ScreenGIFUse 15 FPS for most interface demonstrations. Choose 10 FPS when file size matters more than smooth transitions. Use 30 FPS only for fast motion where the visible improvement is worth roughly twice as many frames as 15 FPS.
What FPS means in a GIF
Frames per second describes how many individual images are displayed during each second of animation. A five-second selection stays five seconds long at every frame rate. At 10 FPS it contains about 50 frames; at 15 FPS, about 75; at 30 FPS, about 150.
Changing frame rate does not make the original action faster or slower. Playback speed is a separate setting.
| Frame rate | Best for | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| 5 FPS | Very simple state changes or strict size limits | Motion and cursor paths look visibly stepped. |
| 10 FPS | Bug reports, documentation, menus, taps, slower UI changes | Smaller files with acceptable but less fluid motion. |
| 15 FPS | Most app and website walkthroughs | Balanced motion and file size. |
| 30 FPS | Fast drawing, dragging, gaming, or motion comparison | About twice the frames of 15 FPS and often a much larger file. |
Why 15 FPS works well for screen content
Interface demonstrations mostly consist of taps, pointer movement, menu transitions, scrolling, and short animations. Fifteen updates per second usually preserve the order and feel of those actions without trying to imitate a full video. It also leaves more room for readable dimensions before the file becomes impractical.
When 10 FPS is enough
Use 10 FPS for issue trackers, chat messages, knowledge-base articles, and documentation where the viewer primarily needs to understand state changes. It is especially effective when the crop is stable and the action is deliberate.
When 30 FPS makes sense
Thirty FPS can help when the subject itself is fast: a drawing stroke, a continuously dragged object, a game interaction, or a comparison where motion quality is the point. Preview the result before keeping it. Many ordinary app transitions do not look meaningfully better enough to justify the size increase.
Frame rate versus playback speed
These controls solve different problems. Frame rate changes how many visual samples represent each second. Playback speed changes how long the action takes. If a five-second recording plays at 2× speed, it finishes in about 2.5 seconds; changing only FPS leaves it at five seconds.
How to choose in practice
- Start with 15 FPS and 1× speed.
- Preview the full loop at its expected display size.
- If file size is too high, shorten the selection and reduce dimensions before trying 10 FPS.
- If motion is hard to understand, first check whether the action is simply too fast. Use 30 FPS only if additional frames solve the problem.
A tightly cropped 15 FPS GIF can feel clearer than a full-screen 30 FPS GIF because the important movement is larger and easier to see.
Related guide
For a complete optimization order, read how to reduce GIF file size without losing clarity.