What is the GIF size limit on social platforms?

It varies by platform and changes over time, with 15MB a common figure for GIF uploads on desktop. Mobile apps sometimes enforce a lower limit than the web version of the same service. Check the platform’s current help documentation if an upload fails.

Why does my GIF look worse after posting than it did before upload?

Most platforms re-encode uploaded GIFs into video on their end. That second encode is outside your control, and it operates on whatever you uploaded — so a lightly compressed file gives it better material to work with than a heavily compressed one.

Should I upload an MP4 instead?

On platforms that convert GIFs to video anyway, uploading an MP4 directly often produces better results and a smaller upload. The GIF to MP4 tool will make that conversion if you want to compare the two.

Compress a GIF to 15MB

The ceiling for GIF uploads on several social platforms.

Upload a GIF

Drop a .gif file to compress it under 15MB

Fifteen megabytes for social uploads

15MB is roughly where several social platforms cap GIF uploads. It is a large allowance, so files that exceed it are typically long clips exported at full resolution and frame rate straight from a video editor or screen recorder.

Worth knowing before you compress: most social platforms convert uploaded GIFs to video on their own servers anyway. Your carefully compressed GIF is re-encoded on arrival, which means the quality the viewer sees is partly out of your hands and heavily compressing before upload can compound the loss.

Given that, the goal here is simply to clear the limit with the lightest touch possible — not to make the file as small as it can be. The tool stops at the first setting that fits, which is the right behaviour for this particular target.

How to compress a GIF to 15MB

Upload your GIFDrop a .gif file onto the upload area, or click to browse for one on your device.
Compress to 15MBPress the compress button. The tool re-encodes the GIF and checks the result against the 15MB budget.
Let it retry if neededIf the result is still too large, the tool automatically tries again with stronger settings until the file fits.
Download the resultPreview the compressed GIF, check the final size, and download it to your device.

Other target sizes

Frequently asked questions

What is the GIF size limit on social platforms?: It varies by platform and changes over time, with 15MB a common figure for GIF uploads on desktop. Mobile apps sometimes enforce a lower limit than the web version of the same service. Check the platform’s current help documentation if an upload fails.
Why does my GIF look worse after posting than it did before upload?: Most platforms re-encode uploaded GIFs into video on their end. That second encode is outside your control, and it operates on whatever you uploaded — so a lightly compressed file gives it better material to work with than a heavily compressed one.
Should I upload an MP4 instead?: On platforms that convert GIFs to video anyway, uploading an MP4 directly often produces better results and a smaller upload. The GIF to MP4 tool will make that conversion if you want to compare the two.