Let's start with a summary table where we've compiled all the key differences:
15 Best Passport Photo Apps to Check Out in 2023
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Time to renew your passport? Need a picture for your travel visa? You probably know firsthand that getting a photo for any official document can be extremely time-consuming. However, this process takes not only a great deal of your time, but also a great sum of your money. You need to pay the fees, pay a professional photographer for taking the pictures, then pay for printing them out... Those small payments turn into a quite significant sum of almost $20! Are there any good ways to cut the expenses?
Of course, there are! All you need is your mobile phone and an easy-to-use app to take passport photos. Which one to download though? In this article, we've gathered 15 best apps both for iPhone and for Android. The list takes into account several features, like user-friendly interface, price, number of ID types, etc.
| Features |
Passport & ID Photo Maker Download |
ID PhotoMaker Studio Download |
Passport SizePhoto Maker Download |
Biometric Passport Photo Download |
Passport Photo ID Photo App Download |
Passport Photo Booth Download |
Passport ID Photo Maker Studio Download |
Passport Photo ID Photo Download |
Passport Photo ID Studio Download |
Passport Photo Maker Download |
ID PhotoPrint Download |
ID Photo Download |
My Passport Photos Download |
Passport Photo Creator Download |
ItsEasy
Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| License | Free to use | Free to an extent | Free to use | Free to use | Free to an extent | Free to an extent | Free to an extent | Free to an extent | Free to use | Free to use | Free to use | Free to use | Free to use | Free to an extent | Free to use |
| Ease of use | |||||||||||||||
| Price | Free | $5.99 | Free | Free | $5.99 | $5.96 | $0.99 | $3.99 | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | $14.99 | Free |
| Number of countries | 130+ | 120+ | 120+ | 100+ | 110+ | 50+ | 100+ | 100 | 100+ | 120+ | 2 | 40+ | 40+ | 5 | 1 |
| Number of print layouts | 8 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Automatic face recognition | |||||||||||||||
| Built-in photo editor | |||||||||||||||
| Final verdict | 10 | 9.8 | 9.5 | 9 | 8.7 | 8.5 | 8 | 7.5 | 6.8 | 6.5 | 6 | 5.7 | 5.5 | 5 | 4.5 |
Top 15 Passport Size Photo Making Apps for Your Phone
Now, let's take a closer look at each of these apps, describe their features and highlight pros and cons.
1
Passport & ID Photo Maker
This is an easy-to-use passport picture app with automatic face recognition. The database here is the largest: 130+ countries and convenient ID types for passport, visa, driving license and other popular documents. You won't get lost while using the app since it has one of the neatest and eye-pleasing interfaces. There are also useful hints and the built-in list of official requirements to follow, so you can be sure your photo will be accepted on the first try.
Pros:
- Free to use
- Easy-to-navigate interface
- Database for 130+ countries
- Photos for visa, driving license, ID cards, etc.
- Automatic ID photo processing
- Biometric features detection
- Intelligent autocrop function
- Built-in photo editor
- Print photos directly from your phone
Cons:
- For iOS only
2
ID Photo Maker Studio
It's a free-to-use ID photo app with an extensive ID types database for 100+ countries. There is no automatic recognition, but you'll be able to make a proper photo with the help of guidelines and face grid. Want to save paper? The app lets you place different ID types on a single paper sheet. Although the app is free, the background removal and ink saver for printing at home are available in the Pro version only, which costs $5.99.
Pros:
- Database for 120+ countries
- Background removal
- Add different ID types onto 1 sheet
- Ink saving tool for printing at home
Cons:
- Free to use with ads
- Background remover in Pro only
3
Passport Size Photo Maker
Need an ID picture app for Android? This one is worth checking out. It's completely free to use (if you don't mind popping-up ads). There database here is huge: it has different ID types for more than 120 countries. The app has a simple image editor that allows you to adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, etc. There is a background replacement tool as well, but it's hard to use and not intuitive - you have to spend a bit of time to figure it out.
Pros:
- Database for 120+ countries
- Background removal tool
- Adjust contrast, brightness and saturation
- Print at Walgreens, Amazons, etc.
Cons:
- Lots of ads in the free version
- No automatic face recognition
- Can't add custom ID types
4
Biometric Passport Photo
Need a passport photo app for iPhone or your iOS tablet? Then try this one. It offers a database for more than 100 countries, with ID types for making passport and visa photos. However, if you need a photo for an ID card or driving licence, you should look for a different app. There's a built-in photo editor that lets you tweak contrast, brightness, saturation and other settings. A bit of a downside: you need to purchase additional print layouts.
Pros:
- 100+ countries
- Many print layouts
- Tweak sharpness, contrast and other settings
- Print photos right at home
Cons:
- No automatic face detection
5
Passport Photo - ID Photo App
This passport size photo app offers a large database of 100+ countries. You will find ID types for visas, passports, driving licenses, etc. The background remover and ink saver are available only after purchasing the Pro version for $5.99. As for printing, you can print photos from your phone. However, users say it's rather hard to setup the print module, so they recommend to print saved photos at special print shops, for example Amazon.
Pros:
- 110+ countries
- Background remover
- Add custom ID types
- Ink-saver for printing at home
Cons:
- No automatic face detection
- Unstable print module
6
Passport Photo Booth
Can't print photos at home? Use this user-friendly passport photo booth app to take your own pictures, then bring them to a print shop or order mail delivery for $5.96. If you need a few seconds to prepare for the shot, set a timer on your phone. There are useful guidelines and tips that will help you create a passport photo according to the requirements. The built-in database isn't large, but you can add your own ID types. It will take some time, though.
Pros:
- 50+ countries
- Add custom ID types
- Convenient timer for taking pictures
- Grid for making a correct layout
- Built-in tips and guidelines
Cons:
- No automatic face recognition
- Can't print photos yourself
7
Passport ID Photo Maker Studio
This passport picture app has a smaller database: only 100 countries. The program comes with a built-in photo editor, allowing you to adjust brightness, contrast, saturation and other settings, as well as replace any background. The app is free to use, but your photos will have a watermark on them. To remove it, you'll have to pay $0.99 or buy a subscription plan. Perhaps it's not the best option if you want to save your money.
Pros:
- 100+ countries
- Adjust colors and brightness
- Background removal
Cons:
- Few ID types for each country
- Requires a subscription
8
Passport Photo - ID Photo
With this app, you will be able to quickly take a passport selfie and pick an ID type for a hundred countries. There is a basic photo editor that allows you to crop your picture, adjust its brightness, contrast, etc. As for printing, you can print photos at home using an AirPrint-compatible device. The app claims to be free, but you need to pay a bit of money for removing the ads and unlocking the option to print and save colored photos ($3.99).
Pros:
- Database for 100 countries
- Easy to use
- Tweak white balance, contrast, etc.
- Convenient printing
Cons:
- No biometric face detection
- Have to pay for colored photos
9
Passport Photo ID Studio
This is another passport photo app for Android. It's free to use, unless you're OK with watching a few ads here and there. The database is rather rich: around 100+ countries, including UK, USA, France, etc. There is also a simple photo editor that lets you adjust brightness and contrast. However, the app is discontinued since the last update was made in August 2015. What's more, some users report the bad quality of the resulting ID pictures.
Pros:
- Database for 100+ countries
- Detailed guidelines
- Tweak photo contrast and brightness
- Direct printing from your phone
Cons:
- No updates since 2015
- No background removal
10
Passport Photo Maker
Plan to take a passport photo at home but don't want to change your clothes? This passport pictures app will be a real saver for you then. It offers a built-in collection of clothes for both men and women. In addition, you can quickly remove a background or fill it with any color. The app comes with templates for 120+ countries, with the possibility to create custom ID types. There are some downsides: lots of ads, few ID types and few paper formats.
Pros:
- Database for 120+ countries
- Background replacement
- Quickly adjust photo settings
- Print at Walgreens, CVS, etc.
- Built-in collection of clothes (men \ women)
Cons:
- Too many ads
- Few ID types
- No automatic face recognition
- Oversimplified interface
11
ID PhotoPrint
If you need to make photos for ICA, then this is the best passport photo app for you. It's free to use and meets the latest ICA requirements. There is no built-in photo editor, but ID PhotoPrint allows you to set a timer to make all preparations before taking a picture. Also, if you have a Singapore passport or NRIC, or you live in this country, use this app as a mobile service for renewing these documents. A bit of a downside: the app seems to be discontinued.
Pros:
- Neat interface
- Convenient timer
- Completely free to use
- User-friendly even to elder people
- Photo delivery in Singapore
Cons:
- No built-in image editor
- Templates for USA and Singapore only
- Probably discontinued (last update in 2017)
12
ID Photo
This passport photo maker app offers you a convenient sharing system: send your pictures via messengers, e-mail, save it to your camera roll or print using an AirPrint-enabled printer. As for the database, there are 40+ countries with ID types for various documents. The pinch of salt: there is no biometric face detection, and many people report bugs when using photos taken beforehand. Also, the app seems to be discontinued (last update was in 2018).
Pros:
- Database for 40+ countries
- Convenient sharing options
Cons:
- No automatic face detection
- Last update was in 2018
13
My Passport Photos
If you want an app for a passport photo that makes everything for you, have a look at this one. Take a photo, then submit it for an expert retouch. Next, get the printed copies at a nearby drugstore. The database is not that huge: around 40+ countries to pick from. Also, there is no biometric face recognition or background removal, so you need to be careful when taking your photo at home.
Pros:
- Database for 40+ countries
- Photos will be retouched by experts
Cons:
- Limited toolkit
- No automatic face detection
14
Passport Photo Creator
Need to prepare photos for the U.S. Department of State? This passport size photo making app will be of great help for you then. In addition to passport photos, you can make pictures for Green Card, IDs, driving license, school certificates and other documents as well. The app lets you place an order directly to Walgreens and get high-quality prints in an hour or two (~$14.99 for 2 photos). However, you won't be able to print or save the photos yourself.
Pros:
- Place an order at Walgreens
- Completely free to use
Cons:
- Can't e-mail or print a photo by yourself
- Few countries to choose from
15
ItsEasy
Your US passport is about to expire? Renew it with this app. Follow the instructions, take a passport photo, fill in and sign a government form, attach a trackable label and send the application to the ItsEasy service. The app doesn't provide many tools: no automatic face detection, efficient image editor or background removal. It's not the best photo booth app for Android, but it's a real time saver when you need to renew your US passport.
Pros:
- Renew your US passport at home
- Reminder for renewing a passport
- Built-in guides and application samples
Cons:
- No other countries except for the USA
- No editing tools
Drawing the Bottom Line
As you can see, there are different types of mobile passport photo applications. Some are stand-alone programs, the others are a part of the online services provided by Walgreens or Amazon.
Instead of choosing between these two types, it's better to stick to the golden middle. Passport & ID Photo Maker gives you total control over the photo creation process. You can take a picture yourself, crop it and print the photo on a desired paper format right at home. Even if you are not skilled at photography, you can still create a passport photo that meets all the official requirements, all thanks to automatic face detection and easy-to-follow guidelines.
Still not sure? Read the list once again, note pros and cons, and pick the best app for taking passport photos to your opinion.
FAQ: How to Take Photos with a Mobile Phone
How to take a passport photo with iPhone?
Find a room with soft lighting and plain walls. Put on your daily clothes, stand in front of the wall and ask a friend to take a picture of you. There are a few tips for making decent photos with a mobile camera.
How much is a passport photo at Walgreens?
Two passport photos will cost you around $14.99. If you have a large family, this might be costly and time-consuming. You can save yourself money and time if you create and print photos directly at home.
What is the best passport photo app for iPhone?
There are many apps for making passport photos in AppStore. If you want to make perfect passport photos, look for an app with a huge database, auto crop based on biometric features and one-tap clothes replacement.