GIFs used to be mainly for personal use but are now becoming increasingly popular for professional communication and quick tutorials. To make GIFs, you need an easy-to-use, reliable screen recorder for Windows or Mac. In this article, you’ll find the best GIF recorders.
Program | Best for | Download | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Movavi Screen Recorder | Easy screen capture and editing | ||
| ScreenToGif | Easy screen capture on a Mac | ||
| GIPHY | Creating GIFs on your Mac |
View all programs |
Best GIF screen recorders
Movavi Screen Recorder
Best for: Easy screen capture and editing
OS: Windows, macOS
Price: free trial, full version for $42.95/year
G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5, 49 reviews
Download Movavi Screen Recorder
Movavi Screen Recorder is a program that acts as a GIF screen recorder and is one of the best ways to make GIFs so that you can later share with others or even keep for personal use. With this software, you can easily capture videos and create GIFs. It is user-friendly as the screen recording process is straightforward and easy: you turn on the start button to begin recording your video and then convert the recorded video clips to GIF from the screen and finally save it as quickly as possible.
Key features:
- Captures any screen activity in seconds
- Supports popular file formats
- Built-in editing tools
Pros:
- Intuitive interface
- Easy to use
- Great customer service
- Offers lots of options
- Free trial available
- Available for PC and Mac
Cons:
- Watermark on the free version
ScreenToGif
Best for: Easy screen capture on a Mac
OS: Windows
Price: Free
AlternativeTo rating: 4.3 out of 5, 13 reviews
This software helps you to record videos from your screen to GIFs on Mac. It is an application with a very small size (just 670kb) and allows you to screencast and capture what is on your screen without the interruption of ads. With a built-in editor, you can easily edit all your captured videos with the many GIF tools it offers. It has a clear and concise interface and is available in over 18 different languages.
This is one of the best GIF recorders. Using the app is simple, and it gives you your recorded video in no time, after which you can edit them and later export them to GIF format to be saved on your desktop or PC for later use.
Key features:
- Good selection of editing tools
- Record screen activity and webcam
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Free and open-source
- Still actively being developed
- Easy saving and sharing options
Cons:
- Windows only
GIPHY
Best for: Creating GIFs on your Mac
OS: macOS
Price: Free
Product Hunt rating: 4.6 out of 5, 12 reviews
This is basically GIF made easy as it is one of the best ways to record your screen and make GIFs worthy of sharing to the general public. It helps you to record GIFs on Mac, and this program is simple enough for anyone to easily navigate through. You can capture literally anything on your screen to turn to a GIF and edit the recorded video to add captions, adjust the export size, and so much more. It also has many tools that can help you do various things like trim clips to one distinct frame. After you have captured what is on your screen to make a video and edited it to your satisfaction, you can then upload your video as it is ready for sharing. Or, if you’re not ready to share it, you can save it to your GIPHY account for later use.
Key features:
- Trimming tools
- One-click upload to share
- Sticker maker tool
Pros:
- No watermark
- Compatible with Mac
- Good online customer support library
Cons:
- Slow customer service
CloudApp
Best for: Cloud-based GIF creation and storage
OS: Windows, macOS, Linux
Price: Free version, full version for $9.95/mth
G2 rating: 4.7 out of 5, 1,110 reviews
If you’re looking for a way to make GIF screen capture, then look no further because CloudApp is the easiest way to make GIFs. Compatible with both Mac and Windows, CloudApp offers many GIF tools so that you can easily capture videos and save them to the cloud, and there they will stay until you are ready to share them. As it is an available free version, downloading the program is very easy and can be done in record time. To use this app for GIF capture on Windows or other OS, all you need do is select the GIF icon, note the area you want to record, and you can even choose to record with or without sound.
After recording a GIF, click on finish, and then you can begin sharing your GIF with the public. This whole method can be done in very little time and is a conducive way to create your videos from your desktop or PC.
Key features:
- Stores directly to the cloud
- Cross-platform
- Annotate screenshots
Pros:
- Free version available
- Good customer support
- Easy sharing capabilities via direct link
Cons:
- Regular glitches
- Limited to 50 captures in the free version
Recordit
Best for: Desktop-based screen capture
OS: Windows, macOS
Price: Free version, the pro version is $29
Recordit is compatible with different platforms, including Windows and Mac. It is a very fast screen recording program that you should definitely have on your system. Recordit allows you to record any part of your screen, after which you get a link where you can share your screencast. You can also use the program to record a video and then send it to whatever app you want. In this way, you can have Recordit capture your screen and make a GIF out of the recorded video and focus on other details of the screen capturing process. This helps to make the experience as straightforward and as easy as possible.
It has a free version that you can easily download, set up, and start using immediately and doesn’t require much input from you during the editing process.
Key features:
- Records screen GIFs, mouse movements, and audio
- Fast export
- High-resolution video
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Free version available
- Available for PC and Mac
Cons:
- No editing tools
Gifox
Best for: Recording screen for animated GIFs
OS: macOS
Price: Free trial, full version for $14.99
Mac App Store rating: 4.6 out of 5, 73 reviews
Gifox allows you to easily create wonderful GIFs as it helps to capture whatever is on your screen. This GIF maker also doubles as a sharing app, so after your GIF is created, with as easy as one click, you can share your video to whomever you want to share it with and through whatever platform you want to share it on. Gifox has many features, such as the window selection mode, which allows you to continuously capture whatever is on your screen and gives you total control over what quality you want your captured video to be in and what size you want it to be outputted as. The program also lets you pick the elements you want to be added to your screen recording, and you get to choose how exactly you want it recorded.
Key features:
- Selective screen capture
- Advanced compression options
- Window selection mode
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Simple to share and store
Cons:
- No trimming tool
GifCam
Best for: Creating animated GIFs
OS: Windows
Price: Free
If you want an easy and fun animated GIF-making app, GifCam is the one for you. It is a practical app without, so many add-ons so screen recording to make a GIF is a simple and straightforward process. To start recording, click on ‘Rec', and the program starts capturing whatever is on screen. You can easily edit delays by clicking on the ‘Edit' button. Edit features include adding text to the video, choosing frame rate options for a smoother GIF, adjusting a frame, and lots more. When you are done recording and editing your video, you can save your GIF in 5 color reduction formats.
Key features:
- Simple, clean interface
- Built-in editing tools
- Offers options to add filters, colors
Pros:
- Lightweight program
- Portable
Cons:
- Windows only
LICEcap
Best for: Basic screen captures to create GIFs
OS: Windows, macOS, Linux
Price: Free
G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5, 12 reviews
Perfect for creating simple animated GIF’s, LICEcap is a program to have. It is suitable to capture GIFs through screen recording as it can save captured videos directly to .gif to ease the process for you. LICEcap is suitable with a host of platforms, including Windows and macOS. Recorded videos are outputted in high quality and can be compressed to whatever size suits you best.
Key features:
- Easy to use
- Saves directly to GIF format
- Move the screen capture frame during recording
Pros:
- Very simply and suitable for beginners
- Compatible with PC and Mac
Cons:
- No editing tools
Fraps
Best for: Screen capture for gamers
OS: Windows
Price: Free version, then $37 for full features
G2 rating: 4.2 out of 5, 45 reviews
Fraps is a Windows-based application popular with gamers for real-time screen capture and benchmarking. It records video and audio and allows you to edit and save in GIF format.
Key features:
- Automatic names/timestamps on screenshots
- Real-time recording
Pros:
- Easy to navigate
- Customizable settings
- Simple screen capture to GIF feature
Cons:
- Windows only
- Uses a lot of resources
- Outdated interface
ShareX
Best for: Easy screen captures
OS: Windows
Price: Free
TechRadar rating: 4.5 out of 5
ShareX is a free and open-source screen capture tool known for its simplicity and high-quality results. It offers lots of features to trim, edit, resize and enhance your content, with easy upload and sharing functionalities.
Key features:
- Region capture
- Annotation tools
- Editing tools
Pros:
- Simple interface
- Free and open-source
- Lightweight
- Easy-sharing capabilities
Cons:
- Not available for macOS
Summary
Choosing the best GIF app for your purposes comes down to a few key criteria. Keep in mind the following when making your selection:
- Ease-of-use: An intuitive interface is a plus for all levels of experience. Don’t waste time trying to master software that is beyond your capabilities. You will want a solution that makes your life easier, not harder.
- Ease-of-sharing: If you are creating GIFs, they are meant to be shared. Be sure your chosen software allows you to share and upload in just a few clicks.
- Budget: Do you need to go with a free GIF recorder, or do you have the budget to pay for a more sophisticated option? That said, there are some excellent free software solutions available. Depending on your project needs, the right GIF tool might be totally cost-free.
- Features: Make a list of the features you consider to be non-negotiable. What is most important, and what can you live without?
- OS requirements and supported file formats: Check your technical requirements and be sure they match the software. PC or Mac or online? Can you save directly to GIF? User reviews: User feedback is essential to understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each software solution. Detailed case-based reviews are often the most valuable.
- Technical/customer support: How will you solve a potential technical issue. What if you need support with a billing or access issue? Do you prefer personal contact, or would FAQs and user guides be sufficient? This is often a deal-breaker for those who feel unsure of how to manage technical glitches.
Ben Jacklin
Ben is a writer from the UK with qualifications in Media and Music Technology, he specialises in software reviews and tutorials. Ben has been blogging about media and tech subjects since he was a teenager from his base in the East of England.
Movavi Screen Recorder
The perfect way to record from your screen
Disclaimer: Please be aware that Movavi Screen Recorder does not allow capture of copy-protected video and audio streams. Learn more
Frequently asked questions
How do I record a GIF?
Recording a GIF is easier than you think, even for beginners. To record a GIF with Movavi Screen Recorder, follow these 5 easy steps:
- Download Movavi Screen Recorder and open it.
- Select the area of your screen you want to capture.
- Adjust the settings and press REC to record.
- Use the built-in editing tools to finalize your recording.
- Choose GIF format and save it to your computer.
How do you record GIFs on Android/iPhone?
If you are on the go and want to create a GIF on your phone, it is simple.
Here is a quick step-by-step guide for using GIPHY on your Android or iPhone:
- Download, install and open the app.
- Create an account.
- Click the Create button on the top right-hand side of the home screen.
- Select the gallery icon and then choose your video.
- Select the scissors icon to trim the video and use stickers and filters to customize it.
- Click Proceed and then Share GIF.
What is the best GIF recorder?
Here are some of the best options:
- Movavi Screen Recorder
- ScreenToGif
- GIPHY
- CloudApp
- Recordit
- Gifox
- GifCam
- LICEcap
- Fraps
- ShareX
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