Is Sticker.ly Free? Ads, Watermark and PLUS Prices Checked

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Sticker.ly is a free-to-download iPhone sticker maker and community library from NAVER Z Corporation, but its free version shows ads, and Sticker.ly PLUS costs $7.99 a month, $19.99 for 6 months or $39.99 a year in the US, checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026. Recent App Store reviewers report a watermark on free saves and that iMessage export needs PLUS. There is no weekly plan and no lifetime purchase.

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.

Sticker.ly at a glance

Sticker.ly, listed as "Sticker.ly - WASticker", has the most ratings of the sticker apps we checked, first released on 11 Apr 2019. Every figure below was checked on the Sticker.ly App Store page on 23 Oct 2026.

What the free version costs you

The free version of Sticker.ly is paid for with ads, and reviewers say the ads sit in front of the actions that matter. Reviewers describe a rewarded ad before each sticker or pack download and each save, and ads lasting a minute or more. Recent reviews from the US App Store:

• "$40 yearly SUBSCRIPTION for stickers???" (1 star, 14 Oct 2026)
• "You now have to pay to remove watermark off sticker." (1 star, 14 Oct 2026)
• "Makes you sit through ads that are sometimes multiple minutes long just for 1 sticker." (1 star, 9 Oct 2026)

The 4.77 average is built mostly on older reviews from 2019 to 2024; the most recent US reviews are mostly 1-star. Reviewers also report that iMessage export moved behind PLUS in late 2025. Sticker.ly's own paid terms, effective 16 Apr 2026, list "An ad-free app experience" as a PLUS benefit, while its website home page says "No fees, no application, no obligation needed".

What PLUS adds, and what it lacks

Sticker.ly PLUS removes ads and unlocks premium creation tools, a profile verification mark and AI image and video credits, according to the paid terms. Reviewers report a free trial that turned into a $39.99 yearly charge; Sticker.ly does not state the trial length. PLUS is rent only: monthly, 6-monthly or yearly, with no one-time unlock. "I don't mind buying. But I want to own not rent." (2 stars, 15 Oct 2026) and "Can't buy it outright? 1 star." (1 star, 12 Jan 2026) say the same thing.

Where Sticker.ly wins

Sticker.ly wins on its community library: the listing promises "billions" of stickers, with creators to follow and packs shared by link. It makes animated stickers from video with its Auto Cut background removal, runs on iOS 15.6 or later, and ships updates every one to three weeks. Its 150,366 US ratings are the most of any sticker app we checked.

A free option without ads

Apple's Photos app makes still and Live Stickers from your own photos for free, as Apple's guide to making stickers from your photos explains, but there is no video or GIF input and no packs.

Pixtide Sticker is coming soon to the App Store (not released yet). Its 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 the two free ready-made packs, with no ads, no watermark and no account. Stickers are made on your iPhone with Apple's on-device Vision (privacy). Pro is $19.99 a year (£19.99 in the UK), half of Sticker.ly's US yearly price, or $39.99 once (£39.99 in the UK), with no weekly plan. Its limits: it has no ratings yet, it needs an iPhone with iOS 18 or later, and it has five ready-made packs at launch, not a community library. For the full side-by-side, see the Sticker.ly alternative page, or the whole family on /apps.

Pixtide is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Sticker.ly. 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

Is Sticker.ly free?

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Sticker.ly is free to download and you can make and browse stickers without paying, but the App Store listing states Contains Advertising, and recent reviewers report an ad before each save and a watermark on free saves. Sticker.ly PLUS removes ads and costs $7.99 a month, $19.99 for 6 months or $39.99 a year in the US, checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026.

How much does Sticker.ly PLUS cost?

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Sticker.ly PLUS costs $7.99 a month, $19.99 for 6 months or $39.99 a year in the US, and £5.99, £14.99 or £29.99 in the UK, checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026. A separate 60 Avatars purchase costs $4.99. There is no weekly plan and no one-time lifetime unlock, which several 2026 reviewers ask for.

Can you use Sticker.ly in iMessage for free?

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Not any more, according to reviewers. Since about late 2025, App Store reviewers in the US report that adding Sticker.ly stickers to iMessage needs a Sticker.ly PLUS subscription, while WhatsApp export stays on the free tier with ads. A June 2026 reviewer wrote that you can only use them in WhatsApp if you do not want to pay.

Does Sticker.ly add a watermark?

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Yes, on the free tier, according to App Store reviewers. A US reviewer wrote on 14 Oct 2026 that you now have to pay to remove the watermark, and older UK reviews describe a sticker.ly credit on saved stickers. Sticker.ly does not describe the watermark in its listing; PLUS at $39.99 a year in the US (checked on 23 Oct 2026) is the paid route.

Is there a free sticker maker without ads like Sticker.ly?

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Apple's Photos app makes still and Live Stickers from your own photos and Live Photos for free, without ads. WhatsApp can make still stickers from photos inside the app. Pixtide Sticker, an iPhone app from Feral Online that is not released yet, keeps two packs free for good with no ads, no watermark and no account, and makes animated stickers from videos and GIFs.