Apps like Lensa caught my attention after I was first blown away by what Lensa could do. I still remember uploading some selfies and choosing the "Vogue-style model" filter for the first time. The results made me say "Wow!"
But as I started using AI tools more for professional work like retouching photos, creating magazine covers, YouTube thumbnails, and Instagram content for clients, I realized Lensa has its limits. It's fun, fast, and creates eye-catching results, but it doesn't offer enough control for serious design work.
So, I decided to properly test other apps. My goal was to find an AI photo editor that is either more affordable than Lensa, produces higher quality results, or gives more customization options - especially for working with faces, textures, and lighting.
Most importantly, I wanted to test these apps as a professional designer, not just a casual user. I need tools that can handle real client projects, not just cool selfie filters.
Our FixThePhoto team and I tested all these Lensa alternatives because, honestly, you can't trust what the app store promises.
We kept it real: every test happened on my iPhone 15 Pro only. No computer tricks, no Photoshop magic, no fancy equipment - just the apps working (or not working) as they would for you.
Why test this way? Simple - if an app says it's as good as Lensa, it should give pro results right from your phone. No excuses.
I evaluated every app using identical testing methods:
It sounds straightforward, but most apps struggle, messing up skin tones, flattening textures, or giving eyes that creepy plastic shine. When did an app actually get it right? Now that was noteworthy. Here’s what I was checking in each app:
During testing process, I didn’t use styluses, stylised apps, or external editors. Just the phone in my hand, a few minutes per test, and an honest approach as someone who works with images daily – for social media, marketing campaigns, YouTube thumbnails, and sometimes just for fun.
Price: Free + additional AI features available with subscription
I've been using Photoshop on a desktop for years, so when I started testing the mobile version – the Photoshop app for iPhone, I had high expectations. And let me tell you right away: it exceeded them.
This isn't some "light" version like you often get with mobile apps. Everything is here - layers, masks, color correction, AI tools, including Generative Fill powered by Adobe Firefly.
Photoshop offers way more flexibility than Lensa, especially with the new update. Lensa is great for quick, automatic edits, while Photoshop gives you full control. You can remove a background and replace it with whatever you describe in the text or draw in an earring that was "lost" in the shot. And all of this right from the phone.
What I tested:
What I liked:
What could be better:
Final verdict: If you're a designer, photographer, or just want more control over your edits, this is the best Lensa alternative. There’s less "magic in one click," but you get better quality, more flexibility, and real editing power. I use it every day, not just for portraits.
“This is the only mobile app like Lensa that gives me complete creative control: from the background to the tiniest details. It's like carrying a professional photo studio in my pocket.”
Price: Free + extra AI features with a subscription
DreamBooth isn’t just another AI software, it’s a whole process. First, you train the AI on your own face by uploading a few photos (I used 10: front-facing, side profile, different lighting). Then, you can generate any style you want like fantasy, cyberpunk, retro, pixel art. Anything you can imagine!
I tried it for making avatars and cover photos, and it was really cool. The AI actually “remembers” your face and uses it in different scenes. Lensa has something similar, but it’s less personalized and uses more preset styles, while this one really trains the AI just for you.
What I tested:
What I liked:
What could be better:
Final verdict: DreamBooth isn't about instant filters, it's for creators. If you want to transform yourself into a character or create truly stunning content, this outperforms Lensa. The results are more nuanced, lifelike, and visually powerful.
Price: Free + premium access for advanced styles
Fotor is one of the best AI apps like Lensa that offers multiple features. It's a fast mobile editor with AI-powered tools for retouching, background changes, artistic filters, and auto-correction.
I tested Fotor in different roles as a designer, as a photographer, and just as a regular user wanting to tweak a selfie before posting online.
Compared to Lensa, this AI photo editor offers more style options like oil painting, pop art, and retro filters without over-smoothing skin into that unnatural “plastic mask” look. The filters actually look good - not like those outdated 2010 photo editor presets.
What I tested:
What I liked:
What could be better:
Final verdict: If you don’t want to completely give up Lensa-style AI but want more options and a bit more control over settings, Fotor is definitely worth trying. It’s an optimal combination of Lensa’s simplicity and Photoshop’s control.
“Fotor gives the same wow effect as Lensa but with more control. I can adjust the retouching myself, and it really changes the game.”
Price: Free (has ads + premium access for faster generation)
Wonder AI is a text-to-image generator. It's super simple: you type a description and get a picture. But it's actually more than that. As a designer, I use Wonder not just for fun; it's also a great tool for creating concepts: book covers, posters, or even ideas for fashion shoots.
Unlike Lensa, where you just upload a photo and get a result, here everything depends on your imagination. The more precise your description, the more interesting the outcome. I’ve created a "film noir" portrait, a sci-fi cover with a hooded character, and even a graphic novel-style design.
What I tested:
What I liked:
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Final verdict: Wonder isn’t a replacement for Lensa; it’s a different approach. It’s not about retouching or portraits, but about sparking ideas. If you work with visual concepts, this free app like Lensa is a lifesaver. Great for designers or anyone creating storytelling content.
Price: Free (with limits) + subscription for extra features
Dawn AI stands out as both fun and visually stunning. It magically transforms your photos into fantasy AI portraits like Lensa, but better. The key difference is that Dawn gives you way more creative styles, cool effects, and unique backgrounds to play with. Plus, it works lightning fast!
I tested Dawn AI with the same selfies I used in Lensa, trying 20+ styles from elf queen to space explorer. The results were impressive: it kept my facial features accurate while creating well-composed images.
Unlike Lensa, where backgrounds often look choppy, Dawn, as one of the best AI face generators from photos, blends characters and scenes much more naturally.
What I tested:
What I liked:
What could be better:
Final verdict: Dawn AI is the perfect app like Lensa for Android users who love vibrant visuals and want to transform into a superhero, elf, or space character - ideal for TikTok, Instagram, or just fun avatars. While similar to Lensa, the AI art generator offers more diverse styles and faster generation. Just note it's less suited for serious photo editing than some other tools.
“Perfect when you want to see yourself as a superhero or fantasy queen. Bold styles, instant results – great for TikTok or profile pics.”
When I first created my Lensa avatar and used it for a YouTube Shorts cover, I got an instant “wow'” reaction! But then I wondered: can I actually use this commercially?
Lensa, Fotor, Dawn AI – all offer "free-but-not-really-free" plans with tricky license fine print. They are for:
Here's the twist: The AI generates your images but doesn't actually own them - and neither might you. Even though it's your face, the tool creating it is likely trained on public photos, putting you in a legal gray area - especially if selling prints, merchandise, or using them in ads.
Lensa claims you can “use generated images if they don't violate third-party rights,” but who are these mystery third parties? The original artists whose styles were replicated? The photographers whose work trained the AI? This issue still isn't clearly regulated by law.
As a designer, I'm used to clear rules: you either buy a license or create original work for clients. But with AI? It's a legal gray area. Beautiful? Absolutely. Safe to use? Not always.
My personal advice:
