Video to GIF · Mac and iPhone
Turn a video or screen recording into a GIF
A GIF plays almost everywhere a video will not: in documentation, in pull requests, in chat threads and in email. For showing one interaction, it is often the better format.
Zella treats GIF as an export format rather than a separate converter, so the same edit that becomes your MP4 can become a loop, with captions and zooms intact.
- Mac and iPhone
- Free on every tier
Quick answer
To convert a screen recording to a GIF on a Mac or iPhone, export it from Zella with GIF as the format: your captions, zooms, callouts and effects are baked into a looping animation. GIFs carry no sound, which makes them right for a 5 to 10 second clip in a README, a changelog or a chat. It is free with no watermark, and free exports run up to 2 minutes.
How to do it in Zella
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Step 1: Record or import the clip
A screen recording of one interaction is the classic GIF. On the Mac, record a Region around just the part you need.
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Step 2: Trim it short
Cut it down to the moment that matters. Five to ten seconds keeps the file small.
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Step 3: Add what makes it readable
Auto-Zoom Clicks on the Mac, an arrow or a caption on either platform. All of it is baked into the GIF.
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Step 4: Export as GIF
On the Mac, click Export, set Format to GIF, choose a size such as 720p, then Export. On iPhone, tap Export and pick GIF.
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Step 5: Share it
GIFs loop forever and have no sound, so drop it straight into a doc, a ticket or a message.
Why do it this way
Captions and zooms included
Unlike a plain converter, the GIF carries your edit: captions, zoom-ins, callouts and colour.
One edit, four formats
The same project exports MP4, MOV, GIF or M4A, so you never maintain a separate GIF version of a clip.
Clean, local and free
No watermark and no upload: the GIF is rendered on your Mac or iPhone.
What you need
- macOS 14 Sonoma or later (Apple Silicon or Intel), or iPhone on iOS 18 or later
- Free on every tier: GIF export with no watermark, up to 2 minutes at up to 1080p
Questions
Does the GIF keep my captions?
Yes. Captions, zooms, callouts and effects are baked into the GIF the same way they are into an MP4.
Why is there no sound in my GIF?
The GIF format cannot carry audio. Export MP4 if you need sound.
What size should a GIF be?
For docs and chat, 720p and five to ten seconds is a good balance between sharpness and file size.
Can I make a GIF on my iPhone?
Yes. The iPhone exports the same four formats as the Mac: MP4, MOV, GIF and M4A.
Is there a watermark?
No, on any tier. Free exports run up to 2 minutes, far longer than most GIFs need.
Related tools
Read the manual