Instagram is one of the best apps to share fun and relatable animated GIFs. But unfortunately, you’ll have to convert GIF to video for Instagram before transferring. The thing is that Instagram only supports PNG, JPG, and MP4 formats. But fret not if you want to share a compelling GIF file on Instagram. You can convert GIFs to MP4 and upload them on the app without restrictions. So, this article discusses the best desktop, mobile, and online apps to convert GIF to video for Instagram.
In this article
Part 1: Convert GIF to Video for Instagram on Desktop
Let’s begin this post with the best desktop solutions to convert GIFs to MP4 for Instagram. Remember, the video aspect ratio for Instagram videos is 9:16 or 1:1.
Wondershare Filmora
Rating: 4.5/5
Compatibility: macOS and Windows
Wondershare Filmora is a professional-grade video editing program for both macOS and Windows computers. It features an intuitive, multitrack interface with advanced video editing features and templates to help you create the best Instagram videos. This program lets you exploit themed elements like filters, effects, transitions, and emojis.
In the meantime, you can customize your video with the inbuilt royalty-free music and sound effects. You can also cut, trim, resize, and crop your video before exporting it to various formats, including MP4, MOV, WebM, GIF, etc.
But here is a reminder; free users will have a “Wondershare Filmora” watermark on their outputs. However, you can still exploit all the features with the free account.
Follow these steps to convert a GIF to a video for Instagram using Filmora:
Step1Run Filmora and start a project.
Install and run Wondershare Filmora on your PC and select the Project Aspect Ratio. To create an Instagram video, choose 1:1. Now tap New Project and click File to browse and load the GIF file from your local storage. Then, drag the GIF file to the editing timeline.
Step2 Edit and customize the GIF file (Optional).
Before exporting GIF to MP4, it’s vital to add a few touches to it. For example, you may want to speed up or slow down the GIF’s playback speed. In that case, right-click the video track and then tap Edit Properties. Now click the Speed tab to ramp up the speed or slow it down.
You’ll also see tabs for adding animations, color enhancements, stabilization, and more. So, play around with the video editing tools until you get what works for you. Just remember not to overdo your video.
Step3Customize the video settings and export it to MP4.
Last but not least, click File > Project Settings to crosscheck the file properties. You can change the aspect ratio, video resolution, frame rate, and color space before clicking Ok.
Finally, tap Export, then select Crete Video. Now choose MP4 under the Local tab before setting the video name and folder path. If satisfied, press Export to convert GIF to a video for Instagram. That’s all there is!
Movavi Video Converter Premium
Rating: 4.3/5
Compatibility: macOS and Windows
As the name hints, Movavi Video Converter is a video converter cum editor for macOS and Windows PCs. It’s a simple-to-use program that easily converts any video, audio, or image format. Actually, it supports 180+ formats, including MP4, GIF, MOV, AVI, VOB, MP3, and many others.
Besides converting, Movavi Video Converter allows you to trim, cut, merge, and crop your videos. Also, you can losslessly compress files and add subtitles automatically using artificial intelligence. And lest I forget that you can convert videos to device-optimized formats like iPhone, iPad, Samsung Galaxy, Apple TV, and more.
Follow these steps:
Step1Download, install, and open Movavi Video Converter and click the Add Media button to load your GIF file on the program.
Step2Next up, edit your video to make it look more attractive. For instance, you can trim, cut, and merge it. Movavi Video Converter also allows you to add effects, watermarks, and audio/sound effects.
Step3Click the Video tab at the bottom of the screen and choose MP4 as the target format. Lastly, click Convert to encode GIF to MP4 with Movavi Video Converter.
MiniTool Movie Maker
Rating: 4.4/5
Compatibility: Windows
MiniTool Movie Maker is a video editing program for Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11. It boasts an intuitive user interface with rich and advanced features to give your Instagram videos stunning looks. After uploading your GIF file to this video editor, you can trim, crop, and add elements like emojis, arrows, and props.
Also, MiniTool Movie Maker allows you to adjust the video contrast, brightness, and saturation. In addition, you can adjust the video playback speed to make it quicker or slower. Another thing, this program houses hundreds of free video templates to exploit.
Steps to convert a GIF file to MP4 for Instagram with MiniTool Movie Maker:
Step1Install and run MiniTool Movie Maker on your PC and create a new project. Then, click Media > Import Media Files to upload the GIF file.
Step2Now drag and drop the GIF file to the editing timeline and tap the Split icon to trim and cut the video. After that, press the Speed icon to make the video playback speed faster, slower, or reverse the video. You can also add texts, emojis, effects, and more.
Step3Click the Export button on the preview screen to name the video and set the folder path. Remember to choose MP4 as the target format before clicking Export to save your video.
Part 2: How to Turn a GIF into an Instagram video on iPhone or Android
What desktops can do, smartphones can equally do these days. So, without dilly-dallying, let’s list the best GIF to Instagram converters for Android/iPhone.
GIF Cracker
Rating: 4.3/5
GIF Cracker is a highly rated iPhone app for converting GIF files to videos and pictures. It’s simple to use and comes with multiple video customization options. For example, you can look, adjust the playback speed, rotate, and resize the GIF file before converting it to MP4. GIF Cracker also boasts multiple filters to spice up your new video or image. What’s more, you can access files from Camera Roll Album.
GIF to MP4
Rating: 4.7/5
GIF to MP4 is another highly-rated iPhone app to help you convert any GIF file to MP4. It’s easy to use as you only need to upload the GIF file, choose the video format, and tap “Save” to convert. That’s not all. This GIF-to-video converter allows you to export the converted video to Gmail, Facebook, and other social networks.
Video2Me
Come, close Android users! Video2Me is an excellent Android video editor, GIF maker, and GIF-to-video converter. With it, you can convert any GIF file to an MP4 video. But before converting, you can adjust the playback speed, repeat the video, add background audio, and reverse. Interestingly, you can convert GIFs to a boomerang video for Instagram.
Rating: 2.7/5
GifVid is another free app to convert GIF files to MP4 on an iPhone or iPad. As expected, it’s quick and easy to use. Just load the GIF file, and GifVid will automatically convert it to MP4. After conversion, you can share the video with your friends on Imgur, Tumblr, iMessage, Gmail, etc. Unfortunately, it will cost you $0.99 to get the app.
GIF to Video
Rating: 4.0/5
GIF to Video is an Android app with more than 1 million downloads so far. This app allows you to browse local GIF files or search for animated GIFs from websites such as Tenor, GIPHY, and Reddit. After adding the GIF file to this app, you’ll losslessly convert it to a short video before sharing it with your friends on Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, TikTok, and more. You can also trim, cut, crop, and loop before converting.
Part 3: Top 5 Online Tools to turn a GIF into a video on Instagram
The good thing about online GIF converters is that they can convert video to GIF instantly on a browser. In other words, you don’t need to install anything to convert a GIF to a video for Instagram. And yes, most online apps are compatible with mobile and PC browsers. Let’s look at the best five!
Adobe Express
Rating: 4.5/5
Adobe Express is an online service for creating amazing graphics without any experience. It replaces the Adobe Spark product, coming with a simplified and feature-rich platform. With Adobe Express, you can create designs from scratch or choose from the hundreds of free templates. You can customize your video with texts, stickers, emojis, background audio, and more. Even better, you can directly share your project on social apps.
GIFtoMP4
Rating: N/A
GIFtoMP4 is a relatively straightforward website that lets you convert GIF animations to high-quality MP4 videos. It can convert up to 20 GIF animations at a go. The conversion process is super-fast, and you can download all converted files in a ZIP folder. In addition to converting GIF to MP4, you can also convert GIF to PNG, PNG to GIF, and compress GIF files. Moreover, the site offers maximum file security by deleting all converted GIFs after an hour.
AConvert
Rating: 4.4/5
AConvert is a popular online converter for images, videos, audio, and GIF files. This software can convert GIFs to a host of formats, including MP4, AVI, 3GP, VOB, MTS, and more. Also, AConvert supports batch conversions up to 200MB. And after converting, you can download the file using a QR code or save the video on Google Drive and Dropbox.
Ezgif
Rating: 4.6/5
Ezgif is an excellent online GIF maker and editor. It’s free, simple, fast, and converts GIFs to MP4 for Instagram without watermarks. You can upload GIF files from local storage or paste the image URL from cloud services. Just upload your GIF file, then click the “Convert to MP4” button to process it. But before converting, you can crop, resize, speed up, cut, split, and more. Sadly, the maximum file conversion limit is a mere 50MB.
Convertio
Rating: 4.5/5
Still unimpressed by the online GIF to MP4 converters above? Try Convertio! It’s an easy GIF converter for mobile and PC browsers. To convert GIF to MP4 on Convertio, upload the GIF file on local storage or cloud and customize the frame rate, playback duration, codec, etc. But like all online GIF converters on this list, Convertio has a maximum file limit of 100MB.
Part 4: Hot FAQs on GIF Instagram
How can I send a GIF on Instagram DM?
You can easily share a GIF file directly on Instagram DM by clicking the Share icon at the top-right corner before opening a chat. Now tap the Stickers icon on the text message field and choose GIF. Search for a GIF file from GIPHY and click GIF to share it. It’s that easy!
How can I add a GIF to Instagram Story using a sticker?
To add a GIF Sticker on Instagram, you’ll first need to convert GIF to APNG (Animated PNG) using a program like Ezgif. Then, upload the APNG file on GIPHY Sticker Maker and generate a sticker. Now launch Instagram and choose a photo to post on your story. Then, click the Sticker icon and search for your username on GIPHY. Lastly, choose the GIF sticker you had created earlier and upload it.
How can I post GIFs to my Instagram Feed and Stories?
Posting a GIF file on Instagram Feeds and Stories is nothing complex. Simply install the GIPHY app and then choose a GIF file you want to share. After that, hit the Share button and then click the Instagram logo. Finally, select Post or Stories and share the GIF file.
Final Words
Although you may not be able to upload GIFs on Instagram directly, the above methods make it a breeze by converting GIFs to MP4 with lossless quality. Remember that you can easily share a GIF on your Instagram Story or Feed directly from GIPHY. But you can only do that using the iPhone or Android GIPHY app. Give it a try!