Best 3 Selfie Apps for Android 2019
Selfies may have become a thing in the modern world, but do you still remember those good old days? Standing in a queue outside of a photo booth waiting for your turn. Pay a certain amount to get yourself clicked without even knowing how your photo will appear. It was fun and exciting too.
Later, with the arrival of the internet and portable devices like smartphones, people started switching to these new technologies to get the most out of it.
We love to click photos no matter how or what the situation is. It is one of the best ways for many of us to relive those moments lost with time in this ever-changing world.
These days, when we think of clicking one, the first thought that pops up in the mind of many is a selfie. This particular word doesn’t any introduction. But for those who don’t know, a selfie is a photograph that you click of yourself using a device’s front camera.
We can’t say the selfie revolution began in 2002. But yes, it was on September 13 of that year when the word first appeared in written form. It was on ABC Online Forum from a username ‘Hopey.’
Selfie was nothing more than a word back then. Thus, it spread at a slower pace. Makes sense as there weren’t sites and devices like the ones we have today. But it was still around. And by 2012, selfie had become a trend on social media. It was everywhere on the web. People were clicking and sharing their self-portraits using the #selfie tag on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram like never before. With growing popularity and frequent use of the word, Oxford Dictionaries’ in 2013 named selfie as word of the year.
This impact was so powerful that many came up with ideas to mfg tools and tech for people who love to take selfies. As a result, it gave rise to selfie sticks and selfie drones, which as of now have turned into a global business. There was also a significant rise in demand for smartphones offering the front-facing camera. Ever imagined a mobile phone to have a 25 megapixels camera in the front? Well, it is a reality now.
Even app developers took the mobile photography experience to a new level. Whether it’s Google Play or App store, you will come across a lot of apps that are specifically designed to help you click and edit your selfies on the go.
So to make it easier, we’ve shared some of the best selfie apps for Android that you can use to click your selfies.
Top 1. Retrica (Best at filters)
Retrica is one of the best third-party camera apps for clicking selfies. Being free, it offers some incredible tools and features that will aid users in clicking beautiful – natural looking photos. But, what exactly makes this app an outstanding one, is its vast collection of photo filters.
Here’s how to use them –
After installing the Retrica app, launch it. If your device runs on Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) or later, the app will ask you to grant it permissions for accessing your device’s camera, microphone, location (optional), and storage. Tap on Okay, I accept option if you agree.
On reaching the main screen of Retrica, select your preferred mode. The app is by default set to clicking photos, but you can switch to GIF, collage, or video.
Getting started with filters
Applying a filter to a photo has never been easier, especially on a mobile phone. At first, you have to click and take a backup of your photos. Install a third-party photo editing app. Configure its settings. Import a picture. From a handful of filters, select one and apply. Later, save the image as a copy.
No matter what mode you’re in, a swipe from the right will switch to a new filter, and from left it will go back to previous. Moreover, unlike other apps, Retrica will let you apply a filter to your photo in real time. That means, you will be getting a sneak-peek – idea of how your picture will look, even before you click it.
Apart from applying filters to photos, you can do more with them using Retrica. Some of the best features of Retrica are –
Add stickers to photos: Stickers are time savers. They are free, easy to find, can bring fun into a conversation, and help eliminate the use of words.
These days, the use of stickers or emoticons is not limited to a conversation anymore. You can use one or many to decorate your photos and later share them with your friends.
To begin, all you need is a photo. Since you cannot use your on-device images here, consider clicking a fresh one. Next, select the sicker option from the editing page. At first, you will notice a handful of emoji stickers, but as you swipe further, more of different varieties will keep appearing. After placing one on the picture, pinch zoom to change its size or tap and hold to change its position.
Add text to photos: Photo sharing has become way popular these days. No matter where you go, you will find people clicking and sharing their photos on sites like Facebook, Google Plus, Instagram, and Twitter. Though optional, many may also end up adding a caption or write a brief description of their image.
But, what if you want to add a piece of text right on a photo? Yes, there are a few websites that offer tools to help users personalize their photos online, but the process is a bit messy, and slow as well. So, when the need arises, you can always switch to third-party photo editing apps to get the job done.
With that said, here’s how you can add text on a photo using Retrica.
After clicking a selfie, select the text ‘Aa’ option from the editing page. A caret will appear over the image, along with a color picker. Select a shade and type what you want. When done, pinch zoom to increase or decrease the size of your text or drag to set it elsewhere on the photo.
Add stamps on photos: Retrica app comes with a built-in stamp tool that lets you imprint a pattern or watermark on your photos. To apply one, tap on the stamp icon, placed in the upper right-hand corner of the editing page. A panel holding different varieties of stamps and symbols will pop-up. Select the one you like and save the image.
Create a GIF: Why to waste cellular data by downloading GIFs when you can create one of your own, right on your device. Today, rather than sending still images or text messages, many prefer using a GIF. They are easy to find, compelling, catchy and funny too.
Creating a GIF was not as easy as it is today. A User had to spend hours on their computer with some high-end photo editing software and carry out several steps to form something incredible.
These days you can create one in moments using an app like Retrica. To do so, switch to ‘GIF’ mode when the app loads. Pick a filter of your choice, or tap elsewhere to change focus or to adjust brightness levels. When set, hit the shutter button. The app will auto click your photos in a series and convert the same to GIF.
Create a Photo Collage: What better way to share multiple photos at a time than a photo collage!
On Retrica, you can create a photo collage with up to nine individual or consecutive shots. To form one, select ‘Collage’ mode from the control bar. There are 15 different layouts present on the app, pick the one you like. Next, set a time interval between photos. The app is by default set at 1/8s, but you can change to 1/2s, 2s or manual.
Point to note: Setting shutter interval to ‘manual’ will prevent the app from auto-clicking photos for the collage.
Retrica app also offers an option using which you can turn your collage photos to GIF.
When the app previews the result, you will notice the ‘IMG GIF’ toggle switch button in the upper left-hand corner of the screen. Tap it once and wait for a few moments until the app turns your collage photos to GIF.
Verdict: There is no denying that Retrica is one of the best selfie apps on the market. If you’re obsessed over clicking portraits or selfies of yourself, this app is a must try. The app is light, easy-to-use, and ad-free.
Developers are keen to provide time to time updates for bug fixes and new features. There’s also a Retrica community where you can share your photos, make friends, chat or even send private messages. All without leaving the app.
If you do not want to click a new selfie, but want to use features of Retrica on an existing image, you can. But there’s a catch. Apart from filters, blur, vignette, and rotation, you won’t get access to other tools. Also, for using features like stickers, specific filters, and stamps, your device must have an active internet connection.
Availability and support:
Android – Requires Android 4.0 and up.
Size – Varies with device.
Price – Free
Ad-free – Yes
In-App Purchases – No
Content Rating – Everyone (3+)
Offered by – Retrica, Inc.
Top 2. Candy Camera – selfie, beauty camera, photo editor (Best at editing tools)
Users who are looking for an alternative to Retrica should consider Candy Camera app. If we compare both apps side-by-side, most of the features are same. But, one cannot deny, Candy Camera comes with some extra tools and refinements that will help you click and edit your photos in a better way.
Some of the best features of Candy Camera are –
Photo editor Many times, before or after clicking a photo, we may spend a lot of time browsing the app market for one decent image-editing application. Although there are many capable apps for such tasks, it becomes much more convenient when users can edit their pictures without switching between applications.
Candy Camera app comes with a set of photo editing tools that will make it easier for you to adjust or improve the quality of your images on the go.
All you need is an image. You can either click a new picture or import one right into the app.
If you wish to continue with your on-device images first, select the ‘album’ option when the app loads. Pick an image from the library, and tap on the ‘Edit’ option. From the set of tools, select whichever you think will help improve your image and its quality. On finalizing the effect, apply and save it.
Photo filters: There are a variety of photo filters on the Candy Camera app as well. These will make your selfies look even better, no matter how or in what lighting conditions you click them.
To check them out, swipe upwards when you’re on the main screen of the app. Doing so will bring out the hidden filters panel. Scroll all the way to the end until you find the ‘Add’ button. Tap to expand it. Keep going through the list of filters to take a look or to add/remove those you may or may not use.
Like Retrica, you can apply a filter to your photo in real-time. While using the app in a selected mode, swiping back and forth on the screen will switch to a new filter or restore the previous one for you.
Beauty Functions: While clicking a selfie, due to shaky hands, lack of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) or wrong timing, it may appear a bit distorted, blurry or even lack detail. These are some of the commons problems users face while trying to click a photo of something they want to. But that doesn’t mean you cannot fix them later.
On Candy Camera, there is an instant beauty feature that allows you to make changes/improvements to your face in real time. To use it, select the filters option with the app loads. Next, tap on the smiley face button notable in the lower left-hand corner of the screen. The app will place three tools above the shutter, each with a slider to adjust the effect.
There are also a bunch of other beauty functions you can use on images present in your storage memory. While using the app, pick a photo from your library that you want to fix. Next, from the given options select beauty. Doing so will bring in front a list of tools like liquify, facelift, smile, blemishes, whitening, slimming, and so on. Pick one and follow the on-screen instructions for getting optimal results.
Decorate photos with stickers Candy Camera offers an immense collection of photo stickers. These will let you add a unique touch to your selfies and further make them look even appealing and trendy.
To apply one, tap on ‘Striker’ option after snapping a photo. There are a handful of sticker packs that come along with this app, but you can download more whenever you want. After adding one, you can flip your sticker, change its position, resize it to an extent, and also adjust transparency effect for the same. When done, save it as a new file or write over.
Photo Collage Most of the time, you will find people uploading – sharing a bunch of photos on social media or messaging apps one by one. That sort of wastes time and is a bit of lengthy process. Photo collages are one of the best ways to share multiple images at a time.
On the topmost bar of the Candy Camera app, are four options. Tap the one with title ‘Full.’ A list will appear below, with options to ‘change the aspect ratio of your preferred camera’ and ‘to pick a frame for clicking photos in the form of a collage.’ Select the second one.
There are over 28 different collage frames in Candy Camera. Keep scrolling through the list until you find one that meets your requirements.
Verdict: Whether it is editing photos, applying filters or recording short videos, you can do it all at ease with Candy Camera. Ads can be ‘really’ annoying sometimes, but since the app is offering tons of features in a small package, they shouldn’t bother you much.
Getting used to Candy Camera is as easy as it is on any of its rival apps. In case of performance, you’ll notice sudden lags and freezes on heavy usage.
Candy Camera also receives frequent updates, which is a good thing as it adds new features and fixes bugs.
Availability and support:
Android – Requires Android 4.0.3 and up.
Size – Varies with device.
Price – Free
Ad-free – No
In-App Purchases – No
Content Rating – Everyone (3+)
Offered by – JP Brothers, Inc.
Top 3. YouCam Perfect – Selfie Photo Editor (Overall best)
There is nothing more satisfying than using an app like YouCam Perfect to click selfies. The app has it all, be it powerful editing tools, filters, and options to personalize photos.
Some of the best features of YouCam Perfect are –
A collage maker: Unlike other apps where you have to figure out how to create a collage, YouCam Perfect lets you form one as soon as you launch the application.
When the app loads, you’ll notice some quick access tiles on its main screen. From the list, tap on the ‘Collage’ option. A page displaying your image folders will pop-up, asking you to select ‘one to six’ photos. After adding the required amount, tap the green check button, notable on the top right-hand side of the window. Wait for a few seconds until the app forms and loads your collage.
Point to note The app will make use of a random collage frame (can be later changed by the user) depending on the number of images user picks. Further, before selecting the collage option, make sure to click some photos.
Powerful image editing tools The YouCam Perfect app offers a remarkable set of both, image editing and enhancing tools with which you can transform your photos into some incredible looking portraits. These tools are easy to work with and can help you do stuff like adjusting a body shape, getting rid of facial blemishes, removing unwanted objects from the background, tune image colors, draw using a paintbrush, etc.
To make use of these tools, select the ‘Photo Edit’ option when the app loads. From the image library, pick a photo you want to edit. On the edit page, right beneath your photo are two options, ‘Beautify’ and ‘Edit.’
If you want to enhance facial or physical appearance in the selected image, you will find all the necessary tools under the ‘Beautify’ option. Whereas, if you want to make certain changes, corrections or add elements to your photo, like cropping, tuning image colors, or adding overlays, you can use the ‘Edit’ option.
Personalize photos: Personalizing photos using stickers, frames, or by adding text messages over them has become quite common these days. You don’t have to put in a lot of effort to find apps that support them. Nearly, every well-liked selfie app comes loaded with a slew of such amazing features, and YouCam Perfect is no exception.
You can pick a font of your choice, change its color, and add a message bubble while typing a piece of text on your photo. There are enough sticker packs and photo frames that come along with the app. So, you’ve got choices to pick one, whichever appears the best for your photo.
Further, YouCam Perfect doesn’t prevent you from using any of its features on your existing images. You can do whatever you want to your photos, even if you did not click them using this app, which most apps don’t allow.
Photo Filters The ability to add a filter to a photo and that too in real-time, has been one of the biggest highlights of apps like YouCam Perfect and Retrica. Not only does it save time, but also makes it easier for the user to pick a filter and decide whether it will suit their image or not.
On YouCam Perfect, you can use any of the below-listed ways to apply a filter to your photo.
By using the Photo Edit option – This works for photos you click with or without using YouCam Perfect. To begin, tap on the ‘Photo Edit’ option when the app loads. Next, pick an image from the library to which you have to apply a filter. Hit the ‘Edit’ button, and from the list, select the ‘Effects’ tool. Choose a filter, apply the same to your photo, and save it.
While clicking a photo: This one is same as what you may experience on Retrica, and Candy Camera. When you use the app to click a new selfie, swipe left or right to change the applied effect.
Verdict: If you are looking for a feature-rich app to click and edit your selfies, YouCam Perfect has it all.
The app has a clean, beautiful UI that makes it easier to use. Whether it is the main screen, filters panel, or tools, every option is well laid out.
Apart from features what you may find in other related apps, the YouCam Perfect offers a few extra ones. These include mosaic, HDR, image overlays, teeth whitener, etc. There’s also an option to add more, but they aren’t free nor cheap.
Developers have also made sure you get the right tool when in need. To make this possible, they have sorted tools based on their operation and function.
Pop-up ads are there to frustrate you almost everywhere in the app, but you can pay to remove them. If you are a free user, you will have to deal with ads as YouCam Perfect requires an active data connection to download sticker packs, frames, etc.
Update frequency of this app is excellent. You can expect surprises and bug fixes with every release.
Availability and support:
Android – Requires Android 4.0 or later.
Size – Varies with device.
Price – Free
Ad-free – No. Charges to remove pop-up ads.
In-App Purchases – Yes. $0.99 to $99.99 per item
Content Rating – Everyone (3+)
Offered by – Perfect Corp.
Jihosoft Android Data Recovery is the most powerful and professional data recovery software for Android that can restore deleted or lost contacts, photos, videos, audios, SMS, call logs, WhatsApp chat, Viber messages from any Android devices due to accidental deletion, virus attack, formatting. It supports all popular Android smartphones and tablets like Samsung, HTC, LG, Huawei, Motorola, Nexus, etc. In the meantime, you will be guided step by step if you never used this kind of tool before.
Must Check Out Posts:
That wraps up. I hope you like these apps and share your experiences with others as well. If we missed out any of your favorites, do share it in comments.
