Free vs Paid Picture Collage Apps of 2021

While I know many people have more balanced lives, and thus take pictures of more things, my week of creating dog collages highlighted what is perhaps the most important feature of a photo collage app, although it may be difficult to quantify. These apps are for making displays of what we love the most. And so they should be easy and fun to use, to let users make images out of love, not tech-based frustration.

The app opens on a white background with a button to select photos and three options below: grids, freestyle, and templates. While many apps toss you into a sea of choices without clearly indicating what to do first, PicCollage’s layout seamlessly tells you what to do first. Select photos from your phone’s library or from your Facebook account, then use them to create your collage.

PicCollage was the only app I tested that had more than a bare-bones tutorial. “PicCollage 101” features simple tutorials that show you how to use web images, cut images out, add text, and more. The tutorials are just there — you don’t have to do them to proceed in the app, and they don’t show up only on first use. I appreciated having help if and only if I needed it.

If you’re sticking to social, you can create posts especially for Instagram Stories, as well as sharing any of your creations to Facebook, Instagram, or PicCollage’s own social network. You can also send via iMessage, What’s App, Facebook Messenger, or email with a touch of a button.

Whether this is worth it depends entirely on how much you use the product. Frequent collage makers, people who want to use a lot of design elements, and brand-focused people who may not want a watermark on their creations will likely find the upgrade to be a good value. For more casual users, it may not be worth it. If you want to upgrade, definitely opt for the annual subscription, which works out to around $3 a month — a savings of $2 a month.

I really liked this app and didn't have any major problems with it. However, while there were enough free options for my needs as a person who occasionally posts dog collages to Instagram, it was frustrating to constantly encounter requests to upgrade. I find that with apps that constantly ask you to upgrade, I eventually either do so -- or stop using the app all together.

This VIP pressure was the most common reason cited by negative reviewers, too. It looks like a previous version of the app had a more extensive free version, and many users have been frustrated by the new pricing model. However, I still think this app is worth checking out, and maybe paying for. 

Collage making is quick and easy in MOLDIV. Just pick from the huge number of grid arrangements (for between one and eight pictures/videos, in every imaginable configuration), or go freestyle and drop your pics wherever you like. Next, you’ll select photos from your library or shoot a new one right from the in-app camera. Then you can add backgrounds, frames, text, stickers, and more. You can let your imagination run wild here or opt for something quick and simple.

MOLDIV’s magazine feature is fun to play with, although it’s really just another set of templates. There are magazine covers for teen magazines, Martha Stewart-style home spreads, Time Magazine knockoffs, and more. As far as I could tell, you can’t change the text on the covers. While the feature would be better if you could, the preset text has some fun options. (I put my dog on the cover of "Moldivweek" with the headline "How to be successful in life.")

Unfold’s large library of templates is sorted into fifteen collections, including animated, scrapbook, mood board, zodiac, and pride. The templates typically have a layout for between 1 and 5 photos, different borders, and places for long or short text descriptions. While most collage apps have fonts and borders, Unfold’s are a bit more sophisticated, with borders including Polaroid edges, notebook perforations, and film edges, and fonts that look like typewriter or handwritten cursive. You can also add images from a set of stock photos.

Creating collages is seamless. This is an app without a learning curve — open it up, and you’ll be on your way to your first collage right away. Pick your picks, pick your layout, play around with borders and backgrounds, change background color or gradient, add a filter if you want, and you are good to go. 

A collage app and photo editor, this app has lots of layouts and other features. However, compared to our top picks, it’s challenging to navigate (and not very attractive). The pro version allows you to access more layouts for $29.99 per year or a one-time payment of $129.99.

This collage app has good video features — you can create collage slideshows or use templates for scrolling video. Premium version is $47.99 per year, or a $99.99 one-time purchase. If you want to make video collages, this one is worth checking out, but it’s a bit pricey.

This collage and selfie app has lots of tools for editing photos and adding beauty features like makeup to selfies. It’s no slouch in the collage department, either, with many layouts and options for video collages. It missed our list in the end, but if you’re looking for a collage app with selfie-touch-up features, check this one out.

This Android app is a popular choice for making collages, although recent reviews suggest that new updates have frustrated users. The free (with ads) app offers lots of templates, backgrounds, and more. It is very, very similar to our top Android pick, Collage Maker, and as far as I can tell, they're made by the same developer. However, this one is a little clunkier than the other, at the same price ($7.99/year).

Lots of design options here, with templates for Instagram posts and stories, memes, and Facebook stories, and cover images. Heavy social posters may want to consider this app, but at $10 per month, it’s probably not a good value for most.

At a one-time price of $2.99, Diptic’s price is right. The app is quite glitchy, however. It offers many of the same features as other apps on the list, but dead buttons and crashes make it hard to actually access them. However, if you’re looking for a cheap collage app, this may be worth checking out since the quality may improve in the future.