Are you looking for an app to turn a photo into a painting? There are many different options available on app stores today. Thanks to the advancement of AI, we can use digital editing software to transform our photographs into works of art.
We will explore a wide range of options from simple examples to more complex applications. By the end of this article, you will find the app to turn a photo into a painting that is right for you.
What is an App That Turns a Photo Into a Painting?
If you want to make a special and unique edit of your photographs, you can use an app to turn a photo into a painting. Painters often use photos as a reference for their drawings. These apps take the same influence and apply a painterly style through the use of AI and digital editing software.
These apps are mainly one-click edits. This means you can select the style of painting you like, and your photo will be transformed automatically. Edits like this are easy and quick and can make great decoration ideas or make your social media feed unique.
In this article, we look at three different ways we can turn our photo into a painting. We focus on smartphone applications as most photos are now taken on smartphones. Three quick routes through the list:
- On your phone. Start with Oilbrush. It is our top pick: 29 oil styles, export up to 64 MP, and a free trial before you pay anything. Choose Waterlogue instead if watercolor is the only look you want, and Picsart if you want the painting effect inside a full editor.
- On your computer. Corel PaintShop Pro turns a photo into a painting in one click for a single payment. Adobe Photoshop gives you total control, but you have to learn it first.
- In a browser. BeFunky and Fotor both convert a photo with nothing to install.
Best Smartphone Apps to Turn a Photo Into a Painting
We are dedicating most of our interest to smartphone apps. This is because there is a wide range to choose from, and they make posting our creations to social media much easier.
Every smartphone app does have a tablet version as well. So, if you use tablets daily, you will have the same options.
1. Oilbrush
| Supports Devices |
Supports Devices
iOS, macOS
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| Price |
Price
Free (Paid Extra Features)
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| Multiple Painting Styles |
Multiple Painting Styles
Yes
|
| Fine Tune Painting |
Fine Tune Painting
Yes
|
| Best For |
Best For
A wide range of customization options and high resolution results
|
The Oilbrush app is invaluable for elevating cherished photographs into breathtaking oil paintings. It’s 29 meticulously crafted presets, and advanced AI technology let you reimagine photos with a simple tap.
It infuses each image with the rich textures and vibrant strokes of a traditional oil painting. The high-resolution outputs reach an impressive 64 MP. This opens up possibilities for large-format prints, canvases, and personalized merchandise.
It has advanced tools like tone controls, retouching, color filters, and canvas adjustments. From its intuitive editing tools to extensive customization options, it is an excellent option to turn a photo into a painting.
Oilbrush processes everything on the device itself, so your photos never leave your phone and you can work with no internet connection. It runs on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and it converts video into an oil-painting animation at up to 4K as well as stills.
They also have a similar watercolor app called Waterbrush (download for iOS). Both are free apps with in-app purchases. Removing the watermark needs Oilbrush Premium, which is $3.99 a month, $19.99 a year, or $74.99 once. That is a lot to spend on a single image, so look at the free options further down the list if you only want to paint one photo.
2. Brushstroke
| Supports Devices |
Supports Devices
iOS
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| Price |
Price
Free (Paid Extra Features)
|
| Multiple Painting Styles |
Multiple Painting Styles
Yes
|
| Fine Tune Painting |
Fine Tune Painting
Yes
|
| Best For |
Best For
Allows you to fine tune your edits with a good selection of tools
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Brushstroke is one of the most full-featured apps dedicated to digital painting. It offers one of the best tool selections for customizing the look of photo-to-painting.
You can choose the painting style and the canvas types. This helps create more variations through texture. Many apps lock the colors in using the original painting style. Brushstroke lets users choose a color palette, too.
The extra features don’t stop after the painting styles are applied. The app also lets you add a “signature” to your “painting.” You can also print images from the app by sending the work to CanvasPop. And video styles are also an option.
So what’s the downside? Unfortunately, the Brushstroke app is only available on iOS platforms. So, Android users will have to look elsewhere.
Also, adding video styles and extra illustration styles requires further in-app purchases. The Illustration Pack and Video Paintings are $3.99 each, and the larger unlocks run from $4.99 up to $79.99. They are one-time buys, not a subscription, so Brushstroke works out cheaper than the subscription apps if you keep using it for years.
3. Photo Paint
| Supports Devices |
Supports Devices
Android
|
| Price |
Price
Free (Ads and Paid Extra Features)
|
| Multiple Painting Styles |
Multiple Painting Styles
Yes
|
| Fine Tune Painting |
Fine Tune Painting
Yes
|
| Best For |
Best For
A dedicated photo-to-painting app for Android phones
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Photo Paint: Painting Maker is the answer for the Android users that Oilbrush and Brushstroke shut out. It is a dedicated photo-to-painting converter, not a general editor, and it costs nothing to download.
Almost every strong painting app is built for the iPhone first. Photo Paint is the most widely installed dedicated painting app on Google Play, with more than a million downloads and a 4.2 rating from over 6,300 reviews. If you shoot on an Android phone and want a digital art look without moving files to a computer, start here.
You import a photo or take one in the app, crop it, then apply brushstroke, watercolor, and pencil filters. Finished paintings save straight to your gallery, and you can set one as your wallpaper without leaving the app. The whole flow is a few taps.
The trade-offs are real. The app carries ads, its last update was July 2024, and the controls are one style picker, not the sliders a full editing app gives you. Skip it if you want to fine-tune the result, and skip it if you are on an iPhone, where Oilbrush and Brushstroke are both better made.
Prisma is one of the most well-known and full-featured apps to turn a photo into a painting. It popularized painterly photos in the first place.
It used to be free with in-app purchases, which helped build the app’s popularity. Now you get a short free trial and then a subscription. On iOS that is $7.99 a month or $29.99 a year, and the styles worth having sit behind it.
Prisma’s library now runs to more than 500 styles, with new ones added regularly. They are based on different types of painting, and it also carries standard watercolor and paint options. Its portrait styles apply the effect to the person or the background separately, which is the one trick most one-tap apps cannot do.
The app lets users adjust the results besides applying the filter. You can adjust the painting style’s intensity and choose high-definition (HD) renderings. The app also has various sliders for photo editing, with adjustments like exposure, contrast, and saturation.
Renditions are very impressive. But the price might be too steep for casual users.
Waterlogue focuses on a single type of painting: watercolor! While not as broadly applicable as other apps, it achieves its narrow focus very well.
The app uses 14 different presets with different colors and pen outlines. The presets also change the consistency of the “paint,” so you can make those colors run together or keep shapes more distinct.
The mobile app doesn’t offer as much control over the effects as others. You adjust borders, lightness, and detail, and that is the whole toolkit. It is no longer iOS-only, though. Tinrocket shipped an Android version in 2026, and both mobile apps were updated in August 2026.
The desktop version offers much more. Waterlogue Pro for macOS is $59.99 and adds deeper detail controls plus custom styles you can save, which is what you want for high-resolution watercolors you intend to frame. On the phone the same watermark-free output is $3.99 a month, $14.99 a year, or $24.99 once. Worth knowing on a page full of AI tools: Tinrocket states plainly that Waterlogue simulates watercolor rather than generating it with AI. Skip the Pro version unless you print regularly, because the $24.99 phone unlock covers occasional use.
6. Picsart
| Supports Devices |
Supports Devices
iOS, Android
|
| Price |
Price
Free (Paid Extra Features)
|
| Multiple Painting Styles |
Multiple Painting Styles
Yes
|
| Fine Tune Painting |
Fine Tune Painting
Yes
|
| Best For |
Best For
Provides a wide range of editing options, not just painting
|
Picsart is a bit like Photoshop Express. Users can access filters and sliders, mix photos, and paint on effects. That means fewer apps clogging up your home screen as it can do the job of a few.
On the flip side, this app takes up more space on your phone. Picsart is one of the biggest apps on this list!
If you want only part of your image to look like a painting, Picsart has a more advanced photo edit. The Effects gallery inside Picsart contains many options to turn a photo into a sketch or painting.
Unlike the other apps on our list, Picsart is more than a one-trick pony. The app has other editing options if you don’t want to go the painting route. That also means Picsart isn’t as easy to navigate as other apps with more limited choices. But they do have helpful tutorials.
Picsart is free to download and use for Android, iOS, and Windows users with in-app purchases. But a subscription provides more exclusive content and an ad-free app for a monthly price with Plus and Pro options.
As the name suggests, the Portrait Painter works best with people. It’s also a good app for pet photography. Yet, it doesn’t prevent you from uploading a good landscape.
Portrait Painter costs $2.99 up front, with video packs and extra illustration effects sold separately. It is an iPhone and iPad app only, so Android users should look at Picsart or PhotoDirector instead.
Most apps focus on landscapes and still life. But the Portrait Painter app turns images of people into digital paintings and offers several options to customize the look.
You can use the image’s original colors or a brighter palette. You can also adjust the brush and canvas types. This leaves a subtle texture in the final image.
Portrait Painter’s digital paintings don’t have to remain only on your smartphone or social media. The app also lets you easily order a print of your creation through CanvasPop!
PhotoDirector is the entry on this list that reflects where photo-to-painting actually went. CyberLink’s AI Style Transfer takes any painting you feed it and applies that painting’s style to your own photo, instead of limiting you to a fixed set of presets.
That matters when you have a particular painter in mind. Every other app here hands you a menu of looks somebody else chose. Here you choose the reference image, so a snap of the canvas hanging in your hallway can become the style for your own shot.
It lives inside a full editor instead of a single-purpose app. The AI Art tools add artistic style effects, the background tools remove or replace whatever sits behind your subject, and HSL and tone-curve controls let you grade the painting afterwards. It runs on iPhone and Android, with more than 120 million downloads across the two.
The catch is the size and the sell. This is a big app carrying a lot of features you did not come here for, and the free tier pushes hard at the subscription, which starts at $2.99 a month or $24.99 a year. If all you want is a one-tap oil painting, Oilbrush and GoArt get you there with far less noise.
GoArt is a great app by Fotor to turn a photo into a painting. It’s another free app with in-app purchases and an online option. It uses AI technology to create art based on various artistic filters.
This app supports a range of styles, from pop art to oil painting. It lets you turn photos into your favorite style of art. It also provides a straightforward method for turning an image from your camera roll into a work of art.
You don’t get much of a tool selection when it comes to modifying the details of the artwork. Instead, you get a slider that changes its “intensity.”
A unique feature that you do get is a cutout and background remover. It’s a welcome feature because it amplifies the difference between a painting and a photo. It also means you can pick the perfect backdrop with the app to make your subject stand out.
Best Desktop Apps to Turn a Photo Into a Painting
Turning a photo into a painting isn’t only available on mobile apps. If you don’t want to work on your smartphone, here are a few desktop editing software options. One is Adobe Photoshop, and the other is an affordable, non-subscription software bundle.
If you want the most control when you turn a photo into a painting, use Adobe Photoshop! Photoshop is one of the must-have desktop editing platforms for photographers.
This is especially true if you want to get creative with your photos. Photoshop provides a seemingly endless range of photo editing tools to assist you in changing your picture into a painting.
The downside is that you must learn Photoshop to get the best results. But we have an easy step-by-step guide for turning photos into paintings using Photoshop.
This is best suited for someone who knows the specific style they want. It’s not for someone who wants a quick choice of aesthetics.
The best thing about using Photoshop is that you have total control. That means you can apply as many different manipulations to your image as possible until you get your perfect masterpiece! We show you the best ways to buy Photoshop.
Corel PaintShop Pro has a one-click, instant-effect option to turn images into sketches or paintings. Users can choose from different painting styles.
The only customization option is the strength of the effects. But after you finish, you can adjust the image inside PaintShop.
As a desktop program that includes other image editing tools, PaintShop Pro isn’t as affordable as the apps. But the full version is much less than a Photoshop subscription in the long run.
Best Online Apps to Turn a Photo Into Painting
Consider online options if you don’t want to download a program onto your computer. This can be the quickest way to turn a photo into a painting for images on a computer.
BeFunky is an online method for turning a photo into a painting. Befunky is an online editor. This platform is more accessible than a phone app. You can drag and drop images straight into the workspace.
Under Artsy, you can find many photo-to-painting options. You can transform your photo using extensive subcategories. Next, you can choose from a selection of different styles. After you have set your effect, you can change its “intensity.”
You can also erase certain sections you don’t want the effect to cover. This is where you can get creative as you can fine-tune the brush size, hardness, and strength.
BeFunky also comes with a range of online editing tools. So this could be a one-stop shop for all your painterly needs! But you must upgrade from the free version for full effects and remove BeFunky watermarks. There are monthly or discounted yearly subscriptions.
2. Fotor
| Supports Devices |
Supports Devices
All
|
| Price |
Price
Free (Paid Extra Features)
|
| Multiple Painting Styles |
Multiple Painting Styles
Yes
|
| Fine Tune Painting |
Fine Tune Painting
Yes
|
| Best For |
Best For
A wide selection of painting styles without having to download an app
|
Fotor is a free online image editor. That means there’s no software to download. The software’s GoArt tool turns photos into paintings in several different styles.
Because the software is online, the conversion process can be slow. It’s especially true if you have a slow internet connection.
The program is free to use and includes a good selection of artistic styles. Some are paid, but the majority are free. But you must pay a monthly or discounted yearly subscription to remove GoArt watermarks.
The paid versions include generative AI, tools, edits, and app storage. The latter includes brand kits and batch editing.
Fotor’s image editor is accessible online. But GoArt is a different platform.
How to Turn a Photo Into a Painting Step by Step
Many photography apps are able to turn a photo into a painting, but their processes typically follow a similar approach. The following steps generally work across all apps.
Step 1: Upload a Photo
After downloading the app, upload the photo you’d like to convert. The original photo quality plays a significant role in the result. Photos with more contrasting colors work best. Soft-focus photos can also look good when converted into paintings.
Step 2: Choose a Painting Style
Next, choose the painting style you want. Apps offer different genres based on famous painters or classical art styles. The process is usually automatic after you select the style and the image.
Step 3: Adjust Effects and Export
In some apps, you can adjust the painting effect. After you finish, you can export the painted photo for sharing or printing. As you can see, the process to turn a photo into a painting is simple. But what app should you choose?
Frequently Asked Questions
Which App Turns a Photo Into a Painting Best?
Oilbrush. It carries 29 oil-painting styles, exports at up to 64 MP so the result survives printing, and it does the work on your device. If watercolor is the only look you are after, Waterlogue is the better buy.
Can I Turn a Photo Into a Painting for Free?
Up to a point. GoArt, Picsart, BeFunky, and Fotor all have free tiers you can convert a photo on. Watermarks and paid-only styles are the usual limit, and clearing them costs a subscription: $3.99 a month for Oilbrush or Waterlogue, $7.99 a month for Prisma.
Are These Apps Actually Using AI?
Some are and some are not. Prisma, GoArt, and PhotoDirector run AI models over your image. Waterlogue simulates watercolor with its own algorithms, and Tinrocket says so plainly on its own listing. Oilbrush does the work on your phone and never uploads the photo to a server.
Do I Need an iPhone?
No, but the choice is wider on iOS. Prisma, Picsart, GoArt, and PhotoDirector all run on Android, Photo Paint is Android only, and Waterlogue added an Android version in 2026. Oilbrush, Brushstroke, and Portrait Painter are iPhone and iPad only.
Conclusion: Best Photo to Painting Apps
After looking at various applications, we can see many easy ways to turn a photo into a painting! If you want one answer instead of thirteen, download Oilbrush. Its 29 oil styles cover most photographs, it exports at 64 MP so you can actually print what comes out, and you can judge the result before paying anything.
From there the choice narrows quickly. Buy Waterlogue if watercolor is the only look you want. Buy Picsart or PhotoDirector if you want the painting effect sitting alongside the rest of your editing. Open BeFunky or Fotor if you are at a computer and would rather install nothing at all. And if you would sooner build the look yourself than pick it off a menu, our step-by-step Photoshop guide is where to go next.
Try out The Creative Photography Cookbook to take even more mind-blowing images!
