Comparison of Meme and Gif Generator Apps

Understanding Meme Generators

The term “Meme” can be used to describe a number of different media:

1. “Reaction” memes: Static images with funny content which are used to react to a post

2. “Text” memes which embellish an image with text, often in a bold blocky font, to make a specific statement, deliver a punchline, or tell a story

3. Animated GIFs: While they are not static images, these are often referred to as memes because they borrow the same language and style components. Because some GIF search engine results are static images and many GIFs borrow from meme style, the term “gif” is sometimes used interchangeably with “meme”

Generally, memes are intentionally low-quality images or rudimentary text, and are not intended to be confused for professional messaging or artwork. The use of blocky text and pixelated images lends an informal and homemade feeling to the medium, intended to put the viewer in a humorous mood.

Types of meme generators and search tools

A variety of tools exist for creating memes:

• Conventional photo and layout software, like Powerpoint, Slides, and photo editors

• Specialized web-based tools like giphy and imgflip which offer the ability to add custom text to trending images

• Mobile meme generator tools

• AI image generation tools

In addition, there are a number of ways to search and browse memes:

• Online web platforms: Giphy.com and similar websites allow searching image databases

• Application-specific keyboards and extensions: Slack and Discord popularized the use of meme and gif image search keyboards from within their messaging platforms, allowing users to react with custom images or custom emoji.

• Mobile apps: A variety of mobile apps have emerged to satisfy the need for on-the-go messaging and quick informal reactions, perfect for memes

• Gif keyboards and keyboard extensions: To be able to create a tool that is available anytime, some image generator companies have built custom keyboards or keyboard extensions. When Apple introduces the iMessage Extension platform, the #images gif search tool was one of the first iMessage Extensions which they featured! In the subsequent years, the Tenor GIF Keyboard, Giphy iMessage Extension, and Gigglebot AI Image Generator have taken advantage of this framework to offer instant meme search or generation tools within iMessages.

Mobile apps for Meme Generation and Search

When considering mobile apps for creating or searching memes, a few key questions are important:

• Do you want to search through existing memes, or create your own memes?

• Do you mind switching apps to generate or search for memes, or do you want to stay within the conversation by using a keyboard or iMessage Extension?

• Do you want AI generation or layout features, or do you want to do things manually?

Below is a table comparing the attributes of some popular meme generator apps, gif keyboards, and ai meme generators: