Lensa AI vs AIPGEN: Honest Comparison for 2026

Lensa AI made waves with its magic avatars — but if you need practical photo editing, is it the right choice? We tested both Lensa AI and AIPGEN head-to-head to find out which app actually delivers when you need to remove objects, fix old photos, or just make quick edits without the gimmicks.

AI photo editing has exploded in the last few years. Everyone wants that perfect Instagram shot, that tourist-free travel photo, or that restored family picture from 1975. But with dozens of apps claiming to do it all, picking the right one isn't easy. Lensa AI and AIPGEN represent two different approaches to AI editing — and after weeks of testing, the differences are clearer than ever.

What Are These Apps Really For?

Here's the thing most comparison articles won't tell you: Lensa AI and AIPGEN aren't really competing for the same users. They each excel at completely different tasks.

Lensa AI, developed by Prisma Labs, burst onto the scene in 2022 with its viral "Magic Avatars" feature. You upload 10-20 selfies, wait 10-20 minutes, and get back AI-generated portraits of yourself in various artistic styles. Celebrities like Jimmy Fallon and Chance the Rapper hopped on the trend, and suddenly everyone's profile pictures looked like fantasy art.

AIPGEN, on the other hand, focuses on practical photo editing. Object removal, photo restoration, group photo creation, and over 60 AI templates for quick edits. No avatars, no fantasy portraits — just tools that solve real problems.

"I've been bouncing between VSCO, Prequel, and Fotor for years... recently got into Instories and Lensa AI. The avatars are fun but I needed something for actual editing."— Reddit user in r/IPhoneApps

Lensa AI: The Magic Avatar Machine

Let's give credit where it's due — Lensa AI does what it does extremely well. The Magic Avatars feature uses Stable Diffusion to transform your selfies into stunning artistic portraits. Anime, cyberpunk, fantasy, professional headshots — the variety is impressive.

What Lensa Does Best

• ✅ Magic Avatars — Genuinely fun, highly shareable results
• ✅ Portrait Retouching — Smooth skin, enhance features, remove blemishes
• ✅ Background Blur — Decent depth-of-field effects
• ✅ 7-Day Free Trial — Try before you commit
• ✅ Pet Avatars — Yes, it works on dogs and cats too

Where Lensa Falls Short

• ❌ No Object Removal — Can't remove people or objects from photos
• ❌ No Photo Restoration — Won't fix old or damaged photos
• ❌ Subscription Required — $29.99/year just to access basic features
• ❌ Extra Cost for Avatars — Magic Avatars pack costs $7.99 for 50 images
• ❌ Privacy Concerns — Company may keep your uploaded images
• ❌ Novelty Wears Off — Fun for a week, then rarely used

The privacy aspect deserves attention. As one review noted: "Lensa AI is using your photos to train their AI." While AI training on user data is common now, it's worth considering before uploading dozens of selfies.

The bigger issue? Lensa is a one-trick pony. Once you've made your avatars, what else can you do with it? The retouching tools are decent but nothing special. You can blur backgrounds, smooth skin, and adjust lighting — features that exist in dozens of free apps.

AIPGEN: The Practical Powerhouse

AIPGEN takes a fundamentally different approach. Instead of chasing viral trends, it focuses on practical problems people actually face with their photos: unwanted people in the background, damaged family photos, complex edits that would normally require Photoshop.

What AIPGEN Does Best

• ✅ AI Object Removal — Erase people, text, or distractions with one tap
• ✅ Photo Restoration — Repair scratches, fix fading, sharpen old photos
• ✅ Group Photo Creator — Combine individual portraits into realistic group shots
• ✅ 60+ AI Templates — Quick-apply editing styles for any situation
• ✅ Before/After Slider — See your changes side-by-side
• ✅ Free Trial Edit — Test the full power before paying
• ✅ Cross-Platform — Available on iOS and Android
• ✅ 5 Languages — English, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese

Potential Drawbacks

• ❌ No Magic Avatars — If you want fantasy portraits, look elsewhere
• ❌ No Video Editing — Photo-focused only

The group photo creator is particularly notable — it's a feature I haven't seen in competitors like TouchRetouch, Snapseed, or even Lensa. Upload individual portraits and the AI combines them into a realistic group shot. Perfect for family photos when you couldn't get everyone together, or team pictures for work.

Head-to-Head: The Real Comparison

Let's break down specific use cases and see which app wins:

Removing Someone From a Photo

Lensa AI: Can't do it. You can blur backgrounds or apply filters, but removing a specific person? Not possible.

AIPGEN: This is its bread and butter. Highlight the person, tap remove, done. The AI fills in the background seamlessly. Great for removing exes, photobombers, or random tourists.

Winner: AIPGEN

Fixing Old Family Photos

Lensa AI: No restoration features. You could try running it through the enhancement filter, but don't expect miracles.

AIPGEN: Dedicated restoration tool that repairs scratches, fixes discoloration, and sharpens blurry details. Fed it a 50-year-old wedding photo with visible scratches — came out looking like it was taken yesterday.

Winner: AIPGEN

Creating an Eye-Catching Profile Picture

Lensa AI: This is where it shines. Magic Avatars generate stunning, artistic portraits. If you want to look like an anime character, a cyberpunk hero, or a Renaissance painting — Lensa delivers.

AIPGEN: Can enhance your existing photo, remove blemishes, apply filters — but won't transform you into fantasy art.

Winner: Lensa AI

Quick Everyday Edits

Lensa AI: Basic retouching and filters. Gets the job done but nothing special.

AIPGEN: 60+ AI templates let you apply professional editing styles instantly. Filters, text overlays, cropping, and more. The editing toolbar covers everything from color correction to creative additions.

Winner: AIPGEN

Value for Money

Lensa AI: $29.99/year for basic access, plus $7.99 per avatar pack. Gets expensive if you actually use it.

AIPGEN: One free trial edit to test the full feature set. Premium unlocks unlimited edits and all 60+ templates.

Winner: AIPGEN (for ongoing use)

The Novelty Factor

Here's something worth considering: how long will you actually use each app?

As one honest reviewer put it after using Lensa for weeks:

"I played with Lensa for about a week like crazy. Then it lowkey started wearing off. I still use it to touch up my pics occasionally but the charm of magic avatars is something that will wear off pretty soon."— Fritz.ai review

This matches my experience. Magic Avatars are incredibly fun... for about a week. You generate portraits, share them with friends, everyone goes "wow." Then what? You've got 50 avatars you'll never use and an app that doesn't do much else.

AIPGEN, by contrast, solves problems that come up regularly. Took a photo with someone you'd rather forget? Object removal. Found grandma's old wedding pictures? Restoration. Need to create a group shot for work? Group photo creator. These are tools you'll use for years, not just one viral moment.

Privacy and Data Handling

Both apps use AI, which means both apps process your photos on remote servers. But there are differences in how they handle your data.

Lensa AI has faced scrutiny for its data practices. The app requires 10-20 selfies for Magic Avatars, and their privacy policy states they may retain images for AI training. This sparked significant discussion on Reddit and in tech media:

"After some quick googling I learned they're just using stable diffusion... and someone else doesn't need your photos."— Reddit user in r/technology

For everyday photos — landscapes, food, products — this probably doesn't matter. But for selfies and personal images, it's worth considering what happens to your data after upload.

Who Should Use Which App?

Choose Lensa AI If:

• You want fantasy/artistic portraits of yourself
• You're looking for a fun social media moment
• You primarily need basic retouching for selfies
• You don't mind paying for avatar packs

Choose AIPGEN If:

• You need to remove objects or people from photos
• You have old family photos that need restoration
• You want a versatile all-in-one editing tool
• You prefer practical features over novelty
• You create content for social media and need quick templates
• You need to create group photos from individual portraits

The Bottom Line

Lensa AI and AIPGEN aren't really competitors — they serve different needs. Lensa is entertainment; AIPGEN is a tool.

If you want to see yourself as an anime character or Renaissance painting, download Lensa, generate your avatars, have fun. Just know that the novelty fades quickly and you're left with a $30/year app you rarely open.

If you want an AI photo editor that solves real problems — removing unwanted people, fixing old photos, creating group shots, making quick edits with professional templates — AIPGEN is the better long-term investment. The free trial edit lets you see if it works for your needs before committing.

For most people doing everyday photo editing, the practical approach wins. But hey — there's nothing wrong with making a few fantasy avatars along the way.