How to make photo collages of different styles on iPhone or iPad

In this guide, we’ll walk you through several free iOS apps that help you create beautiful photo collages for special occasions.

You can use these tips to create collages for memorable events like birthdays and anniversaries, special days like Valentine’s Day, New Year, and Christmas, or simply for posting to Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, WhatsApp, etc.

Note that all the apps mentioned here are free to use, with the option to upgrade to a paid version for more features, templates, filters, and stickers. I’ve also made sure to only include apps that don’t add a watermark to the final collage, even in the free version.

Use the Mixoo app to create a collage

This is one of the best apps to make collages or freestyle photo boards on your iPhone or iPad. Among other things, you can also use it to stitch several pictures together.

1. Open the Mixoo app and tap Collages.
2. Select the images you want to use to create a collage and tap Next.
3. Make sure you’re in the Grids section, select a layout—1:1 (square), 4:5 (portrait), 4:3 (landscape)—then choose a collage style.
4. You can now edit the pictures, background, border, etc.
5. Finally, hit the save button at the top to add the picture collage to your iPhone’s stock Photos app.

Create unique collages with many photos and frames

Using this free iPhone app, you can choose from tons of striking collage styles and even give them frames. I’m sure you’ll love the options provided here.

1. Download the iOS PhotoCollage app from the App Store, open it, and select your pictures. The collage styles at the top will change depending on the number of pictures you choose.
2. Once you’ve settled on the images, pick a collage template from the top. Tap the downward arrow button to see the styles in a bigger pane.
3. Select Frames, pick a border for your collage, and hit the check mark button.
4. Finally, tap the Save button to export the final image to your Photos app.

As a bonus, here are two more collage-making apps that work similar to the one above: PhotoCollage Maker and Combiner and Collage Maker & Photo Editor.

Add photos to circular collages

If you want your pictures to show in circular bubble shapes, you can do that with the LiveCollage app.

1. Open LiveCollage and tap the Collage button.
2. Scroll through the Hot section at the top, and you’ll see some circular collage styles. Pick one you like.
3. Tap the plus button inside a circle, select a picture, crop it, and then hit the checkmark button, followed by Done.
4. Repeat the above step for the remaining circles.
5. Once done, tap Background and pick one.
6. Finally, hit the save arrow button from the top right corner, followed by Save as Photo to save the collage to the iOS Photos app.

Create a freestyle collage

If you don’t want to conform your pictures to a specific collage layout, you can add images to a freestyle board and adjust the size, rotation, and placement accordingly.

1. Get the Layout app on your iPhone or iPad, open it, and tap the Freestyle option at the top.
2. Select one or more pictures and hit Add.
3. The images will be added to the collage board that’s 4×5 in size. If you want to have the collage as a square, portrait, landscape, or other dimension, swipe left on the bottom row and use the Ratio button.
4. Drag the images to the desired spot on the collage, rotate them using two fingers, and customize them the way you like. You can also tap Background to pick a color or photo.
5. Finally, tap Share from the top to add the final freestyle collage board to your iOS Photos app.

If you’re looking for another equally good option to create a freestyle collage, then check out the Scrapbook app.

Create beautiful collages quickly with two backgrounds

Usually, most collage apps only let you have one background. However, with this one, you can have two, which creates a nice 3D effect.

1. Download the Collage Maker app from the iOS App Store, tap Collage, select up to 9 pictures, and hit Next.
2. Pick a Layout style.
3. Next, tap Border and use the Border slider to create some gaps between the added pictures. You can also add shadows to the images and roundness to the image corners.
4. Now, tap Background and pick a style that will fill the gap you created in the previous step.
5. Tap Blur and use its slider to create a second background.
6. Finally, hit Save from the top to save the collage with a dual background. You’ll find the final image in the Photos app.

Create blended collages

You can use this method to make collages with no clear boundary between the images, so that they all blend together.

1. Open PhotoBlendCollage and tap Blend Collage.
2. Select up to 16 images and tap Add.
3. Use the two sliders there to adjust the bending part. You can also tap the Layers button, select an image, and use the sliders to adjust the feather effect.
4. Finally, tap the arrow button from the top to save the image. If you don’t see the arrow, that means you’re using a pro style, which requires a purchase.

Create a collage inside numbers and other shapes

If you want your photos to display inside a shape, the word Love, or other designs, then this method is for you. These unique styles help create engaging content for social media platforms.

1. Get the Phinsh app from the Apple App Store, open it, and tap Start.
2. Now, select up to 999 images and tap the OK button.
3. You should see a heart-shaped collage. You can tap Shape > Shapes Collection to pick another shape, number, style, or template.
4. Next, use the Adjust tab to change the size of the photos, the space between them, and the accuracy level. You can also use the Move button to shuffle the images.
5. By default, a white background is there, but you can change it by tapping More > Background.
6. Finally, tap the save arrow button from the top and pick Standard or one of the other resolutions. The collage gets saved to your iPhone’s Photos app.

Create premium-looking collages with thick outlines

The best thing about this app is that it lets you adjust the picture borders across four different parameters, resulting in a striking collage that looks premium.

1. Open the Photo Collage app on your iPhone or iPad and tap Collage.
2. Select the images and hit Done.
3. Use the Layout option if you want to change it.
4. Then, tap Borders and drag the four sliders one by one to adjust the outline. Tap outside the sliders to return to the editing screen.
5. Select Color to change the collage background.
6. Lastly, hit Save to export this image to the iOS Photos app.

Create a simple heart collage

One of the collage styles of the InCollage app has hearts, which you can fill with different images to create a post for your anniversary or a loved one.

1. Launch the InCollage app, tap Collage, select a few images, and hit Next. I’m selecting six pictures.
2. Tap Layout and select the heart style.
3. Tap Background to change it.
4. If the app name is added to a corner, tap it and turn it off.
5. Now, hit the arrow button to save the heart collage to the Photos app.

Create a tree collage

Use this method to create a family tree collage on your iPhone or iPad.

1. Go inside the Collage Maker app on your iPhone or iPad and tap Tree Collage.
2. Pick one of the tree collage styles.
3. Select the number of images the chosen style can accommodate and hit Done.
4. Tap the arrow button to save the tree collage to your photo gallery.

Create a mirror collage of a single photo

With this tip, you can take a picture and create a collage of the original image and its mirrored version. You can’t use more than one image here.

1. Get the Collaging app and tap Mirror from the top.
2. Select a picture and hit Next.
3. Use one of the mirror styles, as shown in the screenshot below, and tap Done.
4. Tap Save to get the final image to your Camera Roll.

Which collage style or app is your favorite?

More iPhone photo tips:

• How to add a watermark to an image on iPhone and iPad
• How to blur, pixelate, and hide sensitive parts of a photo on iPhone or iPad
• How to blur a face in a video on your iPhone for privacy