GIF has been the web's animation format since the 1980s.
APNG - animated PNG - does the same job with far better image quality.
So why is GIF still everywhere? It comes down to where the animation will play.
The quick answer
- On your own website - APNG (or animated WebP) looks better and is often smaller.
- In chats, email, social media and docs - GIF, because it animates almost everywhere.
- Anything longer than a few seconds - a short MP4 or WebM video.
APNG vs GIF side by side
| Feature | APNG | GIF |
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Millions (24-bit) | 256 per frame |
| Transparency | Smooth alpha, soft edges | On or off only (jagged edges) |
| Compression | Lossless (PNG) | Lossless (LZW), but limited palette |
| Typical file size | Often smaller for the same content | Often larger |
| Web browsers | All current browsers | All browsers |
| Chats, email, social apps | Often shows a still image | Animates almost everywhere |
| Fallback when unsupported | First frame as a normal PNG | - |
Where GIF still wins
GIF's superpower is support. Messaging apps, email clients, forums, presentation software and most social platforms play GIFs without a second thought.
Its weaknesses show on detailed or colorful frames: the 256-color limit causes banding and dithering noise, and transparent edges look jagged. Keep GIFs small and simple, and optimize them - our sister site OptimizeGIF shrinks them without losing frames.
Where APNG wins
APNG stores each frame as full-color PNG data with real alpha transparency. Animated logos, UI demos, stickers and loading animations look crisp, with smooth edges on any background.
Every current browser plays it, and older software simply shows the first frame as an ordinary PNG. That makes it a safe upgrade for animations on your own pages.
What about animated WebP and video?
Animated WebP supports full color and alpha like APNG, usually in fewer bytes, and plays in all modern browsers. Support outside browsers is similar to APNG - patchy.
For anything longer than a few seconds, use video. An MP4 or WebM clip is typically many times smaller than the same animation as an image, and a muted, looping, autoplaying video behaves just like a GIF on a web page.
Which one should you use?
| Situation | Best choice |
|---|---|
| Reaction or meme for a chat | GIF |
| Animated logo or icon on your website | APNG or animated WebP |
| Sticker or overlay with soft transparent edges | APNG |
| Product demo or screen recording | MP4 / WebM video |
| Email newsletter | GIF (keep it small) |
Working with still PNGs? Our PNG optimizer and transparency guide cover the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
In image quality, yes: APNG supports millions of colors and smooth alpha transparency, while GIF is limited to 256 colors per frame and on-or-off transparency. GIF still wins on compatibility outside web browsers.
Yes. All current versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari play APNG. Programs that do not understand the animation simply show the first frame as a normal PNG.
Many chat apps, social networks, email clients and image viewers treat an APNG as a regular PNG and only show the first frame. Use GIF, or a short video, for those places.
Video. An MP4 or WebM clip is usually many times smaller than the same animation as GIF or APNG. Keep GIF and APNG for short, small loops.