Artificial intelligence has made it possible to create and transform pictures with an ease and speed that often seem hard to believe. From image generation to photo editing, AI is playing a pivotal role in the development of visual content. Today, we can use AI-driven tools to modify our photographs in countless ways, including turning them into cartoons.

AI photo-to-cartoon tools use advanced machine learning algorithms to transform real images into cartoon-style artwork. They analyze facial features, colors and textures, then apply artistic filters and effects to generate a stylized cartoon version of the original photo. Many of these platforms use deep learning techniques, such as generative adversarial networks (GAN’s), to enhance the cartoonization process and produce high-quality, realistic results.

Graphic designers, marketers, businesses, educators and content creators can resort to these tools to generate eye-catching branding and promotional content, advertisements, product packaging and to make learning materials more engaging. Of course, social media users can leverage them as well to reimagine selfies, portraits or other images and create unique profile pictures.

If you’re looking to transform your pictures in a fun and attention-grabbing way, you should definitely check out the following AI tools:

OpenAI’s 4o Image Generator

OpenAI recently released a new image generator that’s designed to make human-computer interaction more natural than ever. The tool represents a huge step forward, because it has the ability to understand and process complex prompts and because it offers remarkable features. For instance, it can now accurately generate legible text within flyers, posters, mock-ups or other graphics, which was a known challenge for earlier AI tools.

Built into the GPT-4o model, the image generator gives you the possibility to not only create, but also refine pictures through natural dialogue. You can now upload a photo and ask GPT-4o to edit it exactly as you please: remove an object/person, adjust the colors or change its style. In that sense you can use the tool to convert a photo into any cartoon style your prefer: Ghibli, comic book, old cartoon, 3D Pixar, Disney, or maybe South Park or The Simpsons style if you’re looking for a humorous approach.

You can easily turn yourself into a caricature, Disney or any other character using prompts. Depending on your preferences, you can add specific details about the clothing, facial expressions or background. Here’s the step-by-step process:

1. Click on the “+” icon in the “Ask anything” field to upload your photo.
2. Enter your prompt.
3. Once the image is generated, hover over it and click on the Download icon in the top-right corner.

Pros

• Impressive image generation and transformation capabilities.
• The numerous cartoon styles you can choose.
• Ease of use.
• Accessible even to free users.

Cons

• The processing may be a little slower.

Price

The 4o image generator is now the default image generator in ChatGPT. Initially available only to Plus, Pro and Team users, the feature to create and edit photos is now free for everyone. The Free users have limited access to it though; currently you can generate/upload 3 files/day.

BeFunky

BeFunky can be regarded as one of the pioneers when it comes to cartoon creation. Back in 2007, when AI editing was an abstract concept, the software was released on the market with only two effects, one of them being the Cartoonizer. BeFunky became the first editor to convert a picture into a cartoon without the manual intervention of a professional. The feature has been constantly improved over the years and today, with the aid of artificial intelligence, it lets you generate cartoon-style images in a simple and quick manner.

The platform places at your disposal multiple AI-powered effects to reimagine your photos. These range from modern hand-drawn animation and graphic novel to vector painting, vintage comic, comic noir or classic cartoon. One of the distinctive features of this tool is the fact that it lets you customize the filters through adjustment sliders, such as Fidelity, Variation or Sharpness. The higher the Fidelity, the closer the results are to the original photo. Drag the Variation slider to get slightly different takes on the same art style. At the same time, you can apply your changes to the entire image or selectively to the foreground or background.

Using BeFunky is quite easy. Once you’ve accessed the photo to cartoon section, simply:

1. Click on Upload Your Photo Now.
2. Choose your effect from the left-side bar.
3. Preview and, optionally, adjust the result by clicking on the Settings icon.
4. Hit the Save button to save your image as a JPG, PNG or PDF.

Pros

• Intuitive UI, easy to navigate.
• It converts photos super fast, sometimes in less than 5 seconds.
• It is able to preserve the original facial features and expressions.
• The multiple possibilities to adjust the resulting cartoon.
• The wide range of image editing and retouching options.

Cons

• No option to compare the before and after photos.
• Cartoonizing is a paid feature.

Price

BeFunky comes with a free version, which provides access to basic photo editing. The AI cartoon styles are not available in this plan. If you want to use them and other AI tools, you’ll have to upgrade to BeFunky Plus. There are two options:

• Billed monthly: $14.99
• Billed annually: $6.99/month

MyEdit

MyEdit is a web-based tool for graphic design, photo and audio editing. Powered by AI, the platform boasts a wide array of features to work with audio and pictures, from turning text into speech to generating images using prompts and converting photos into cartoon art.

MyEdit comes with two, separately-placed features on the website for this purpose: Cartoonize effect and AI cartoon. Both are driven by artificial intelligence and both are designed to transform your ordinary images, but there are differences between them. The cartoonize effect option is free and gives you the chance to choose from a vast library of built-in filters. On the other hand, AI cartoon is a paid feature and allows you to generate cartoon characters. You can choose from the available templates, such as elf, cowboy or warrior, or customize the experience by describing the desired style in the prompt box.

Transforming your pics is easy to do. Once you’ve accessed the website and signed up, select the feature you’d like to use from the upper menu. Afterwards:

1. Upload your photo.
2. Pick your favorite style from the left-side panel.
3. Preview and compare the original and cartoon image.
4. Click on the top-right Download button.

Pros

• Two separate features to cartoonize your pictures.
• Dozens of cartoon effects to choose from.
• Easy-to-follow process.
• It does a good job retaining original image details.
• You get 1 watermark-free download per day.

Cons

• There’s no watermark applied to the processed photo in the free version, but the low-resolution (427 x 427 pixels) makes it really difficult to use.
• Cartoon generation with text prompts can’t be tested without subscribing.

Price

The free account of MyEdit allows 1 download/day for the cartoonize effect feature. If you want unlimited downloads and access numerous AI photo features, you’ll have to upgrade to one of the two paid plans:

• Image: $4/month – billed annually
• Image Pro: $7/month – billed annually

Vidnoz

Vidnoz is an AI-based solution primarily developed to generate, edit and translate videos. The platform is equipped with a multitude of features to create AI videos and avatars, but it also comes with plenty of photo tools. Among the variety of features we can find the one we’re particularly interested in – the cartoon maker.

Transforming an ordinary photo into a cartoon is extremely easy with Vidnoz. This is due to the fact that the process is completely automated. You don’t get to select your effect, like in the case of other tools. Your only task is to upload an image and hit the Generate button. The software will then analyze it, and apply the most suitable filter for that particular image from its vast database. The good news is that you get 4 variations and can pick the one that best suits your needs.

The generated images are stored in the My Files section of the website. There you can preview, rename or delete them. It’s also possible to perform some quick edits, like cropping, rotating and drawing.

Pros

• The most straightforward process.
• It automatically generates 4 AI cartoon-style images.
• You can create, download or share your cartoon-style photo free of charge.

Cons

• Since it’s automatic, you have no control over the conversion process.
• The watermark applied to the processed photo in the free plan.

Price

Vidnoz offers this feature free of charge. You can download the cartoon picture, but if you want to remove the watermark, enjoy priority processing and other premium features, you’ll have to upgrade to one of the paid plans:

• Starter: $19.99
• Business: $56.99
• Enterprise: Custom price

VanceAI

VanceAI is an AI-driven solution to generate, edit and enhance images. The tool offers the opportunity to convert photos into cartoons both online and offline. The main benefits of the desktop edition are represented by the batch processing capabilities and the faster processing speed. If you don’t actually need these features, you can cartoonize your pictures directly on the website without any worries. The options are the same on both editions.

VanceAI’s Toongineer Cartoonizer uses the latest Stable Diffusion and AnimeGAN technology to carry out this task. The software enables you to turn any photo into a cartoon, whether it’s a portrait, food, pet or landscape shot, and provides 6 male and female styles to choose from. These include Comic, Disney and Ghibli. In addition, you can set the generated image to be more realistic or cartoonish and to add textual instructions in the prompt box to describe the character in details.

The process isn’t complicated at all. All you have to do is:

1. Click on Upload Image.
2. Pick a cartoon style from right-side panel.
3. Select the style strength.
4. Enter a prompt (optional).
5. Hit the Start to Process button.

Pros

• The ease of use.
• The customization settings.
• The side-by-side comparison view.
• You can cartoonize multiple photos simultaneously in the desktop version.

Cons

• Facial features remain true to the photo only with specific styles.
• It doesn’t accurately follow the text prompts.

Price

VanceAI provides 3 credits to free users and allows you to process 5 images per day. Downloading a watermark-free image costs 2 credits. When you’ll run out of credits, you’ll have to purchase more to continue using it. There’s a different price plan for the two editions.

Online version

• 100 credits: $4.95
• 200 credits: $7.95
• 500 credits: $12.95
• 1,000 credits: $17.95

Desktop version

• 1 month: $39.90
• 1 year: $99.90
• Lifetime license: $129.90

Fotor

Fotor is a multi-platform photo editing software. It’s available as a web app, a mobile app and a desktop solution for Windows and Mac users. Photographers, designers and marketers can use it to edit images in multiple ways, design a wide range of template-based graphics, create collages and more.

One of the cool features of Fotor is the photo to cartoon converter. Powered by AI technology, the option gives you the possibility to apply multiple effects to your images, from cartoon 3D to Ghibli style, caricature and vintage comics. No matter if you’re looking to transform a selfie, a landscape or pet photograph, you’ll be able to perform this operation easily and without manual intervention. All you have to do is:

1. Click the Cartoonize Your Photo button.
2. Upload your picture in the newly-opened window.
3. Pick the desired cartoon effects and filters from the left-side menu bar. 

And that’s it. Once you’ve made a selection, the tool will automatically begin transforming your photo. After the image is generated, you can compare it with the original and, if satisfied, hit the top-right Download button to save it.

Pros

• Simple conversion process.
• One of the most extensive libraries of cartoon styles to choose from.
• A comprehensive suite of AI editing tools.

Cons

• You have to do some testing before finding a filter that maintains the original facial features.
• You can only download a low-res cartoon image, with the Fotor logo applied, in the free plan.

Price

Fotor offers a free basic version, with limited access to the editing tools (the AI photo cartoonizer tool is free to use). To eliminate the restrictions you can upgrade to one of the two paid plans:

• Pro: $2.66/month
• Pro+: $5.99/month

Picsart

Picsart is an AI-based creative suite developed to take visual content to the next level. Whether you use it online, on your iPhone or Android device, you’ll discover numerous features for your editing or design needs. These range from creating templates for social media to generating images, removing the background and applying a multitude of photo effects and filters. Among those effects is also the one to turn photos into cartoons.

Picsart makes it possible to create cartoon-style images and insert them in various templates. The tool places at your disposal two main options: Cartoon 1 – to generate a smooth, soft cartoon effect on portraits and selfies, and Cartoon 2 – to generate a rather gritty effect. Here’s how to accomplish this task:

1. Open the editor and click on Upload in the right side of the screen.
2. Go to Effects in the toolbar above your photo and select Cartoon to view the filters.
3. Click on the one you like to apply it.
4. Click on the adjustment icon on the filter to adjust the fade (optional).
5. Once you’re happy with the result, click Export from the top right corner.

Pros

• It generates photo-like cartoons, maintaining the details and realism of the picture.
• Fast processing.
• The cartoon feature is free to try.
• The variety of effects, filters and editing tools to enhance your photos.
• No watermark on the downloaded images in the free version.

Cons

• There are only 2 cartoon effects available.
• The low-resolution of the exported photos in the free plan.

Price

Picsart offers a free version with a limited number of credits to try its features, including the AI cartoon filters. To refill your credits and gain access to all the features, you’ll need to upgrade to one of the two paid plans:

• Plus: $5/month
• Pro: $7/month

Nero AI

Nero AI is an AI-powered solution to enhance and edit images on multiple platforms and devices. You have the possibility to improve your pictures directly in your browser, on your desktop computer (PC and Mac) and on your mobile device (Android and iPhone).

The tool can be used to upscale, sharpen or restore old photographs and, of course, as a photo to cartoon converter. In that sense, the platform offers 6 AI-based styles to recreate your pics: cartoon, gothic, evil hunter, clay, pixel and anime. If you need more styles, you’ll have to download one of the mobile apps.

Using Nero AI to cartoonize a photo is super easy. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Upload your image.
2. Choose your preferred style.
3. Hit the Start button.
4. Preview the cartoon picture and download it.

Pros

• User-friendly design.
• You can cartoonize multiple photos at once..
• The additional options to optimize your images.
• You get high-quality, watermark-free downloads in the free plan.

Cons

• The available styles generate radical transformations, losing the original pic’s realism.
• No possibility to compare the original and cartoon image.
• It’s rather slow in terms of processing.

Price

Nero AI offers a free plan, which provides 10 credits for free (1 processing=1 credit) and supports batch processing for 5 images. If you want more credits, priority processing and other benefits, you’ll have to upgrade to the Standard packages. There are two subscriptions available:

• Billed monthly: $19.95
• Billed annually: $7.50/month