Animated GIFs: 5 free sites to find gifs

The animated GIF format is an image compression format created in 1987. The animated GIF format is characterized by two important elements:


on the one hand, the color palette is limited to 256 colors,
on the other hand this format allows to encode several images in the same file, allowing this effect of animation so much appreciated on the web.
Competed by the video format, the animated GIF retains an audience that is fiercely attached to it.

Unlike video files, animated GIF files are very easy to handle, and on the other hand their limitation to 256 colors makes them very light files, allowing to quickly create short animations that become very viral.

The technical limitations of the animated GIF format make it an element very closely linked to the early web culture.

If you too are fond of these files to embellish your publications on the internet, here are the 5 sites to find more animated GIF more demented.

Giphy

Created in 2013, this site wants to be the Google's animated GIF and is the best site to search for a GIF.

Giphy records over a billion downloads every day. Originally designed as a simple search engine, Giphy then integrated an animated GIF database system.

Very quickly Giphy has integrated into most social networks and it is easy to use an animated GIF hosted at Giphy with a simple short link on Twitter, Facebook, Messenger etc.

Visit Giphy

Tenor

Created in 2014 under the name of Riffsy, this site is the main competitor of Giphy.

Tenor is an animated GIF search engine that records 12 billion queries per month. In the same way as Giphy, Tenor has ensured its development by forming partnerships allowing it to be present in major messaging applications or social networks.

In addition, its GIF Keyboard mobile application (present on Android and iOS ) allows it to easily integrate an animated GIF from Tenor into any mobile application. The site Tenor is bought in 2018 by Google.

Visit Tenor

Gfycat

Gfycat is a hosting site created in 2015 that offers both animated GIFs and short videos (compatible with the new HTML5 format). Subsequently, Gfycat has developed its offer by providing a cloud interface for creating animated gifs. Gfycat boasts 130 million active users per month.

Visit Gfycat

Imgur

Imgur is a US site hosting animated gifs , short videos, images and the same created in 2009.

At its launch, this site was developed in perfect harmony with Reddit. Until the day of 2016 when Reddit decides to launch its own image hosting site.

Imgur has two unforgivable defects: it's not just animated gifs (so we need to add gif when searching), thumbnails are not animated. The site hosts a very American-centered content; no other interface than the English interface is available.

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Reddit

Reddit is a US site created in 2005 that lies between the community forum and information sharing.

The site is open to all subjects and all cultures. The links shared by users give rise to reactions, many of which are done through images (including animated gifs). There are also directories dedicated to sharing animated gif where everyone shares their image.

Historically, Reddit did not host content in pictures but had entered into a tacit partnership with Imgur. But in 2016, Reddit decides to host its own content to maintain its audience on the site.

Visit Reddit