Does smooth.video have characters?

No. It animates text, images, video, shapes and drawings. To animate a character, bring it in as an image, or as a layered PSD to move its parts separately.

Can I add a voiceover?

Yes, recorded elsewhere: add the audio file to the scene and line it up with the animation on the timeline.

Is there a limit on exports?

No. Export as many times as you want, at any size.

Can I upload my GIF to GIPHY afterwards?

Yes. Export the GIF from smooth.video, then upload it to your GIPHY channel like any other GIF.

Can I make a GIF from a YouTube video?

Not from a link. Add a video file from your computer to the scene and export it as a GIF.

No. Nothing is uploaded: the GIF is made in your browser and saved to your computer.

Animaker vs GIPHY GIF Maker

Animaker and GIPHY GIF Maker side by side, as of September 2026: what each one costs, what it's made for, and when smooth.video, a free animation tool that runs in your browser with no account, does the job instead.

Open the editorFree, no signup, nothing to install

Animaker vs GIPHY GIF Maker at a glance

	Animaker	GIPHY GIF Maker	smooth.video
Price	Free plan, 1080p from the Starter plan at US$19 a month billed yearly	Free, with ads	Free, no paid plan
Account	Required	Required to create a GIF	Not needed

As of September 2026. Plans change, so check those of Animaker and GIPHY GIF Maker before you decide.

Animaker

Watermark: On free plan exports
Export resolution: 1080p on Starter, 2K on Pro, 4K on Enterprise
Exports: Counted each month: 10 on Starter, 30 on Pro
Where your files live: In your Animaker account
Characters and lip-synced voiceover: Yes
AI video from a prompt: Yes

When Animaker fits better

Your video tells a story with characters that walk, talk and react to a voiceover, or you want an AI to draft the whole video from a prompt. smooth.video has no characters and no voiceover.

Animaker vs smooth.video

GIPHY GIF Maker

What you get: A GIF uploaded to your GIPHY channel, public unless you set it to private
Starting point: A video under 15 seconds, images, or a YouTube link
Motion: Captions and stickers that appear and disappear
Sticker library: The whole GIPHY sticker library
Other exports: No

When GIPHY fits better

You want your GIFs out in the world: reaction GIFs or brand stickers on a GIPHY channel people can share from, with GIPHY's sticker library at hand while you make them.

GIPHY GIF Maker vs smooth.video

When smooth.video fits better

Your video is made of text, logos, photos, shapes and numbers, you'd rather not count exports, and you want 4K or a transparent overlay without paying for a plan.

You need a GIF for an email, a website, a README or a slide, built from your own text and images, and you'd rather keep it off a public platform and skip the account.

Open the editor

Start from a template

See all 172 templates

Logo reveal

1080×1080

A name that pops into place

Lower third

1920×1080

Name and title, on cue

Bold statement

1080×1920

Three lines, one point

Product drop

1080×1350

An announcement that lands

Count-up stat

1080×1080

A number that climbs

Quote card

1200×630

A line worth sharing

Questions

Does smooth.video have characters?: No. It animates text, images, video, shapes and drawings. To animate a character, bring it in as an image, or as a layered PSD to move its parts separately.
Can I add a voiceover?: Yes, recorded elsewhere: add the audio file to the scene and line it up with the animation on the timeline.
Is there a limit on exports?: No. Export as many times as you want, at any size.
Can I upload my GIF to GIPHY afterwards?: Yes. Export the GIF from smooth.video, then upload it to your GIPHY channel like any other GIF.
Can I make a GIF from a YouTube video?: Not from a link. Add a video file from your computer to the scene and export it as a GIF.
Is my GIF public?: No. Nothing is uploaded: the GIF is made in your browser and saved to your computer.