How to put a GIF in an email?

Want to make your emails more fun and eye-catching? Learning how to put a GIF in an email is a simple way to add movement, personality, and visual interest to your messages.

Emails that are text-heavy and present information in plain black-and-white can seem bland and boring and fail to capture attention.

GIFs are short, looping animations that grab attention, explain something quickly, or add a bit of humor without taking up much space.

In this post, you’ll learn how to embed a GIF in an email step by step, whether you’re using Gmail, Outlook, or an email marketing automation platform like Omnisend. You’ll also find tips to ensure your GIF displays correctly for your readers and discover where to find engaging GIFs.

Here’s a quick rundown of what this post covers:

• How to add a GIF to an email
• How to insert a GIF into Gmail
• How to put a GIF in an Outlook email
• How to embed a GIF in an email campaign
• Where to get GIFs 
• Best practices for adding GIFs in emails

How to add a GIF to an email

Using GIFs in emails may seem like a tech-heavy task that requires coding, but it’s actually pretty easy and can be done in minutes. Whether the file is saved on your computer or hosted online, most email platforms make the process simple. 

Below are three easy methods you can use to put a GIF in an email, depending on where your GIF is stored and how you prefer to insert it.

Method 1: Upload the .gif file

Best for: GIFs saved on your computer

Works in: Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, most email marketing platforms

Steps:

1. Save the GIF to your computer and confirm the file ends in .gif
2. Open a new email or reply in your email client
3. Click where you want the GIF to appear
4. Select Insert Image (usually shown as a picture icon)
5. Choose the GIF file from your computer and upload it
6. Resize the image if necessary

Pro tip:

• Keep your GIF under 1MB, so it loads quickly for readers
• Double-check that the format is .gif, not .mp4 or .webp, or the animation may not play correctly

Method 2: Drag and drop

Best for: Fast and simple insertion

Works in: Most modern email clients and email builders

Steps:

1. Open your email draft
2. Find the saved GIF on your computer
3. Click and drag the file directly into the body of your email
4. Adjust the size and placement as needed

Pro tip:

If dragging the file doesn’t work, switch to the upload method instead. Some older email clients don’t fully support drag-and-drop features.

Method 3: Insert via image URL

Best for: GIFs hosted online

Works in: Gmail, certain Outlook versions, most email builders

Steps:

1. Locate the GIF online
2. Right-click on the GIF itself
3. Select Copy Image Address (make sure you’re not copying the webpage URL)
4. In your email draft, click Insert Image
5. Select the URL or Web Address option
6. Paste the direct image link
7. Click Insert to add it to your email

Pro tip:

Confirm the link ends in .gif. Here’s what it should look like:

https://example.com/image.gif

If the link doesn’t end in .gif, you probably copied the page URL instead of the actual image file. Try copying the image file again and then inserting it.

How to insert a GIF into Gmail

Gmail is one of the most popular email clients out there. However, when using Gmail, adding a GIF to an email is slightly different from the general process.

To add a GIF in Gmail: 

1. Click on Compose to open the email drafting box

2. Click on the Insert Photo button to open a dialog box

3. You can either click on Upload and drag-and-drop your GIF or click on Web Address (URL) and paste the GIF’s URL there

4. Click on Insert to add the GIF to your email

How to put a GIF in an Outlook email

Adding a GIF in Outlook is slightly different from adding one in Gmail. But once you know where to click and how to do it, you can seamlessly embed a GIF in an email in Outlook. 

Follow these simple steps below to add GIFs easily:

Steps

1. Open Outlook and click on New Email 
2. Click inside the email body where you want the GIF to appear
3. Go to Insert > Pictures (if the GIF is saved on your computer) or Online Pictures (if you’re using a web-hosted GIF)

4. Select your GIF file or paste the image link, then click Insert

5. Adjust the size and placement of the GIF so it fits your email layout

How GIFs display in Outlook

The way your GIF appears depends on the version of Outlook your recipient is using. Outlook on the web generally supports full animation, so a GIF in email will play as expected. 

However, some desktop versions may only display the first frame instead of the full animation. 

Tip: Make sure the most important message or visual appears in the first frame so the email still makes sense even if the GIF doesn’t move.

GIF not moving in Outlook? Quick fix

If you put a GIF in an email but it appears frozen in the Outlook desktop app, you may need to adjust a setting. Try this:

1. Click File in Outlook
2. Select Options
3. Go to Advanced and scroll to the Display section
4. Ensure animation settings are enabled
5. Restart Outlook and send a test email to see if the GIF now plays correctly

How to embed a GIF in an email campaign

If you’re using Omnisend for email marketing campaigns, you can add a GIF to an email template using the drag-and-drop builder.

Here’s a step-by-step guide you can follow to add GIFs to your emails easily:

Step 1: Add the image element to the email

Click on Quick add, drag the Image element into the email body, and drop it where you want to add the GIF.

Step 2: Choose a GIF file

Click Select file in the menu on the right

Step 3: Upload your GIF

Click Upload from URL or Upload from computer. Once uploaded, the image will be stored in your Omnisend Image library. Choose the GIF from your computer or add the URL you’ve copied. That’s it!

Where to get GIFs 

When deciding how to attach a GIF to an email, you have two main choices: use ready-made GIFs or create your own. Ready-made options are faster and easier, while custom GIFs give you more control over branding and messaging. 

The right choice depends on whether you want speed or brand control. No matter which option you choose, make sure your GIF in email campaigns is high-quality and relevant to your message. That’s what increases click-through rates and conversions. 

GIF libraries (GIPHY, Tenor)

Platforms like GIPHY and Tenor are large, searchable databases filled with millions of GIFs. They’re great for quick campaigns, adding humor, seasonal emails, or creating social-style content. 

If you’re short on time, these libraries make it easy to find something that fits your message in seconds. Here’s an example for Black Friday:

When using a GIF from these platforms, download the .gif file instead of copying the webpage link. Uploading the file directly ensures it displays properly in your email. 

Also, check the file size before inserting a GIF in an email. Large GIFs can slow down loading. Finally, ensure the GIF is brand-appropriate and free to use commercially so you don’t run into any licensing issues.

Make your own GIF

Custom GIFs give you full control over branding, visuals, and messaging. You can use them in product demos, feature walkthroughs, to highlight multiple images in one space, or to draw attention to an email CTA button. 

A simple workflow using GIPHY looks like this: 

1. Record your screen or animation, or upload a video
2. Trim the clip to the most important section

3. Click the arrow, then select Save GIF. The file automatically saves to your device.

4. Use an online tool to compress the file size

Long GIFs can slow loading speed, which can annoy users even before the email is opened. You should keep it short, ideally five to 10 seconds, and aim for around 1MB or less for smooth loading. You can use tools such as Canva, Photoshop, and screen recording software like Loom. 

Best practices for adding GIFs in emails

Learning how to put a GIF in an email can increase engagement, but only if it’s optimized and used strategically. A good GIF should always add to the user experience without being intrusive and off-placed.

A few adjustments can improve load speed, clicks, and overall performance. Below are practical tips to achieve a good-looking GIF in an email.

1. Optimize file size

Keep your GIF around 500KB – 1MB for faster loading, especially on mobile. Shorten the duration, reduce unnecessary frames, and limit the number of colors to shrink the file. These limits are similar to the recommended best sizes for images in email, which help improve the loading speed and performance of your GIF. A slow-loading email increases the likelihood that subscribers will abandon it before the animation plays.

2. Make the GIF clickable

Turn your animation into a clickable image that links to a landing page, product, or special offer. This way, the GIF in the email becomes a conversion tool. You can add UTM parameters to the link to track clicks and measure performance.

3. Check compatibility before sending

Not all email clients display GIFs in emails the same way. For example, some desktop versions of Microsoft Outlook only show the first frame. Always test your email across major email platforms and devices before sending to ensure everything displays correctly.

4. Stay on brand

Use colors, fonts, and animation styles that match your brand guidelines. The GIF should feel like a natural part of your email, not something random. Consistency builds trust and makes your message easy to understand.

5. Ensure accessibility

Add descriptive alt text so screen readers can explain the GIF in the email to visually impaired users. You should also avoid flashing or overly rapid animations, as they can be distracting or trigger sensitivity issues.

Conclusion

There you go! These are the simplest steps for putting a GIF in an email. The process is no more complicated than inserting a regular image. Whether you upload a file, drag and drop it, or paste an image URL, most email platforms allow you to put GIFs in emails with only a few clicks.

As you follow our steps on how to send a GIF in an email, keep performance in mind. Make sure the file size is small for faster loading, especially on mobile devices. Also, design the first frame to clearly show your main message in case some Outlook versions display it as a static image.

Most importantly, add GIFs to emails only when they’re relevant. It should support a goal, such as driving a click, showcasing a feature, or highlighting an offer. Test different versions to see how subscribers respond, then track clicks to measure impact.

When used strategically, GIFs can make your emails more effective. Try adding a well-placed GIF to your next campaign in Omnisend and see how it improves clicks and conversions.

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