What it does
ScreenToGif is an open-source Windows recorder and animation editor. It captures a selected screen area, webcam footage or sketchboard drawings, then saves the edited result as GIF, APNG, video, PSD or PNG. Its source code uses the Microsoft Public License.
The screen recorder uses a hollow capture window. Enter its width and height or drag its edges, then use Snap to Window to fit an application. Set the frame rate and start recording. Record/Pause pauses the capture, and Stop opens the result in the editor. The capture window can move during recording but cannot be resized until recording stops.
The editor displays individual frames beneath a zoomable viewer. Remove unwanted frames, add annotations and preview the sequence with the playback controls. The action sidebar exposes settings for captions, drawing and Save As. Export image opens the still-frame output route.
Existing GIFs and videos can also be imported for editing. The webcam recorder captures a selected camera, while the board recorder captures strokes drawn on its canvas.
The current requirements list Windows 10 or 11 and .NET 9 Desktop Runtime or newer. Source code is distributed under the Microsoft Public License; redistributed source must retain that licence and the required notices.
Strengths
- Accepts screen-region, webcam and sketchboard input.
- Offers animation, video and still-image export routes after editing.
Watch out for
- The current application requires Windows 10 or 11 and .NET 9 Desktop Runtime or newer.
- The capture rectangle cannot be resized during recording.
Best for
- Short interface animations and drawn explanations for documentation.
Sources
- ScreenToGif official repository (Oct 28, 2026)
- ScreenToGif wiki and system requirements (Oct 28, 2026)
- ScreenToGif recording guide (Oct 28, 2026)
- ScreenToGif editor guide (Oct 28, 2026)
- ScreenToGif Microsoft Public License (Oct 28, 2026)