The Prisma photo editor app has become one of the most popular tools for turning ordinary pictures into artistic masterpieces. By using AI and neural style transfer, it transforms photos into paintings, sketches, or even cartoon-style edits with just a tap. Its simplicity and stunning results have made it especially loved by mobile users around the world. Whether you're enhancing selfies, designing creative posts, or experimenting with filters, Prisma delivers instant artistic flair. Still, while Prisma is powerful, it's not the only creative option, and that's where CapCut comes in as a versatile alternative.
What is Prisma photo editor
Unlike other photo-editing apps that simply add brightness or color to a photo, Prisma quickly transforms pictures into pieces of art. It doesn't add a filter, but instead uses complex AI-based neural style transfer algorithms to reinterpret your digital image. In the case of Prisma, it takes your image and interprets it in a variety of different styles, inspired by famous pieces of visual art, notable sketches, and various digital art methods. Within a small number of seconds, what appears to be a boring selfie or image of you standing next to a tree from a distance can suddenly appear to be a hand-painted photo or somehow digitally illustrated. To date, Prisma has continued to evolve by developing and adding hundreds of increasingly diverse filters, ranging from realism and classical art forms to contemporary pop art. The Prisma art effect photo editor is particularly popular with mobile users who may just be looking to 'easily' create art from their everyday shooting.
How to use Prisma photo editor (Step-by-step)
Using the Prisma photo editor app is simple and beginner-friendly, making it easy to turn ordinary photos into artwork. With just a few taps, you can apply artistic filters, adjust intensity, and fine-tune your edits. Here's a quick step-by-step guide to get started and create stunning visuals.
- STEP 1
- Download Prisma and upload/select a photo
Install the Prisma photo editor app from the App Store or Google Play. Open the app and either take a new photo or select one from your gallery. This gives you the base image to apply artistic effects.
- STEP 2
- Pick a filter (artistic, portrait, cartoon)
Browse Prisma's library of 700+ artistic filters, ranging from oil paintings to cartoons. Tap on a style to instantly preview it on your photo. This step transforms your original image into an artwork.
- STEP 3
- Save or share
Once satisfied, save your edited photo in high resolution or share it directly on social media platforms like Instagram or TikTok.
Why Prisma stands out in 2025
- 700+ filters and art styles: One of the biggest strengths of the free Prisma photo editor is access to a wide range of filters. With over 700 art styles and new ones added regularly, users always have something fresh to experiment with. From classic paintings to modern digital looks, the variety makes it easy to keep your edits unique.
- Foreground/background separation: Prisma has improved its AI engine to let users apply effects selectively. With foreground/background separation, you can stylize only the subject while leaving the background untouched, or vice versa. This feature adds more creative flexibility, especially for portrait photography and social media visuals.
- Simple slider to adjust filter intensity: Not every edit needs to be bold. Prisma includes a simple slider to control the intensity of each effect. This allows you to choose between subtle enhancements and dramatic transformations, giving creators complete control over the final look of their images.
- Quick social sharing: Once your masterpiece is ready, Prisma makes it effortless to share. You can instantly export your edited photos to Instagram, TikTok, or other platforms without leaving the app. This convenience is part of why Prisma photo editor remains so popular among casual users and content creators in 2025.
Is Prisma photo editor free
- Free plan: access to limited filters.
- Premium ($4.99/mo or $19.99/yr): unlocks all filters, HD export, and watermark removal.
While Prisma photo editor is great for artistic photo effects, it's limited to static images and a mobile-first experience. Creators who need more flexibility, AI-powered tools, and the ability to edit both photos and videos will find CapCut for desktop a stronger, all-in-one alternative.
Desktop alternative: Edit photos with AI-powered features using CapCut
While the Prisma photo editor app is excellent for transforming photos into artistic styles, it mainly focuses on static images and mobile use. For creators who want more flexibility and advanced features, CapCut desktop video editor serves as a powerful desktop alternative. Beyond filters, CapCut offers AI stylize tools, the ability to generate images from text prompts, and even convert photos into videos for dynamic content. It also provides background removal, creative elements like stickers and overlays, and professional editing options. Try CapCut to transform your photos from now on!
Key features
- AI stylize: CapCut applies advanced AI-driven artistic styles, letting you instantly transform ordinary photos into stylized artworks with customizable effects.
- AI image: With CapCut, simply enter a text prompt and select a model, like Image 3.0, Image 3.1, or Image 2.0 Pro, it will generate four images for you to choose from.
- Image to video: CapCut converts static photos into short animated clips, adding video transitions, effects, or music, ideal for TikTok or YouTube Shorts.
- Creative elements: CapCut offers stickers, filters, and text fonts, giving you endless ways to enhance photos or videos with personalized designs.
- Background remover: CapCut includes a one-click image background remover that cuts out subjects cleanly, making it easy to replace or stylize backdrops creatively.
How to use CapCut for photo editing
- STEP 1
- Import your photo
Open CapCut and start a new project. Click the "Import" button to upload your photo, then drag it into the timeline.
- STEP 2
- Stylize the image
Go to the "AI stylize" panel and choose from creative filters like Comics, Oil Painting, or Scumbling, or type a custom text prompt. Hit "Generate" to apply the effect, and CapCut will instantly transform your photo into an artistic version.
Once the AI effect is applied, explore CapCut's "Filters" tab to enhance the result. You can adjust tones with Retro, Portrait, or Pro filters and fine-tune brightness, contrast, or saturation for a polished finish.
- STEP 3
- Save and export the image
When you're happy with the results, click the three-line button and select the "Export still frames" option. Choose resolution (up to 8K) and format (JPEG or PNG), then "Export." Your stylized, high-quality photo is now ready for sharing or further use.
Comparison between Prisma and CapCut
Conclusion
The Prisma photo editor app has built its reputation by offering instant, art-inspired transformations for photos using AI. Its wide filter collection makes it ideal for quick creative edits, especially on mobile devices. However, Prisma photo editor is still somewhat limited, with fewer customization tools and no advanced desktop-native support. For creators who need both photo and video editing, plus AI-powered features like stylization, background removal, and image enhancement, CapCut for desktop offers a more versatile and future-ready solution. Try CapCut to transform your images with rich features easily today!
FAQs
- 1
- Does Prisma photo editor work offline?
No, the Prisma photo editor app requires internet access since all AI processing happens on its cloud servers. This makes it less reliable if you're editing without a stable connection. Moreover, CapCut allows you to apply AI stylize, filters, and edits to images anytime without depending on the cloud.
- 2
- What are the best filters in Prisma photo editor?
Prisma photo editor's most popular filters include Van Gogh-inspired painting effects, cartoon transformations, and daily new additions for fresh edits. These create striking, shareable results in seconds. However, if you want broader creative control, CapCut combines filters with AI background removal, color correction, and overlays, making it more versatile for both casual and professional projects.
- 3
- Can I create cartoon or anime-style images with Prisma photo editor?
Yes, Prisma photo editor offers oil painting and comic-style filters that quickly turn selfies into stylized avatars or illustrations. It's a fun choice for profile pics or posters. For even greater customization, CapCut provides AI avatars, stylization, and image to video tools, letting you go beyond static edits and bringing your anime-style creations to life in videos.