GIFVSMP4
GIFs are nostalgic, but they are technically awful. Learn why switching to MP4 video makes your content load 20x faster.
The Verdict
**GIF is obsolete.** An MP4 video file looks better, supports audio, and is 95% smaller. The only reason to use GIF is for legacy email clients or simple loops where video autoplay isn't supported.
File Size
Winner: MP4
We took a 10MB GIF and converted it to MP4. The result? 400KB. That is a 96% reduction. Using GIFs on a mobile site is bandwidth theft.
Color Quality
Winner: MP4
GIF supports 256 colors. MP4 supports millions. GIFs look grainy and dithered. MP4s look like HD video.
Looping
Winner: Draw
GIFs loop automatically. MP4s need a `loop` tag in HTML. For pure 'set it and forget it' ease, GIF still has a niche.