GIF background remover: make any animated GIF transparent
Upload an animated GIF or a video and get a looping GIF back with the background gone.
- GIF or video in, transparent GIF out. Loops forever.
- 20 seconds free every month. No credit card, no watermark.
- No editing skills needed. Upload, wait, download.
Upload a GIF or a video or drop it here
Animated GIF or a video · first 10 s free, no sign-up
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How to remove the background from a GIF
Three steps in Studio, the browser app in your Poof dashboard.
1. Upload a GIF or a video
An animated GIF, or an MP4, MOV, WebM, M4V or MKV clip, straight from your browser in Studio.
2. Pick GIF as the output
Poof cuts the subject out of every frame. Choose transparent, or put the subject on a colour.
3. Download a looping GIF
It loops forever and plays anywhere a GIF does: chat apps, email, slides, sticker packs.
GIF or transparent video?
Both come from the same cut-out. Pick the one that fits where the clip is going.
Transparent GIF
- Plays anywhere: chat, email, slides, sticker packs
- Loops forever, up to 720p and 50 frames per second
- Sharp edges (GIF pixels are either see-through or solid)
- No sound, and larger files
Transparent WebM or MOV
- Soft, natural edges on hair and motion
- Sound kept
- Much smaller files
- For websites and video editors: video background remover
Building an app?
Send the GIF or video to the same API you use for images and ask for format=gif; an animated GIF also works as input for any video format.
GIF background remover FAQ
Can I remove the background from an animated GIF?
Yes. Upload the GIF to Studio in your dashboard (or send it to the API) and Poof treats it like a short video: it removes the background from every frame and gives you a transparent GIF back. 20 seconds a month are free.
Can I try it without an account?
Yes. The tool at the top of this page turns the first 10 seconds of a GIF or a video into a transparent GIF preview, with no sign-up. Longer GIFs and clips are cut to 10 seconds in your browser first. Sign up for the full length at up to 720p: 20 seconds free every month.
Can I turn a video into a transparent GIF?
Yes. Upload an MP4, MOV, WebM, M4V or MKV clip and pick GIF as the output. You get a looping GIF of the subject with the background gone.
Why do the edges of a transparent GIF look sharper than in a video?
The GIF format only knows fully see-through or fully solid pixels, so soft edges such as hair are cut sharp. If you need soft edges, download a transparent WebM or MOV instead; if the GIF sits on a known colour, pick that colour as the background and the edges blend in.
Does the GIF keep the sound?
No. GIFs cannot hold audio. If you need the sound, choose a transparent WebM or MOV, or an MP4 on a colour.
How big will my GIF be?
GIFs are much larger than video files of the same clip, because every frame is stored as a full picture. GIF output is capped at 720p (1280 px on the longest side); choose the preview size for sticker-sized GIFs for chat and the web. Smooth footage is kept at up to 50 frames per second.
How much does it cost?
The same as any video: 5 credits per second of the source (10 above 30 fps), from $0.45 a minute on paid plans. The Free plan covers 20 seconds every month, with no watermark.
I used Unscreen for GIFs. Does Poof do the same?
Yes. Unscreen has closed; Poof takes the same kind of GIF or video and gives you a transparent, looping GIF, plus transparent WebM and MOV if you need soft edges or sound.
Coming from Unscreen? See how Poof compares.
Make your first transparent GIF
20 seconds free every month, no credit card, no watermark.
Try it free