We Put the 5 Most Popular AI Portrait Generators to The Test – Here Are The Results!

Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized the way we create art, and an AI portrait generator is no exception.

With the rise of AI art generators, artists and creatives are turning to AI-powered tools to create unique and compelling portraits.

But how good are they? I decided to put some of the most popular generators to the test to see how they performed. The results were…interesting, to say the least!

In this article, we will explore the most popular tools for creating AI portraits right now. So let’s get into it!

What is an AI portrait generator?

An AI portrait generator is a smart tool that uses AI to create lifelike or artistic pictures of people. It looks at descriptions or pictures of folks and makes a new picture that might look like an AI drawing or AI painting.

This form of generative AI learns from lots of pictures, including portraits, to figure out how human faces look. They can notice things like smiles, skin colors, hair types, and even artistic styles.

Most popular AI self portrait generators

Now that we know what AI portrait generators are, let’s take a closer look at the most popular generators available today.

1. Lensa AI selfie portraits

Image Source

Without a doubt, Lensa AI has been making waves in 2023. This popular app is the latest social media craze that transforms your selfies into AI self portraits. While the app is free to download, if you want to use the special AI filter, you’ll need to fork out at least $3.99 to get some images.

Once you’ve paid the money, you then need to upload 20 images of yourself in order to receive 50 AI self portraits back.

Pros:

• Enhances selfies with improved skin tone and blemish removal.
• Simulates professional background blur (bokeh effect).
• Saves time with quick automated editing.
• User-friendly interface for easy enhancements.
• Automatically adjusts facial features for convenience.

Cons:

• Risk of photos looking overly retouched and unnatural.
• Privacy concerns due to app access to camera and gallery.
• Limited control for finer editing customization.
• Varies in quality based on app algorithms.

2. Portrait AI

Portrait AI is an AI app that can turn your everyday selfies into portraits that look like they were painted centuries ago. This app is all about adding a touch of classical art style to your pictures in a fun and creative way.

I found using Portrait AI to be very easy. Just choose a selfie or a photo of yourself where you’re looking straight at the camera, like you would in a passport photo. For the best results, your face should take up a good amount of space in the picture too. From there simply hit enter and watch as you’re transformed into a work of art!

To be honest, I found the results to be quite impressive really!

Pros:

• Offers creative and artistic transformation.
• Provides a fun and easy experience.
• No artistic skills required.
• Adds a unique, vintage aesthetic.
• Multiple historical styles might be available.
• Lets you compare original and transformed images.

Cons:

• Results may lack realism.
• Limited applicability to certain photo types.

3. Auto Portrait

AutoPortrait is a popular tool known as the best at what it does. Basically, it learns how your face looks by looking at pictures of you. Then, it can make new AI portraits of you in all sorts of different artsy styles.

Here’s how it works: You give the AI system a few pictures of yourself. The computer learns all the tiny details that make your face unique. It’s like it figures out what makes you “you.” With this info, AutoPortrait can make new pictures of you that look like they’re from different kinds of art.

So, if you want a picture that looks like it was made by a famous old-time artist, or one that’s really colorful and blurry, or even something that looks super modern, AutoPortrait can do it. The computer learned how to do these different styles, so it can make a whole bunch of pictures that show off different sides of you.

There is one catch though; it costs $5 to get 100 AI self portraits. That being said, there are no annoying subscriptions or other hidden fees. Worth giving it a shot, in my opinion!

Pros of AutoPortrait:

• Artistic Versatility: Creates portraits in different art styles.
• Personalization: Uses your photos to capture your unique features.
• Convenience: Saves time and effort compared to manual creation.
• Learning Abilities: Improves accuracy with more usage.
• Accessibility: Available online for users worldwide.

Cons of AutoPortrait:

• Quality Variation: Resulting quality can vary.
• Privacy Concerns: Uploading personal photos raises privacy issues.

4. Fotor – AI portrait generator

Fotor offers a free online AI portrait generator powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning. This innovative tool allows you to create lifelike AI portraits from scratch within seconds.

To get your AI self portrait, all you need to do is upload a selfie of yourself and choose a style. For this one, I decided to go with a ‘Barbie’ style, seeing as she’s everywhere at the moment. Once I hit generate I’m asked to sign in to view my results.

After creating my free account, I’m presented with my very own Barbie self portrait. It’s a little disturbing, to say the least! But fun to play with, nevertheless.

Pros:

• Quick and easy AI portraits
• A range of different styles to choose from
• Offers background effects for a professional look.
• User-friendly interface.

Cons:

• Risk of photos appearing overly edited.

5. DeepAI

With DeepAI’s portrait generator from text, you can create an create a fantasty portrait by simply entering the details of the person you’d like to see in the image. I enter a detailed description of myself to see what the generator can come up with.

Despite being very clear in the description, the generator was not so great at following directions, as evidenced in the photo above!

Advantages:

• Sparks creativity with fantasy-themed transformations.
• Explores imaginative elements for artistic expression.
• Creates visually appealing and captivating portraits.
• Provides quick and automated transformation process.
• Offers potential inspiration for creative projects.

Drawbacks:

• Limited customization control for personalized edits.

More examples of AI in action

AI has the ability to create diverse forms of art across different mediums. Some examples include:

1. AI music generators: Using AI algorithms, original musical compositions can be generated in various genres and styles, encompassing melodies, harmonies, and even full symphonies.
2. AI story generators: AI can produce poetry, stories, and even novels by analyzing patterns and structures in existing literature, resulting in unique written works.
3. AI video generators: AI assists in video editing, special effects, and the creation of entirely new video content. This includes deepfake technology, which seamlessly alters or replaces faces in videos.
4. AI drawings: AI algorithms can generate intricate and visually captivating drawings, exploring different styles, subjects, and artistic techniques.
5. AI voices: AI technology can synthesize human-like voices, facilitating the generation of speech, narration, or even impersonations. This finds applications in voice-over work, audiobook production, and voice synthesis for characters in video games or animations.
6. AI photos: AI algorithms can generate realistic and high-quality photographs, spanning landscapes, cityscapes, still life, and more. These AI-generated photos offer unique perspectives, artistic filters, or combinations of elements from multiple images.

These examples provide a glimpse into the vast potential of AI in art creation. As AI continues to advance, it opens exciting possibilities for artists and creators to explore new dimensions and push the boundaries of artistic expression.

How do I make an AI portrait?

Using an AI portrait generator typically involves a few simple steps. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Find an AI Portrait Generator: We recommend using one of the five AI portrait generators listed above.
2. Prepare Your Input: Decide what you want the AI portrait generator to create. You may have options like generating a portrait from scratch, transforming an existing photo, or selecting specific styles or themes. Prepare any input photos or specifications required by the generator.
3. Upload or Select an Image: Depending on the generator, you might need to upload a photo or select one from your device’s gallery. Follow the on-screen instructions to perform this step accurately.
4. Adjust Settings (if applicable): Some AI portrait generators offer additional customization options. You may be able to tweak various parameters, such as artistic styles, color palettes, background effects, or facial expressions. Explore the available settings to achieve the desired result.
5. Generate the Portrait: Once you’ve prepared the input and adjusted the settings, initiate the portrait generation process. This step may involve clicking a “Generate” button or performing a similar action. The AI algorithm will process the input and generate the portrait based on the chosen style or technique.
6. Review and Refine: Once the AI has generated the portrait, you’ll typically be presented with the output. Take a look at the result and assess if it meets your expectations. If necessary, most generators allow you to refine the portrait by adjusting parameters, trying different styles, or making minor modifications.
7. Save or Download the Portrait: If you’re satisfied with the generated portrait, you can save it to your device. The AI portrait generator may offer options to download the image directly or provide various file formats (e.g., JPEG, PNG) to choose from.

Remember to respect any copyright or licensing restrictions when using AI portrait generators, especially when it comes to using someone else’s photographs or artwork as input.

Final thoughts

AI-powered tools have made it easier than ever to create unique and compelling portraits. Whether you’re a professional artist or just looking to create art as a hobby, these tools offer a range of options and styles to choose from.

As AI technology continues to advance, we can expect to see even more innovative tools and applications emerge in the world of AI art.