You can put a caption over any image or video you add, but there's no library of meme templates: bring your own picture.

Can my GIF have sound?

No, a GIF file can't hold sound. For an animation with music, export an MP4: the audio you added is included.

Is there a limit on text or images?

No. Add as many texts, images and shapes as the animation needs.

Do I place every photo by hand?

Yes, each photo is an element you place and animate. Start from a photo template to go faster: replace the pictures and keep the motion.

Yes. Add an audio file you have the rights to, and it plays under the animation in the exported MP4.

Imgflip vs Animoto

Imgflip and Animoto 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

Imgflip vs Animoto at a glance

	Imgflip	Animoto	smooth.video
Price	Free, or Pro at US$11.95 a month billed yearly	Free plan, then Basic, Professional and Professional Plus	Free, no paid plan
Watermark	imgflip.com on free GIFs, removed with Pro	On the free plan	Never

As of September 2026. Plans change, so check those of Imgflip and Animoto before you decide.

Imgflip

GIF size: Up to 360×360 from a video and 500×500 from images, on the free plan
Text and images: 1 text and 1 image per GIF on the free plan
Motion: Text and images moved at points in time
Where your files go: Hosted on imgflip.com, public unless marked private
Meme templates, YouTube links: Yes

When Imgflip fits better

You're making a meme: a classic template or a clip from a YouTube video with a caption, posted to Imgflip's community in a minute. smooth.video has no meme library and doesn't read links.

Imgflip vs smooth.video

Animoto

Account: Required
Export resolution: 720p free, 1080p on Basic, 4K on Professional
How you build: Templates made of drag-and-drop blocks
Licensed music and Getty Images stock: Yes
Screen and webcam recording: Yes

When Animoto fits better

You want a slideshow put together in minutes from a pile of photos, with licensed music and stock images included. smooth.video places everything by hand and has no music library.

Animoto vs smooth.video

When smooth.video fits better

The GIF isn't a meme: a product announcement, an animated banner, a sticker for a newsletter. It needs to be bigger than 500 pixels, carry more than one line of text, and come out clean.

You want control over how each photo and title moves, a 4K export, or a clean file, without paying for a plan or creating an 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

Can I make memes?: You can put a caption over any image or video you add, but there's no library of meme templates: bring your own picture.
Can my GIF have sound?: No, a GIF file can't hold sound. For an animation with music, export an MP4: the audio you added is included.
Is there a limit on text or images?: No. Add as many texts, images and shapes as the animation needs.
Do I place every photo by hand?: Yes, each photo is an element you place and animate. Start from a photo template to go faster: replace the pictures and keep the motion.
Can I add music?: Yes. Add an audio file you have the rights to, and it plays under the animation in the exported MP4.
Is there a watermark?: No, at any resolution.