Today there are 121 different photo to anime converters. We spent 40 hours comparing the top 50 to find the seven best you can use to transform your images into anime-style artworks.
What is the Best Photo to Anime Converter?
- DeepSwap — best of the best
- SoulGen — best for smartphones
- Fotor — best for photo editing
- AILab Tools — best AI image tools
- Cartoonize — best for creative effects
- Avatoon — best for personalized avatars
- ToonMe — best for iOS
1. DeepSwap
Our Verdict — Best Of The Best
Price: Starts at $19.99/month
DeepSwap can create jaw-dropping anime from simple photos like no one else. We think it’s the best of the best because of its incredible AI powers, quickness, and welcoming promos for new users.
The Best Part:
It’s easy to make it great. Upload your photo, type a few words telling DeepSwap to make it into anime, and done. Within a few seconds, you’ll get a pro-level anime version of your photo.
The Worst Part:
Limited monthly credits. Both Premium subscription options provide 20 monthly credits, which comes down to 100 photo to anime conversions.
Get it if you're after the best way to transform photos into HQ anime images.
I recommend you get started with the free trial, then upgrade to the 12-month plan ($49.99 for the first order).
Best For
DeepSwap is best for everyone who wants high-quality, speedy conversions of their pictures into anime characters.
Top Features
Stunning results. DeepSwap’s anime looks like gold. It’s like having the most prolific Photoshop designer on call, 24/7.
Every detail counts. DeepSwap lets you customize your AI generated content down to the smallest details. Change hair color, add or remove clothing, skin color, location, props… There are almost no limits to what you can do.
Lightspeed. DeepSwap can transform photos into anime at the blink of an eye. Create as many AI image variations as you wish, edit them, and go crazy.
Beyond still photos. DeepSwap also works with videos and GIFs, so you can turn moving content into anime-style creations, not just single frames.
Remove unwanted objects. DeepSwap lets anyone eliminate unwanted objects from their uploaded images at will, so that your images are clean as a whistle, while you turn them into anime.
Pricing
DeepSwap offers two pricing plans:
- 1 month: $9.99 for the first order, normally $19.99, for casual users who want occasional photo to anime conversions.
- 12 months: $49.99 for the first order, normally $99.99, for regular users who love constantly exploring new styles and creating high-quality anime images throughout the year.
Annual subscriptions provide a 58% discount.
Try DeepSwap today with two free face swaps.
2. SoulGen
Our Verdict — Best For Smartphones
Price: Starts at $12.99/month
SoulGen makes it incredibly easy for anyone to turn photos into pro-level anime art. We think it’s the best for smartphones because of its user-friendly interface, high-quality image generation, and unique customization features.
The Best Part:
Type it in. With SoulGen, you can convert and tailor your photos into anime masterpieces like you were sending a text.
The Worst Part:
Limited free trial. SoulGen's free trial leaves you hanging as it only produces blurred images — to truly experience its magic, take a look at the showcase on their homepage instead.
Get it if you want an effortless way to convert your pictures into beautiful, high-quality anime-style artwork.
I recommend you get started with the 12 Month plan for $90.99/year.
Best For
SoulGen is best for content creators who want quick, quality transformations of real-life images into anime characters.
Top Features
Lightning fast. Just type a description, hit "generate," and hold onto your hat! You'll have your anime character conversion ready in less than 10 secs.
Let AI edit your creations. Make changes to your generated anime with simple text commands.
Work of art. If you're after stunning anime characters, SoulGen has got you covered with creating, editing, and converting breathtaking photos and anime images like a champ.
Welcome mat rolled out. New users get up to 42% off their first purchase.
Make it match your style. SoulGen makes it easy for you to add a personal touch to every image by clicking on tags — pick out the accessories, style, and action for your anime with just a few extra clicks.
Pricing
SoulGen offers two pricing plans:
- 1 month: $12.99 one-time payment, for casual users who need occasional photo to anime conversions.
- 12 months: $90.99/year for the first year, then $155.88/year for frequent users that require frequent image transformations into anime style.
Annual plans provide a 42% discount.
Try SoulGen today with a free trial.
3. Fotor
Our Verdict — Best For Photo Editing
Price: Starts at $10.99/month
Fotor is a powerhouse in photo to anime conversion with pro photo editing capabilities. We think it’s the best for photo editing because of its AI-powered Photo Enhancer, wide range of templates and fonts, and generous cloud storage.
The Best Part:
AI-Powered features. Fotor offers game-changing tools like the AI Photo Enhancer and the AI Object Remover, making it a breeze to create jaw-dropping anime from your photos.
The Worst Part:
Watermarked downloads on the basic plan. With the free version of Fotor, you'll have to put up with watermarked downloads which might be a bit of a rain on your parade.
Get it if you want a one-stop shop for converting photos to anime without having to juggle multiple apps or tools.
I recommend you start off with the Fotor Pro monthly subscription at $10.99/month.
(free plan)
Best For
Fotor is best for anyone who wants an easy-to-use platform with advanced features that can convert regular photos into stunning anime.
Top Features
Great value for everyone. Whether you're just starting out or are an experienced editor, Fotor’s plans offer incredible bang for your buck, and incredible quality.
Batch processing. Fotor can convert multiple photos into anime at once — no need to go through the process one by one.
Lightning fast. Fotor's AI algorithm generates your anime from any type of image within a few seconds.
Always there for you. You can use Fotor on any platform, including your browsers, Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.
Powered by AI. Fotor's generative AI technology takes your creations to the next level, automatically enhancing image details for a more striking anime conversion that will knock your socks off!
Pricing
Fotor offers four pricing plans:
- Fotor Basic: Free forever, for those who want to dabble in photo-to-anime conversion and explore basic editing features.
- Fotor Pro: $10.99/month, or $47.99/year, for anime enthusiasts who want watermark-free HD exports, batch editing, and 2 GB of cloud storage.
- Fotor Pro+: $23.99/month, or $69.99/year, for those who want more credits, faster generation, and 100 GB of cloud storage.
- Fotor Max: $49.99/month, or $167.92/year, for power users who want 1,000 credits per month and 50 concurrent generations.
Annual plans provide up to a 76% discount.
Try Fotor today with the free plan.
4. AILab Tools
Our Verdict — Best AI Image Tools
Price: Starts at $10/month
AILab Tools leverages powerful AI capabilities to convert photos into anime. We think it offers the best AI image tools because of its advanced AI algo, affordable pricing, and built-in AI editing tools.
The Best Part:
Unparalleled AI capabilities. AILab Tools uses artificial intelligence to create anime-style images from your photos, batch process with API support, and even lets you play around with a ton of cool artistic filters.
The Worst Part:
Slow processing times. While AILab Tools does a stellar job with conversions, it tends to lag behind competitors like Fotor and SoulGen.
Get it if you're after an affordable tool with impressive conversion quality and AI editing features to turn normal pics into HD anime.
I recommend you start with the free plan, then get the subscription plan for $10/month if you need more credits.
(free plan)
Best For
AILab Tools is best for adult anime enthusiasts and artists who want a user-friendly and AI-powered platform to transform their photos into unique anime-style images.
Top Features
Pick your style. Pick from dozens of cartoon effects, including Japanese anime, 90s retro anime, shoujo manga, ukiyo-e, and Pixar.
Turns your photos into sketches. AILab Tools' AI technology converts your photos to incredible anime — as if they were hand-drawn by a master artist.
Save some bucks. The free plan gives you 5 credits a month for watermark-free HD downloads, so you can try it without paying.
Credits roll over. On a subscription, unused credits roll over automatically to the next month.
Running a bizz? Use their power. Leverage AILab Tools' API support for batch processing or docking to third-party systems — perfect if you're looking to automate conversions, streamline workflows, or even build your own anime-style photo app!
Pricing
AILab Tools offers three pricing plans:
- Free: $0/month for 5 credits a month and watermark-free HD downloads.
- Subscription: $10/month for 200 credits a month that roll over, plus commercial usage.
- Pay as you go: $15 for 200 credits that never expire, with no subscription required.
Annual subscriptions provide a 20% discount.
Try AILab Tools today with the free plan.
5. Cartoonize
Our Verdict — Best For Creative Effects
Price: Starts at $9.99/month
Cartoonize (formerly Colorcinch) is an online photo editor and cartoonizer. We think it’s the best for creative effects because it turns your photos into cartoons, sketches, and artwork in one click, with hundreds of filters and effects to fine-tune the result.
The Best Part:
One-click cartoons. Upload a photo and Cartoonize turns it into a cartoon, a sketch, or a piece of artwork with a single click.
The Worst Part:
Best effects need Pro. The free Basic account covers the essentials, but premium effects, all graphics, and higher-resolution exports need Cartoonize Pro.
Get it if you want to cartoonize your photos and keep editing them in the same tool.
I recommend you start for free, then get Cartoonize Pro for $6.99/month billed annually.
(free plan)
Best For
Cartoonize is best for creators who want to turn photos into cartoons and artwork, with a full photo editor built in.
Top Features
Cartoonizer effects. Turn photos into unique art with the cartoonizer, the sketcher, and hundreds of specialty filters and effects.
AI background remover. Remove any background from your photo with one click.
4 million+ assets. Add high-resolution stock photos, premium vector graphics, and icons to your designs.
Photo to anime. Turn any photo into anime-style art in one click with the Photo to Anime AI tool, and choose between different anime styles.
Print-ready exports. Export your artwork for print at up to 400 DPI.
Pricing
Cartoonize offers two pricing plans:
- Basic: Free to use with no registration, for essential effects and features.
- Pro: $9.99/month, or $83.88/year ($6.99/month), for all premium effects and features, all graphic collections, and unlimited projects.
Annual subscriptions provide a 30% discount.
Try Cartoonize today for free.
6. Avatoon
Our Verdict — Best For Personalized Avatars
Price: Free to download, with in-app purchases
Avatoon is an avatar creator app for iPhone and Android. We think it’s the best for personalized avatars because it turns a single photo into a cartoon avatar that looks like you, then lets you customize every detail.
The Best Part:
Avatar from one photo. Avatoon’s facial recognition creates a personalized cartoon avatar from just one picture of you.
The Worst Part:
Premium costs extra. More features are locked behind an Avatoon Premium subscription, which renews automatically.
Get it if you want a cartoon version of yourself to use as an avatar, an emoji, or a sticker.
I recommend you download Avatoon for free, then try Avatoon Premium if you want more features.
(free download)
Best For
Avatoon is best for social media users who want a cartoon avatar, stickers, and emojis that look just like them.
Top Features
Avatar creator. Customize everything from hair to eyes and clothes to nose, so your avatar looks just like you.
600+ outfits. Style your avatar with hundreds of outfits, shoes, and accessories.
Personalized stickers. Turn your avatar into stickers and emojis for your messages.
Cartoon photo editor. Change your avatar’s expressions, poses, and backgrounds, or put it into real-life photos.
Send and share. Share your stickers, emojis, and edited photos on your favorite social media.
Pricing
Avatoon offers two pricing plans:
- Free: Free to download, for creating and customizing your cartoon avatar.
- Avatoon Premium: In-app subscription with a 3-day free trial, for more features.
Try Avatoon today for free.
7. ToonMe
Our Verdict — Best For iOS
Price: Free to download, with in-app purchases
ToonMe is an AI cartoon face maker app from Informe Laboratories. We think it’s the best for iOS because its AI turns a selfie into a cartoon portrait of hand-drawn quality in seconds, and it’s rated 4.7 on the App Store from over 100,000 ratings.
The Best Part:
Hand-drawn quality. ToonMe’s AI instantly turns your selfie into a cartoon portrait that looks hand-drawn, no drawing skills needed.
The Worst Part:
Paid upgrade. Getting the most out of ToonMe means paying for a ToonMe PRO subscription, which renews automatically.
Get it if you want to join the #ToonMe trend and turn your selfies into cartoons on your iPhone.
I recommend you download ToonMe for free, then upgrade to ToonMe PRO if you want more.
(free download)
Best For
ToonMe is best for iPhone users who want to turn their selfies into cartoon portraits for social media.
Top Features
Cartoon yourself. Take or upload a selfie and meet your cartoon self in seconds.
Many styles. Pick from a variety of cartoon styles to make your portrait stand out.
Toon Mirror. See yourself in alternate cartoon realities with ToonMe’s Toon Mirror.
Restyle your photo. Restyle your photos into new cartoon looks.
Also on Android. Get ToonMe on Google Play and Huawei AppGallery as well as the App Store.
Pricing
ToonMe offers two pricing plans:
- Free: Free to download, for turning your selfies into cartoons.
- ToonMe PRO: In-app subscription, for users who want more from ToonMe.
Try ToonMe today for free.
Our Top Three Picks
Here’s a quick summary of our top three picks:
Here’s a quick comparison of our top seven picks:
Tool | Entry Offer | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
DeepSwap | Free trial | Starts at $19.99/mo |
SoulGen | Free trial | Starts at $12.99/mo |
Fotor | Free plan | Starts at $10.99/mo |
AILab Tools | Free plan | Starts at $10/mo |
Cartoonize | Free plan | Starts at $9.99/mo |
Avatoon | Free download | In-app purchases |
ToonMe | Free download | In-app purchases |
Here are the top 50 photo to anime converters we considered in this review:
- DeepSwap
- SoulGen
- Fotor
- AILab Tools
- Cartoonize
- Avatoon
- ToonMe
- Meitu
- MakeAvatar
- AI Image Anime
- Super Anime Maker
- Ezgif
- Ipiccy
- BeFunky
- Photoshop
- Clip Studio Paint
- SAI
- Medibang Paint
- Krita
- Pixlr M
- Lunapic
- Anime Avatar Maker
- Anime GAN
- ToonyPhoto
- Cartoon.Pho.to
- Waifu2x
- VanceAI
- AnimeSketch
- ToonApp
- Manga Maker
- Cartoonify
- Picsart
- Photomash
- Selfie2anime
- Zmo.ai
- Anime Avatar Maker Free
- Anime Face Changer Free
- Anime Avatar Maker Creator
- PhotoFunia
- DeepDream Generator
- PaintsChainer
- DeepArtEffects
- Image Anime Maker
- InstaToon
- AI Painter
- Style2Paints
- Painnt
- Artbreeder
- Dreamscope
- PhotoDirector
Frequently Asked Questions About Photo to Anime Converters
What is the best photo to anime converter?
DeepSwap is our top pick for quality. For mobile convenience reach for SoulGen, and for comprehensive editing go with Fotor.
How do I convert a photo to anime?
Upload your photo, pick the anime filter or style you want, and let the AI apply it. Some tools like SoulGen take text commands to customize the result, then you download or share the output.
How long does it take to turn a photo into anime?
Most tools finish in a few seconds. Times range from a few seconds up to slightly longer, depending on the tool.
Is there a free photo to anime converter?
Yes. Fotor, AILab Tools, and Cartoonize all give you a free plan, and ToonMe and Avatoon are free to download. DeepSwap and SoulGen run on free trials instead.
How do I choose a photo to anime converter?
Match the pick to what you need. Reach for DeepSwap for quality, SoulGen for mobile, Fotor for photo editing, AILab Tools for AI image tools, Cartoonize for creative effects, ToonMe on iOS, and Avatoon for personalized avatars.
Which photo to anime converter is best for smartphones?
SoulGen is our pick for smartphones, built for mobile convenience. On iOS specifically, reach for ToonMe.
DeepSwap vs SoulGen: which should I use?
Reach for DeepSwap when quality matters most, and SoulGen when you want mobile convenience. Both run on free trials, so you can test each before deciding.
Which converter is best for photo editing or creative effects?
Fotor is our pick for photo editing and Cartoonize for creative effects. If you want personalized avatars, reach for Avatoon.
The Bottom Line
To recap, here are the best photo to anime converters to try this year: