Compress GIF to a Target Size (256 KB, 1 MB, 10 MB)

Compress a GIF to a Specific File Size

Choose a target size, drop in your GIF, and GifWrench keeps tightening compression and, only if needed, the dimensions until the file fits.

Choose GIFs or drop them hereYou can also paste with Ctrl+V / ⌘V. Free: 1 file up to 20 MB. Your file never leaves your device. Pro: up to 200 MB per file; batches of up to 20 files / 200 MB total, subject to browser memory.

Compression

Light Balanced Strong Maximum

Target sizeResize to width (px, optional)

Batch & files up to 200 MB with Pro

Large dimensions or frame counts may exceed your browser’s memory even below the file-size limit.

How to compress a GIF to a specific size

To compress a GIF to a specific file size, pick the size in Target size, drop in the GIF and press Compress GIF. GifWrench runs a sequence of attempts in your browser:

It compresses with the level you chose (Balanced by default).
If the file is still too big, it moves to stronger lossy compression with a 128-color, then a 64-color palette.
If that is still not enough, it estimates how much smaller the frame needs to be (file size grows roughly with pixel area) and resizes, repeating until the file fits or it reaches a sensible minimum.

You see each attempt in the status line, and the final result is shown next to the original so you can judge the quality before downloading.

Common size limits

Use	Target
Slack custom emoji	Under 128 KB recommended; up to 50 frames
Discord custom emoji	Under 256 KB
Discord server sticker	Under 512 KB
Email, docs, help-center articles	Under 1 MB (editing suggestion, not a provider limit)
Discord attachment (free account)	20 MB listed; follow the current account prompt

Platform guidance checked November 9, 2026: Discord attachments, Discord emoji, Discord stickers and Slack emoji. Sticker format requirements are separate: the Discord help lists PNG/APNG, and this compressor outputs GIF, not APNG. Preset KB/MB labels use binary units; leave margin below a platform’s actual byte ceiling.

Tips for the best quality at a small size

Resize before you compress hard. A 480-pixel-wide GIF with light compression usually looks better than an 800-pixel GIF crushed to 64 colors.
Crop away empty space with the crop tool; borders and backgrounds still cost bytes in every frame.
Shorter is smaller. Trim or rebuild a shorter loop in an animation editor. The frame splitter exports PNGs, not a rebuilt GIF.
Keep the original. Compression is lossy. GifWrench never overwrites your file; it gives you a new download.

For a general-purpose compressor with a width option, use the GIF compressor on the home page.

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

How do I compress a GIF to under 256 KB?

Choose "Under 256 KB (Discord emoji)" in Target size, load the GIF and press Compress GIF. GifWrench raises compression first and only shrinks the dimensions if it has to. For emoji, starting from a 128×128 GIF gets there with the least quality loss.

Why can't my GIF reach the target size?

Very long GIFs or GIFs with a lot of motion in every frame carry a lot of data even at small sizes. Crop to the important area, or split the GIF into frames and keep fewer of them.

Does compressing change the animation speed?

No. Frame timing and looping are kept exactly as they were.