AI portraits and avatars have taken social media by storm. Not only are they a great way to personalize and customize your profile, they also help protect your online privacy by concealing real-life pictures of you.
We tested several AI portrait generators to determine which ones create the best avatars while using the least amount of data. These are the eight best AI portrait generators:
- Lensa AI: The best overall AI portrait generator
- Reface: The best AI portrait generator for deepfakes
- Aragon: The best AI portrait generator for business headshots
- Synthesia: The best AI video avatar generator
- Photo AI: The best AI portrait generator for hyper-realistic photoshoots
- starryAI: The best AI generator for movie-like avatars
- Zmoji: The best AI avatar generator for personalized emojis
- Fotor: The best AI portrait generator for social media profiles
While each of the above apps excel at creating AI portraits and avatars, they tend to use a lot of personal information and data. You can use AI portrait generators securely by encrypting your online activity with a VPN like Surfshark — one of the fastest and most secure VPNs on the market.
Surfshark
Read the rest of the article below to learn more about the best AI portrait generators and how you can use them securely using a VPN.
AI avatars have become popular on social media for being a great way of blending AI and privacy. AI avatar apps use your existing photos to generate life-like avatars and hide your real image in the process.
While artificial intelligence (AI) avatars help customize your profile and maintain your privacy, they also use a lot of sensitive data. Therefore, it’s vital to use reliable and secure AI portrait generators.
We’ve curated a list of the eight best AI generators, factoring in how much data they use and how well they generate portraits. Using one of the AI systems listed below shouldn’t harm your privacy, as long as you use a VPN for added encryption and security. We recommend Surfshark, which comes with a hefty 82% off!
What is an AI Avatar?
An AI avatar is a digital representation of a person or character created using artificial intelligence technology. These avatars have gained popularity as a fun and customizable way to show one’s identity in online environments, such as social media, online games, and other forums.
AI avatars are typically customizable, making it fun to use generators. What’s more, the use of AI system avatars protects one’s own identity and maintains anonymity on the Internet. As such, these avatars highlight the growing interface between AI and privacy.
How Do AI Portrait Generators Work?
AI portrait generators use complex deep-learning algorithms to generate realistic or stylized representations based on your photos.
A simple explanation of how these portrait generators work is provided below:
- The user uploads photos or a selection of photos to the AI portrait generator app.
- The portrait generator analyzes the image and provides suggestions or recommendations on the edits and filters the user can select.
- The user can then fine-tune different parameters to alter the AI portrait based on their preferences.
- The generator then applies the edits to the picture and provides a downloadable portrait or avatar.
Most portrait generators are very easy to use and require no previous knowledge of AI. Indeed, even beginners can create realistic avatars using AI portrait generators.
What You Need to Create an AI Portrait
To create an AI portrait, all you need is the following:
- Computer or smartphone to access the AI portrait generator app of your choice
- AI portrait app generator of your choice
- Selfies or photos of your face for the portrait generator to use
- Reliable VPN provider so that the AI portrait site can’t link your photos to your other personal information
Important:
Remember to pick an AI avatar generator with a decent privacy policy. Since you’re uploading images of your face, third-party data sharing could have serious repercussions.
Later in the article, we provide an overview of the data collection and sharing practices of the 8 best AI portrait generators to help you avoid AI privacy and security issues.
Apart from checking the app’s privacy policy, we also recommend using a VPN like Surfshark to encrypt your online activity and prevent AI portrait generators from accessing your location and IP address.
The 8 Best AI Portrait Generators
The rapid development of AI has spawned numerous avatar and portrait generators. Selecting the best one can prove challenging for users.
But don’t worry, we put several AI portrait generators to the test and identified the following eight as the very best based on features, cost, privacy, and security.
Here’s a quick overview of the top 5 best AI portrait generators:
| AI Avatar App | Lensa AI | Reface | Aragon | Synthesia | Photo AI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special Features | Stunning magic avatars for social media | Realistic face swaps and cartoon-style avatars | Professional AI-powered headshots for social media | Customizable video avatars | Wide set of avatars and styles |
| Free Version | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ |
| Free Trial | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ |
| Cost | $3.99 for 50 avatars | $24.99/yr | $29 for 20 avatars | $22/mo | $39/mo |
| Transparency in User Data Management | ✔ | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
As the above table shows, these top AI portrait generators offer a range of functionalities and different price points. However, all of them pose some privacy risks, which makes using a VPN all the more important.
We were connected to a Surfshark VPN server when testing these apps to ensure AI portrait generators didn’t pick up our personal data. We highly recommend Surfshark for its consistently fast speeds, wide server network, and unlimited device connections.
For a full list of the best AI portrait apps, keep reading below.
1. Lensa AI Magic Avatars: The best overall AI portrait generator
Lensa is an image editing program developed by Prisma Labs. While it’s primarily known for its smartphone apps, Lena also works well on computers and laptops. Its built-in Magic Avatars feature generates stunning and realistic avatars, making it our top choice.
Features:
- Uses Stable Diffusion’s large language model (LLM) to generate AI avatars
- Automated face optimization uses AI to detect facial anomalies and correct them to create hyper-realistic avatars
- Automatic light correction provides good illumination even if reference photos have suboptimal lighting conditions
Lensa’s privacy policy states that it processes user data for generating AI avatars. It uploads some user pictures to its US-based AWS servers to generate magic avatars. However, it deletes these images from its servers within 24 hours and does not use them to train its algorithms.
Overall, Lena’s data policy is robust and offers a decent level of privacy. However, the company stores data in the US, where law enforcement agencies can demand access to user data.
Lensa is available as a free app on both the Play Store and App Store. The free version includes basic face-editing features but does not offer Magic AI avatars.
For Magic AI avatars, you’ll have to shell out $3.99 for 50 avatars. However, you can try out Lensa’s full range of features with its 7-day free trial, which can be accessed from the Play Store and App Store.
2. Reface: The best AI avatar generator for deep fakes
Reface, as the name suggests, is an app that specializes in creating deepfakes. Deepfakes are images or videos in which a person’s image or likeness is replaced with that of another. With Reface, you can swap out the original face in a video or photo with your own to create funny memes or AI portraits.
Features:
- Extensive library of 100+ face presets to choose from for creating hilarious GIFs
- Photo animation feature to add life and movement to your still photos
- Cartoon-style templates for your images and videos
- Pet avatar creation for creating realistic avatars of beloved furry friends
Reface’s privacy policy is more worrying than Lensa’s. It doesn’t provide clear details on the use of personal data, including images uploaded by users. Moreover, it uses cookies and pixel tags to collect such data for advertising purposes, which is worrying from a privacy and data protection standpoint.
Neocortext Inc., the creators of Reface, are based in the US. This makes them susceptible to data-sharing requests by US law enforcement agencies. As such, we advise caution when uploading pictures to Reface. You should also use a VPN like Surfshark to keep your photos from being linked to your location, IP address, and other data.
Reface can be downloaded as a free app with additional in-app purchases. The free version is quite feature-rich and already lets you create realistic AI portraits.
However, to generate funny videos and unlock other exclusive features, you’ll have to get the paid plans, which start at $4.99. Of course, you can try out the features before finalizing your subscription using its three-day free trial.
3. Aragon: The best AI portrait generator for business headshots
A professional-looking headshot goes a long way in creating a good impression online. With Aragon, you can generate studio-quality professional headshots using just a few selfies. While other apps on this list are focused on fun and creative avatars, Aragon’s primary offering is realistic business headshots.
Features:
- Professional headshots generated by AI for use in business settings and on LinkedIn
- Less than 90 minutes needed to generate AI portraits
The privacy of users is a priority for Aragon. This is reflected in the fact that it uses AES 256-bit encryption for user photos stored in its databases in the US. Users can also delete uploaded or generated images at any point.
While the privacy policy doesn’t explicitly state how uploaded photos may be used, it does highlight that Aragon users can exercise their rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as well as the California Consumer Privacy Act.
Aragon doesn’t offer a free version. Its cheapest paid plan starts at $29 for 20 avatar headshots. You can upgrade to the Basic and Premium plans for more headshots and faster turnaround times.
Aragon is one of the few AI portrait generators to offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. This means that if you cancel your subscription within 30 days of the purchase, you will get a complete refund.
4. Synthesia: The best AI video avatar generator
Synthesia is different from other artificial intelligence portrait generators as it primarily focuses on generating custom AI-based video avatars that can be used to create life-like videos in a matter of minutes.
Features:
- Life-like avatars paired with AI voice generation to create content for marketing, customer service, sales, and more
- 140+ preset avatars, ranging from business professionals to gym trainers
- More than 120 AI voices and accents to customize your videos for your target audience
Synthesia has a sound privacy policy that spells out when and how they use data provided by or collected from users. It clearly states that video footage provided by users is only used for generating avatars and training AI technology.
The app also allows users to opt out of data-sharing with third-party advertisers and businesses. Based in the UK, Synthesia must also comply with the UK GDPR, a comprehensive data protection regulation.
There is no free version of Synthesia. However, you can generate one free AI video avatar to get a feel for how the service works. If you want to unlock the full suite of features, you can get a Starter plan, which starts at $22/month.
We weren’t able to find any mention of a money-back guarantee or an extended free trial on the Synethsia website. Remember, we highly recommend using a VPN when using AI portrait generators, even ones with robust privacy policies like Synthesia to avoid ongoing monitoring.
5. Photo AI: The best AI portrait generator for hyper-realistic photoshoots
Photo AI (formerly known as Avatar AI) was one of the earliest AI portrait generators on the market. In fact, the website claims that it was the app that started the AI avatar trend. If you’re looking to create realistic avatars in different settings and contexts, PhotoAI is the app you should go for.
Features:
- Photoshoot feature lets you create high-quality, brand-like AI-based images of yourself
- Generated with Photo Diffusion, Photo AI’s in-house proprietary model
- 120+ presets for AI avatars, including yearbook, street style, and more
FAQs on Photo AI’s website mention that user photos are only used to create AI avatars. They also state that user privacy is a top priority for Photo AI. However, we were unable to find a privacy policy on the website, which is concerning. Moreover, the website asked us to disable our VPN while signing up, as it required a real IP address, which adds to our concern.
On the positive side, Photo AI is not developed by a corporation likely to sell your data to advertisers. Instead, it’s owned and developed by a Dutch indie developer. While this offers some comfort from a data privacy perspective, we’d have preferred a privacy policy being in place.
Unlike most other apps on this list, Photo AI does not offer a free version or a free trial. The cheapest plan is the Pro plan, which costs $39/month. Moreover, Photo AI does not offer any refunds.
As such, Photo AI should only be used by people who are clear about how the app works and what they want out of it. Users who are just starting out with AI portrait generators are better off sticking to the free plans offered by Lensa or Reface.
6. starryAI: The best AI generator for movie-like avatars
starryAI is one of the most technologically advanced AI avatar generators on this list. It uses Stable Difussion’s models in conjunction with other algorithms to generate artistic and movie-like avatars.
Features:
- Avatar customization using text prompts, useful for those who struggle with photo editing
- Relies on Stable Diffusion, which itself features more than 90,000 realistic images
While starryAI’s privacy policy is generally sound, we noticed a few red flags. First, it does not specify how user-uploaded photos are stored and shared. Second, it states that user data is shared with third parties, including Google AdSense and MailChimp. This means your data can be shared with advertisers and businesses.
Finally, the privacy policy states that user data is stored in the United States and Ireland. As we’ve already noted, the US is a jurisdiction where law enforcement concerns can trump individual privacy. To help combat this issue, use a VPN that encrypts your browsing activity, download history, location, and more.
starryAI’s free version is pretty decent, allowing users to create five avatars every day without watermarking. If you want to generate more than five avatars, you’ll need to sign up for starryAI Pro, which starts at $11.99/month. The Pro plan features unlimited avatar generation and full access to all of starryAI’s features.
7. Zmoji: The best AI avatar generator for personalized emojis
Apple’s Memoji, which is a cartoonish avatar based on your appearance, has taken the texting world by storm as it presents a fun but personal way to chat with others. With Zmoji, you can use AI to create realistic emoji avatars using your selfies.
Features:
- Lets you create emojis and illustrated avatars based on your appearance
- Can be used across different messaging applications so you can show your avatar to family and friends
- Offers detailed customization options, like different outfits and facial expressions
Zmoji has established robust privacy safeguards to protect user data. It stores most user data locally on the device. Any data that is uploaded to Zmoji’s AWS servers is in an encrypted format. If you stop using the Zmoji app, your data will be deleted automatically, though no time frame is provided for such deletion.
Zmoji’s privacy policy also states that Zmoji shares data with advertising partners, including Facebook and Google. However, users can turn off data sharing with advertisers by changing their privacy settings in the app.
Quick Atom Ltd., Zmoji’s parent company, is based in Hong Kong, where protection for user data is questionable. We recommend using Surfshark’s alternate ID to create an anonymous persona when using Zmoji to prevent personal data from falling into the wrong hands.
Zmoji offers a limited free version, which caps the number of AI emoji avatars users can generate daily. A one-year premium subscription costs $99 and includes unlimited avatars, more dresses, and customization options.
While there is no official word on a free trial, users have reported getting a refund for cancellations within 30 days of a purchase.
8. Fotor: The best AI portrait generator for social media profiles
Fotor is a full-fledged photo editing app available for Windows, macOS, and mobile devices. However, it has recently launched a slew of AI-based photo editing features, including an AI avatar generator. We tried its browser-based AI portrait generator and were delighted with the range of social media customizations it offers.
Features:
- Less than 10 minutes to generate AI portraits based on our testing
- Social media presets available so you can customize avatars for different platforms like LinkedIn, Twitch, YouTube, and Twitter
Fotor’s privacy policy is quite robust. It clearly states that face data provided by users is not shared with third parties for advertising and marketing purposes. Moreover, images uploaded to generate AI avatars are deleted from their servers within a specific timeframe.
However, Fotor’s parent company, Chengdu Everimaging, is based in China. This raises several red flags from a privacy standpoint, as the Chinese government is known to require private companies to share personal information related to users. Moreover, Fotor also suffered a data breach in 2020, leaking the information of 13 million users online.
Fotor Basic, the software’s free version, is pretty limited. As the name suggests, it only offers basic editing and design features and does not include AI avatar generation. However, the Fotor Pro plan, which starts at $39.99 for an annual subscription, includes all these features and much more.
Fotor even offers a three-day free trial for its Pro plan. We recommend using this trial to check out Fotor’s features before committing to a long-term subscription.
While Fotor generates great AI avatars, its privacy protection remains somewhat questionable. For enhanced security and protection when online, use Surfshark, which uses market-leading encryption to safeguard user data.
What are the Risks of Using AI Portrait Generators?
AI photo generators help us create realistic images in a cost-effective and time-efficient manner. However, such software also poses dangers that need to be considered. AI privacy risks can become commonplace unless you take precautionary measures.
Here are the most common risks and privacy concerns associated with using these technologies:
1. Identity theft
Personal data linked to your pictures can potentially be used for identity theft, which occurs when criminals steal your identity to avail of different benefits, such as financial and medical services. Most AI portrait generators link our pictures and personal information, making their databases a target for hackers looking to commit identity theft.
2. Stalking and harassment
Online stalking and harassment are increasingly common problems. Victims of stalking suffer from constant anxiety due to the feeling of being watched or followed.
AI portrait generators can enable stalking as they link personal information with your pictures, allowing hackers to perform reverse image searches to discover your identity, address, and other details.
3. Loss of anonymity
The use of AI photo software may affect your anonymity on the Internet by enabling easier tracking of your online activity by third parties. Moreover, images generated or uploaded to these services could potentially be used to improve facial recognition systems, which raises concerns about surveillance and the erosion of anonymity and privacy.
4. Harm to reputation
AI portrait generators can be used to create deepfakes of existing individuals. Deepfake images or videos can be spread online to tarnish an individual’s representation. Indeed, deepfake porn is already a growing cyber offense, with hackers using a celebrity’s likeness to overlay existing porn videos.
How to Use AI Avatar Generators Safely and Anonymously
To remain anonymous when creating an avatar online based on your pictures, the most important step is to use a VPN. This will protect your online privacy, as things like your location and other personal data will not be linked to your photo.
Simply follow the steps listed below to generate relatively anonymous and private AI avatars:
- Get a subscription to Surfshark, our recommended VPN provider. Not only is Surfshark exceptionally fast, but it also boasts a number of privacy-boosting features, such as alternative ID, which helps users stay anonymous online.
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- Download and install Surfshark on the device you’ll use to generate AI avatars.
- Log in to the Surfshark app using the credentials you created in step 1.
- Connect to a VPN server in the country of your choice. We recommend choosing servers close to your real location for the best speeds.
- Head over to your preferred AI portrait generator and sign up for an account if required. Remember, you can use Surfshark to generate an alternate name and email ID to sign up on websites with questionable privacy policies.
That’s it! You can now anonymously create your AI avatar.
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Final Thoughts: The Top 8 AI Portrait Generators for Online Safety
By combining an AI portrait generator and a VPN, you can not only create creative and unique online identities but also enjoy maximum data security and anonymity on the Internet. After extensive testing, we recommend Lensa Magic Avatars for realistic and stunning avatars, Aragon for professional headshots, and Synthesia for video avatars.
Even though most of the AI portrait generators handle user data securely, we recommend using a VPN for bolstered online security. Surfshark keeps you secure without reducing processing and upload speeds, ensuring your AI portraits are ready in a jiffy.
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Want to know how you can stay safe on other apps and technology? Check out some of our other articles below:
- How to Delete Your Tinder Account: A Detailed Guide
- Facial Recognition and Privacy: Everything You Need to Know
- Privacy Risks of AI Chatbots: ChatGPT and AI Privacy Issues
AI avatars are digital images of people created by artificial intelligence. They allow users to create a virtual presence that reflects their personality and aesthetic. But what are avatars and how do they work? In these FAQs, we answer the most important questions that arise regarding AI avatars.
An AI avatar is created using AI. Artificial intelligence uses algorithms and machine learning to create an avatar from entered data, such as photos or descriptions, that resembles a person’s real appearance or desired characteristics.
These avatars can be created in various styles and formats and can be used in virtual environments, in video games, on social media platforms, and more.
If you’re concerned about your privacy online but still want to use an image that shows your likeness of representation, an AI avatar is a great option. AI avatars or portraits are generated through deep learning using some selfies or videos of an individual.
Do you want to create an avatar without revealing too much data? Here is the step-by-step guide:
- Sign up for a Surfshark subscription and browse with VPN and ID protection.
- Choose an AI portrait generator app and download the app.
- Upload images to the app. Different apps require a different number of images or selfies to generate an avatar.
- Personalize and edit your AI avatar by changing costumes, hair colour, and sking tone.
- If you are satisfied with your avatar, you can save it and export it in different formats (e.g., PNG, JPG, GIF).
AI poses different threats to privacy. One of the most concerning is the ability to generate life-like images or videos of an individual using just a selfie. Using this technology, hackers can create deepfakes and fake news that harm an individual’s privacy and reputation.
