Add text to GIF online

Put text over your GIF, above or below it, or on a separate screen before or after it plays. Choose the font, colors, and timing, then save your GIF.

Captioned media preview

Add your words to the moment

  • Keep the picture visible.

    Put a short reply in an empty corner of the GIF, or add a strip above or below it when the picture has no room for words. Choose a font and colors that suit your message. Text can sit directly on the image or have a background of its own.

  • Let the words arrive at the right time.

    Keep a caption visible throughout, reveal it with a gesture, or show two messages one after the other. A start card can set up the reaction before it plays; an end card can finish it with a reply. Watch the preview to check the timing before downloading.

How to add text to a GIF

  1. Upload your GIF

    Click Change to upload a GIF, image, or video up to 25 MB.

  2. Add your text

    Click Add caption. Place text over, above, or below the GIF, or on an opening or closing card.

  3. Style your caption

    Choose the font, size, and colors. For text over the GIF, set when it appears and how long it stays.

  4. Preview and download

    Check the text and timing in the preview, then download your GIF, MP4, or WebP.

Choose where and when your text appears

What you wantChooseHow it works
Words over the pictureInline captionChoose Alignment; set Start to 0 and Duration to the GIF’s length to keep the words visible.
Words that appear laterInline captionSet Start to the moment you want, then Duration to the time the message should stay.
A heading above the GIFTop captionAdds a strip above the picture. The words stay visible while the GIF plays.
A message below the GIFBottom captionAdds a strip below the picture without covering it. The words stay visible while the GIF plays.
A setup before the actionStart cardAdds a separate text screen before the GIF. Set how long it stays with Duration.
A closing messageEnd cardAdds a separate text screen after the GIF, with its own Duration.
See GIF examples and the step-by-step guide

Common questions

  • How do I add text to a GIF?

    Upload your GIF, click Add caption, and choose where the text should appear. Enter your words, adjust the font and colors, and preview the result. Use Download to export a new GIF with the captions included. See how to add text to a GIF for examples, caption placement, and timing tips.

  • Is this GIF caption maker free?

    Yes. You can add text to GIFs and download the result for free, without registering an account. Exported files do not have an added watermark.

  • Will my GIF keep moving after I add text?

    Yes. GIF export includes the source animation and your captions. Choose GIF in the download settings; MP4 creates a video, while WebP is an alternative animated image format.

  • Can I put a caption above or below the GIF?

    Yes. Choose Top caption or Bottom caption to add a strip outside the picture. These captions stay visible while the GIF plays. Choose Inline caption to place words over the picture and control when they appear.

  • Can I add more than one caption?

    Yes. Add multiple inline captions with separate timing, plus one top band, one bottom band, one opening card, and one closing card. Each caption supports up to three lines of text.

  • Can I make animated text on a GIF?

    Yes. Choose an animation in the caption settings and compare its moving preview. The available effects differ between inline captions, caption bands, and title cards. You can also keep the text still.

  • Can text appear only during part of the GIF?

    Yes. Choose Inline caption and set Start to the moment the words should appear. Duration controls how long they stay. For example, Start at 1 second and Duration of 2 seconds shows the text from 1 to 3 seconds. Top and bottom captions remain visible throughout the GIF.

  • Can I add text without a background?

    Yes. Add an Inline caption and set Opacity to 0%. The letters remain visible, but the background behind them disappears. Choose a text color that is easy to read against the GIF.

  • How do I show two captions one after the other?

    Add two inline captions. Set the second caption’s Start to the time the first one ends. For example, give the first a Start of 0 and Duration of 2 seconds, then start the second at 2 seconds. Use the same Alignment if both messages should appear in the same place.

  • How do I keep text visible for the whole GIF?

    For an Inline caption, set Start to 0 and Duration to the length of your GIF. Top caption and Bottom caption stay visible automatically while the picture plays.

  • Can each photo have a different caption?

    For a sequence of photos, use GIF Slideshow Maker. Upload your pictures, turn on Captions, and enter a separate message for each slide. The picture and its caption will change together.

  • Can I use a video or photo instead of a GIF?

    Yes. Upload a video or still image and add captions in the same editor. For a photo, set its display duration so the text animation has time to play, then export the result as a GIF.

  • Is this a text to GIF generator?

    This editor adds words to an existing GIF, photo, or video. To make an animation from words alone, use Animated Text Generator. For text that moves across the screen as a continuous line, use Scrolling Text GIF Generator.

  • Does it generate subtitles automatically?

    No. You enter the caption text yourself and set the timing of inline captions. The tool does not transcribe speech or automatically match words to audio.

  • What are the upload limits?

    The input file can be up to 25 MB. GIFs and videos can be up to 10 minutes long. The final file size depends on your media and export settings, including width, quality, and frame rate.

  • Can I change text already embedded in a GIF?

    You can add new captions, but existing text that is part of the image is not an editable text layer. This tool does not remove or replace lettering already baked into the source frames.

  • What happens to my uploaded file?

    During editing, the source is kept in your browser. A small copy of a photo or a GIF’s first frame may be sent for subject detection. When you download, the source is uploaded to our servers to render the finished file.

Ways to use your captioned GIF

  • Replies in a group chat.

    Turn a familiar gesture into your own reply. Let the reaction begin, then reveal a short message such as “Approved” when the person raises a thumb. Keep the words clear of their face and hand.

  • Greetings and thank-you messages.

    Add a name or a personal line to a waving character, a happy pet, or a celebration. A caption above or below the picture leaves the expression visible while the greeting stays on screen.

  • Jokes with a setup and a punchline.

    Put the setup on a start card, then let the GIF deliver the reaction. An end card works the other way around: the action plays first, and your final sentence finishes the joke.

  • Product demonstrations.

    Name the feature as it appears in the clip. Use separate inline captions for different moments so the viewer reads one short explanation at a time, while the product remains visible.

  • Short how-to clips.

    Add an instruction when the relevant action begins, such as “Fold along the edge.” Leave it on screen long enough to read. A closing card can show the finished result or remind the viewer of the next step.

  • Announcements and offers.

    Add an event date, offer, or launch message to a photo or animation. Use a separate caption strip when the picture is busy, and check the saved GIF at the size people will see in a message or post.

  • Customer support.

    Add a short instruction to a recording of the problem or its solution. Show each caption beside the relevant action so someone can follow the answer without sound.

  • Gaming highlights.

    Give a win, a near miss, or an unexpected moment a short caption. Let the action unfold before revealing the punchline, or keep a score or player label visible throughout.

  • Personal invitations.

    Put a date, place, and invitation above or below a photo or celebration GIF. Add a closing card for a reply deadline, keeping the main picture clear.

Caption settings you can control

  • Caption position.

    Use Alignment to place words in a corner, near an edge, or in the center of the GIF. Pick an area that stays clear as the picture moves.

  • Text above the picture.

    Choose Top caption to add a separate strip above the GIF. The heading stays visible while the animation plays, without covering the picture.

  • Text below the picture.

    Choose Bottom caption for a message beneath the GIF. Its strip adds space for the words and keeps the complete picture visible.

  • Opening card.

    Use Start card to put a title or setup on its own screen before the GIF. Set its Duration to give people enough time to read it.

  • Closing card.

    Use End card for a final reply, reminder, or farewell after the GIF. Give it its own style and choose how long it stays on screen.

  • Font family.

    Choose a font for each caption. Try it with your full message so you can judge how the letters look together and how easily they read.

  • Text size.

    Adjust Size to make the words larger or smaller. Use a line break when a longer message needs more room without shrinking the lettering.

  • Text color.

    Choose the letter color under Colors. Check it against every part of the GIF that passes behind the caption, especially when the scene changes.

  • Background color.

    Give a caption or text card its own background color. A contrasting background helps the words remain readable over a busy or colorful picture.

  • Background opacity.

    For inline captions, Opacity controls how much of the picture shows through the text background. Set it to 0% for letters without a background.

  • Rounded corners.

    Use Round to soften the corners of an inline caption’s background. Set it to 0 for square corners, or increase it for a rounded label.

  • Caption start time.

    Start sets when an inline caption appears, measured from the beginning of the GIF. Match the words to a gesture, a reply, or a particular action.

  • Caption duration.

    Duration sets how long an inline caption stays visible. Give longer messages more reading time, or end a short label when the relevant action finishes.

  • Multiple captions.

    Add separate inline captions with their own words, styles, and timing. Show them together or arrange their start times so one message follows another.

  • Text animation.

    Choose an effect in Animation to make the words move, or use None for still text. Watch the whole message to check that it remains easy to read.

  • Card transitions.

    Choose a Transition between a start or end card and the GIF. You can soften the change between screens while keeping the words themselves still.

  • Picture shape and duration.

    Use Aspect to keep the source proportions or choose a different shape. For a still photo, Duration in Media sets how long the picture stays on screen.

  • Export settings.

    Save as GIF, MP4, or WebP. Choose the output width, quality, and frame rate in Download, then check the saved file at the size you plan to share it.

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