Have you ever wondered if there is an app to bring a photo to life?
Like, taking that old photo, of a relative, a friend or even yourself, and making the person blink, smile, or even sing?
Well, I asked myself that too, and I went to test it. And I'll tell you: yes, it does, and it works better than I imagined.
I tested several apps and I confess that I had a lot of fun. Some are so good that they are even scary (seriously, it seems like witchcraft).
So, if you also want to animate photos in a simple way, come and let me tell you about the 3 apps that I liked the most — all available for Android and iPhone, and with a free version.
MyHeritage (Deep Nostalgia): true emotion and nostalgia
First of all, this was the first one I tested and I started off on the right foot.
MyHeritage is famous for being a genealogy app, but they have a feature called Deep Nostalgia that simply brings photos to life.
The person blinks, looks to the side, smiles slightly… it seems like they are alive again.
It is ideal for use in old family photos, such as great-grandfather, grandmother, relatives who have passed away... the result is so real that it is moving.
I used it on a photo of my grandfather, who I never met in person, and look... it really got me.
What I liked:
- The movements are very smooth and realistic;
- Simple interface, just upload the photo and choose the type of animation;
- You can save the animated video or share it directly.
Point of attention: You need to create a free account, and there is a limit on animations per day in the free version. But you can already play around a lot without paying.
Ideal for: revive old photos and relive family memories.
Reface: guaranteed fun and ready-made memes
Reface became famous for changing faces in videos and gifs, but it also has a really cool function to bring photos to life.
You upload the image, and the app makes the person sing, talk, dub movie scenes, etc. All with a lot of humor!
This one is more of a joke vibe, you know? I used it in a photo of myself and made Beyoncé sing, the result was hilarious.
But the cool thing is that you can adjust it exactly, and the app does a very convincing job.
What I liked:
- Funny and creative effects;
- It has a lot of updated content;
- Fast and intuitive interface.
Point of attention: There are ads and watermarks on the videos in the free version, but it's still worth it for the fun.
Ideal for: create funny videos and surprise your friends with creativity.
Wombo AI: Make your photo sing (and sing very well!)
Finally, Wombo AI is another app that went viral, mainly because it transforms any face into a singer.
You choose a song, upload the photo, and the app makes the face move as if it were singing properly. It looks like a music video.
I tested it with a serious photo of myself, and played the song “Never Gonna Give You Up”. The result was surreal!
And the most impressive thing is that the mouth synchronization is very good — it sounds like the person is really singing.
What I liked:
- Many hits available;
- Well done animation, synchronized with the music;
- You don't need to know anything about editing.
Point of attention: In the free version, the choice of songs is more limited, but you can still have a lot of fun.
Ideal for: surprise with funny videos of people singing famous songs.
Extra tip: how to choose the best photo to animate
After playing around with these apps, I realized that not every photo gives a good result. Here are some tips that worked for me:
- Use photos with your face clearly visible and from the front;
- Avoid photos with strong shadows or low quality;
- If the photo is old, try improving the brightness before animating it.
These precautions help the app to better identify facial features and deliver a more realistic animation.
Bringing photos to life is fun, easy and even exciting.
Whether you want to remember someone special, pay tribute, or just have a laugh with friends, these apps are amazing.
MyHeritage stirs emotions, Reface guarantees good laughs, and Wombo AI is the perfect musical touch to joke around with your family group.
So, if you were looking for an app to bring your photo to life, now you know where to start.
Choose the image, download one of these apps on your android or iOS, and prepare to be surprised by the result.
Oh, and then tell me which one you liked the most. Trust me, after the first animation you'll want to animate all the photos in your camera roll!