Style your GIF captions
Add multiple text overlays. Choose fonts, sizes, fill colors, and outlines, then drag each caption where you want it.
Timed captions and subtitles
Choose exactly when each caption appears and disappears with frame-by-frame timeline handles. Build dialogue, reactions, or step-by-step instructions.
Motion captions
Move text across the GIF with position keyframes. Use Follow an Object to make a caption track a subject automatically.
Text above or below your GIF
Create meme-style caption bars with custom backgrounds, alignment, and fonts, leaving the picture visible.
How to add text to a GIF
- 1
Upload your GIF
Choose a GIF or drop it onto the upload area. You can also start with a video, which the editor converts to a GIF.
- 2
Add and style a caption
Open On-Image Captions and click + Add. Type your text, choose its font and outline, and drag it into position. For text outside the image, add a top or bottom box caption.
- 3
Set text timing and motion
Drag the Caption Timeline handles to set when text is visible. To animate it, pause at different frames, move the caption, and click + Keyframe here at each position.
- 4
Preview and download
Play your GIF to check the captions. Click Download to export the animated GIF with text. The optional watermark can be turned off in Other Options.
Make your GIF captions easy to read
Keep each caption short and give viewers enough time to read it. Use a contrasting outline when the background changes color. For dialogue, use separate timed captions instead of putting every line on screen at once. A caption bar works well when text would cover a face or an important detail.
GIF caption maker FAQs
- How do I add text to a GIF?
- Upload your GIF, click + Add in On-Image Captions, and type your text. Drag the caption into position, choose its font and colors, then download the captioned GIF.
- Can I show captions at different times?
- Yes. Each on-image caption has its own track in the Caption Timeline. Drag its start and end handles to choose the frames where the text appears. Add multiple captions for dialogue or subtitles.
- Can I add moving text to a GIF?
- Yes. Pause on a frame, position your caption, and click + Keyframe here. Repeat at another frame with a different position to animate the text between those points. You can also use Follow an Object to create motion with AI tracking.
- Can I put text above or below a GIF?
- Yes. Add a Top Box Caption or Bottom Box Caption to place text in a separate bar. Customize the bar height, background color, font, and alignment without covering the animation.
- Is this GIF caption maker free?
- Yes. You can caption and download GIFs without an account or subscription. To export without the optional site watermark, uncheck Include watermark under Other Options.
- Will my captioned GIF stay animated?
- Yes. Download exports an animated GIF with your captions, including their timing and motion. Preview the animation before exporting to check that the text is readable.