up to 5 at a time; Pro is unlimited. Download everything as a single ZIP when you're done.

Does PNG transparency carry over to GIF?

GIF supports only 1-bit binary transparency (fully transparent or fully opaque). Semi-transparent pixels in your PNG will be converted to fully transparent or fully opaque, which may cause hard edges around soft shadows.

My PNG logo looks pixelated as a GIF — why?

GIF's 256-colour palette cannot represent the full colour range of PNG, especially for gradients and anti-aliased edges. Logos with flat colours convert well; complex images with gradients will show colour reduction.

How private is this converter?

Completely private — by design, not policy. There is no upload endpoint. Files are processed right inside your browser tab and disappear the moment you close it. We collect only anonymous page-view counts; your file content is never seen or stored.

PNG to GIF Converter — Free, Online, No Upload

How to convert PNG to GIF online

1
Drop your PNG file
Drag and drop your Portable Network Graphics file onto the converter, or click to browse your files. You can select up to 5 at once. Nothing leaves your device — conversion happens right here in the browser.
2
Hit Convert — it happens locally
Click Convert and watch it go. There's no upload, no server queue, no waiting. The converter runs Portable Network Graphics → Graphics Interchange Format entirely in your browser tab. Most files finish in 1–3 seconds.
3
Download your GIF
Your Graphics Interchange Format file is ready. Click Download, or grab a ZIP if you converted a batch. Close the tab and everything disappears — no copies kept anywhere.

PNG vs GIF: format overview

PNG

Portable Network Graphics

PNG Development Group (Thomas Boutell) · 1996

Compression: lossless
Color depth: 16-bit
Transparency: Yes

✓ Lossless compression — pixel-perfect quality
✓ Full alpha transparency (8-bit alpha channel)
✗ Large file sizes for photos

GIF

Graphics Interchange Format

CompuServe (Steve Wilhite) · 1987

Compression: lossless
Color depth: 8-bit
Transparency: Yes

✓ Universal animation support in browsers
✓ Supported everywhere including email clients

PNG magic bytes: 89 50 4E 47 0D 0A 1A 0A

GIF magic bytes: 47 49 46 38 39 61

Why convert PNG to GIF?

PNG supports full 24-bit color (over 16 million colors) and lossless compression. GIF supports 256 colors per frame. That difference is the core trade-off when converting PNG to GIF, and it determines whether this conversion is a good idea for your specific image.

For logos, icons, simple illustrations, and graphics with flat colors and sharp edges, PNG-to-GIF often works well — these images may already use fewer than 256 colors, so the conversion is nearly lossless. For photographs or images with gradients, you'll see visible color banding. The main reasons to convert PNG to GIF are platform compatibility (older email clients, certain ad networks, and legacy CMS platforms accept GIF but not PNG) and animation (GIF supports basic frame-based animation, PNG does not — though APNG does).

File size varies by image content. Simple graphics with few colors often produce a smaller GIF than the equivalent PNG. Complex images with many colors will produce a larger GIF because the palette reduction forces dithering, which increases the data required to represent each pixel. If transparency matters, note that GIF only supports 1-bit transparency — pixels are either fully transparent or fully opaque, unlike PNG's smooth alpha channel. Hard-edged transparent logos convert cleanly; soft shadows and glows will not.

Quality & file size: PNG to GIF

Typical file sizes: PNG 8–25 MB → GIF 1–5 MB.

Both PNG and GIF use lossless compression, so no quality is lost in conversion. The output GIF file will be visually identical to the PNG source.

Color depth: PNG supports 16-bit, GIF supports 8-bit.

Transparency: PNG supports transparency. GIF preserves transparency.

Frequently asked questions

Privacy: how FormatDrop handles your files

Your PNGfiles are converted 100% inside your browser. They are never uploaded to our servers, never stored, and never seen by anyone other than you. This isn't a privacy policy claim — it's an architectural guarantee: our server has no endpoint that receives file bytes.