Add text to GIF online

Add captions and animated text to a GIF, video, or image. Customize the style and timing, then download GIF, MP4, or WebP.

Captioned media preview

Benefits

  • Add text to animated GIFs.

    Give a reaction, product demo, or short clip the words it needs. Place text over the animation or add a caption band above or below it. Keep your message and image together in one downloadable file, with fonts, colors, and alignment that help the words stand out against the moving picture.

  • Make your captions move.

    Reveal a headline, introduce a scene, or time a punchline to the right moment. Choose caption animations from moving previews and set when inline text appears. Add opening and closing cards for context, then watch the composition before downloading it. Start with a GIF, video, or still image, without installing an editor.

How to add text to a GIF

  1. Upload your file

    Choose a GIF, video, or image up to 25 MB. Animated sources can be up to 10 minutes long.

  2. Add your text

    Click Add caption. Choose text over the media, a top or bottom band, or an opening or closing card.

  3. Style and animate

    Adjust fonts, colors, and alignment. Choose an animation and set the timing for your captions.

  4. Download your GIF

    Preview the result, choose your export settings, and download it as GIF, MP4, or WebP.

GIF caption ideas

Use caseCaption exampleWhere to put it
Reaction memesWhen the meeting could have been an emailAbove the GIF to keep the reaction visible.
Character labelsMe / My responsibilitiesBeside each character during the relevant moment.
Pet dialogueYou gonna eat that?Above or below the animal’s face.
Movie repliesHello thereNear the bottom, timed to the spoken line.
Personal greetingsHappy birthday, AlexA persistent overlay or bottom band.
Gaming momentsOne more tryA timed overlay before the action or punchline.
Quick instructionsChoose PinNear the relevant control while the step plays.
Opening and closing cardsHow to pin a message / DoneA separate text frame before or after the clip.
How to add text to a GIF

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 a top or bottom band to keep the caption outside the picture. Use an inline caption when you want text over the media instead. Each caption has its own text and style settings.

  • 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. Inline captions have a start time and duration, so you can show them during a specific moment. Opening and closing cards have their own duration settings.

  • 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 tool adds your text to an existing GIF, video, or image. It requires a media source; it does not create a new scene from a written prompt. For an animation made only from words, use our 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.

GIF caption ideas

  • Reaction GIFs.

    Give a familiar reaction your own wording. Put the setup above the GIF and the response below it, keeping the face or gesture visible. Preview the loop to check that the joke is easy to follow.

  • Product demos.

    Explain what a product does while the action plays. Add a short feature label or time an inline caption to a useful detail. Use an opening card to introduce the product before the demonstration begins.

  • Email offers.

    Pair a product clip with an offer, code, or deadline. Keep the wording short enough to read at email width, and check the first frame so readers can understand the message even when animation does not play.

  • How-to clips.

    Add short instructions to a screen recording or demonstration. Show each inline caption when its step becomes relevant, then leave enough time to read it. A closing card can summarize the result or the next action.

  • Social announcements.

    Introduce a launch, event, or new release with words on your footage. Use a clear headline and a final date or call to action. Choose GIF or MP4 according to the platform where you will post it.

  • Website banners.

    Add a headline to a photo or looping clip for a page announcement. Match the caption colors to your site and select an output width for the placement. Keep the main subject clear of the text.

  • Customer support.

    Turn a short recording into a visual answer. Label the setting to change or the button to press, with captions timed to the action. Share the result where your help center or messaging tool supports the format.

  • Birthday messages.

    Personalize a photo or celebration clip with a name and greeting. Try animated text over the picture and a closing card for your message. Use the preview to give each line enough time to be read.

  • Lesson highlights.

    Label a process, define a term, or introduce a short classroom demonstration. Keep each caption focused on one idea and time it to the relevant action. Export the clip for a presentation or supported learning platform.

GIF text tools

  • Text over your GIF.

    Add inline captions over the media. Choose their position and alignment to keep the words near the action without covering the main subject.

  • Top and bottom bands.

    Place text above or below the picture in a separate caption band. Give each band its own colors and alignment for a readable layout.

  • Opening and closing cards.

    Introduce the clip with a start card or finish with an end card. Set how long each card stays on screen before the next scene.

  • Font selection.

    Choose a font for each caption. Compare a bold headline with a quieter supporting line, and preview how both look against your media.

  • Text size and alignment.

    Adjust the size and alignment of your words. Keep short headings prominent and fit supporting captions into the space available in the composition.

  • Text and background colors.

    Set the lettering and caption background colors separately. Use contrast to keep the message readable as the picture changes behind it.

  • Rounded caption backgrounds.

    Adjust the corner rounding and background opacity of inline captions. Choose a solid label or let some of the media show through.

  • Caption timing.

    Set a start time and duration for each inline caption. Make a label appear with the relevant action and disappear when it is no longer needed.

  • Animated text.

    Choose entrance and loop effects for your captions. Available effects depend on the caption type, with moving previews to help you compare them.

  • Card transitions.

    Choose how an opening or closing card joins the media. Preview the transition together with your text to check the pacing of the composition.

  • Live composition preview.

    Watch your media and captions together while editing. Check line breaks, contrast, and timing before requesting the final downloadable file.

  • GIF, video, and image input.

    Start with an animated GIF, a video, or a still image. Add your own words to the source without preparing separate image frames.

  • Still-image duration.

    Set how long an uploaded photo stays on screen. Animate captions over it to turn a static picture into a short captioned GIF.

  • Output aspect ratios.

    Keep the source proportions or choose another aspect ratio. Check the preview after changing the shape so important details remain inside the frame.

  • GIF, MP4, and WebP export.

    Download the captioned result in the format your destination supports. Choose GIF for an animated image or MP4 when you need a video file.

  • Export size and quality.

    Adjust output width, quality, and frame rate in the download settings. Balance the dimensions and animation smoothness against the size of the resulting file.

  • Free, without a watermark.

    Add text and download your captioned result for free. The exported file has no added TweenFrame watermark covering your picture or message.

  • No signup or installation.

    Open the tool in your browser and start with your file. You do not need to register an account or install a desktop editor.

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