Best AI Cartoon Generators: 9 Photo to Cartoon Tools

A cartoon version of you is one of the friendliest things you can put on a profile, a welcome email or a course slide. It feels personal without asking you to stand in front of a camera again.

The nine tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, from phone apps to full online studios, and every description comes from the tool's own website, read this week. If you'd like to take a cartoon further into video, my AI avatar video workflow shows the next step.

AI cartoon generators compared

In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site names a free plan, a free account, a free allowance or an open source version. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to start for free.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
CapCut	Video and photo editor with an AI cartoon tool	Cartoon photos you'll use in videos	Not stated
Cartoonize	Online photo to cartoon and avatar maker	Cartoon avatars with no sign-up	Yes
Fotor	Online photo editor with a cartoon-yourself tool	Cartoon selfies next to everyday photo edits	Not stated
Media.io	Online AI studio with a cartoon generator	Images turned into cartoon styles	Not stated
MockoFUN	Online design tool with an AI cartoon generator	Cartoon images placed into templates	Not stated
Steve AI	Animated video platform with AI characters	Animated cartoon videos from a prompt	Yes
ToonMe	Mobile app that cartoonizes photos	Cartoon selfies on your phone	Not stated
VanceAI	Online and desktop AI image tools with a cartoonizer	Cartoon photos as part of bigger workflows	Not stated
Voila AI Artist	Photo editor app for animated cartoon styles	Animated-film style cartoon portraits	Not stated

Nine AI cartoon generators to try

CapCut

Best for: Social media creators who want to cartoonise a photo and drop it straight into a short video edit in the same app.

Cartoonize

Best for: Anyone who wants a cartoon avatar from a photo in the browser without creating an account or learning an editor first.

Fotor

Best for: Small business owners who already tidy up team and product photos and want a cartoon version of themselves in the same editor.

Media.io

Best for: Marketers who want to turn an image into a cartoon and then build character-driven stories or short videos from it.

MockoFUN

Best for: Teachers and small shops that want cartoon images they can drop straight into posters, covers and other ready-made templates.

Steve AI

Best for: Businesses that want animated cartoon-style story videos with narration made from a prompt, without filming or editing skills.

ToonMe

Best for: Phone users who want to cartoonize selfies with lots of effects and filters, straight from the App Store or Google Play.

VanceAI

Best for: Teams that want photo-to-cartoon processing online, on desktop or through an API as part of a bigger image workflow.

Voila AI Artist

Best for: Mobile users who want playful animated-film style cartoon portraits from a selfie in a dedicated photo app.

What the ICO says about photos of real people

Most cartoon tools start with a photo of a real face, which is personal information. The ICO's biometric guidance makes a useful distinction: not all biometric data is automatically special category biometric data. It only becomes special category data when it's used to uniquely identify someone, so the purpose of the processing is what decides it.

For a small business that simply wants cartoon versions of the team for its About page, that's reassuring, but it isn't a free pass. The photos are still personal information, so ask each person first, tell them where the cartoons will appear and choose a tool whose privacy terms you've read.

Photo apps, online editors and video studios

Cartoon tools fall into three rough groups. Phone apps are fastest for selfies and fun filters. Online editors let you cartoonise a photo and then drop it into a post, a poster or a slide. Video studios go further and animate cartoon characters with narration.

Think about where the cartoon will end up. A profile picture needs one good image. A course, a children's resource or an explainer series needs a style you can repeat, and sometimes movement too.

Questions to ask before you cartoonise a photo

1. Does it keep enough likeness that people still recognise me?
2. Can I choose different cartoon styles for different uses?
3. What happens to the photos I upload?
4. Can I use the result in marketing, not just personal posts?
5. Will it work on my phone, my laptop or both?
6. Can I animate the cartoon later if I want video?

Signs your cartoon style needs a rethink

• Nobody recognises you. Too much style, not enough likeness.
• Every cartoon looks different. Pick one style and keep it.
• It clashes with your brand colours. Adjust before you publish.
• It looks blurry when printed. Export at a larger size.

Do you make an AI cartoon generator? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My plain advice on choosing an AI cartoon generator

If you want a quick cartoon avatar, use a phone app or a no-sign-up browser tool and you'll be done before the kettle boils. If cartoons are going to become part of your brand, pick one style, use it everywhere and save the settings so every new team member looks like they belong to the same family.

And treat the people in the photos kindly. Ask before you cartoonise anyone, and remember that the profile picture you choose says a lot; my piece on what your profile picture says about your business is worth a read before you swap your headshot for a cartoon.

Frequently asked questions

What is an AI cartoon generator?

An AI cartoon generator turns a photo or a text description into a cartoon-style image, avatar or animated character.

Are there free AI cartoon generators?

Some tools let you make cartoons without signing up or offer free plans. The free plan column above shows what each tool's own site says.

Is it safe to upload my photo to a cartoon app?

Read the tool's privacy terms first. The ICO treats photos of people as personal information, and biometric data becomes special category data when it's used to identify someone.

Can I use a cartoon of myself for my business?

Yes, many people use cartoon avatars on profiles, websites and courses. Check the tool's terms for commercial use before printing anything.

Can I make cartoons of my whole team?

You can, as long as each person agrees and knows where the cartoons will be used. Using one style for everyone keeps it looking consistent.

Can AI make cartoon videos?

Yes. Some platforms in this list create animated cartoon-style videos with narration from a prompt or script.