How to Convert GIF to WebP on Mac
GIF supports animation and simple on/off transparency but only 256 colours per frame, so photos saved as GIF look banded and grainy.. Drop your GIF file into the converter below and it becomes a WebP straight away, right on your Mac – nothing is uploaded.
Drop GIF files here or browse
Accepts HEIC, WebP, PNG, JPG, BMP, GIF and SVG · multiple files · nothing is uploaded
Converted on your device. Your photos never leave your browser.
Step by step: Convert GIF to WebP on Mac
- 1
Open this page in Safari, Chrome or Firefox on your Mac.
- 2
Drag the file from Finder onto the box above, or click the box to choose it.
- 3
The WebP is made as soon as the file is added. Adjust Quality if you want a smaller file.
- 4
Click Download. The file is saved to your Downloads folder (Finder › Downloads, or the dock).
What changes when you convert GIF to WebP
- WebP is lossy. The Quality slider starts at 90%, which looks the same as the original for nearly every photo; lower it for a smaller file and the preview shows the new size before you download.
- Check that wherever you're uploading accepts WebP – most websites and browsers do, but some older apps and forms don't.
- Only the first frame of an animated GIF is converted – the result is a still image.
About GIF and WebP
- GIF supports animation and simple on/off transparency but only 256 colours per frame, so photos saved as GIF look banded and grainy.
- WebP is Google's image format for websites. It supports lossy and lossless compression, transparency and animation, and is usually 25–35% smaller than an equivalent JPG – but some editing apps, older software and upload forms still reject it.
Tips for Mac
- macOS has a built-in option too: select images in Finder, right-click › Quick Actions › Convert Image (macOS 12 or later) converts to JPEG, PNG or HEIF. It can't make WebP, and it has no quality preview.
- Works on Apple silicon and Intel Macs alike – nothing to download from the App Store.
GIF vs WebP
| GIF | WebP | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless, but limited to 256 colours | Lossy or lossless |
| Transparency | On/off only (no soft edges) | Yes |
| Animation | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Short animations and simple graphics | Fast-loading images on websites |
| Support | Universal | All modern browsers; patchy in older desktop apps |
Frequently asked questions
Will I lose quality converting GIF to WebP?
At the default 90% quality the difference is practically invisible. WebP is lossy, so very low quality settings will show blur or blocky edges.
Can I convert several GIF files at once?
Yes. Add as many as you like; each converts on its own, and Download all saves them in one ZIP.
Are my photos uploaded to a server?
No. The conversion runs in your browser using your device's own processor, so your photos never leave your device. You can even disconnect from the internet once the page has loaded.
Where does the converted file go on my Mac?
Click Download. The file is saved to your Downloads folder (Finder › Downloads, or the dock).
Need more options? Open the full Image Converter tool →