Free Apps Like Facetune: 8 Alternatives for Editing Selfies
If you're looking for free apps like Facetune, Snapseed, AirBrush, YouCam Makeup, BeautyPlus, and Picsart are worth considering. Each offers a different approach to photo editing, from natural-looking touch-ups to makeup filters and creative effects.
The main difference is how much you can do without paying. Snapseed offers extensive photo-editing tools without a subscription, while many beauty-focused apps use a freemium model, meaning some features require a paid upgrade. Check the current free features before choosing an app.
8 Best Free Apps Like Facetune
1. Snapseed — Best for Completely Free Photo Editing
Official website: https://www.google.com/snapseed/
Snapseed is a strong choice if you want to improve your photos without committing to a beauty-app subscription. Developed by Google, it offers more than 30 tools and filters, including selective adjustments, healing, portrait tools, and RAW photo editing.
Unlike many selfie-focused apps, Snapseed emphasizes control over the entire image rather than automatic facial transformations.
Best for:
Improving lighting, contrast, and colors
Removing small distractions with the healing tool
Retouching portraits while keeping a natural appearance
Editing photos without subscriptions, ads, or watermarks
Potential drawback: Its interface is more focused on traditional photo editing than one-tap beauty filters.
Free plan: The iOS listing describes its editing tools as free, without subscriptions, in-app purchases, ads, or watermarks. Availability and features may differ by platform.
Download Snapseed for iPhone and iPad
2. AirBrush — Best for Quick Selfie Retouching
Official website: https://airbrush.com/
AirBrush is worth trying if you want an experience closer to Facetune's beauty-editing workflow. It focuses on portrait enhancement and selfie retouching, making it suitable for quick adjustments before posting a photo.
Depending on the available tools and version, you may be able to enhance skin, refine facial details, and apply beauty effects.
Best for:
Quick selfie touch-ups
Smoother-looking skin
Portrait enhancement
Simple edits without a complicated workflow
Potential drawback: Some tools and advanced features may require a premium subscription.
Free plan: Free to download, with paid features. Confirm which retouching tools are available without upgrading.
3. YouCam Makeup — Best for Virtual Makeup
Official website: https://www.youcammakeup.com/consumer
YouCam Makeup is a good alternative if your favorite Facetune edits involve cosmetics rather than basic photo correction. Its beauty-focused tools center on virtual makeup, allowing you to experiment with different looks in photos.
It's especially useful when you want to try a new makeup style without applying the products physically.
Best for:
Virtual lipstick, eye makeup, and other cosmetic effects
Experimenting with different beauty looks
Editing makeup in selfies
Trying a more polished portrait style
Potential drawback: Its main focus is beauty and makeup rather than comprehensive photo editing.
Free plan: A free version is available, but access to particular looks and tools may be restricted to paid plans.
4. BeautyPlus — Best for All-in-One Beauty Editing
Official website: https://www.beautyplus.com/
BeautyPlus combines selfie enhancement with filters and other creative photo-editing features. It is an option for people who want several beauty tools in one app instead of switching between separate editors.
Depending on the version, its tools may include skin retouching, image enhancement, filters, and other portrait effects.
Best for:
Everyday selfie editing
Applying beauty filters
Creating polished social media photos
Combining retouching with creative effects
Potential drawback: Some effects may make photos look overly processed if applied too strongly, and premium tools may require payment.
Free plan: Available to download for free, with in-app purchases.
5. Picsart — Best for Creative Photo Editing
Official website: https://picsart.com/
Picsart is a versatile choice if you want more than facial retouching. It combines photo-editing features with creative effects and design tools, making it useful for social media content and stylized images.
Rather than concentrating exclusively on facial adjustments, Picsart lets you work on the overall composition and visual style.
Best for:
Applying filters and creative effects
Making collages and social media graphics
Editing backgrounds and combining images
Creating stylized portraits
Potential drawback: Its wide range of tools can feel overwhelming if you only want to remove a blemish or make a quick selfie adjustment.
Free plan: Offers free editing features alongside paid tools and content.
6. FaceApp — Best for AI-Powered Face Transformations
Official website: https://www.faceapp.com/
FaceApp is worth considering if you're interested in changing the appearance of a portrait with AI-powered effects rather than manually adjusting every detail.
It is known for facial transformations and appearance-based effects, making it different from a traditional photo editor.
Best for:
Experimenting with facial transformations
Trying different appearance effects
Creating playful or stylized portraits
Making quick edits to face-focused photos
Potential drawback: Many advanced effects may require payment, and AI transformations can produce results that look less natural than subtle manual edits.
Free plan: Available to download for free, with paid features.
7. Perfect365 — Best for Makeup Looks
Official website: https://www.perfect365.com/
Perfect365 is another option for users who primarily want virtual makeup and beauty effects. It is more focused on cosmetic changes than general image correction.
If you want to explore different makeup styles or create a more glamorous selfie, it may be a better fit than a photo editor designed mainly for color and lighting adjustments.
Best for:
Virtual makeup experiments
Glamorous selfie styles
Beauty-focused portraits
Comparing different cosmetic looks
Potential drawback: It is less suited to users who want comprehensive editing tools for landscapes, travel photos, or everyday photography.
Free plan: Free to download, with some features available through in-app purchases.
8. Meitu — Best for Creative Beauty Filters
Official website: https://www.meitu.com/en
Meitu is a beauty and photo-editing app worth exploring if you enjoy expressive filters and stylized portraits. It combines beauty-oriented editing with creative effects, making it suitable for social media images.
Its aesthetic approach may appeal to users who prefer more noticeable transformations rather than purely realistic retouching.
Best for:
Creative selfie filters
Beauty effects
Stylized portraits
Experimenting with different visual aesthetics
Potential drawback: The availability of specific tools and effects may vary, and some features require payment.
Free plan: Available to download for free, with in-app purchases.
Quick Comparison: Which Facetune Alternative Should You Choose
| App | Best for | Free-use consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Snapseed | Detailed photo editing | Extensive tools without a subscription |
| AirBrush | Selfie retouching | Some tools may be premium |
| YouCam Makeup | Virtual cosmetics | Some looks may be paid |
| BeautyPlus | All-in-one beauty editing | Premium effects may be restricted |
| Picsart | Creative edits and collages | Some tools and content require payment |
| FaceApp | AI face transformations | Advanced effects may be paid |
| Perfect365 | Virtual makeup | Some features require payment |
| Meitu | Beauty filters and creative portraits | Some effects may be paid |
The best option depends on the specific edit you need. For a genuinely free editing experience, start with Snapseed. For dedicated beauty tools, compare AirBrush, BeautyPlus, and YouCam Makeup before deciding whether their free tiers meet your needs.
What to Look for in a Free Facetune Alternative
Not every app advertised as free lets you complete every edit without paying. Before installing one, check these four things.
1. Which retouching tools are free?
Some apps let you smooth skin or apply filters for free but reserve advanced reshaping, detailed retouching, or AI effects for subscribers.
Check the exact tools you need rather than relying on the app's overall feature list.
2. Can you save photos without a watermark?
A free editor is less useful if exporting your finished image adds a watermark or requires an upgrade. Test the export process before spending time editing multiple photos.
3. Does it work with your phone?
Confirm that the app supports your iPhone or Android device and that the required features are available in your region. App availability and feature sets can change with updates.
4. Can you achieve a natural result?
For realistic portraits, subtle adjustments are often more effective than applying every available effect. Look for tools that let you control the intensity of retouching rather than forcing a single preset.
How to Choose the Right App for Your Photo
The easiest way to choose is to match the app to the result you want.
For natural-looking portraits: Start with Snapseed and adjust lighting, color, and small imperfections.
For quick beauty touch-ups: Try AirBrush and check whether its free retouching tools cover your needs.
For virtual makeup: Choose YouCam Makeup or Perfect365.
For creative social media posts: Try Picsart or Meitu.
For AI appearance effects: Explore FaceApp, keeping in mind that advanced transformations may be paid.
You can also combine apps. For example, use a beauty-focused editor for a small portrait adjustment, then finish the image in Snapseed to correct exposure and color. This approach can give you more control without paying for a single all-in-one subscription.
FAQ
What is the best completely free app like Facetune?
Snapseed is a strong choice if you want extensive editing tools without a subscription. Its official iOS listing describes more than 30 tools and filters without subscriptions, in-app purchases, ads, or watermarks. However, it is more focused on general photo editing than dedicated beauty retouching.
Are there free Facetune alternatives for Android?
Yes. AirBrush, BeautyPlus, Picsart, FaceApp, and other beauty editors offer Android versions in supported markets. Snapseed is another option for general photo editing. Check Google Play for current availability and free-feature limitations.
Which free app is best for smoothing skin?
AirBrush and BeautyPlus are worth comparing because they focus on beauty and selfie editing. Their free features may vary, so check whether the skin-retouching tools you want are included before subscribing.
Which app is best for natural-looking selfie edits?
Snapseed is a good starting point for adjusting lighting, color, and small imperfections without relying on heavy beauty filters. If you prefer dedicated portrait-retouching tools, try the free versions of AirBrush or BeautyPlus and keep adjustments subtle.
Are free Facetune alternatives really free?
Some are, but many use a freemium model. You can download and use certain features at no cost, while advanced tools, effects, or exports may require payment. Snapseed is a notable option for users who want extensive editing tools without a subscription.
