- Watermark makers at a glance
- Ten watermark makers
- Which watermark maker fits your workflow
- What US copyright law says about removing ownership details
- Visible, subtle or invisible?
- Questions to ask before you watermark
- Signs your work needs a watermark
- My plain advice on watermarks
- Frequently asked questions
A watermark maker adds your name, logo or copyright notice on top of photos before you share them, so people know who made them and copying is less tempting. Some work in the browser, some handle hundreds of photos in a batch and some run on your phone. Ten options follow in no particular order.
The moment a photo leaves your phone, it can be screenshotted, reposted and passed around with your name nowhere to be seen.
A watermark won't stop a determined copier, but it keeps your name attached to your work. The ten tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the vendor's own website, read this week. If you write as well as shoot, my piece on whether online blog posts are protected by copyright covers the words side.
Watermark makers at a glance
I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website or store listing, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the page names a free plan, a free version, a free account, a free edition, an open source release or says the tool itself is free. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the page I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to try it, so check the vendor's page before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| BatchPhoto | Desktop batch photo editor | Watermarking alongside resizing and renaming | Not stated |
| Canva | Online design platform | Quick logo watermarks on social images | Yes |
| iWatermark+ | Watermark app for iPhone and iPad | Watermarking straight from a phone | Not stated |
| Mass Watermark | Batch watermark software | Hundreds of photos at once | Trial only |
| PhotoBulk | Mac bulk image editor | Mac users editing in bulk | Not stated |
| Star Watermark | Offline photo, PDF and video watermarking | Offline work across photos, PDFs and video | Yes |
| TSR Watermark Image | Windows watermarking software | Free personal use on Windows | Yes |
| uMark | Batch photo watermark software | Batch jobs on Windows and Mac | Not stated |
| Visual Watermark | Watermarking app for photos, video and PDF | Photos, videos and PDFs from one app | Yes |
| Watermarkly | Online and desktop watermark tool | Private watermarking in the browser | Yes |
Ten watermark makers
BatchPhoto
Best for: Photographers who want watermarking in the same batch job as resizing, converting, cropping and date stamping.
Canva
Best for: Creators already designing social posts there who want to add a logo or text watermark to photos without another app.
iWatermark+
Best for: Phone photographers who want to watermark pictures on iPhone or iPad before they post them.
Mass Watermark
Best for: Sellers and photographers watermarking whole collections on Windows or macOS, with resizing and EXIF tools included.
PhotoBulk
Best for: Mac users who want one small app for bulk watermarking and other everyday image edits.
Star Watermark
Best for: People who'd rather watermark offline and need photos, PDFs and videos handled in one desktop app.
TSR Watermark Image
Best for: Windows users protecting personal photos who want simple watermarking software that's freeware for personal use.
uMark
Best for: Studios that need batch photo watermarking on Windows and Mac, with separate editions for video and PDF.
Visual Watermark
Best for: Photographers who want a downloadable watermarking app that also handles their videos and PDF documents in one place.
Watermarkly
Best for: Creators who want to batch watermark photos online with files staying private in their browser.
Which watermark maker fits your workflow
- Watermarking in the browser: Watermarkly or Canva.
- Hundreds of photos at once: Mass Watermark or uMark.
- Watermarks in a bigger batch job: BatchPhoto or PhotoBulk.
- Photos, videos and PDFs together: Visual Watermark or Star Watermark.
- Free personal use on Windows: TSR Watermark Image.
- Straight from your phone: iWatermark+.
What US copyright law says about removing ownership details
Section 1202 of the Copyright Law of the United States, published by the U.S. Copyright Office, says no person shall, without the authority of the copyright owner or the law, intentionally remove or alter any copyright management information.
Copyright management information includes details such as the author's name and the copyright owner. A visible watermark carrying your name puts that information on the picture itself, so stripping it out is a deliberate act rather than an accident.
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Visible, subtle or invisible?
A large logo across the middle protects best and spoils the picture most. It suits proofs you send to clients before they buy.
A small name in a corner looks professional on social media and portfolios, though it's easy to crop out.
Some photographers also add their details to the file's metadata. It's invisible to viewers, but it travels with the file and takes seconds to add.
Questions to ask before you watermark
- Will you use text, a logo or both?
- How many photos do you need to mark at once?
- Does the tool resize photos in the same step?
- Can you save a watermark template to reuse?
- Does it handle videos or PDFs as well?
- Are your photos uploaded, or processed on your device?
Marking photos helps, but if someone copies them anyway, our guide to the DMCA takedown process explains the notice, its required elements and the counter-notice.
Signs your work needs a watermark
- Your photos turn up without credit. Put your name on them.
- Clients screenshot proofs. Mark proofs boldly.
- You post a lot of work. Batch it with a template.
- Your brand isn't recognised yet. A consistent mark helps.
Do you make a watermark maker? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on watermarks
Make one watermark template with your name or logo at a low opacity, place it where a crop would ruin the picture and save it. Then use it on everything, every time, so it becomes part of how people recognise your work.
If you sell your photography, the marketing matters as much as the protection. My ChatGPT prompts for photographers help with the captions and emails that go with the pictures.
Frequently asked questions
What is a watermark maker?
It's a tool that places text or a logo over your photos, usually semi-transparent, so your name stays on the picture when it's shared.
Can I add a watermark to photos for free?
Yes. Several online and desktop tools let you add watermarks for free, sometimes with limits on batch size or features. Check the free plan column above.
Does a watermark stop people stealing photos?
Not completely. It discourages casual copying and keeps your name attached, but a determined person can still crop or edit it.
Where should I put my watermark?
Somewhere a crop would spoil the picture, at an opacity that's visible without hiding the subject. Corners are easy to crop out.
Can I watermark lots of photos at once?
Yes. Batch watermarking tools apply the same mark to a whole folder in one go, often while resizing too.
Should I watermark photos on social media?
A small, tidy watermark is common for photographers and artists. Keep it subtle so the post still looks good in the feed.
