Best Animated Sticker Maker Apps for iPhone (2026): 7 Checked

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The best animated sticker maker for iPhone depends on what you will put up with: Sticker.ly has the biggest library and cuts people out of videos but costs $39.99 a year for PLUS, Sticker Maker Studio has nothing to buy but runs ads at export, and Sticker Maker: Photo Stickers by Mobivalley has the lowest paid plan in the group at $9.99 a year. We checked seven apps on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026; six of them show ads.

This page is written by Feral Online, the one-person studio that makes Pixtide Sticker and Pixtide Swipe. We name where the other app wins. Pixtide Sticker is not released yet, so it is not ranked: it has its own short section after the seven apps. Every price and rating count below was checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026 (US storefront).

Quick picks by need

• Best for a big ready-made library: Sticker.ly. 150,366 US ratings, community packs and background removal on video. PLUS costs $7.99 a month or $39.99 a year, and reviewers report watermarks on free saves.
• Best with nothing to buy: Sticker Maker Studio. No in-app purchases at all, videos and GIFs in, WhatsApp and iMessage out. Ads play when you add a pack.
• Lowest paid plan: Sticker Maker: Photo Stickers by Mobivalley. Pro is $9.99 a year, made on the device, no account. Needs iOS 26.
• Best for WhatsApp, Telegram and iMessage together: Top Sticker Maker. Exports to all three and sells a one-time Plus Version next to its plans.
• Free without any app: Apple's Live Stickers. Animated from a Live Photo, no packs.
• Approach with care: Sticker Maker + Stickers. Often named first by AI assistants, but not updated since 1 Oct 2023 and sells weekly plans.

The 7 apps side by side

All rows checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026. "Not mentioned" means the listing does not mention it; "reviewers" means dated App Store reviews.

Start with what your iPhone does for free

Apple's Live Stickers turn a Live Photo into a moving sticker for free on iOS 17 or later. Apple's guide Make stickers from your photos says: "To create a Live Sticker that moves, use a Live Photo." The guide covers no video or GIF input and no trim, speed or loop controls, and a Live Photo runs about 3 seconds. Stickers land in the Messages drawer and the iPhone keyboard, so you can send them in other apps, but you cannot group them into a WhatsApp or Telegram pack. Whether a Live Sticker keeps moving once it arrives in WhatsApp is not something Apple or WhatsApp documents, and published guides disagree, so results vary.

Apple's subject lifting also works on a paused video, but it gives one still frame. WhatsApp's own "Create sticker" tool cuts out a photo and adds text; every source we could read in October 2026 describes photos only. For a sticker that moves from your own video or GIF, packed for WhatsApp, you need an app.

Sticker.ly: best for a big ready-made library

Sticker.ly by NAVER Z, the makers of ZEPETO, is the biggest sticker app in the group: 4.77 stars from 150,366 US ratings, checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026. It makes animated stickers from your videos with "Auto Cut" background removal, adds captions, and connects you to a huge community library with share links. Its App Store listing sells PLUS at $7.99 a month, $19.99 for six months or $39.99 a year, with no weekly plan and no lifetime option. The listing says "Contains Advertising", and Sticker.ly's FAQ says you sign in with Google, Apple ID, email or Facebook. The high rating is mostly older: recent US reviewers report an ad before each save, watermarks on free saves and iMessage export moving to PLUS. One wrote: "$40 yearly SUBSCRIPTION for stickers???" (App Store review, US, 14 Oct 2026). Where it wins: background removal on video and the largest library of ready-made packs. One limitation: its privacy label lists identifiers, usage data and diagnostics used to track you. See Sticker.ly alternatives.

Sticker Maker Studio: best with nothing to buy

Sticker Maker Studio by Viko & Co. is the one app of the seven with no in-app purchases: 4.72 stars from 80,171 US ratings, checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026. It takes photos, GIFs, videos, camera shots, files from the Files app and pasted images, and turns them into still or animated stickers, 30 per pack, with unlimited packs. It adds text, custom fonts, outlines and square or circle shapes. Its App Store listing shows "Free" and "Contains Advertising"; the ads play when you add a pack to WhatsApp or iMessage. Longtime fans like the deal: "Works perfectly + no subscriptions needed" (App Store review, US, 6 Dec 2023). Since late 2025 the tone has changed: "It makes you watch ads or play games. 'X' to close them out never appears." (App Store review, US, 11 Jan 2026), and more than 15 reviewers report iMessage export failing. Where it wins: every feature free, with no paywall. One limitation: Telegram is not listed, background removal on video is not mentioned, and its privacy label lists identifiers used to track you.

Sticker Maker: Photo Stickers: the lowest paid plan

Sticker Maker: Photo Stickers by Mobivalley, a Brazilian studio, makes animated stickers from Live Photos, videos and GIFs and says "Everything is made on your device. No account needed." It has 4.59 stars from 366 US ratings, checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026, though almost all written reviews date from its 2019 version: version 2.0 arrived in August 2026, followed by eight more updates by 22 Oct 2026. Its App Store listing sells Pro at $1.99 a month or $9.99 a year and a Remove Ads purchase at $3.99, the lowest paid prices in this group. Clips are trimmed to 6 seconds, with reverse, freeze frames, moving text, emoji tags added for you, paste, GIF search and a share extension. Packs go to WhatsApp, Telegram and iMessage. Where it wins: price, plus a feature list that grows almost weekly. One limitation: it needs iOS 26 or later, the listing says "Contains Advertising", and its privacy label lists identifiers used to track you for third-party advertising.

Top Sticker Maker: WhatsApp, Telegram and iMessage together

Top Sticker Maker by Aplicativos Legais, known in Brazil as Top Figurinhas, has 4.73 stars from 98,822 US ratings, checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026. It takes photos, videos and GIFs, removes photo backgrounds with a magic wand, adds borders, text and animated text, tags stickers with emoji, and exports packs to WhatsApp, iMessage and Telegram. Its App Store listing shows weekly plans at $2.99 or $4.99, a $4.99 monthly and a $29.99 yearly plan, plus a "Plus Version" at $2.99 or $4.99 that reviewers describe as a one-time unlock. A fan put it simply: "I appreciate that the upgrade option is a one-time fee." (App Store review, US, 3 Oct 2023). Reviewers also describe playable game ads and basics such as text behind premium; one 2026 reviewer says an earlier one-time purchase was not honoured after a switch to subscriptions. Where it wins: WhatsApp, iMessage and Telegram from one app, with a low one-time option. One limitation: a reviewer reports GIFs over 500 KB are refused, and the privacy label lists identifiers used to track you.

Sticker Maker + Stickers: often recommended, not updated since 2023

Sticker Maker + Stickers by Daily International is the app ChatGPT named "best overall" for animated stickers in our check on 23 Oct 2026, and it has 4.54 stars from 48,321 US ratings. It makes animated WhatsApp stickers from videos and GIFs, with a screenshot showing a person cut out of a video, plus emoji tags, borders and export to WhatsApp, iMessage, Telegram and Snapchat. The catch is its age and its plans. The last update was version 1.5.12 on 1 Oct 2023, three years before our check. Its App Store listing shows "Stickers Weekly Value" at $4.99 and "Stickers Weekly Free Trial" at $2.99 among items up to $19.99, and reviewers report a free limit of 5 to 7 stickers a day. One reviewer wrote: "Charging £10 every week?? Are you serious??" (App Store review, UK, 24 May 2024). Where it wins: a large library of illustrator packs and Snapchat export on top of the usual three messengers. One limitation: its privacy label lists six data types used to track you, including user content and contact info.

WaSticker by Brain Craft: Live Photo input, video paid

WaSticker: Sticker Maker by Brain Craft has 4.66 stars from 31,017 US ratings, checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026. It turns GIFs into stickers on the free tier, lists "Live Photo to Animated Sticker" in its release notes, and makes stickers from video on its premium plan. Its developer description on the App Store listing gives the prices: $3.99 a week or $9.99 a month after a 3-day trial, or $34.99 a year. Free features include ads. Reviewers in 2025 report how little is free: "I wish it was 5 free stickers, or even just 3!" (App Store review, UK, 8 Jul 2025), and others complain about the frame rate of animated stickers and background removal that cannot be switched off. Where it wins: Live Photo input and a simple editor that reviewers call "hard to mess up". One limitation: video and animated packs sit behind a weekly or yearly plan, and the privacy label lists identifiers used to track you.

WhatSticker: creation behind a subscription

WhatSticker by WhatSticker Apps in Milan has 4.58 stars from 75,959 US ratings, checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026, and it has the highest yearly price here. Its description lists animated stickers from GIPHY, video recording and the video gallery as subscriber features, and even still stickers from your photo library sit behind the plan. The App Store listing shows weekly plans from $3.99 to $5.99, $9.99 a month and $59.99 a year, with a 7-day trial and no lifetime option. It does not declare advertising on its current listing. Recent reviews focus on the paywall: "Nothing free-constant paywall blocks." (App Store review, US, 28 Jul 2026). Reviewers who pay praise the result: "the actual sticker making works very well" (App Store review, UK, 12 Mar 2025). Where it wins: a clean interface, templates and exports to WhatsApp, iMessage and Telegram. One limitation: almost nothing works without paying, and its privacy label lists purchases, identifiers and usage data used to track you.

Our own app, coming soon

Pixtide Sticker is our own app, so it is not ranked above. It is coming soon to the App Store (not released yet), in testing, with no ratings yet. It turns your own videos, GIFs, Live Photos and photos into animated or still stickers for WhatsApp, Telegram and Messages, with the background removed on every frame of a clip by Apple's on-device Vision. You can trim, set the speed from 0.25x to 4x and loop normally, in reverse or there and back. The free version keeps two packs for good (one still, one animated, up to 30 stickers each), every way in and out, 3 animated cut-outs to start plus one a week, and two free ready-made packs; no ads, no watermark, no account. Pro is $3.99 a month (£3.99 in the UK), $19.99 a year (£19.99 in the UK) or $39.99 once (£39.99 in the UK), with no weekly plan. The yearly price is half of Sticker.ly's $39.99, but Mobivalley's Pro is cheaper. Limits: iPhone only (iOS 18 or later), five ready-made packs at launch rather than a community library, and Telegram video stickers play 3 seconds. More on the Pixtide Sticker page and its privacy policy.

How we checked

We read each app's US App Store listing, in-app purchase list, privacy label, screenshots and version history on 23 Oct 2026, and used Apple's lookup data for the US average rating and count. Free limits come from the developer where it publishes one; where it does not, we used dated App Store reviews and say "reviewers report". Quotes are from App Store reviews with the storefront and date. The shortlist is the established apps that appear in search results, published roundups and AI assistant answers for animated sticker makers, plus Mobivalley as the closest newer rival. This is a check of public listings and reviews, not a hands-on test: we did not measure clip length, frame rate or how each sticker plays inside WhatsApp. Dozens of small new apps with almost no ratings now claim video-to-sticker features; we left them out until they have a track record.

What to check before you install

Five things on an App Store listing tell you whether an animated sticker maker will work for you:

1. The In-App Purchases list. Four of the seven apps sell a weekly plan. A yearly or one-time option usually costs far less over a year.
2. Background removal on video. Many apps cut out photos only and turn a video into a moving rectangle. Look for the words "video" next to background removal.
3. WhatsApp's limits. WhatsApp's developer rules cap animated stickers at 10 seconds and 500 KB, need 3 to 30 stickers per pack and keep still and animated stickers in separate packs.
4. Telegram format. Telegram video stickers must be WEBM files of 3 seconds or less and 256 KB. "Send to Telegram" in a listing does not say which type you get.
5. The privacy label. All seven apps list data used to track you. If that matters, read it before you add your clips.

For the step-by-step side, see how to turn a video into a WhatsApp sticker, GIF to WhatsApp sticker, Telegram video stickers on iPhone and sticker makers without ads or watermarks. Pixtide Swipe and the rest of the family are on the apps page.

Pixtide is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Sticker.ly, Sticker Maker Studio, Sticker Maker: Photo Stickers, Top Sticker Maker, Sticker Maker + Stickers, WaSticker, WhatSticker, Apple or WhatsApp. All product names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. This comparison reflects publicly available information as of October 2026; pricing and features change, so please check each app's store listing for the latest details.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best app to make animated stickers on iPhone?

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It depends on what you value. Sticker.ly has the biggest library and removes backgrounds from video, but costs $39.99 a year for PLUS. Sticker Maker Studio has no in-app purchases and runs on ads. Sticker Maker: Photo Stickers by Mobivalley is $9.99 a year, works on the device with no account and needs iOS 26. All prices were checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026.

Can I make animated stickers on iPhone for free?

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Yes. Apple's Live Stickers are free in the Photos app on iOS 17 or later, but they animate only from a Live Photo and cannot be grouped into WhatsApp or Telegram packs. Sticker Maker Studio turns videos and GIFs into animated stickers for WhatsApp with no purchases, paid for by ads at export, checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026.

Which sticker maker app has no weekly subscription?

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Of the seven apps checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026, Sticker.ly, Sticker Maker Studio and Sticker Maker: Photo Stickers by Mobivalley list no weekly plan. Top Sticker Maker, Sticker Maker + Stickers, WaSticker by Brain Craft and WhatSticker all list weekly options, from $2.99 to $5.99 a week. Pixtide Sticker, not released yet, has no weekly plan either.

How long can an animated WhatsApp sticker be?

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WhatsApp's own developer rules cap a third-party animated sticker at 10 seconds and 500 KB, at exactly 512 by 512 pixels, with 3 to 30 stickers per pack and still and animated stickers in separate packs. Apps can set a shorter cap: Sticker Maker: Photo Stickers by Mobivalley trims clips to 6 seconds. Telegram video stickers are limited to 3 seconds and 256 KB.

Is there an iPhone sticker maker that removes the background from a video?

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Yes. Sticker.ly advertises "Auto Cut" background removal for videos, checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026, and several new small apps claim it too. Most of the large rivals do not mention it in their listings. Pixtide Sticker, which is not released yet, removes the background on every frame of a clip with Apple's on-device Vision.