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GIF and MP4 files are both common formats for online video. But, what’s the difference in file size between GIF and MP4? Which format is better for online video? In this post, we investigate the file size differences between GIF and MP4 videos and offer some tips on how to choose the best format for your needs.
Gif vs MP4 Download Size
Animated GIFs are, on average, 5 to 10 times larger than a properly encoded MP4 video.
This disparity means that GIFs are not only using up significant amounts of bandwidth but are also taking longer to load and providing a poor user experience.
For example, a GIF with a file size of 1MB would take approximately 8 seconds to load on a 3G connection. In contrast, an MP4 video with the same file size would only take approximately 2 seconds to load on the same connection.
The large file size of GIFs is due to the fact that they are lossless image files. This means that every frame of the GIF is stored in its entirety, which results in a much larger file size than necessary. MP4 videos, on the other hand, are lossy video files.
This means that some of the data from each frame are removed in order to reduce the file size. The trade-off is that some quality is sacrificed, but the file size reduction can be significant.
So, which format should you use for your online video? If the file size and load time are important considerations, then MP4 is the better option. However, if you need to maintain the highest possible quality or you’re dealing with short video clips, GIF may be the better choice.
GIF vs MP4 Quality
Both GIF and MP4 files are compressed formats, which means that they reduce the file size by removing some data. The difference is that GIF uses lossless compression, while MP4 uses lossy compression.
Lossless compression means that no data is lost during the compression process. This results in a larger file size but also preserves the quality of the video. Lossy compression, on the other hand, removes some data in order to achieve a smaller file size. This means that there is a loss of quality, but the trade-off can be worth it if file size is more important than quality.
So, which format is better for online video? If you need to maintain the highest possible quality, then GIF is the better choice. However, if you’re dealing with short video clips or file size is more important than quality, then MP4 is the better option.
Creating GIF vs MP4
When it comes to creating eye-catching and engaging visual content, the debate between using GIFs or MP4s often arises. So, which is better? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each format to help you decide.
GIFs:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Often larger in size than mp4s, making them load slower | May lose quality when edited or resized |
| Can be easily created from online videos or images | Not all browsers and devices support animated GIFs |
Mp4s:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Higher quality than GIFs, especially when it comes to resolution and color depth | Often larger in size than GIFs, making them take longer to load |
| Can be easily edited and resized without losing quality | Not all browsers and devices support video playback |
So, which is better? Ultimately, it depends on your needs and preferences. If you’re looking for something quick and easy to create, with no loss in quality, then a GIF is probably your best bet. However, if you need something with higher quality or that can be easily edited, an MP4 is the way to go.
Why Are GIFs Bigger than Videos?
There are a few reasons why GIFs are often bigger in file size than videos. First, GIFs are typically saved as lossless image files, meaning that they don’t compress the image data as much as video formats do.
This means that more information is retained in the GIF file, which results in a larger file size. Additionally, GIFs often contain a lot of redundant data, such as repeating frames of identical pixels. This also contributes to larger file sizes.
Finally, GIFs tend to be made from lower-quality source videos, which can also add to the file size. All of these factors result in GIFs being generally larger in file size than videos.
When creating a GIFs, each frame is encoded as its own image. This means that the file size of a GIF will be larger than that of an equivalent video because there are more images in the GIF.
However, video files can be compressed more than GIF because the frames in a video can be interlaced. This means that not all of the frames need to be stored in the file, which reduces the file size.
There are a few ways to reduce the file size of a GIF. One is to use a video editing program to remove any redundant data, such as repeating frames of identical pixels.
Another is to compress the image data more heavily, which will result in some loss of quality but can significantly reduce the file size.
Finally, you can try using a lower-quality source video, which can also help to reduce the file size. By using one or more of these methods, you can help to keep your GIF file sizes down to a manageable level.
Why GIF Is Heavier than MP4?
One of the most common questions people ask about GIFs is why they seem to be “heavier” than MP4s, even though they’re both video formats. The answer has to do with the way each format handles compression.
GIFs use a lossless compression algorithm, which means that no data is lost when the GIF is compressed. This results in a higher quality image, but also a larger file size. MP4s use a lossy compression algorithm, which means that some data is lost when the MP4 is compressed. This results in a lower quality image, but also a smaller file size.
So, if you’re looking for the highest quality video, GIF is the way to go, but if you’re looking for a smaller file size, MP4 is the better option.
Conclusion
It is evident that GIFs are significantly larger in file size than MP4 videos. For this reason, it is important to consider the purpose of your content and how best to deliver it to your audience. If you are looking for a high-quality image with minimal compression, then a GIF may be the right choice for you. However, if you need to deliver a video with a smaller file size, then an MP4 video is the better option.
