The short answer
Why use Add Text to GIF?
Most phone editors turn a GIF into a still image or a video when you add text. This tool keeps it a GIF, so it still plays in chats and forums that only accept GIFs.
Text starts as ExtractPics, so type your own caption. Text size runs from 10 to 180 and starts at 42, measured in actual pixels of the GIF. That means 42 is big on a 320 pixel reaction GIF and small on a 1080 pixel one. Text color starts at white, and each letter gets a 3 pixel dark outline for contrast.
The caption sits right-aligned 20 pixels from the right edge and 24 from the bottom. The new GIF is re-encoded with up to 255 colors per frame, so a GIF that started with smooth gradients may show a little more banding. Long captions are not shrunk, so check the left edge of the preview before you download.
For a still photo use Add Text to Image, which does shrink long lines to fit. Add Image to GIF puts a logo or picture in the same corner of every frame. If the GIF is too large to post after captioning, run it through Resize GIF or GIF Speed Changer next.
Where Add Text to GIF fits
Reaction GIFs
Caption a reaction GIF so the joke lands in a group chat.
Product demos
Label a short screen-capture GIF with the feature it shows.
Forum signatures
Add your handle to an animated banner for a forum profile.
Start to finish
How to use Add Text to GIF
- 01Tap Choose GIF and open the animated GIF you want to caption.
- 02Type your caption into Text, then set Text size in real GIF pixels (starts at 42) and Text color.
- 03Tap Apply changes, wait while each frame is re-encoded, check the left edge, then Download result.
What to expect from Add Text to GIF
| Check | What it means here |
|---|---|
| Supported input | GIF images |
| Main controls | Frame number, speed, and the crop, rotation, or overlay setting for the tool |
| Output | An animated GIF, single PNG or JPEG frames, or a ZIP of frames |
| Working limit | 50 MB, 300 frames, and 200 megapixels of frames in total |
Add Text to GIF tips
- On a 320 px GIF, Text size 24 to 30 usually fits a short line.
- Captions do not shrink, so long text runs off the left side.
- GIFs over 300 frames are refused.
- Resize GIF afterwards if the captioned file is too big to post.
Add Text to GIF FAQ
Something missing? Ask us.
Will my GIF keep its speed and looping?
Why is my caption cut off on the left?
Is there a frame limit?
Does Add Text to GIF upload my file?
Is Add Text to GIF free to use?
Why did Add Text to GIF fail or look wrong?
Related tools
More in Add Elements.