Here are the six best apps for turning pictures into paintings.
1. Prisma Photo Editor
Prisma kicked off the art-style filter craze because it is remarkably easy to use and does a few things none of the other apps on this list do.
With Prisma, once you choose a photo and a filter, it will apply the filter immediately and show you a preview of your final image. You can then slide your finger left or right to denote the intensity of the filter, from 0 to 100 percent. There are also the usual image editing options like exposure, contrast, saturation, and more.
Related:Best Online Free Video Editors Without Watermarks
The free version has plenty of great filters already. If you want to unlock over 500 filters and effects, you’ll need to subscribe to the Premium plan for $1.99 per week.
Download: Prisma for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
2. PicsArt Photo & Video Editor
If you’re looking to do more than simply transform a photo into a painting, PicsArt is a fantastic option. The app functions as a full photo editing service complete with selfie and video editing capabilities, collage layouts, and a selection of beautifying tools and filters.
Within these filters, you’ll find a few different options that will allow you to completely alter the appearance of your selected photo into that of an artist’s painting. You can edit the photo to near perfection and change the filter for pure artistry in minutes.
Download: PicsArt for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
3. GoArt: Art Photo Editor
Another excellent app to help you turn a photo into a painting is GoArt. GoArt has been designed with a major focus placed on the ability to print the art that you create. This brings some excellent benefits and a few potential issues for your photo needs.
The app uses AI technology to convert the photo into an artistic piece. Although it creates a clean and quality image, this can take a few minutes to process, unlike most instantaneous options. However, like Prisma, GoArt allows you to adjust the intensity of the effects to ensure the resultant artwork is of your liking.
Once you’re finished, you’ll notice there’s a watermark on the photo. You can save up virtual coins in the app to remove it or upgrade to the premium version for its complete removal.
You can select from various art styles, including everything from expressionism to structuralism. Create masterpiece after masterpiece and frame them on your walls at home.
Download: GoArt for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
4. PhotoLab: Art Picture Editor
If you love experimenting with funny, creative, and beautiful filters, PhotoLab: Art Picture Editor is the right app for you.
This is a great option for people looking to add a little something extra to their social media pages. PhotoLab is more than just a photo to painting app. The AI-driven tech is extremely easy to use and will automatically do edits, like cropping, for you.
From the app, you can easily upload your image to social media or share it on a platform specifically designed for sharing digital art. PhotoLab has a wide range of filters available, so you can try different ones to see which one suits a specific picture.
Download: PhotoLab: Art Picture Editor for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
5. Insta Toon: Cartoon and Art Cam
Insta Toon has developed a strong fan following by providing a high-quality product that actually delivers exactly what you’re asking for. There are fewer photo editing tools available in this app, as it focuses strictly on turning your photos into paintings.
Simply upload an image from your camera roll or take a picture in real-time to get started. From there, scroll through the list of available filters until you find the perfect fit. There are a plethora of filter options, including black and white sketch designs, oil paintings, and comics.
You can save the new piece as a still image, GIF, or video, and share it with family and friends. You can also export in different resolutions, including SD, HD, and Full HD. This app is only available for iPhone, however.
Download: Insta Toon for iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
6. BeCasso: Photo to Painting App
BeCasso is filled with premium artistic filters that are styled after your favorite artists, like Vincent Van Gogh and Picasso himself. After uploading your selected photo, scroll through a long list of different artistic techniques and select the filter that you love.
You’ll want to touch up your photos before uploading them, as most of the photo editing tools in this app are unlocked only after paying for a subscription. Check out our list of the best photo-editing apps for iPhone for different options.
One of the coolest aspects of this app is the partnership with MyPostCard. For a very small fee, the app will turn your new art piece into a postcard and send it to an address of your choice.
You can use its partnership with CanvasPop to have your beautiful creation appear on anything from a t-shirt to a poster, all from within the app. That takes it up a notch from a simple profile picture change. Unfortunately, this app is also only available for iPhone.
Download: BeCasso for iOS (Free, subscription available)
Experiment With These Photo to Painting Apps
AI recognition has not only opened—but completely reimagined—the door for photo and video editing. Once you begin using your smartphone as a creativity tool, you’ll be amazed at how many cool tricks and techniques you will discover. Leave behind your standard sepia color scheme and try giving your photos a little something extra.