Top Ten Reviews has been testing photo collage software since 2010. In our most recent round of testing, we spent over 35 hours comparing editing tools, export choices, creative options and support features. MyMemories outperformed all the others and is our best pick for photo collage software. It comes with a vast library of graphics and offers plenty of editing options. Of all the software we tested, it has the most embellishments, as well as a wide range of backgrounds and layouts. With the built-in editing tools, you can remove red eye or apply filters that add extra spice to your images. When you’re done creating, this software also offers a decent number of exporting options. You can even share your completed projects directly to Facebook for friends and family members to see.
Photopad Photo Editor is a simple photo editing tool for Mac. The software is available in a free version for non-commercial use. It has different features including crop, noise reduction tools, sharpening, photo effects, collage, filters to enhance your photos, add text and captions to photos and photo stitching to get the panorama effects.
Best OverallMyMemories
MyMemories offers all of the editing tools and creative features you can want from a photo collage program. It also has a vast library of backgrounds and embellishments for you to use.
Best BudgetMemoryMixer
Memory Mixer is easy to use and has hundreds of embellishments and backgrounds while still being the most inexpensive program. You can also burn your creations onto CD and DVD.
Best for Classy CollagesFotoFusion
FotoFusion provides some of the classiest creative elements we’ve seen, along with basic editing tools to help you create elegant collages for any occasion.
Best Overall
MyMemories
MyMemories gives you access to thousands of creative features, including embellishments, backgrounds, layout templates and text options. You can also go online to MyMemories' website to find hundreds more designs. While some are free, most of them cost extra. This program is really intuitive and easy to learn, but since it has so many different features, it can take a while to be comfortable with all of the options.
Most programs give you a few different canvas sizes to work with, but MyMemories gives you the freedom to create your own canvas sizes, even if they are very different from the norm. In addition to making collages and scrapbook pages, this program can also help you make a Facebook timeline photo, a blog header or an Instagram frame.
The tools are organized in such a way that it makes the interface easy to navigate. If you are in a hurry, you can use the FastFill button to automatically place images. You can also adjust your photos using basic edits like cropping and red eye removal.
MyMemories can professionally print your creations and send them to you. You can also use the program to burn your projects to DVD or share them on Facebook. If you need help you can contact the company by email or its Facebook page. You can also find answers by viewing video tutorials or searching the FAQs page.
Best Budget
MemoryMixer
This program is incredibly easy to use due to its simple interface. The auto collage function can help you place images fast, but you can also take your time and develop each page using the more than 1,000 embellishments that come with this software. Be aware that the program only comes with 40 collage templates; while this gives you plenty to choose from, other programs offer many more.
When creating your project, you can only choose between using four different canvas sizes, which limits your creation options – but you can purchase more backgrounds and design elements on MemoryMixer's website. As you prepare your photos for a collage, this program can help you crop, remove red eye and change your photos to black and white. Rulers appear along the sides of the canvas to help you place your photos and embellishments precisely.
It you want to turn your collages into gifts, you can use this program to burn them onto CDs or DVDs. While this program allows you to save files as PDFs and JPGs, it doesn't allow you to save them as PNGs. Should you have any questions about the software, you can email or phone a customer representative or look at the company's FAQs page and video tutorials for answers.
Best for Classy Collages
FotoFusion
Simple Photo Editor For Mac
This program is specifically intended for people who want to make minimalist-chic photo collages. Unlike a lot of the cheesy looking clip-art that other programs provide, FotoFusion's designs are modern. While it has a much smaller collection of embellishments and backgrounds it trades quantity for quality – so you get a clean, minimalist collage with only the best designs.
There are only 10 embellishments, 10 layout templates and 10 backgrounds to choose from. If decorating your pages and adjusting photos is the main pull for you, then this program won't fit your needs. This program's editing tools allow you to crop and rotate pictures, but it doesn't offer some of the most basic editing tools like red eye removal or a black and white filter. However, the interface is well designed and easy to learn.
This software allows you to save your projects as a JPEG, PDF and PNG. You can also email them from directly within the program. Many collage programs allow you to add music and video to your collages, but FotoFusion does not. The video tutorials are really helpful in teaching you how to use the programs tools, and if you have further questions, you can look at the company's FAQs page.
Easiest to Use
Picture Collage Maker Pro
Picture Collage Maker Pro has a simple interface and large buttons, making it easy to find the tools you need.
It also features a grid collage wizard to take you through the steps of collage making. You can use one of the many predesigned templates to create your work or start from scratch. It comes with over 600 embellishments and over 160 templates. We found the embellishments, backgrounds and overall designs provided by this program weren't the best quality. They seemed more 90s clip-art oriented and much less stylish than the designs found in some other programs. Still, there is a large selection to choose from, so if the designs don't bother you, you'll have plenty to work with.
There are only a few photo editing tools in this software such as a crop tool, the ability to rotate images and a red eye removal tool. You can save your work as a JPG, BMP, TIFF, PNG or GIF. The company also allows you to print your designs on gifts like mugs, shirts and calendars. Additional help is found on Picture Collage Maker's website, where you'll encounter a FAQs page and picture-based tutorials.
Most templates and Embellishments
The Print Shop Deluxe
The Print Shop Deluxe is first and foremost a desktop publishing software, but it has the tools and assets needed to use it as a decent collage software.
It provides 4,800 templates, giving you plenty of options to choose from for a variety of occasions. The program that comes closest to this template number only offers 400 templates. The software also comes with 1,000 stickers and embellishments to add your own creative flare. This program even allows you to add video and music to your creations to make them more engrossing. This is an especially fun feature if you plan on emailing your work to friends and family members or creating a slideshow for a get-together.
You can only save your work as a JPEG or PDF, so your exporting options are limited. This software offers so many tools and options that it will most likely take a while before you are comfortable with all of the various features. The interface isn't the most intuitive, which doesn't help matters. The tools themselves are easy to use, it's just a matter of knowing where they are. Should you need help, you can contact the company via live chat or browse their large knowledgebase to find answers.
Why Trust Us
This year we tested 9 photo collage programs for more than 35 hours to determine which programs offered the best editing tools, creative features and usability. We explored each software in order to compare the tools they offered and the creative freedoms each program allowed. Our testers have backgrounds in photo book creation and looked for anything that added convenience as well as fun to the creative process.
We chose to test programs that were compatible with both Windows and Mac computers so that more people would be able to use them. The exact same features are provided on either operating system; we double checked to make sure. We also made sure that the support services and creative features offered by these companies met our expectations.
How Much Does Photo Collage Software Cost?
You typically find photo collage programs selling between $30 and $50. What you really want to look at when deciding what software to buy is the quality of the artwork it provides. Some of the more expensive program offer beautiful, modern images, but others seem to only offer clip-art that hasn't updated since the 90s. Programs that are ridiculously expensive – over $100 – typically aren't worth the cost since you can find plenty of medium priced programs that can do the trick beautifully. You might also be interested in Scrapbook Software, which tends to sell between $20 and $30.
How We Tested
Our testing started by downloading each of the programs and numbering the amount of layouts, embellishments, backgrounds, shapes and text options provided. Programs that offered more of any category scored higher than those that offered few. While quantity was a factor, we also wanted to make sure that the design elements were pleasant and usable, so we gave programs more points for having aesthetically pleasing options.
We downloaded the same set of photos onto each program and experimented with the layouts to make sure they were varied and showcased our images well. We also explored and tested the editing tools to see how well each program worked to enhance our photos. We favored software with features that made the design process easier, like an autofill option.
Since sharing your artwork is just as important as creating it, we wanted to make sure that the export and sharing options covered several areas. We gave more points to products that allowed us to burn collages onto CD and DVD or let us share our creations directly to Facebook. Programs that allowed us to save photos in a variety of the most common image file formats, namely JPEG, PDF and PNG, also scored higher.
As you shop for collage software, keep in mind the following elements:
Pricing
Photo Collage software happens to be relatively inexpensive compared to other photo and image editing programs on the market. You will typically find these programs selling between $30 to $50, but there are some more expensive ones that cost closer to $200. However, the best programs, like MyMemories and MemoryMixer, also offer hundreds of additional graphics kits that you can purchase from the manufacturer's website. These include specific backgrounds and embellishments for specific holidays, times of year and family events. For the most part, kits are relatively inexpensive giving you access to hundreds of images from as little as $2 to $15 per kit.
Features
Programs with more design options are more likely to have backgrounds and stickers for specific occasions – whether Christmas, birthday or wedding themed. Your photos might not always be collage ready, so it is best to find a program that also offers some basic editing tools. Red eye removal, rotating and cropping are essential, but some programs also offer quick filters to change the colors of your photos. If you're making your collage specifically for digital viewing, it can be nice to have a program that lets you add video and music.
Export Options
Programs that export in several formats make it easier for you to do more with your projects. The most common image files are JPEG, PDF and PNG. Some programs make sharing your artwork easy by allowing you to post directly to Facebook. Another nice feature is being able to burn your creations onto CD and DVD, so you can give them away as gifts.
Help & Support
While these programs are typically simple and easy to use, it is nice being able to have support services to fall back on. You can find video tutorials and FAQs pages for all of the software we tested. Each company's customer support service varies, but it is generally better if a company can answer your questions within 24 hours.
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Who doesn’t like to click pictures?
Adobe Photo Editor For Mac
Wherever we go,
Today, when Selfies are a hit among people, no matter of what generation does they belong; photos play a vital role in their lives.
If you’re like me, I’m sure you Love to create your pictures in fun ways and then display them.
To make unique and fun photos, there are many apps present.
If you wish to collate your photos, then you can DIY with the help of Photo collages.
No...
...you don’t need to know Photoshop for that.
A little effort on the Collage maker applications can turn out to be a great result.
You can then share your creativity with your friends.
But...
... what if you don’t know what
That’s why we’re here.
We have listed some free apps for the Mac users.
You can find the list below.
There’s also a bonus video tutorial of how to make a basic photo collage using our favorite app from the list.
4 Best Collage Maker Apps for Mac
1. CollageIt:
Developed by PearlMountain, CollageIt is a great offering for the beginners.
You have the freedom to choose from various templates to suit several page sizes.
Its real-time preview lets you have an easy view of all the things you do.
It is a free app, but its Pro version is for $19.90.
Following is the text tutorial of how to use CollageIt:-
- Launch CollageIt in your Mac.
- Add photos by clicking “+” present on the left side of the page.
- A window will open, asking you to import/select photos.
- Select and click on “Choose.”
- Selected photos will come
on the Body area. - You can choose various templates like Mosaic, Grid, Pile, Random, etc. from the right side of the page.
- Text and/or Stickers can be added to the collage by selecting from the left side of the page.
- Click Export toolbar button to export your collage as picture/PDF, set as desktop wallpaper or send as E-mail.
PS: - Here’s the bonus video tutorial of our favorite app from the list, i.e., CollageIt, that we promised you in the beginning.
Best Photo Editors For Mac
2. Photo Collage Maker:
This Collage maker for Mac is worthy of your attention.
With this, you’re able to design a beautiful collage of your memories in a matter of few seconds.
Be it a greeting card or posters, you can make a collage on anything.
It also comes with the option of sharing your creativity directly on various Social Networking Sites like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Flickr, etc.
3. Picasa for Mac:
Google’s famous image organizer and photo editor Picasa also has an inbuilt collage creator.
It has around 24 new special effects created exclusively for the Mac users.
It allows you to upload and share your photos on Google+.
4. Shape collage:
It is an automatic photo collage maker that lets you create collages in different shapes like Heart, Logo, Rectangle, etc. just in the snap of seconds.
It is aptly said that a picture speaks a thousand words.
With the unique templates and features in the various Collage making applications mentioned above you can show the world your memories in a digital way.