RedGIFs

RedGIFs is an online media hosting service specializing in short-form looping videos and animated images formatted as GIF alternatives, with a primary focus on adult content. The platform allows registered users to upload, share, and discover video clips.

RedGIFs was launched in late 2019 by Gfycat, a short video hosting company. The platform was created as a dedicated subdomain specifically for hosting adult (NSFW) content, segregating explicit material from Gfycat’s primary general-audience service. NSFW links on Gfycat would automatically redirect users to RedGIFs to display the media.

In May 2020, Gfycat was acquired by Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat. RedGIFs was excluded from this transaction and was transferred to a separate, undisclosed company. Concurrent with the acquisition, Gfycat banned all adult content from its main platform, directing all such uploads exclusively to RedGIFs going forward.

Gfycat ultimately announced it would discontinue its service on September 1, 2023, following technical issues including the expiration of its TLS certificate on May 18, 2023. RedGIFs remained fully operational following Gfycat’s closure.

Although marketed as a GIF platform, RedGIFs hosts short looping videos in modern video formats rather than traditional GIF files, including formats such as MP4 and WebM. This allows for better quality, smoother playback, and faster loading compared to traditional GIF files.

RedGIFs employs a tagging and categorization system to help users discover content. Users can browse content without creating an account, while registered users gain access to additional features such as saving favorites, following creators, and commenting on content. Content creators can register and get verified, enabling profile customization and access to analytics tools. Creators can also control whether content should be public, private, or restricted to particular users through privacy settings.

RedGIFs allows users to embed content on external platforms. The platform became especially prominent within adult-oriented communities on Reddit following the ban of explicit material on Gfycat. A significant portion of referral traffic to RedGIFs originates from Reddit.

RedGIFs does not have an official native mobile application for iOS or Android devices. Instead, the platform offers a mobile-optimized website that can be added to a device’s home screen for app-like functionality. Several unofficial third-party applications have been developed by independent developers for browsing RedGIFs content on mobile devices.

As of December 2025, redgifs.com received approximately 114.69 million visits per month, with an average session duration of 9 minutes and 32 seconds. The platform’s primary audience is located in the United States, followed by Germany and India. Visitors mainly come from direct traffic (71.68%), followed by referrals from reddit.com (15.32%).