GIF

Graphics interchange file format

File type: Internet related file, Bitmap image file

Files with gif extension are one of the most common bitmap image file formats available on the Internet. Maximum number of colors is 256. This format supports also simple animations and is widely used for banners or fun animations.

What is gif file?

File type category:
Internet related file
Bitmap image file

Date updated: June 23, 2025

File extension gif is commonly used for Graphics interchange file format.

GIF is standard bit-mapped graphics file format very widespread on Internet, which was originally developed by CompuServe in the late 1980s. The format supports 256 (216-on IBM-based monitors) levels of color.

MIME types:
image/gif
image/x-xbitmap
image/gi_

How to open gif file?

You can open *.gif file in any graphics editor.

How to convert gif file?

Almost all current graphic or picture editors can export GIF format to another bitmap format.

Suggested software to open gif file:

XnView MP

IrfanView

Adobe Photoshop

Associated software actions with the gif file

Open

Software applications that can open gif files:

IrfanView (Microsoft Windows)

Adobe Photoshop (Microsoft Windows)

Zoner GIF Animator (Microsoft Windows)

Adobe Premiere Pro (Microsoft Windows)

PhotoOnWeb (Microsoft Windows)

Paint.NET (Microsoft Windows)

netScope Viewer (Microsoft Windows)

Microsoft Paint (Microsoft Windows)

PhotoFiltre Studio (Microsoft Windows)

GIF Creator (Microsoft Windows)

Artweaver (Microsoft Windows)

FastStone Image Viewer (Microsoft Windows)

Ability Photopaint (Microsoft Windows)

Adobe Fireworks (Microsoft Windows)

Preview (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

GIPHY CAPTURE (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Filters for Photos (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Fotor Photo Editor for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Adobe Fireworks for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Paint X Lite (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

XnView MP (Multiplatform)

Affinity Photo (Multiplatform)

Photopea (On-line services)

Edit

Software applications that can edit gif files:

IrfanView (Microsoft Windows)

Adobe Photoshop (Microsoft Windows)

Zoner GIF Animator (Microsoft Windows)

Paint.NET (Microsoft Windows)

PhotoOnWeb (Microsoft Windows)

Adobe Premiere Pro (Microsoft Windows)

Microsoft Paint (Microsoft Windows)

PhotoFiltre Studio (Microsoft Windows)

GIF Creator (Microsoft Windows)

Artweaver (Microsoft Windows)

FastStone Image Viewer (Microsoft Windows)

Ability Photopaint (Microsoft Windows)

Adobe Fireworks (Microsoft Windows)

GIPHY CAPTURE (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Filters for Photos (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Fotor Photo Editor for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Adobe Fireworks for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Paint X Lite (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Photopea (On-line services)

Save

Software capable of saving gif files:

IrfanView (Microsoft Windows)

Adobe Photoshop (Microsoft Windows)

Zoner GIF Animator (Microsoft Windows)

Adobe Premiere Pro (Microsoft Windows)

PhotoOnWeb (Microsoft Windows)

Paint.NET (Microsoft Windows)

Microsoft Paint (Microsoft Windows)

SmartDraw (Microsoft Windows)

GIF Creator (Microsoft Windows)

FastStone Image Viewer (Microsoft Windows)

Ability Photopaint (Microsoft Windows)

GIPHY CAPTURE (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Filters for Photos (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Fotor Photo Editor for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Paint X Lite (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Photopea (On-line services)

View

Programs for viewing gif files:

PhotoOnWeb (Microsoft Windows)

FastPictureViewer Professional (Microsoft Windows)

ACDSee Photo Manager (Microsoft Windows)

WildBit Viewer (Microsoft Windows)

netScope Viewer (Microsoft Windows)

FastStone Image Viewer (Microsoft Windows)

Preview (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Filters for Photos (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Fotor Photo Editor for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

PhotoScape X for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

XnView MP (Multiplatform)

Create

Software apps that create gif files:

RealWorld Icon Editor (Microsoft Windows)

GIF Creator (Microsoft Windows)

Ability Photopaint (Microsoft Windows)

GIPHY CAPTURE (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Paint X Lite (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Record

Software apps that record to gif files:

GIPHY CAPTURE (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Convert

Software apps that convert gif files:

All File to All File Converter 3000 (Microsoft Windows)

FormatFactory (Microsoft Windows)

Bulk Image Converter (Microsoft Windows)

FastStone Image Viewer (Microsoft Windows)

Preview (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Picture Resize Free Online Images Converter (On-line services)

Import

Software apps that import gif files:

Morpheus Photo Morpher (Microsoft Windows)

BitFonter (Microsoft Windows)

SWFTools (Microsoft Windows)

RealWorld Icon Editor (Microsoft Windows)

CrazyTalk (Microsoft Windows)

Xara Page & Layout Designer (Microsoft Windows)

TI-Reader Converter (Microsoft Windows)

Articulate Presenter (Microsoft Windows)

Resort Recipe (Microsoft Windows)

Scribus (Microsoft Windows)

Mayura Draw (Microsoft Windows)

UVMapper (Microsoft Windows)

ThunderSoft GIF to AVI Converter (Microsoft Windows)

Live Wallpaper Creator (Microsoft Windows)

gif2apng (Microsoft Windows)

Paint 3D (Microsoft Windows)

BitFonter for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

ColorSchemer Studio (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

XnConvert (Multiplatform)

Affinity Photo (Multiplatform)

Canvas Workspace (Multiplatform)

Bits'N'Picas (Multiplatform)

LibreOffice Draw (Multiplatform)

Export

Software apps that export gif files:

Axialis IconWorkshop (Microsoft Windows)

Collage Maker (Microsoft Windows)

GIF Construction Set Professional (Microsoft Windows)

Active GIF Creator (Microsoft Windows)

PhotoFiltre Studio (Microsoft Windows)

Mayura Draw (Microsoft Windows)

Equation Illustrator (Microsoft Windows)

Genetica (Microsoft Windows)

Xara Page & Layout Designer (Microsoft Windows)

Adobe Fireworks (Microsoft Windows)

Paint 3D (Microsoft Windows)

Preview (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Video to GIF Converter (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

GifGrabber (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Graphic (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Filters for Photos (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Adobe Fireworks for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Egon Animator (Linux/Unix)

XnConvert (Multiplatform)

Affinity Photo (Multiplatform)

Canvas X (Multiplatform)

LibreOffice Draw (Multiplatform)

Print

Software apps that print gif files:

Ability Photopaint (Microsoft Windows)

Filters for Photos (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Fotor Photo Editor for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

PhotoScape X for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)

Other actions

Software applications that handle other tasks involving gif files:

Adobe Creative Suite (Microsoft Windows)

FastPictureViewer Professional (Microsoft Windows)

ACDSee Photo Manager (Microsoft Windows)

Ability Photopaint (Microsoft Windows)