Can I compress a GIF in smooth.video?

No. A short GIF with a modest size and few colours stays light; to shrink it further, run the exported file through a GIF optimizer such as EZGIF's.

Can I turn a video into a GIF?

Yes. Add the video to the scene, put text or stickers on top if you like, and export the whole thing as a GIF.

Are my files uploaded?

No. Everything, the GIF export included, runs in your browser, so your images and videos never leave your computer.

Can I use smooth.video exports in Final Cut Pro?

Yes. Import the MP4 like any other clip.

Does smooth.video work on a Mac?

Yes, in a recent browser, and just as well on Windows, Linux or a Chromebook.

Yes, with no watermark, no account and no purchase.

EZGIF vs Apple Motion

EZGIF and Apple Motion 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

EZGIF vs Apple Motion at a glance

	EZGIF	Apple Motion	smooth.video
Price	Free, with ads	US$49.99 once, or in Apple Creator Studio at US$12.99 a month	Free

As of September 2026. Plans change, so check those of EZGIF and Apple Motion before you decide.

EZGIF

Account: Not needed
Watermark: Never
Makes a GIF from: An uploaded video or a set of images
Moving text: Text shown on a range of frames, without motion
Where your files go: Uploaded to its servers, kept up to an hour after last use
Compression and optimization: Yes: lossy, fewer colours, fewer frames, target file size
Format conversion: GIF, WebP, APNG, AVIF, MP4, WebM and more

When EZGIF fits better

You already have the GIF or the clip and need to do something to it: cut it, change its speed, reverse it, shrink it under a size limit, or convert it to WebP, APNG or AVIF. smooth.video does none of that.

EZGIF vs smooth.video

Apple Motion

Platform: Mac only, macOS 15.6 or later
Install: Desktop app from the Mac App Store
How you animate: Keyframes, 230+ behaviors, 2D and 3D space
Transparent video: ProRes 4444 and HEVC with alpha
3D and mask tracking: Yes
Final Cut Pro templates: Yes

When Motion fits better

You edit in Final Cut Pro and want titles and effects your editors adjust in its inspector, or you need 3D, behaviors, mask tracking or ProRes with alpha for a professional pipeline.

Apple Motion vs smooth.video

When smooth.video fits better

The GIF doesn't exist yet: an animated headline for an email, a badge for a website, a demo for a README. You want to build it from text and images, make things move, and keep your files on your computer.

You're on Windows, Linux or a Chromebook, you edit in something other than Final Cut Pro, or you only need an animated title or logo from time to time and don't want to install anything.

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

Can I compress a GIF in smooth.video?: No. A short GIF with a modest size and few colours stays light; to shrink it further, run the exported file through a GIF optimizer such as EZGIF's.
Can I turn a video into a GIF?: Yes. Add the video to the scene, put text or stickers on top if you like, and export the whole thing as a GIF.
Are my files uploaded?: No. Everything, the GIF export included, runs in your browser, so your images and videos never leave your computer.
Can I use smooth.video exports in Final Cut Pro?: Yes. Import the MP4 like any other clip.
Does smooth.video work on a Mac?: Yes, in a recent browser, and just as well on Windows, Linux or a Chromebook.
Is it really free?: Yes, with no watermark, no account and no purchase.