The 10 Best Apps for Making Animated GIFs

Liven up your photos.

Dec 09, 2012
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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Although animated GIFs caught on in the late 90s, they really took off in 2012. Artistic outlets such as Tumblr, along with your favorite sites and blogs have embraced live-action images, using the bitmap image technology to help tell a story or to just entertain. Over the past few months we've seen a number of companies introduce mobile apps, like Cinemagram and GIFBoom, that allow people to easily create their own GIFs. But those aren't the only two. Keep reading for the 10 Best Apps for Making Animated GIFs. 

GifBoom

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This multi-platform GIF creator comes loaded with special effects and animated and static frames to enhance live-action photos. You can capture up to 20 frames and control the shooting speed of a shot. Or you can import photos from your camera library and let the app automatically stitch 'em together. The app has unlimited uploads for sharing, too.

Click here to Download it Now from the Apple App Store, FREE

Click here to Download it Now from Google Play, FREE

Gifinator Plus

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Gifinator keeps the creation process simple: choose photos, edit animations, and share with friends. Additional features found on the paid Plus version: Front-facing camera support, 10 extra graphic frames, increased stability, and the option the share a GIF link with others.

Click here to Download it Now from Google Play, $1

Cinemagram

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Dubbed the video version of Instagram, the most popular mobile GIF creator features a straightforward tutorial and user-friendly interface to assist with building animated images. Capture a few seconds of video, select an area where you want to integrate effects, and choose a filter to top it off. From there it’s all about sharing with your social media following.

Click here to Download it Now from the Apple App Store, FREE

GifStitch

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This Android exclusive utilizes special features such as “Onion Skinning” to ensure images are aligned when taking photos, as well as a slide show presentation to map out final projects. Snap a series of new pics or select several from the camera roll, then apply color effects and filters from there.

Click here to Download it Now from Google Play, FREE

Flixel

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This app allows users to record a short scene, edit (or paint) the area they wish to have animated, and shoot it out for the entire blogosphere to view. Set up starting and ending frames for every live-action image, while having the flexibility to loop the effect back and forth. The latest software update has the program producing live photos at double the original frame rate.

Click here to Download it Now from the Apple App Store, FREE

Moquu

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Android and iOS users aren't the only one that can make GIFs. With the Moquu app, Windows Phone users can get in on the phone, as well. Able to work with both front- and rear-facing cameras, Moquu lets you create animated GIFs with multi-layered effects. It also boasts editing features such as frame delays and effects strength for complete customization. Moquu also gives users the opportunity to organize projects into folders and export onto a photo library.

Click here to Download it Now from the Apple App Store, FREE

Click here to Download it Now from the Windows Phone Store, FREE

GIF Shop

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Gif Shop makes it ridiculously easy to create animated images. After taking a series of photos, the app sews each frame together. Not only does it offer two export sizes (300px and 500px) and the ability to edit loop speeds during playback, but reverting changes made to a gif file is also a option. 

Click here to Download it Now from the Apple App Store, $1

Giffer! Pro

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Aside from boasting its own in-app camera, Giffer brings a few unique options absent from other programs: adjustable shooting modes (burst, timer, shutter) and opacity. If the photos on your camera aren’t cutting it, feel free to snag images off the Internet via copy/paste. The Pro version brings an exclusive Cinemagraph Mode to enhance the photo-taking experience.

Click here to Download it Now from the Apple App Store, $1

MyFaceWhen

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Record videos or upload content from the Web (movies, shows, YouTube clips) and transform them into GIFs or memes in seconds. Here's how it works: Crop the captured footage, save the file, and send it to the clipboard where you can send the living image as a text message on iMessage. Twitter and email are also supported. During creative droughts, find inspiration by browsing through thousands of other shared GIFs from the app’s large community base.

Click here to Download it Now from the Apple App Store, $1

Wondershare PowerGIF

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Wondershare PowerGIF supports a number of standout features including special filter effects, two shooting modes (Self-Capture and Burst), and social media sharing (Tumblr, Twitter, etc). It can also help capture 99 photos to create animated files, while applying a variety of frames for extra flair.

Click here to Download it Now from Google Play, FREE

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