This time, a Chinese app called Zao has taken the internet by storm. Deepfake videos are on the rise. It allows you to produce deepfake films quickly, and the finished products look remarkably real. Deepfake films can be quite troublesome if used to mislead someone, especially in politics, even though the software is just for fun. Therefore, we chose carefully for this study deepfake apps and websites that are generally safe and may be utilised for research. These services can be used for research into machine learning, image recognition, computer vision, as well as just for enjoyment. After having stated that, let’s quickly go over the list.
Though deepfake technology can’t yet entirely trick people, it’s nevertheless crucial that we use deepfakes responsibly. Never utilise deepfake technology for illicit activities, and never use someone else’s photos or videos without their express consent.
Best Deepfake Apps and Websites (Updated August 2022)
The 12 top deepfake apps and services have been included with fun factors, privacy considerations, and research use-cases in mind. You may confidently select the top deepfake software based on your needs. Now that that has been said, let’s start the list.
1. Zao
Zao is the most recent software to become popular in China due to its clever ability to produce deepfake movies in a matter of seconds. You can select a video clip from its library, which features clips from popular Hollywood films, Chinese drama shows, Big Bang Theory, and more. In a matter of seconds, Zao produces a deepfake video that appears to be legitimate and is virtually indistinguishable from the original. The app’s quick processing time is astonishing compared to sophisticated computers, which can take hours to train the Generative Adversarial Network that produces deepfake video.
Regarding accessibility, the Android and iOS Zao app is exclusively made available in China. Zao requires a Chinese phone number for registration, therefore even if you can sideload the app on Android, you can’t use it. However, we were able to test the Zao app in India, and it largely functions as intended. In our testing, we discovered that it does not appear as natural on Indian faces as you may anticipate. Zao’s extensive facial data training on Chinese faces may be the cause. However, Zao is a fascinating software that you can test once it becomes widely accessible.
Note:The creators of the Zao app have permission to reuse any imagery produced by the app for any reason, as stated in the user agreement. However, after heavy criticism, they retracted the controversial passage. Nevertheless, if you are concerned about your privacy, we advise you to not use the app at all.
Install:Android/iOSFree
2. Deepfakes web
Deepfakes web is a service that lets you create deepfake videos on the web.
It uses Deep learning toabsorb the various complexities of face data.
Deepfakes web can take up to 4 hours to learn and train from video and images whereas it takes another 30 minutes to swap the faces using the trained model. The free version will output the deepfake video in around 5 hours, whereas the premium version will spit out the video in just 1 hour.
3. Wombo
Even though it uses powerful GPUs on the cloud, it can take hours to render all the data. It goes on to show that creating a deepfake video is no child s play and seeing Zao do it within seconds is truly game-changing. Anyway, if you want to try making deepfake video for research in computer vision, you can go for Deepfakes web.
Visit Website(Paid, $3/hour of usage)
If you ve not been living under a rock, it is likely that you have already seen some clips from Wombo. For those unaware,Wombo is a lip-syncing appthat lets you transform yourself or others into a singing face. You can choose from among 15 songs and make the character sing that song, all from a single image. This app is all the rage right now, taking overReels and TikTokacross the world.
4. Reface
Here s a sample clip from the Wombo app. You don t wanna miss this one:
Install:Android/iOS(Free, in-app purchases)
You might recall one of our reports where we showcased a deepfake app namedDoublicat to help you make fun GIF memes. Well, the developers of Doublicat have renamed the app to Reface, after Reface AI. Reface AI is the Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) behind the scenes. To use the app, all you need to do iscapture your photo and then choose the gif that you want to use.
5. MyHeritage
In a few seconds, the app will superimpose your face on the gif. It doesn t work perfectly and the face superimposition will depend on the symmetry of your face and the gif you are using. That said, there are so many gifs on the internet that you will always have options. This can be your personalizedgif maker appthat you can use to impress your friends.
Install:Android/iOSFree (in-app purchases)
Another viral deepfake app you should try out is called MyHeritage. The app s Deep Nostalgia feature gained popularity among social media users as it lets you animate old photos. To use the service, all you have to do is upload an image and press the animate button.
6. DeepFaceLab
In a few seconds, you get an animated version of the image with the face, eyes, and mouth moving like it s straight out of The Daily Prophet magical newspaper from Harry Potter. You can check out the output image right here:
Install:Android/iOS/Website(Free)
DeepFaceLab is a Windows program that allows you to create deepfake videos.
7. Deep Art
It s primarily built for researchers and students of computer vision.
However, if you want to learn about deepfake videos, you can definitely try out this tool. It uses machine learning and human image synthesis to replace faces in videos.
Since DeepFaceLab is an advanced tool mostly for researchers, the interface is not user-friendly and you will have to learn its usage from the documentation. Again, it goes without saying that you need a powerful PC with a dedicated high-end GPU. Simply put, if you are a student specializing in computer vision, DeepFaceLab can be a great tool to understand deepfake videos.
8. Face Swap Live
Visit GitHub(Free)
Deep Art is another app that went viral some time ago. It s not a deepfake video app, however, it can create deepfake images based on art, ancient structures, and paintings. While there are many apps that have similar features,the unique aspect of Deep Art is that it uses AI to turn any photo into an artwork.
9. FaceApp
The highly advanced algorithm is said to have been inspired by the human brain and uses stylistic elements of popular artworks to recreate artistic images. Deep Art is trained by the works of various artists which include Van Gogh, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Picasso, and more. And the good part is that there is no privacy issue with this app. If you want to try something artsy, Deep Art is the best app to try.
Install:Android/iOS(Free, in-app purchases)
10. Jiggy
Face Swap is not entirely a deepfake app, but it does let you switch faces with your friend or a photo in videos, and it s one of thebest face swap appsout there. You can record videos, put stickers, take photos, and directly post on social media. What I like about this app is that,unlike other face swap apps, it s not that static and there is some degree of movement on the face. There are also 3D effects, interactive face warping with several masks and effects. All in all, if you are looking for a deepfake app, Face Swap Live can be a great Zao alternative for the time being.
Install:Android(Free),iOS($0.99)
11. FaceMagic
FaceApp is a popular app and is in fact one of the first few apps to really popularise and democratize deepfakes and AI-generated face editing on smartphones. With FaceApp you can simply upload your picture to the app and then see what you lllook like when you re old, make yourself smile, and more. As mentioned above, the app uses AI to edit the photos so theylook quite realistic. Not only is this a wonderful way to have some laughs with your friends, it s also great if you have old photos and you want them to have the subjects smiling instead of sitting with a straight face.
Install:Android(Free),iOS(Free)
12. DALL-E Mini
I often use Giphy tocreate GIFs on my Macand share them with my friends on WhatsApp,iMessage (that I can now unsend if I want), etc. However, Jiggy takes that process one step further. With this app,you can create deepfakes of GIFs and put yourself in any GIF you like. That s cool, right? All you need to do is choose a photo of yourself and select the GIF you want to be in. That s it, Jiggy will then use its smarts to place your photo in the GIF, complete with animation! It s a fun way to create customized, personal GIFs that will surely be more fun to share.
Install:Android(Free),iOS(Free)
Frequently Asked Questions
Another AI-based face swap app is FaceMagic. Using FaceMagic,you can use faces of your choice on videos and images. The app s in-app feed gives you prompts to perform face swaps, but you also have the option to use your own photos and images as the base face swap object. Moreover, you can get started with FaceMagic for free. That said, you will have to purchase the premium subscription for unlimited face swaps, priority processing, unlimited photo upload, and removing watermarks and ads.
Install:Android(Free),iOS(Free)
While we are on the subject, if you re someone who loves creating goofy deepfakes, do not forget to check out DALL-E Mini. Inspired by OpenAI s DALL-E, DALL-E Mini is an AI model capable of generating images from a text prompt. The AI model is trained with millions of images from the internet, eventually making it possible to draw images of things that don t exist. For instance, here s a cursed combination of Pikachu and Pug dog:
Visit Website(Free)
What software is used for deepfakes?
Deepfakes are created usingartificial intelligenceand machine learning software. All the apps mentioned on this list use built-in AI and ML software to create deepfake videos and photos.
Who invented deepfake?
According to Wikipedia, the word Deepfake originated in 2017 from a Reddit user named deepfakes . That said, no one man can claim Deepfake s invention. The work done in computer vision, AI, and ML made it feasible for researchers and amateurs to create deepfakes. There s no single person who invented this.
How dangerous is deepfake?
As of right now, most deepfake technologies are not good enough to completely fool people. However, if used incorrectly, deepfakes pose a fairly serious threat to society. Since they can be used to misrepresent people, and can be fairly convincing (if not infallible), it is important to ensure that you use deepfakes within the bounds of legal rights, and don t use the technology for nefarious purposes.
Is deepfake AI?
Yes, deepfake apps and websites use AI, ML, and machine vision to create deepfakes.
Top Deepfake Apps and Websites to Check Out
Can AI detect deep fakes?