Best Photo Booth App

I’ve spent a lot of time searching for the perfect photo booth app for my events. It’s been harder than I expected. Some crashed halfway through, and some didn’t make it easy to add logos or share photos. A few were so outdated that it was almost embarrassing to use them in front of guests.

When I realized many photographers and planners were facing the same frustrations when picking photo booth apps, I decided to investigate. I spoke with industry peers, read honest reviews on Reddit, and WeddingWire.

Moreover, I gathered feedback from my own wedding and corporate event clients. Armed with these insights, I ran my own tests. I tried over 20 photo booth apps over six weeks at events, DIY setups, and studio mockups.

When I choose the best photo booth app, I look for a few must-haves:

After exploring dozens of options, from free apps to premium photo booth apps, I’ve narrowed down my top recommendations.

Some people think photo booths had their moment years ago, before Instagram filters and AR masks became popular. But I couldn’t disagree more.

Whenever my clients find out they can get instant, personalized photo strips, event-themed GIFs, or even mini slow-motion videos during parties, they get very excited. Besides, it always becomes one of the event highlights.

Even today, the right photo booth app for iPad can impress guests in seconds. The fun doubles when they can share their shots instantly or take home a printed keepsake. This mix of classic photo booth vibes and modern technology is a hit at both weddings and branded parties. Here’s what’s trending and how you can make your setup stand out.

Tip #1: Go for AI-powered props and backgrounds. With Snappic Booth, you can use AI to place digital props on people and swap out backgrounds instantly. The best thing is that you don’t need to mess with a green screen. I used it for my New Year’s Eve setup. It acquired a playful, social media vibe that reminded me of Snapchat and TikTok effects.

Tip #2: Upgrade your photo booth style. Such party photo booth apps like LumaBooth and Booth.Events offer more than just photo strips. You can add branded overlays, intro and outro videos, and even a themed start screen. I use this for corporate events to match the brand’s style. Clients appreciate the results.

Tip #3: Make photo delivery instant. Booth.Events allows guests to grab their photos on the spot. They just scan a QR code or get a text/email, and the image is theirs. Thus, you don’t need to deal with USB sticks or send big galleries afterward.

Tip #4: Go hands-free. Your photo booth should be working even when you’re focused on other things. Mini Photobooth is the best photobooth app in this regard. It offers a quick setup without signing in. Plus, it runs on its own. I rely on it for small events or laid-back parties.

Tip #5: Add a second device for interaction. Another iPad at the booth exit lets guests share reactions or pick their favorite shots. Many photo booth apps make this simple with remote galleries or quick integrations. You can have it ready in minutes.

Tip #6: Don’t go overboard with effects. Using too many filters can be distracting. Stick to a simple frame, natural lighting, and one or two tasteful effects. Thus, you will get elegant photos, which is especially important for wedding events.

Tip #7: Keep a backup ready. Things happen, so it’s smart to have a backup. I rely on Pocketbooth. It works without internet and has a nostalgic photo booth charm. If the main setup crashes, you can still entertain guests.

The truth is, the best photo booth apps aren’t just cheaper than big setups. They help you make moments guests will remember. They can be used at elegant weddings, relaxed birthday parties, and everything in between.

One of my colleagues, an expert in corporate events, insisted that Booth.Events was a great app for photo booth. I decided to test it at a company conference and a stylish wedding to see if it lived up to the hype.

I was impressed that everything looked so professional. Booth.Events lets you customize start screens, overlays, branding, intros, and outros, and even run surveys. I think this is an ideal option for corporate events focused on lead capture.

Sharing photos is so easy thanks to cloud syncing and instant gallery creation. Guests scanned a QR code and had their pictures in seconds. With branding on every step, it resembled a top-tier kiosk rather than just an iPad selfie station app.

Booth.Events is better suited for users with serious needs. It takes longer to set up than Mini Photobooth, and the subscription can be expensive if you are mainly looking for a free photo editing app.

When you compare it to LumaBooth, Booth.Events looks more professional and neater. It lets you control branding, layout, and events. As for shortcomings, this photo booth app doesn’t offer all the playful features LumaBooth has, e.g., boomerangs and videos.

Pricing: Free, from $49/month

After seeing LumaBooth recommended over and over on Reddit, I decided to test it out at a wedding with 200 guests. It did not disappoint. The app is very flexible. You can take photos, shoot videos, make boomerangs, use green screen effects, and create guestbooks. It ran without a hitch for the entire 6-hour reception.

I loved that the drag-and-drop template builder was simple to use. I made a custom overlay in under 10 minutes. Even guests who aren’t tech-savvy had no trouble using this wedding photographer app. The couple especially loved the automatically generated guestbook packed with fun selfies and messages.

One thing I wasn’t pleased with was the interface. It works fine, but compared to Simple Booth HALO’s sleek, modern design, it feels a little dated. I also noticed that auto-printing could lag a bit if the Wi-Fi wasn’t strong, so I’d suggest testing your internet speed before the big day.

Even with those small issues, LumaBooth is an amazing wedding photo booth app. It’s loaded with features, and you get clean, watermark-free photos even on the entry-level plan.

Pricing: Free, from $19.99

Two of my wedding clients couldn’t stop talking about Mini Photobooth, so I tested it. They had it running on an iPad at their receptions, and it was a hit with guests. I later tested it at a birthday and a relaxed engagement dinner. Both times, it worked without problems.

Setup is a breeze. I spent a mere five minutes from start to finish. There’s no account to create or tricky settings to figure out. You just add your overlays, set the timer, and start shooting. Its automatic photo editor is dedicated to photo strips. Therefore, you get a timeless booth feel without needless extras.

The bragging point of Mini Photobooth is that it runs offline without issues. I once used it at an outdoor party with terrible Wi-Fi, and it still worked flawlessly. Sure, it’s not built for massive events or corporate use. You won’t get instant social sharing or live galleries. But this photo booth app is perfect for smaller celebrations.

Compared to feature-heavy apps like Snappic Booth, this one feels refreshingly simple. It’s designed for ease and enjoyment, not tech overload. The only drawback is the limited layouts. It mostly sticks to the traditional strip style. Still, for many people, that’s exactly what they’re looking for.

Pricing: Free, from $39.99

A colleague in the luxury wedding business told me to check out Simple Booth HALO. I tested it during a black-tie wedding held in a museum, where style was paramount. The HALO looked very appropriate there. It has a modern, minimalistic interface, so guests can jump in and use it without any guidance.

The coolest feature is the Live Gallery. As soon as someone took a picture, it showed up on a screen for all to enjoy. People loved crowding around, finding their photos, and scanning QR codes to share them instantly. With such a selfie app, any event becomes livelier.

While Booth.Events offers more options for branding and layouts; HALO’s strength is its guest-friendly design. It isn’t focused on deep customization, but provides a clean, easy-to-use setup that looks great.

Still, the subscription cost may be too high for users looking for the best free photo booth app. If you are OK with the price, you’ll get lots of cool features for pro-grade events.

Pricing: Free, from $$9.99

I stumbled upon Snappic while watching YouTube tutorials about its AI features. It instantly caught my attention. When a tech company asked for an interactive photo booth setup at their product launch, I knew this was the perfect time to test it.

Snappic offers AI props, clever background removal, slow-motion clips, boomerangs, and playful face-reactive filters. People couldn’t get enough of trying on virtual accessories and sharing the results right away. The booth became one of the night’s highlights.

Along with its AI effects, this AI photo editor offers advanced branding features, slideshow integration, and the ability to control everything remotely. I was able to run the booth from my iPad while working nearby at the event.

It’s definitely designed for pros or full-time booth operators. The interface is detailed and takes longer to set up than simpler photo booth apps like LumaBooth. Also, without a strong internet connection, the AI tools won’t work. But if you’re looking for a photo booth vibe that blends Snapchat’s fun with Pixar-level polish, this app can fit the bill.

Pricing: Free

Curious about the buzz on Reddit, I tried Pocketbooth for a casual engagement shoot and a small backyard party of 30 people. I was really stunned by this photobooth for parties. The app recreates the classic photo booth experience, complete with countdown beeps and retro photo strips. Best of all, it works offline and is easy for anyone to use.

I particularly liked how easy it was to capture personal moments with this app. Guests were laughing, cramming into frames, and racing the timer. It brought back all the 90s mall photo booth memories. This photo collage app is perfect for intimate parties.

Pocketbooth is even simpler than Mini Photobooth, offering the classic photo booth experience. There is no cloud saving, filters, or sharing online. You get solely old-school features.

While it’s not suited for weddings or corporate events where guests expect custom designs or instant sharing, it works perfectly as a backup. To my mind, it is a must-have for relaxed parties.

Pricing: free, from $4.99

A fellow wedding photographer who loves rustic and DIY-style events recommended DIY Wedding Booth Professional. The name didn’t sound too promising, so I wasn’t expecting much. Still, I used this Instagram photo editor at a barn wedding, and it completely exceeded my expectations.

With this DIY photo booth app, you can take photos, GIFs, and boomerangs, plus print them and add your own overlays. I loved how quick it was to set up. I spent just 15 minutes, uploading the design and adjusting it, and I was good to go. Keep in mind that this app works offline, so it is perfect for parties without Wi-Fi.

As for weak points, the interface is a bit dated compared to Simple Booth HALO. Plus, it doesn’t have Snappic’s high-end branding tools or AI filters. But for the price, it’s a practical and reliable choice. The tutorial website with tips and templates is a nice bonus for beginners.

Pricing: upon request

This list of the best photo booth apps isn’t just built on star ratings or marketing promises. I personally tested these apps. I worked with colleagues from the FixThePhoto team. They are experienced in weddings, corporate events, and brand activations, so we managed to get well-rounded opinions.

We tested 20+ apps suggested by industry contacts, Reddit users, wedding Facebook groups, and my own clients. For 7 weeks, I tested them at real events or mock setups. I used iPads, ring lights, and the same backdrops I use at my gigs.

Some apps were highly recommended by others, but we didn’t include them on the list:

We selected only the best photo booth apps that offered the following features:

This testing went beyond numbers and specs. I asked guests, clients, and other photographers for honest feedback. After 7 weeks of testing at real events and mock setups, I’m sure these photo booth apps offer amazing performance and impeccable reliability.