Deepfake is one technology that remains consistently impressive. Apps like Lensa AI have taken the internet by storm. It lets you create deepfake portraits within minutes, and the results look incredibly authentic. While these are for fun, deepfake videos can be deeply problematic if used for misrepresenting someone, particularly in politics.
So in this article, we have carefully selected deepfake apps and websites that are mostly harmless and can be used for research purposes. You can utilize these services for studying machine learning, image recognition, computer vision, and of course, for fun too.
Note: Even though deepfake technology isn’t yet good enough to fool people completely, it’s important that we use deepfakes ethically. Do not use deepfake technology for illegal purposes, and definitely don’t use anyone else’s pictures/videos without their explicit permission.
1. Lensa AI
Lensa AI is the latest app that has gone viral for creating AI portraits of you or anyone else. It’s not exactly deepfake in the sense that it will put your face on other people’s bodies or in videos. However, Lensa AI has the insanely cool ability to create photorealistic portraits of yours from a few selfies. What’s more, the app creates portraits in multiple styles, including superheroes, anime, and more.
Though the app is free to use for general purposes, if you’re trying to make portraits, you will have to pay for each set or subscribe to the app’s premium version. Lensa AI is definitely one of the few apps that comes out with really impressive results almost every single time, and you will undoubtedly enjoy the photos that it comes up with.
Install: Android / iOS (Starts at $8 for 50 avatars)
2. Deepfakes Web
Deepfakes Web is a service that lets you create deepfake videos on the web. It uses Deep learning to absorb the various complexities of face data. Deepfakes Web can take up to 4 hours to learn and train from video and images, whereas it takes another 30 minutes to swap the faces using the trained model. The free version will output the deepfake video in around 5 hours, whereas the premium version will spit out the video in just 1 hour.
Even though it uses powerful GPUs on the cloud, it can take hours to render all the data. Nonetheless, if you want to try making deepfake videos for research in computer vision, you can go for Deepfakes web.
Visit Website (Paid, $4/hour of usage)
3. Reface
You might recall one of our reports where we showcased a deepfake app named Doublicat to help you make fun GIF memes. Well, the developers of Doublicat have renamed the app to Reface, after Reface AI. Reface AI is the Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) behind the scenes. To use the app, all you need to do is capture your photo and then choose the GIF that you want to use.
In a few seconds, the app will superimpose your face on the GIF. It doesn’t work perfectly, and the face superimposition will depend on the symmetry of your face and the GIF you are using. That said, there are so many gifs on the internet that you will always have options.
Install: Android / iOS – (Free, with in-app purchases)
4. MyHeritage
Another viral deepfake app you should try out is called MyHeritage. The app’s Deep Nostalgia feature gained popularity among social media users as it lets you animate old photos. To use the service, all you have to do is upload an image and press the animate button.
In a few seconds, you get an animated version of the image with the face, eyes, and mouth moving like it’s straight out of The Daily Prophet magical newspaper from Harry Potter. You can check out the output image right here:
Install: Android / iOS / Website (Free, with in-app purchases)
5. DeepFaceLab
DeepFaceLab is a Windows program that allows you to create deepfake videos. It’s primarily built for researchers and students of computer vision. However, if you want to learn about deepfake videos, you can definitely try out this tool. It uses machine learning and human image synthesis to replace faces in videos.
Since DeepFaceLab is an advanced tool mostly for researchers, the interface is not user-friendly, and you will have to learn its usage from the documentation. Again, it goes without saying that you need a powerful PC with a dedicated high-end GPU. Simply put, if you are a student specializing in computer vision, DeepFaceLab can be a great tool for understanding deepfake videos.
Visit DeepFaceLab (Free)
6. Deep Art
Deep Art is another app that went viral some time ago. It’s not a deepfake video app. However, it can create deepfake images based on art, ancient structures, and paintings. While there are many apps that have similar features, the unique aspect of Deep Art is that it uses AI to turn any photo into artwork.
The highly advanced algorithm is said to have been inspired by the human brain and uses stylistic elements of popular artworks to recreate artistic images. Deep Art is trained by the works of various artists, which include Vincent Van Gogh, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Picasso, and more. If you want to try something artsy, Deep Art is the best app to try.
Install: Android / iOS — (Free, with in-app purchases)
7. Face Swap Live
Face Swap is not entirely a deepfake app, but it does let you switch faces with your friend or a photo in videos, and it’s one of the best face swap apps out there. You can record videos, put stickers, take photos, and directly post on social media. What I like about this app is that, unlike other face swap apps, it’s not that static, and there is some degree of movement on the face. There are also 3D effects and interactive face warping with several masks and effects.
Install: Android ($1.99), iOS ($0.99)
8. FaceApp
FaceApp is a popular app and is, in fact, one of the first few apps to really popularize and democratize deepfakes and AI-generated face editing on smartphones. With FaceApp, you can simply upload your picture to the app and then see what you’ll look like when you’re old, make yourself smile, and more. As mentioned above, the app uses AI to edit the photos so they look quite realistic. Not only is this a wonderful way to have some laughs with your friends, but it’s also great if you have old photos and you want them to have the subjects smiling instead of sitting with a straight face.
Install: Android (Free, with in-app purchases), iOS (Free, with in-app purchases)
9. FaceMagic
Another AI-based face swap app is FaceMagic. Using FaceMagic, you can use faces of your choice on videos and images. The app’s in-app feed gives you prompts to perform face swaps, but you also have the option to use your own photos and images as the base face swap object. Moreover, you can get started with FaceMagic for free. That said, you will have to purchase the premium subscription for unlimited face swaps, priority processing, unlimited photo upload, and removing watermarks and ads.
Install: Android (Free, with in-app purchases), iOS (Free, with in-app purchases)
10. Avatarify
Next on the list, we have Avatarify, an AI face animator that uses facial cues and then inserts them onto images. Avatarify works on the same principle as the deepfake apps above but has an extensive collection to boot. This ranges from the classic audio effects to more advanced head movements synced to international and even regional songs. You can even use different memes for deepfake effects.
Avatarify even has a Live Mode, which lets users record their face and voice and overlay it on top of avatars in real time. You can then record that and share it across the platform. While there is a paid tier that removes watermarks, Avatarify is definitely one of the best deepfake apps out there to use casually.
Install: Android / iOS (Free, with in-app purchases)
11. FacePlay
FacePlay is another great deepfake app on our list and very similar to the Reface app. The app offers several Videos, Pictures, and GIF templates; some can be used for free, and some templates require a paid subscription. To use the app, all you need to do is upload your picture, select a template, and the app will generate magic avatars of you without any complicated steps, thus, saving you a lot of waiting time.
Install: Android / iOS (Free, with in-app purchases)
12. DeepBrain
DeepBrain is a deepfake software that stands out because of its capability to create highly authentic and visually stunning fake videos. Utilizing advanced AI techniques, DeepBrain has become a popular choice for users who want to create authentic deepfake video content that is professional in quality. It also has an effortless and reliable face-swapping ability. DeepBrain offers an intuitive interface permitting novice and expert users to discover its countless capabilities for making stunning fake videos.
Visit: DeepBrain (Starts at $24 per month)
So, these were some of the best deepfake apps and websites that you can make use of. If this has caught your attention, you can also take a look at our list of the best AI apps for Android and iOS. In addition, you can explore the best AI writing apps and AI coding tools in case you are looking for a helping hand. Let us know in the comments section which are your go-to deepfake apps and websites from this list!
Deepfakes are created using artificial intelligence and machine learning software. All the apps mentioned on this list use built-in AI and ML software to create deepfake videos and photos.
As of now, most deepfake technologies are not good enough to fool people completely. However, if used incorrectly, deepfakes pose a fairly serious threat to society. Since they can be used to misrepresent people and can be fairly convincing (if not infallible), it is important to ensure that you use deepfakes within the bounds of legal rights and don’t use the technology for nefarious purposes.
No, it’s not illegal to create deepfake videos as long as you are explicitly depicting them as deepfake videos and not using them to mislead people. That said, if you’re using someone else’s photos to make a deepfake, do ensure you have permission to use their photos, or you will leave yourself open to legal issues.
Yes, there are tools to detect deepfakes. However, the reliability of these tools is not consistent and could vary based on the test subject.
