Convert GIF to MKV
Free, fast and secure — convert GIF to MKV right in your browser.
Shrink your GIF by converting to MKV
Converting GIF to MKV trades a little detail for a much smaller file, making Matroska video the practical choice for fast web pages, email and sharing.
How to convert GIF to MKV
- 1 Drop your GIF file into the converter above.
- 2 It is converted to MKV automatically — no settings to fiddle with.
- 3 Download your new MKV file instantly.
GIF vs MKV
| Feature | GIF | MKV |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless | Lossy |
| Transparency | Yes | No |
| Animation | Yes | Yes |
| MIME type | image/gif | video/x-matroska |
| Best for | Short looping animations, memes and simple flat graphics shared across the web. | Archiving high-quality video with multiple tracks — converted to MP4 for everyday playback. |
About the formats
GIF image
GIF is a classic format limited to 256 colours but able to hold short looping animations. It remains the lingua franca of reaction clips and simple web animations.
Strengths
- Universally supported animation
- Tiny files for simple graphics
- Supports basic transparency
Limitations
- Only 256 colours — poor for photos
- Large files for longer animations
- No partial transparency or sound
Best for: Short looping animations, memes and simple flat graphics shared across the web.
Matroska video
MKV (Matroska) is a flexible open container that can bundle many video, audio and subtitle tracks in one file. It is popular for high-quality archives and media libraries.
Strengths
- Holds multiple audio/subtitle tracks
- Open and future-proof
- Great for high-quality storage
Limitations
- Not supported on many phones/browsers
- Often needs converting to play
- Larger than streaming formats
Best for: Archiving high-quality video with multiple tracks — converted to MP4 for everyday playback.