Gemini, ChatGPT or Canva: which app to use for the AI photo trend
There isn’t just one app behind this trend — several AI apps already do this kind of photo transformation. We compared the three most used ones so you can pick the one that best fits your phone and your style.
All three are free to edit and generate images, with optional advanced features in paid plans.
Quick comparison
The apps, one by one
Google’s AI assistant with the Nano Banana feature to edit and recreate photos from a text prompt.
Google Gemini
- Installs
- 1B+
- Size
- Varies
- Price
- Free
- Platform
- Android
OpenAI’s assistant, which also generates and edits images from a photo sent in the chat.
ChatGPT
- Installs
- 1B+
- Size
- Varies
- Price
- Free
- Platform
- Android
Photo and video editor with Magic Edit: changes the style of an entire photo (or just part of it) and gets it ready to post.
Canva
- Installs
- 500M+
- Size
- Varies
- Price
- Free
- Platform
- Android
How to create your first trend photo
Choose photos with good natural lighting and visible faces — ideally several, from different angles.
Open Gemini, ChatGPT or Canva and send the photo through the chat or the editor.
Ask for the trend effect (80s retro, studio, watercolor, etc.) — the more specific the prompt, the better the result.
Ask for variations until you get the look you want — all three apps let you request new adjustments as many times as you like.
Download the final image and share it on your social media with the trend’s hashtags.
Tips for a more professional result
Prefer soft natural light (near a window, on a cloudy day) — it avoids harsh shadows on the face.
Ask the app for specific prompts (style, scene, lighting) instead of generic requests.
Try more than one app with the same photo — each one interprets the style differently.
Photos with natural expressions tend to give more authentic results than forced poses.
Frequently asked questions
A. Yes, all three (Gemini, ChatGPT and Canva) are free to edit and generate images. Advanced features (video, premium models) are in optional paid plans.
A. It varies by photo and style — that’s why it’s worth testing more than one. Gemini tends to be faster for natural edits, Canva already delivers the image ready to post, and ChatGPT is a good option for those who already use the app daily.
A. No. In all three, just describe in text what you want (style, scene, adjustments) and the app does the editing automatically.
A. Each app follows its own privacy policy for the data sent — it’s worth checking each one’s official notice before sending photos of other people.
Informative, independent content, not affiliated with Google, OpenAI or Canva. Each app has its own terms and optional paid features; image editing results vary depending on the original photo and the app version.
