Sticker Maker Apps for iPhone With No Ads or Watermark (2026)
11 min read · By Feral Online · Updated 31 October 2026
On this page
None of the seven popular iPhone sticker maker apps on this page is both free to use and free of ads, checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026. The free routes with no ads and no watermark are built in: Apple's Live Stickers and WhatsApp's own Create sticker, both photo based. Sticker Maker Studio has no in-app purchases but shows ads, and Sticker.ly sells PLUS at $39.99 a year while reviewers report a watermark on free saves.
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. Every price below is a US price from each app's in-app purchase list, checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026. "Contains Advertising" is Apple's own line on a listing; watermark facts come from App Store reviews and are labelled as such.
Quick picks by need
The right pick depends on whether you can live with ads, a subscription, or photos only:
- Free, no ads, no watermark, photos and Live Photos: Apple's Live Stickers in Photos and Messages, or WhatsApp's own Create sticker.
- Free animated stickers from video and GIF, if you accept ads: Sticker Maker Studio, which has no in-app purchases at all.
- Cheapest way to remove ads: Sticker Maker ! by Marcos Roy, with Remove Ads listed at $1.99.
- Made on the device with no account, low yearly price: Mobivalley's Sticker Maker: Photo Stickers, Remove Ads $3.99 or Pro $9.99 a year, if your iPhone runs iOS 26.
- Biggest community library: Sticker.ly, if you accept ads or pay for PLUS.
Our own app, Pixtide Sticker, is not ranked; it has its own section below.
The apps side by side
The table lists what each tool charges to get rid of ads and what Apple's listing and the reviews say about ads and watermarks, checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026.
| App | Price to drop ads | Ads (App Store listing) | Watermark | Weekly plan | Video to animated sticker | Needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Live Stickers | Free | None | None | No | Live Photo only | iOS 17 |
| WhatsApp Create sticker | Free | None | None | No | No evidence found | iOS 17 |
| Sticker Maker Studio | Not possible (no IAP) | Contains Advertising | None reported | No | Yes | iOS 16 |
| Sticker Maker: Photo Stickers (Mobivalley) | $3.99, or Pro $9.99 a year | Contains Advertising | None reported | No | Yes, up to 6 s | iOS 26 |
| Sticker Maker ! (Marcos Roy) | $1.99 | Contains Advertising | None reported | No | Yes | iOS 17.6 |
| Top Sticker Maker | Plus Version $2.99 or $4.99 | Contains Advertising | None reported | Yes, from $2.99 | Yes | iOS 16 |
| WhatSticker | No ads declared | Not declared | None reported | Yes, $3.99 to $5.99 | Subscribers only | iOS 15 |
| Sticker.ly | PLUS $39.99 a year | Contains Advertising | Reported on free saves | No | Yes | iOS 15.6 |
| Sticker Maker + Stickers | Pro (several plans) | Ads per its description | Not mentioned | Yes, $2.99 and $4.99 listed | Yes | iOS 12 |
Free with no ads at all: the built-in tools
Apple's Live Stickers are the cleanest free option on an iPhone: no ads, no watermark, no extra app. Apple's guide to making stickers from your photos says "To create a Live Sticker that moves, use a Live Photo", and lists effects such as Outline, Comic and Shiny. The limits: no video or GIF input in Apple's guide, no trim, and no packs for WhatsApp or Telegram. Whether a Live Sticker stays animated once it reaches WhatsApp is something sources disagree on, so test it on your own phone.
WhatsApp's own Create sticker, in the sticker tray since January 2024 on iOS 17 or later, cuts out a photo and adds text or drawings, and since April 2025 you can build custom packs inside WhatsApp. Every source we read describes it as photos only; WhatsApp's Help Center page on custom stickers is the place to check what your version supports. Telegram has a similar free sticker editor for photos, announced on 14 Apr 2024.
Sticker Maker Studio
Sticker Maker Studio by Viko and Co. is the free pick if you can put up with ads: it has no in-app purchases at all, checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026, so every feature is free. It turns photos, GIFs and videos into static or animated stickers, takes files from the Files app and the camera, and allows 30 stickers per pack with unlimited packs. It has 4.72 stars from 80,171 US ratings.
The price is ads when you add a pack to WhatsApp or iMessage, and there is no way to pay them away. One 3-star US review on 10 Jun 2026 says "I'd happily pay a small fee to eliminate them". A 1-star review on 11 Jan 2026 goes further: "It makes you watch ads or play games. 'X' to close them out never appears." No watermark is reported. It does not list Telegram export, and recent reviewers report trouble adding packs to iMessage.
Sticker Maker: Photo Stickers (Mobivalley)
Mobivalley's Sticker Maker: Photo Stickers is the low-cost pick for an app that says it works on the device with no account: Remove Ads costs $3.99, and Pro costs $1.99 a month or $9.99 a year, checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026. Its listing says "Everything is made on your device. No account needed." It makes animated stickers from Live Photos, videos and GIFs, up to 6 seconds each, and sends them to WhatsApp, Telegram and iMessage.
Out of the box it shows ads: the listing says "Contains Advertising", and its privacy label lists identifiers used to track you for third-party advertising. No watermark is reported. Two cautions. It needs iOS 26, so older iPhones cannot install it. And its 4.59 average from 366 US ratings mostly predates the current app: the 2.x version arrived on 12 Aug 2026 after seven years without an update, and nine releases followed between 12 Aug 2026 and 22 Oct 2026.
Sticker Maker ! (Marcos Roy)
Sticker Maker ! by Marcos Roy is free with ads and has the lowest price to remove them in this list: Remove Ads is $1.99, with Basic, Standard and Premium packages from $1.99 to $3.99 and no subscription, checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026. It has 4.70 stars from 44,713 US ratings and turns videos into animated stickers for WhatsApp and iMessage.
The catch is the free experience. Its age rating lists "Contains Advertising", and a 11 Apr 2026 US reviewer wrote "THE X BUTTON DOESN'T WORK" about an ad. Reviewers also report a sign-in requirement since 2024, and one 2025 review says ads continued after buying. No watermark is mentioned. It needs iOS 17.6.
Top Sticker Maker
Top Sticker Maker by Aplicativos Legais mixes a one-time unlock with subscriptions: a "Plus Version" at $2.99 or $4.99, weekly plans from $2.99, $4.99 a month and $29.99 a year, checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026. It has 4.73 stars from 98,822 US ratings, makes stickers from photos, videos and GIFs, and exports to WhatsApp, iMessage and Telegram. Its listing says "Contains Advertising", and reviewers describe full-screen and playable game ads. No watermark is reported. One 2026 reviewer says the app stopped honouring a one-time purchase, so check which unlock is on sale before you pay.
WhatSticker
WhatSticker is the one app in this list whose current listing declares no ads, but that does not make it free: its own description lists animated stickers from video and GIPHY, and static stickers from the photo library and camera, as subscription features. Weekly plans cost $3.99 to $5.99, $9.99 a month or $59.99 a year, with no lifetime option, checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026. It has 4.58 stars from 75,959 US ratings and exports to WhatsApp, iMessage and Telegram. No watermark is reported.
Sticker.ly
Sticker.ly by NAVER Z is the biggest name, with 4.77 stars from 150,366 US ratings and a huge community library, but it is the clearest case of ads plus a watermark. Its listing says "Contains Advertising", and its PLUS plan, which promises "An ad-free app experience", costs $7.99 a month, $19.99 for six months or $39.99 a year, with no lifetime option, checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026.
Reviewers report the watermark directly. A 1-star US review on 14 Oct 2026 says "You now have to pay to remove watermark off sticker." Another 1-star review on 12 Jan 2026 reads "Can't buy it outright? 1 star." Reviewers also say adding packs to iMessage now needs PLUS. Where it wins: animated stickers from video with its Auto Cut background removal, and a library no small app matches. Our Sticker.ly alternatives page goes deeper.
Sticker Maker + Stickers
Sticker Maker + Stickers by Daily International is the app ChatGPT named "best overall" for animated stickers in our 23 Oct 2026 test, but it is the furthest from ad-free and free. Its own description says Pro removes ads and unlocks unlimited use, and its purchase list includes "Stickers Weekly Value" at $4.99 and "Stickers Weekly Free Trial" at $2.99, checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026. Reviewers report paying up to about $10 a week. It has 4.54 stars from 48,321 US ratings, but its last update was on 1 Oct 2023. A watermark is not mentioned in its listing or the reviews we read.
Our own app, coming soon
Pixtide Sticker is our app, so read this section as the maker's description, not a ranking. Pixtide Sticker is coming soon to the App Store (not released yet). It turns your own videos, GIFs, Live Photos and photos into stickers for WhatsApp, Telegram and Messages, with no ads, no watermark and no account, and the cut-out is made on your iPhone by Apple's on-device Vision, on every frame of a clip.
The free version keeps two packs for good, one still and one animated, with 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. Pro costs $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). That yearly price is half of Sticker.ly's $39.99 US yearly price, there is a one-time option where Sticker.ly has none, and there is no weekly plan. Mobivalley's Pro, at $9.99 a year, is cheaper.
The honest limits: it has no ratings yet, it is iPhone only with iOS 18 or later, it launches with five ready-made packs (two free), the free version keeps two packs, and Telegram plays video stickers for 3 seconds. Details on the Pixtide Sticker page, its privacy page and all Pixtide apps.
How we checked
Every app fact on this page comes from the App Store listing, in-app purchase list, privacy label and review feeds, checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026, plus each developer's own description and website. "Contains Advertising" is Apple's line on the listing. "None reported" in the watermark column means neither the listing nor the reviews we read mention a watermark; it is not a guarantee, because we did not install and export from every app.
We also asked ChatGPT (the free-tier model, with web search) "Is there a sticker maker app for iPhone without ads or watermarks?" on 23 Oct 2026. It named small, new apps such as Cropcut, Stickered and Cutmoji, released in 2026 with no ratings on that date. We confirmed they exist on the App Store but did not check their claims, so they are not in the table.
What to check before you install
Four things on an App Store listing tell you most of what you need:
- "Contains Advertising" in the information section means the free version shows ads.
- The In-App Purchases list: look for "Weekly", "Remove Ads" or a one-time unlock, and for the yearly price.
- The privacy label: "Data Used to Track You" usually means advertising identifiers.
- Recent reviews: search for "watermark", "ads" and "account".
Then check the app meets WhatsApp's pack rules: at least 3 stickers per pack, animated stickers of 500 KB or less and 10 seconds or less, per WhatsApp's sticker README. Our page on WhatsApp sticker pack rules explains each one, and the best animated sticker makers covers animation quality.
Pixtide is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the apps named on this page. 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 there a sticker maker app for iPhone without ads or watermarks?
Not among the big ones. Of seven popular iPhone sticker maker apps checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026, the ones with a free version show ads, and the one without declared ads, WhatSticker, lists creation as a subscription feature. Apple's Live Stickers in Photos and Messages and WhatsApp's own Create sticker are free with no ads and no watermark, but they work from photos and Live Photos, not videos.
Does Sticker.ly put a watermark on stickers?
App Store reviewers say it does on free saves. A 1-star US review on 14 Oct 2026 reads "You now have to pay to remove watermark off sticker", and a 2024 UK review says saved images always carry the watermark. Sticker.ly's paid PLUS plan costs $7.99 a month, $19.99 for six months or $39.99 a year in the US, checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026, with no lifetime option.
Is Sticker Maker Studio free?
Yes. Sticker Maker Studio by Viko and Co. has no in-app purchases at all, checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026, and makes static and animated stickers from photos, GIFs and videos for WhatsApp and iMessage. It is paid for by ads: its listing says "Contains Advertising", and recent US reviewers report ads at export that they could not close. No watermark is reported. It does not list Telegram export.
How much does it cost to remove ads from a sticker maker app on iPhone?
From $1.99. Sticker Maker ! by Marcos Roy lists Remove Ads at $1.99, Mobivalley's Sticker Maker: Photo Stickers lists Remove Ads at $3.99 or Pro at $9.99 a year, and Sticker.ly's ad-free PLUS plan costs $39.99 a year, all US prices checked on the App Store on 23 Oct 2026. Sticker Maker Studio has no paid option, so its ads cannot be removed.
Can I make stickers on iPhone without downloading an app?
Yes. On iOS 17 or later, Apple's Photos app makes a sticker from any photo, and a Live Sticker that moves from a Live Photo, with effects such as Outline, Comic and Shiny. WhatsApp's Create sticker cuts out a photo and adds text or drawings, and since April 2025 WhatsApp lets you build packs in the app. Both are free, with no ads and no watermark.
Does Pixtide Sticker have ads or a watermark?
No. Pixtide Sticker, made by Feral Online, has no ads, no watermark and no account. The free version keeps two packs for good, one still and one animated with up to 30 stickers each, and includes 3 animated cut-outs to start plus one a week. Pro is a monthly, yearly or one-time purchase with no weekly plan. The app is iPhone only and needs iOS 18 or later.