Most of us share GIFs either for fun or to express ourselves. However, sometimes, the right GIF for your needs isn't available online. Which is why you need GIF Maker apps.

You don’t have to learn how to use high-end software to create GIFs; instead, you can do it right on your phone. Here are the best GIF maker apps for Android and iOS.

1. Giphy Cam

Giphy, one of the internet’s premier GIF hosting platforms, has a dedicated mobile app for developing new GIFs. Called Giphy Cam, it comes with all the goofy effects and editing tools you would need to produce the result you have in mind.

To get started, you can either import media from your phone’s local storage or record a new picture or video. Once you’ve done that, you can choose from a plethora of customization options.

You can apply filters, personalize the background with animations, add stickers or text, and much more. Plus, Giphy Cam offers masks that you can overlay on people or animals.

At the next step, you can save the GIF file or share it directly on social networks. Giphy Cam also lets you adjust the looping sequence to help you make your new GIF stand out. Giphy Cam is a free GIF maker and doesn’t have any in-app purchases.

Giphy Cam is likely to be the best GIF maker app for most people. But in case it lacks any particular feature you want, several other good GIF maker apps are available.

Download: Giphy Cam for Android | iOS (Free)

Giphy was recently acquired by Facebook; should you worry about your personal data?

2. GIF Maker, GIF Editor, Video Maker, Video to GIF (Android)

GIF Maker is your one-stop GIF shop. In addition to the usual GIF creation features, GIF Maker houses a handful of other utilities you will find handy.

That includes straightforward conversion tools for turning videos to GIFs, breaking down GIFs into multiple images, and a search engine for browsing GIFs on Giphy. Apart from that, GIF Maker allows you to import and tweak existing GIFs on your phone.

Related: How to Make a GIF From a Video

For designing new GIFs, GIF Maker has a wide gamut of options as well. You can decorate them with filters, emojis, color effects, or simply annotate over them. At the processing stage, you can precisely specify the resolution and size you want.

You can employ GIF Maker as a video editor too and instead of GIFs, export projects as regular clips.

GIF Maker is free to use but if you want to get rid of the advertisements and unlock the premium set of customization facilities, you will have to pay for the privilege.

Download: GIF Maker, GIF Editor, Video Maker, Video to GIF (Free, premium version available)

In case you find your phone’s screen space limiting and want to move to a bigger display, here are the best GIF maker apps to convert video to GIF on any platform.

3. GIF X (iOS)

GIF X is a high-quality GIF maker for transforming your photos and videos into GIFs. The iOS-exclusive app’s highlight is its unique collection of masks which can automatically adapt to a particular section of the frame.

So, for instance, if you have a shot of the ocean, you can easily replace the blue sky with a colorful rainbow backdrop without having to fire up Photoshop. On top of that, GIF X has hundreds of effects and claims to host more than 200 masks.

GIF X also features a community where you can download custom GIFs developed and uploaded by the app’s professional users. The app offers a range of fundamental editing options like the ability to adjust the opacity and resolution.

GIF X doesn’t charge any upfront fees. But in order to unlock some of its premium effects and filters, you will have to follow GIF X on social media and leave a review on its app store listing.

Download: GIF X (Free, premium version available) [No Longer Available]

4. GIF Maker - GIF Editor (Android)

This Android app is one of the more comprehensive GIF Maker apps available. Unlike the others on this list, however, GIF Maker is exclusively for creating new GIFs, and therefore doesn’t have any conversion tools.

GIF Maker features an extensive catalog of editing options which enable you to tweak each frame of a video or GIF. You can import from either your own gallery or work around a GIF from Giphy’s database.

Like other GIF maker apps, GIF Maker - GIF Editor has a multitude of filters and effects for you to choose from. For videos, you can remove a particular frame and edit the pace of the GIF too. On GIF Maker, you can also configure different frames and input text in a vast variety of typography.

GIF Maker also lets you insert animated stickers from Giphy onto your new GIF. GIF Maker has an ad-supported free version and you can pay to upgrade to the premium tier.

Download: GIF Maker - GIF Editor (Free, premium version available)

5. GIF Maker - Video to GIF Maker (iOS)

If you want a hassle-free way to make new GIFs on iOS, try the aptly named GIF Maker app.

GIF Maker has a no-frills interface that allows you to instantly turn your personal media into GIFs. You can add up to 100 pictures in a single GIF. Other than that, GIF Maker comes with the standard array of editing tools.

You can alter a GIF’s playback speed, choose from tens of filters, attach stickers or text, and the works. For videos, GIF Maker lets you crop the frame and cut the duration to your liking. GIF Maker supports Live Photos on iOS too and can directly process them for editing.

GIF Maker, however, is not free, unlike the rest of the GIF maker apps and charges a hefty subscription fee. There is a trial if you’d like to give it a shot before investing. In addition, the developer allows you to decide between monthly or weekly renewals.

Download: GIF Maker - Video to GIF Maker ($9.99/month, free trial available)

Everything You Need to Know About GIFs

Some would say that GIFs are the internet’s default communication medium these days. But with these GIF maker apps, your GIFs no longer have to look the same as the others. You can pick your own pictures or videos and easily transform them into GIFs.

Over the years, GIFs have rapidly spiraled into the mainstream, giving us little time to understand how and where they originated from. So if you want to learn more about the history, culture, and future of the format, here's everything you need to know about GIFs.