The Ultimate List of GIF Recorders, Which is the Best?

Jenefey Aaron Jenefey Aaron
Sep 06, 2021 (Updated: Oct 31, 2022)Filed to: Recorder

Now you want to record an animated GIF. You have found a brilliant and funny video as the GIF material. How to find a GIF recorder to turn the video on the screen into GIF? Regular screen recorders are doing a great job at generating movie files such as MP4 and MOV, but having trouble in creating more dynamic GIF files easier to be shared on social media. In this article, the editor team would break down the popular options as GIF recorders for all the scenarios.

Part 1. [Editors' Pick] Overall Best Way to Record a GIF

When you want to turn your screen into a GIF, AnyRec Screen Recorder easily ranks at the top of all the popular GIF recorders. It provides 7 different recording modes to capture the screen as GIF files. For both beginners and power users, it provides a complete set of GIF recording tools that fits all levels of users.

Screen recorder
GIF Recorder

Record customized region or full screen with high quality.

Easily export to GIF files with advanced settings.

Customize GIF compression rate freely.

Great editing tools for GIF creators.

Control GIF recordings with custom hotkeys.

Free Download

100% Secure

Free Download

100% Secure

Step 1.Download and Install Screen Recorder program. On the main screen, click on the Video Recorder button to proceed.

Start the Video Recorder

Step 2.Click on the Custom button to select a specific area or window for recordings. Click on the Output button to open up the Preferences window. On the Output tab, change the output format into GIF. Click on the OK button to confirm.

Change the Output Settings

Step 3.Click on the REC button to start recording GIFs. Later, click on the Stop icon to terminate the recording. At last, click on the Save button to finish the process.

Clip and Save the Recording
Free Download

100% Secure

Free Download

100% Secure

Part 2. 9 Honorable GIF Recorders for Windows and Mac

Top 1: Gyazo

Elegantly designed app endorsed by many high profile eSports content creators, Gyazo has been chosen by many enterprise-level customers for its simplicity, security, and speed.

Pros
Incredibly fast screen recording process. Let you turn the screen into GIFs as fast as a Ninja.
Cloud syncing and backup of your captured GIF, extremely easy for sharing.
Cons
Doesn't have an option to save files locally.
Get only 7 seconds of GIF recording/10 viewable GIFs for the free version.
Gyazo

Top 2: Licecap

Licecap is the personal antidote of Gyazo. It has a bare minimum list of features specifically for GIF screen captures. For less than 1MB in file size, you get a complete package of GIF recorder solutions.

Pros
Simple and Effective tiny program for HQ GIF recordings.
Supports both Windows and Mac.
Cons
Editing features are not included.
The GIF it creates is oversized. A seven seconds animation would be over 0.5MB.
Licecap

Top 3: ShareX

As an open-source GIF recorder, the beauty of ShareX is its customizability to automize your workflow, this would come as super handy for advanced users.

Pros
Open-source Software.
General screen capture software with screen to GIF feature.
Cons
The interface doesn't look attractive for beginners.
It depends on the FFmpeg library for screen recording features, which may prove to be unusable for users without a technical background.
ShareX

Top 4: Gifox

As one of the better-designed options, Gifox shares a delightful UI anchored on the Mac menu bar. Its smart position feature is also highlighted.

Pros
Excellent Design.
Good GIF compression control.
Cons
Lacking features to trim a GIF.
There is a 10 seconds limitation put on the free version.
Gifox

Top 5: Giphy Capture

No list is complete without mentioning GIPHY. It is the de facto monopoly of GIF sharing platform with a GIF recording feature.

Pros
Easy sharing and get inspiration.
Basic editing feature.
Cons
Online services have 30 seconds limitations.
You could convert videos to GIFs, but you need separate software to record videos first.
Giphy Capture

Top 6: Capture to a GIF

If you need to capture the content of webpages to an animated GIF within Chrome browser, this simple tiny extension is the most highly rated choice.

Pros
Very easy to use. You do not even need to modify settings.
Cons
It is a Chrome extension, which means you need an Internet connection to make it work.
Due to limitations, Chrome extensions are generally more lagging than stand-alone software.
Capture to a GIF

Top 7: ScreenToGif

No need for further introduction, this app is dedicated to turning your screen into GIFs. It also has built-in webcam recorder features.

Pros
Simple, Free for GIF animation.
Integrate a screen, webcam and sketchboard recorder to make screen to GIF online
Cons
Doesn't show up in Start Menu or apps list.
The GIF recorder is for Windows Only.
ScreenToGif

Top 8: GifCam

Alongside the excellent configured and rich features, the fun factor this GIF recorder app provides cannot be underestimated.

Pros
Well-configured app with surprisingly powerful features.
Adjust the GIF recording screen size by dragging with your mouse.
Cons
Software development seems to be ceased after 2016. Compatibility issues arise with the new OS.
GifCam

Top 9: GifCap

For people who need to find an online website for GIF recording, Gifcap is an excellent choice which only needs a modern browser.

Pros
No installations.
Client-side only, no privacy concerns.
Blazingly fast GIF rendering.
Cons
No timestamp in the editor.
Created GIF lacks precision and is over-speeded.
GifCap

Part 3. FAQs about Recording GIFs

Conclusion

To sum up, the article has reviewed the most popular GIF recorders that have been well-considered. If you prefer a screenshot app that fits your need the best, look no further than AnyRec Screen Recorder as your selected choice.

Free Download

100% Secure

Free Download

100% Secure

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