In today's visual-first digital world, knowing the best app to add text to photos is an essential skill. Whether you're an influencer, entrepreneur, or just a common user, a great text-on-image app can transform an ordinary photo into a powerful message. In this guide, here we will walk you through the best 7 apps of 2025, their characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses so that you can choose the best one for your creative purposes.
Why use an app to add text to photos
In a world saturated with visual content, adding text to your pics is not just an artistic decision—it's a strategic one. For social networking sites like Instagram and TikTok, text can provide context, tell a story, or add a call to action that grabs attention and drives engagement. It turns a static image into a dynamic piece of content that encourages the spectator to pause, read, and interact. For businesses, a great text application can be a savior, allowing for consistent branding, quick promo photos, and producing stunning advertisements without the need for complex design software. By adding text, you can have your message not only seen but read and understood, and therefore make your content more efficient and enduring.
7 best apps to add text to pictures in 2025
CapCut App: Best app to add text to a photo
CapCut App is widely regarded as the best app to add text to photos in 2025, offering a perfect mix of simplicity and advanced features. Its intuitive interface makes it easy for beginners, while its wide range of fonts, colors, and effects appeals to professional creators. You can choose from static or animated text, adjust spacing and alignment, and even add shadows or backgrounds for emphasis. The app supports high-resolution, watermark-free exports, ensuring your designs look polished. Whether you're creating social media posts, marketing materials, or personal projects, CapCut App delivers professional-quality results all for free on both iOS and Android.
How to add text to photo using CapCut App
Give your photos a sparkle with stunning text using the CapCut App! Follow the steps below to create awesome graphics for your social media or personal projects. Click on the button below to download the CapCut App and take your photos to the next level.
- STEP 1
- Open CapCut App and upload image
Launch the CapCut App and go to the All tools section on the home screen. Under the "Photo editing" category, tap on "Photo editor" to begin. Select the photo from your gallery, and then click "Edit" to start customizing it with text and effects.
- STEP 2
- Add and edit your text
Once your photo is loaded into the editor, tap on the Text tool and select Enter text. Type your desired message and explore CapCut App's wide range of customization options to make it stand out. You can choose from dozens of font styles, adjust size and spacing, change text color, and add effects like shadows, outlines, or glow for emphasis. Background fills can help your words pop against busy images, while alignment tools ensure your layout looks balanced. For more creative impact, experiment with text templates or animated styles that bring motion and personality to your design, perfect for social media content.
- STEP 3
- Adjust and export
Drag the text to reposition it, pinch to resize, or rotate it to match your image layout. Once satisfied with the design, tap "Export" in the top-right corner. Finally, choose to save in device or post on TikTok directly, depending on your goal.
Canva
Canva is a top choice for creators who require the best app to add text to photos professionally. It offers thousands of templates, fonts, and layouts for social media, marketing, or personal purposes. The drag-and-drop feature makes designing quick and easy. With both free and paid options, Canva accommodates beginners and professionals alike.
- Huge template pool: Canva boasts a huge collection of pre-designed templates, allowing a user to create professionally looking content involving text and other elements within a very short period.
- Collaboration feature: It is also a great collaboration tool, as other users are able to comment and edit a design at the same time in real-time.
- Brand kit feature: Having the ability to save fonts, colors, and logos that are brand-related maintains all things the same throughout all material.
- Limited advanced design features: For professional designers, Canva can feel restrictive due to its lack of granular control over intricate elements.
- Can be pricey: While there is a free version, some of the best templates, fonts, and sophisticated features require a paid subscription.
Phonto
Phonto stands out as a lightweight yet powerful option for those searching for the best app to add words to photos without unnecessary extras. It is easy to use and fast, making it easy to add text while on the go. Phonto has hundreds of fonts and you can also import your own fonts. It offers strong flexibility for personalization. The design of the app is one of its many fantastic traits. It is straightforward enough for all skill levels and offers a simple user experience.
- Huge font selection: Phonto offers over 200 fonts and the ability to install your own, making it a dream for typography enthusiasts.
- Highly customizable text: You get advanced controls for text, including color, stroke, shadow, background, and curving.
- Simple and focused: The app is designed specifically for adding text, which keeps the interface clean and easy to navigate.
- No image editing tools: The app focuses purely on text overlays, so you'll need a separate editor for other adjustments.
- Ad-supported free version: The free app contains ads that can interrupt the editing process.
PicsArt
PicsArt is a dynamic photo editor with powerful text tools, perfect for artistic creations. Its vibrant font library and effects make it the best app to add text to pictures for social media enthusiasts. Available on iOS and Android, it supports community-driven templates for inspiration. Create bold designs for Instagram or TikTok with ease. Its versatility suits both casual and professional users.
- Extensive font library: The app offers a wide variety of fonts, and users can even upload their own custom fonts.
- Customization options: Users can personalize text by adjusting colors, sizes, shadows, and effects. These tools help create unique, eye-catching designs that match any style.
- Beginner-friendly tools: Despite its many features, PicsArt is designed to be easy for beginners to use, with a wide range of beginner-friendly tools.
- Potential for annoying ads: Pop-ups and banners can disrupt your workflow unless you opt for the premium plan.
- Watermarks in free version: Edited photos in the free version come with a PicsArt watermark, making them less suitable for professional use.
Adobe Express
Adobe Express caters to those who want the best app to put text on photos with a professional edge. It offers high-quality fonts, brand kit tools, and seamless cloud syncing. Perfect for businesses, it supports quick edits that maintain design consistency. The clean interface and ready-made templates save time without sacrificing quality.
- High-quality typography: Access to premium Adobe Fonts ensures your text always looks sharp and professional.
- Brand consistency tools: Build and save brand kits with logos, fonts, and colors for consistent content creation.
- Professional templates: Choose from business-ready designs for ads, social posts, and presentations that save time without compromising quality.
- AI credit limitations: The free version has a limited number of AI credits, which can be restrictive for users who frequently use generative AI features.
- Can be laggy with large projects: While generally responsive, the mobile app can sometimes lag or crash when handling large, complex files.
InShot
InShot is a favorite among mobile editors looking for the good app for adding text to photos and videos. It's known for its trendy font styles and vibrant effects that resonate with social media audiences. The app's straightforward tools make customization fast, intuitive, and enjoyable. It's a great pick for creators who want stylish, eye-catching results in just minutes.
- Photo and video text editing: Lets you add and customize text on both images and video clips for versatile content creation.
- Trendy fonts and effects: Includes modern font styles, outlines, shadows, and vibrant effects perfect for social media posts.
- Easy positioning tools: Allows quick resizing, rotation, and placement of text to fit your photo's layout and design.
- Watermark in free version: All exports include a watermark unless you purchase the premium plan.
- Fewer advanced text effects: While stylish, the text tools are not as feature-rich as dedicated design apps.
WordSwag
WordSwag transforms your words into stylish text designs instantly, making it one of the best apps for putting words on pictures with ease. Simply type your text, and the app auto-generates polished layouts you can customize. With its wide range of fonts, colors, and built-in stock images, your visuals stand out effortlessly. It's perfect for quotes, ads, and social media graphics in seconds.
- Automatic text styling: Instantly turns your words into beautifully designed text overlays without manual formatting.
- Variety of fonts and layouts: Offers numerous font styles and text arrangements for quotes, ads, and captions.
- Built-in background library: Includes high-quality stock images so you can pair your text with ready-to-use visuals.
- Limited manual control: The app's automated design process gives users less freedom to precisely adjust text placement, size, and layout.
- Focus on quotes and short text: It is best suited for short text overlays and quotes, and not ideal for creating designs with longer paragraphs or specific layouts.
How to choose the best app for adding text on photos for your needs
When selecting the best app to add text to photos, it's crucial to consider several factors to ensure it meets your specific creative needs.
- Purpose and use case: Before selecting an app, determine why you need to add text to photos. Is it for personal projects, social media engagement, or professional marketing? The right choice will depend on whether you need quick, simple edits or advanced design tools for professional-quality visuals.
- Ease of use: An app should have an intuitive interface so you can focus on creativity rather than figuring out complex controls. CapCut App excels here with a clean layout and clear navigation, allowing even beginners to add stylish text in just a few taps.
- Font and customization options: The more fonts, colors, and effects available, the more flexibility you have to match your style. CapCut App offers a vast library of static and animated fonts, plus detailed customization options like shadows, outlines, and spacing adjustments for precise control over your designs.
- Cost and accessibility: Choose an app that fits your budget while offering good value. CapCut App provides all its text editing features for free, including watermark-free exports, making it one of the most accessible high-quality tools available.
- Platform compatibility: Make sure the app works on your device and offers seamless performance. CapCut App is available on both iOS and Android, with consistent features and smooth editing across platforms, so you can work anytime, anywhere.
Tips for adding text to photos creatively
Adding text to photos isn't just about placing words on an image, it's about enhancing the visual impact. Follow these tips to make your text both eye-catching and purposeful.
- Keep it readable: This is the most important rule. Choose a font and color that stand out clearly against your image's background. Dark text on a dark background or light text on a light background is hard to read. You can add a text background, stroke, or shadow to increase contrast.
- Don't overdo it: Use text sparingly. A concise, powerful phrase is often more effective than a long paragraph. Too much text can make your image look cluttered and distract from the main subject.
- Match the mood: The style of your font should align with the tone of your photo. For a fun, playful image, use a casual or handwritten font. For a more serious or professional shot, a classic serif or sans-serif font works best.
- Use proper spacing and alignment: Pay attention to the spacing between letters (kerning) and lines (leading) to ensure a polished look. Align your text to a specific element in the photo or use a grid to create a balanced composition.
- Try text animations or effects for social content: For dynamic content like Instagram Stories or TikToks, animated text can grab a viewer's attention and make your message more engaging. Many apps, including the CapCut App, offer a variety of animation presets to make this easy.
Use cases for apps that add text to photos
Apps that add text to photos are incredibly versatile, serving a wide range of creative and practical purposes. Here are some of the most common use cases:
- Social media captions: Text overlays can add personality and meaning to your social media posts, whether it's a short caption, a quote, or a trending phrase. By pairing the right words with engaging visuals, you create content that stands out. This approach also helps drive interaction and sharing across platforms.
- Product labels or ads: Adding product details such as names, prices, and offers directly onto images makes your marketing materials instantly informative. It eliminates the need for separate text descriptions and ensures key details are always visible. This method works well for online stores, social ads, and printed catalogs.
- Event flyers or posters: Combining high-quality visuals with clear, bold text makes event information easy to read at a glance. You can highlight the event's name, date, location, and any special guests or features. The result is a professional-looking design that grabs attention both online and offline.
- Memes and viral content: Witty, relatable, or humorous captions over images can help your content spread quickly. Text placement and style are crucial for maximum comedic or emotional impact. Apps make it easy to experiment with fonts and effects until you hit the perfect viral formula.
- Personalized messages and greetings: Turn any photo into a heartfelt gift or keepsake by adding a custom note, name, or special date. This is perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, or festive greetings. The added text transforms an ordinary picture into a meaningful and memorable piece.
Conclusion
In 2025, the best app for text on photos is one that combines powerful features with intuitive design, and offers a wide range of creative tools for free. We've explored top options, but for creators seeking a comprehensive and completely free solution, the CapCut App stands out as the ultimate choice. It provides an extensive library of fonts, styles, and animation effects, along with the precise customization needed to make your text pop. With a user-friendly interface, you can effortlessly transform simple images into professional-grade visuals without watermarks, making the CapCut App a must-have for any creative toolkit.
FAQs
- 1
- What is the best app for putting words on pictures?
The best app for putting words on pictures depends on your needs, style, and desired features. If you want a free, versatile option with a wide range of fonts, colors, and effects, the CapCut App is an excellent choice. It offers professional-grade text editing tools and watermark-free exports, making it ideal for both personal and business use.
- 2
- How do I troubleshoot common issues in the best app for adding text on photos?
When using the best app for adding text to photos, common issues like blurry text, misalignment, or export errors can often be solved by updating the app, clearing the cache, or restarting your device. The CapCut App also features an intuitive interface and responsive support, helping you quickly resolve editing or technical problems.
- 3
- Can I animate text on pictures using mobile apps?
Yes, many mobile apps allow you to animate text on pictures, transforming static images into dynamic content. These features are great for social media posts and stories. The CapCut App excels in this area, offering a wide variety of animated text presets and effects that are easy to apply and customize, helping your visuals grab attention.