Alternative to Lensa AI
For Professional AI Headshots
Lensa AI is a popular mobile app known for fun Magic Avatars and portrait retouching. BestPhoto offers a different approach with professional AI headshots, a web-based platform, and 40+ free tools. Here's an honest comparison to help you decide.
What Lensa AI Users Say
Mixed feedback from real users — as with any AI tool, experiences vary.
“LensaAI allows me to make my photos look like professional photos. It's worth every penny.”
“Best facial blend / cleaner ever! No bs. Legit. The retouching looks natural and not over-edited.”
“I love this app! It's so user friendly, easy to use and does the job amazingly for quick touch-ups.”
“Unfortunately, Lensa wasn't perfect. Among the dozens of avatars it generated, only a few of them were decent, which was disappointing considering it wasn't free.”
“The avatars were not bad, but not great. 96% of the images were mediocre at best. Results don't look much like me.”
“I played with Lensa for about a week like crazy. Then it lowkey started wearing off. The novelty fades quickly.”
Lensa AI vs BestPhoto: Feature Comparison
A direct comparison based on publicly available information and user reviews.
| Feature | Lensa AI | BestPhoto |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Mobile only (iOS & Android) | Web-based — works on any device |
| Starting Price | $7.99/mo (avatars cost extra) | Free tier available |
| Try Before You Pay | 7-day trial (no avatar generation) | Yes — 40+ free tools, no credit card needed |
| AI Headshot Quality | Artistic avatars (not realistic headshots) | Professional, realistic AI headshots |
| AI Models Available | Single Stable Diffusion model | Multiple models (incl. Nano Banana Pro) |
| Photo Editing | Basic retouching & filters (mobile) | 8 specialized editing modes (web) |
| Video Generation | Basic trim & filters only | AI video generation with multiple models |
| Commercial Use | Limited, avatar-focused | Included on all paid plans |
| Privacy & Data | Broad data license, biometric lawsuit pending | Clear data policies, web-based |
Lensa AI: Honest Pros & Cons
We're not going to pretend Lensa AI has no merits. Here's the balanced view.
Lensa AI Pros
- Beginner-friendly interface — one of the simplest AI editing apps available
- Magic Avatars are fun and create an engaging creative experience
- Natural-looking AI retouching that avoids over-processing
- Affordable annual pricing at $29.99/year for basic editing features
- Strong suite of portrait-specific enhancements (skin, eyes, lips, teeth)
- Viral social proof — 26M+ downloads and celebrity endorsements
- Fast avatar generation with results delivered in minutes
Lensa AI Cons
- Mobile-only — no web or desktop version available
- Avatar quality is inconsistent — many don't closely resemble the user
- Magic Avatars cost extra on top of subscription ($3.99-$7.99 per pack)
- Privacy concerns — broad data license and pending biometric data lawsuit
- Not designed for professional headshots — focused on artistic avatars
- Like all AI tools, results can be inconsistent across generations
Why Consider BestPhoto
Key areas where BestPhoto offers a different approach.
Professional AI Headshots
Lensa AI is best known for its Magic Avatars — fun, artistic portraits in styles like Renaissance, fantasy, and sci-fi. However, they're not designed for professional use. Many users report that avatars don't closely resemble them. BestPhoto focuses on realistic, professional-quality AI headshots that you can actually use for LinkedIn, resumes, and business profiles.
BestPhoto: Professional headshots built for real-world use
What you get:
- Realistic likeness — not just artistic interpretations
- Professional quality for LinkedIn & business
- Multiple AI models to find your best look
- Consistent results across generations
Web-Based Platform
Lensa AI is mobile-only — available exclusively on iOS and Android. This means you can't use it on a desktop or laptop, and you're limited by your phone's screen size for editing. BestPhoto is fully web-based, so you can work from any device with a browser, including larger screens that make detailed editing much easier.
BestPhoto: Full editing suite accessible from any device
What you get:
- Works on desktop, laptop, tablet, and mobile
- Larger screen for detailed photo editing
- No app installation required
- 8 specialized editing modes beyond retouching
Free Tier & Tools
Lensa AI offers a 7-day free trial of premium features, but Magic Avatars — their signature feature — aren't included. Avatar packs cost $3.99-$7.99 each on top of the subscription. BestPhoto offers 40+ completely free editing tools and a free tier, so you can thoroughly test if the platform works for your needs before paying anything.
BestPhoto: Explore everything before you pay
What you get:
- No paywall — browse and test freely
- 40+ free editing tools
- No credit card required to start
- Free tier with real features, not just a trial
AI Video Generation
Lensa AI's video features are limited to basic trimming, adding music, applying filters, and adjusting aspect ratios — standard video editing, not AI generation. BestPhoto offers actual AI-powered video generation including talking head videos, image-to-video conversion, and podcast-style clips — all on paid plans.
BestPhoto: AI-powered video creation, not just basic editing
What you get:
- AI talking head video generation
- Image-to-video conversion
- Multiple video output styles
- Available on all paid plans
Click to play
Which Tool is Right for You?
Both tools have their strengths. Here's a quick guide.
Lensa AI might be better if you:
- Want fun, artistic AI avatars for social media
- Prefer a simple mobile-only photo editing experience
- Want quick selfie retouching on the go
- Are looking for affordable basic portrait enhancements
BestPhoto might be better if you:
- Need professional, realistic AI headshots
- Want to edit from any device (desktop, laptop, mobile)
- Need advanced editing beyond basic retouching
- Want AI video generation capabilities
Important: What to Expect from Any AI Photo Tool
- •AI image generation isn't perfect — expect some iterations
- •Hands, fingers, and complex poses can be challenging for any AI
- •Results depend heavily on input photo quality
- •Some prompts work better than others — there's a learning curve
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lensa AI a good app?
Lensa AI is a well-made mobile app, especially for fun AI avatars and quick selfie retouching. With 26 million+ downloads and a 4.6 App Store rating, it has a strong user base. The main considerations: it's mobile-only, Magic Avatars cost extra beyond the subscription, and the artistic avatars aren't designed for professional headshot use.
What's the main difference between Lensa AI and BestPhoto?
Lensa AI is a mobile-only app focused on artistic avatars and portrait retouching. BestPhoto is a web-based platform focused on professional AI headshots with multiple models, 8 editing modes, and AI video generation. They serve different primary use cases — Lensa for fun creative portraits, BestPhoto for professional and versatile AI photo work.
Are there privacy concerns with Lensa AI?
Lensa AI's privacy policy grants Prisma Labs a broad license to user content. There is a pending biometric data lawsuit, and the company collects device info, location, and usage data. While they state photos are deleted after 24 hours, this hasn't been externally audited. As with any AI tool that processes your photos, it's worth reviewing their privacy policy before uploading.
Which is better for professional headshots?
BestPhoto is designed specifically for professional AI headshots with realistic likeness, while Lensa AI focuses on artistic avatar styles (Renaissance, fantasy, sci-fi). If you need headshots for LinkedIn, resumes, or business profiles, BestPhoto is the better fit. If you want fun creative portraits for social media, Lensa may be more appropriate.
Can I try before paying?
BestPhoto: Yes — 40+ free tools, free tier, no credit card required. Lensa AI: Offers a 7-day free trial of premium editing features, but their signature Magic Avatars are not included in the trial and cost $3.99-$7.99 per pack on top of the subscription.
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