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3 best methods to convert GIF to WebM

Edited by
Ben Jacklin
36357

Both GIF files and WebM files are popular files for video and WebM can even carry audio. It is relatively simple to change one file type to the other using simple conversion platforms. Let’s look at how to convert GIFs to WebM files in three different ways.

1. Movavi Video Converter

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Movavi Video Converter takes your media and makes it dance. Need a powerful GIF to WebM converter for a PC? Yup, a few clicks and it’s done. Drag a file, pick quality, tweak FPS if you want, hit Convert. It handles over 180 formats, rips DVDs, snags audio from clips, and even saves frames. Batch a dozen GIFs or one hundred – doesn’t care. Hundreds of device presets. Fast, sharp, no extra apps. Your files, ready, clean, and on the move, with nearly unlimited possibilities.

How to turn GIFs into WebM with Movavi Video Converter

Step 1. Install the program

Install the appropriate software on your Windows or Mac computer. Once the download process is finished, launch the installer file like .exe for Windows (that’s my case) or .dmg for Mac. Double-click it and follow the on-screen prompts.

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Step 2. Add your GIF

Click Add Media, choose Add images, and select the GIF you want to convert. An alternative path I usually use: simply drag and drop the files into the program, and it will recognize the file format automatically. What is especially great is that, unlike other online converters, Movavi desktop software can process a whole batch of larger files at a time, and that really saves me time when I don’t have it.

Step 3. Pick the WebM format

Go to the Video tab, open the WebM preset group, and select a preset you like. Often I want to play around and to tweak frame size or bitrate, in that case I just click the Cogwheel icon. You can do it also and play with it until it feels right.

Step 4. Convert GIF files to WebM

By default, the file goes into the Movavi Library folder. To change that, click Save to and pick another folder. Hit Convert and watch your GIF turn into a sleek WebM video.

Pros:

  • Easy on the eye and simple Interface

  • Supports lots of formats

  • GPU acceleration speeds things up, especially with bigger files

  • Can convert multiple files at once, which is a big time saver

  • Trim, rotate, crop, and get your videos ready before conversion

  • Boost quality up to 8K for sharper results with AI upscaling

Cons:

  • Free trial limitations

2. FFmpeg

FFmpeg is one of those command-line power tools that quietly runs under the hood of a lot of apps you already use. Open-source and cross-platform, it can record, convert, and stream pretty much any audio or video format you task it with. What makes it special is how much it does with so little. No flashy interface, just pure functionality.

You can trim, resize, or compress a clip with a single command. Developers rely on it because it’s constantly evolving. New builds appear almost daily, and they’re surprisingly stable for such a fast-moving project.

Now, installing it isn’t exactly plug-and-play. On the official download page, you’ll find different builds for Windows, macOS, and Linux, from fully compiled packages to source code you can build yourself.

How to turn a GIF into WebM with FFmpeg

Yes, installing and conversion are a bit tricky at first, but once you do it once, it gets easier.

Step 1. Download and install FFmpeg

Visit the official FFmpeg website and download the latest version suitable for your operating system.

Step 2. Open command prompt or terminal

On Windows, I then press Win+R, type cmd, and press Enter. On macOS or Linux, open the Terminal application.

Step 3. Navigate to the directory containing your GIF

Use the cd command to change to the directory where your GIF file is located. For example:

cd path/to/your/gif

Alternatively, I can provide the full path to the GIF in the FFmpeg command.

Step 4. Convert GIF to WebM

When I need to convert my GIF to a WebM file I run the following command:

ffmpeg -i input.gif -c:v libvpx-vp9 -b:v 1M output.webm

Replace input.gif with the name of your GIF file and output.webm with your desired output filename.

Step 5. Adjust quality and size (optional)

To fine-tune the quality and size of the output WebM file, you can do it like me and adjust the -b:v (bitrate) and -crf (constant rate factor) parameters. For example:

ffmpeg -i input.gif -c:v libvpx-vp9 -b:v 500K -crf 30 output.webm

Lower -crf values result in higher quality but larger file sizes. Higher -crf values reduce quality and file size.

Pros:

Cons:

3. XConvert

XConvert is the kind of tool that just sits in your browser and gets things done online. It is a slick online tool to convert media files without special software. Upload your image or GIF, tweak frame rate, size, or quality, and it pops out a crisp WebM in seconds. Works on PC, Mac, or Linux, handles single files or big batches, and keeps transparency smooth with VP9. No installs, no fuss, just fast, free conversion.

How to convert GIFs to WebM with XConvert

Step 1. Open the tool

Hit XConvert GIF to WebM in your browser. The page is clean. No menus hiding behind other menus.

Step 2. Upload your GIF

Click Select File or drag-and-drop. One GIF, ten GIFs – I love the fact that it doesn’t care. It just knows what to do.

Step 3. Adjust settings (optional)

Width, height, frame rate, quality. I can change them, but you can leave them be if you don’t want to apply changes. Default values work for most files.

Step 4. Convert your files

Click Convert. Watch a progress bar inch forward. Don’t blink. The magic happens in the background.
Click Download. Open the WebM in a browser. Too big? Too slow? Adjust FPS or size, convert again. Repeat until it fits just right.

Pros:

  • Totally free, online, and unlimited, no tricks, no watermarks

  • Works on any system with a browser

  • Keeps GIF transparency and motion smooth

  • Handles one file or a bunch without breaking a sweat

  • An all-encompassing solution to work with various media file formats

Cons:

  • Needs an internet connection

  • No built-in editing beyond size, FPS, and quality

  • Giant GIFs take a minute to process

GIF vs. WebM

Comparison parameter

GIF

WebM

Developer

CompuServe

Initially On2, Xiph, and Matroska, then Google

Initial release

1987

2010

File extension

.gif

.webm

Summary

WebM files can be seen as more flexible and can be auto-played in browsers using HTML5 elements that aren’t supported by GIF files. WebM files also support audio, which cannot be carried within a GIF file. With Movavi, converting one file type to the other is simple, as well as hundreds of other file types besides.

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Frequently asked questions

GIF vs. WebM: Which is better?

GIF or WebM: which of these files is better? Of course, all file formats have their own pros and cons, but it is worth establishing the difference between the two.

While both files are widely used, and GIFs have become known for their ability to contain moving images files, and being shared widely on social media, WebM is arguably a superior type of file. They allow more data in smaller file sizes and extra capabilities, including the capacity to carry audio data as well as image and video. The fact that you can convert GIF to WebM for free means so many people are updating and upgrading or even adding audio to WebM files.

How do I convert GIF to WebM with VLC?

The VLC media player is another option for converting WebM to VLC:

  1. Download and install, then open the VLC player from the Start Menu.
    Download VLC
  2. In the Menu bar, open Media and then click Convert/Save.
  3. Click on the Add button and navigate to the GIF file you want to convert.
  4. Click the Convert/Save button to start the process.
  5. Select the WebM format from the Profile dropdown menu.
  6. In the next window, under Destination, click the Browse button and navigate to a folder to save the file, and choose the file name and extension.

How do I convert GIF to WebM with FFmpeg?

Some people find FFmpeg confusing as you have to use some very basic code and commands, but this is not a problem for most people. The code is incredibly simple. Here’s how to make the conversion using FFmpeg:

  1. Download and install a build of FFmpeg. There are numerous versions but all will be able to convert GIF to WebM.
    Download FFmpeg
  2. Search in the Start menu (on Windows) for the command prompt opening up the command window.
  3. Type your command. To convert a .gif file to .webm, you can use this command: ffmpeg -i file.gif -c vp9 -b:v 0 -crf 40 file.webm
    This allows you to dictate the input file, output, bitrate, and quality.
  4. Run the command. The new file should appear in the specified output folder.

See other useful how-to guides

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