Often, teens spend hours on Snapchat, pranking around with the filters, turning themselves into dogs, or putting rainbows on their faces. But did you know that many filter apps like Snapchat are hits in the market? The app market has been flooded with innovative alternatives that provide even more filters and editing capabilities, thanks to Snapchat.

If your teen can’t get enough filters, here are six free apps with filters like Snapchat that your teen can try out, which are not confined to the Snapchat ghost.

Why Is Snapchat So Popular?

Snapchat was started in 2011. It is a popular social networking application because it features photo and video messages that self-destruct after viewing.

This feature benefited those who wanted more random encounters rather than going through a list of friends from a feed.

The app’s meteoric rise can be attributed to several factors:

Disappearing messages: The fact that messages self-destruct helps to alleviate the problem of having permanent records of anything done on the Internet.

Another reason for Snapchat’s popularity is its focus on visual communication. The app allows users to share images and videos, a feature that perfectly matches the growing trend of visual content in social media.

Elements like Stories and Snap Map in Snapchat are designed to create more participation and communication among users, a factor that has contributed to the app’s popularity.

However, filters were Snapchat’s most important invention, initially contributing to its increased popularity.

These augmented reality (AR) features let users place whimsical graphics over photos and videos. From simple color correction to a highly detailed transformation of one’s face, it received global attention.

Why do you need Snapchat alternatives?

As with most social networking platforms, there are cons associated with Snapchat. Here’s why you might consider exploring Snapchat alternatives, which often prioritize safety and privacy:

Privacy concerns: Snapchat has become controversial over data collected and the chances of taking screenshots. Some users believe that the application collects too much personal information and their location.

Inappropriate content: The features of the application allow some users to share obscene or vulgar messages and pictures, which causes parents with children under the age of 17 to worry.

Age restrictions: Some parents may desire to use applications with a higher level of age limitation or with the application of the parental lock.

Battery and data usage: Snapchat is quite an uncooked application that rapidly consumes battery power and data.

Complexity: Snapchat may seem cluttered to people who just occasionally use filters on their photos without having to scroll through a specific social media platform.

These drawbacks have led to the emergence of specialized applications that filter pictures only, removing all the extra options of a social network service.

6 Photo filter apps like Snapchat you should try

Here are 6 photo filter apps that offer a range of creative effects, editing tools, and features that go beyond the familiar Snapchat ghost:

B612

B612 is a photography and videography application for taking selfies and videos with attractive enhancements like filters, stickers, and beauty features.

Taking candor from the asteroid in the fairy-tale “The Little Prince,” B612 aims to offer users tools to make exquisite selfies and short videos.

Key features:

• Rich choice of various real-time filters and effects
• Skin depigmentation and face sculpting devices
• AR stickers and masks
• Facilitating options such as video editing with music inclusion

Compatibility: iOS and Android

Cost: Free + paid for extra content

Why pick it? B612 is perfect for selfie lovers who expect to have a wide range of editing options.

Snow

Snow is a photo and video editing application that started in Asia but later went viral internationally.

Like Snapchat, it comes with numerous stickers, filters, and AR effects but also has a vast array of editing options.

Key features:

• A wide variety of filters and some that are activated by facial expressions.
• Stickers and face masks
• Beauty enhancement tools
• Video editing services with music and text overlay features

Compatibility: iOS and Android

Cost: Free, with special offers accessible while inside the application.

Why pick it? Snow has many filters and stickers, most of which are changed frequently to capture the latest trends and seasons. 

Fotor

Fotor has more features than most filter apps and allows further photo manipulation.

In addition to the numerous filter options, it has professional editing tools that make it appealing to users with different proficiency levels.

Key features:

• A significant number of filters and effects
• Advanced photo editing tools
• Beauty retouching tools
• An online tool that enables the creation of different collages

Compatibility: iOS, Android, and web-based versions can be obtained.

Cost: This application has a free version but also offers paid capabilities and enhanced options for a fee.

Why pick it? Fotor is suitable for all those who expect something beyond filters. Because it offers simple filters in addition to enhancing tools, it is suitable for those of different expertness levels.

YouCam Fun

YouCam Fun is an entertaining application for photo tuning that offers its users a vast number of available AR filters, animations, and live face filters.

This is to ensure that users of the application, including children, find it easy to perform photo editing no matter their age, making parents feel at ease.

Key features:

• A large number of AR filters and live face effects
• Animated stickers and emojis
• Real-time video filters
• Beauty enhancement tools

Compatibility: iOS and Android

Cost: It is a free application with paid products within the application

Why pick it? Though it has various features, its simplicity allows typical users to enjoy photos and videos without complex editing.

Banuba

Banuba is an application that provides face filters and uses artificial intelligence and augmented reality simultaneously.

It is a set of functional tools that can enrich the content of photos and videos.

Key features:

• AI-based face filters and effects controls
• Moving video effects and backgrounds.
• Voice-changing options for videos
• Facial morphing and distortion techniques

Compatibility: iOS and Android

Cost: It is a free app but contains in-app purchases.

Why pick it: It is a great option for people who want the latest AR effects and who like sharing exclusive content.

BeautyPlus

BeautyPlus is a multi-functional photo editing application with a solid beautifying setting and numerous filters and effects.

It is used mainly to edit selfies and make significant changes to the look of a picture.

Key features:

• A multitude of filters and effects
• Advanced beauty retouching tools
• Slimming and body-reshaping implements
• Background editing and removal

Compatibility: iOS and Android

Cost: Free but contains paid options

Why pick it: Users who value beauty enhancement features and the creativity of the filters are likely to find BeautyPlus ideal for their needs.

Conclusion

With the growth of social media filters like Snapchat, filter apps remain popular among youths due to the potential creativity that comes with them, which can be an exciting prospect for parents.

By familiarizing themselves with the options available and realizing what they entail, parents are well-positioned to guide their children toward better and safer age-appropriate programs.

Remember that the solution is not to completely prohibit children from using the Internet but to encourage free and open dialogue and teach children how to behave properly online.