OpenShelfOpenShelf for Mac
Video to GIF on Mac
OpenShelf is the free, MIT-licensed, offline menu-bar app by Manan Santoki. Drag an MP4, MOV, or other supported video from Finder, tap ⇧ Shift, and drop on GIF. The README states GIFs from video are made without ffmpeg, with slightly cleaner output when optional ffmpeg is installed.
Steps
GIF from a clip
- Drag a video file from Finder.
- Tap ⇧ Shift for the Convert wheel.
- Drop on GIF. Adjust width and frame rate under Settings → Output, or hold ⌥ Option when dropping for one-off options.
The Convert wheel also offers MP4, MOV, M4A, MP3 (with ffmpeg), and other video targets listed in the README. Trim long clips with the Tools wheel before converting if needed.
Alternatives
Other ways on macOS
- Gifski (gif.ski) is a free, open-source Mac app focused on turning video into high-quality GIFs; its site describes conversion from video files and screen recordings (Gifski, checked 1 November 2026). OpenShelf adds GIF export inside a broader drag-and-drop converter and shelf.
- Shortcuts: Apple’s Shortcuts app includes a Make GIF action that builds an animated GIF from images you pass into the shortcut (see the example in Intro to Shortcuts on Mac). It is not a one-step “video file → GIF” action in Apple’s documentation.
- Preview / QuickTime Player: useful for viewing and trimming video, but Apple’s Preview guides do not describe exporting a video clip as a GIF.
FAQ
Video and GIF
Do I need ffmpeg for GIF?
No. OpenShelf creates GIFs without ffmpeg. Installing ffmpeg from Settings → Extra Formats can improve quality slightly, per the README.
Can I set GIF width?
Yes. Settings → Output includes GIF width (480, 720, 1080 px, or the video’s size) and frame rate options documented in the README.