Explainer
Animated vs Static Custom Emojis: Which Should You Use?
When to use animated (GIF) vs static (PNG) custom emojis — platform support, file sizes, readability, and performance.
4 min read
Animated emoji grab attention, but static emoji are faster, cleaner, and supported everywhere. Here's how to choose.
Use a static PNG when
- •You want it to work on every platform and theme.
- •It's a reaction you'll use constantly — static is calmer in a busy channel.
- •File size and load performance matter.
Use an animated GIF when
- •The motion is the joke (a spinning party parrot, a celebratory dance).
- •Your platform supports it — Slack, Discord (boosted/Nitro), and Telegram do.
- •You can keep the file small so it stays under upload limits.
Things to watch
- •Not every app supports animation, and some only on paid tiers.
- •Animated files are larger — watch the per-platform KB limits.
- •Too many animated emoji in one channel can feel noisy; use them sparingly.
Make your own custom emoji
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Open the emoji generatorFAQ
Do animated emojis work on Discord?
Yes, but animated server emoji typically require a boosted server or Nitro. Static PNG emoji work on any server.
Are animated emojis bad for performance?
They're larger files and can feel noisy in busy channels. For everyday reactions, static PNGs are lighter and read more clearly.