01 — Ranking
The 5 best options, ranked
DIY: phone portrait + free background tools
adobe.com
4.6A real photo, cleaned up with free editing tools.
- Best for
- The most authentic result, which recruiters and clients recognize as you.
- Free plan & limits
- Free. Shoot at a window with soft light in your phone's portrait mode, at eye level and about 1–2 m away. Remove or replace the background with Adobe Express or Windows Paint, then crop to 1:1.
Google Gemini / ChatGPT image editing
gemini.google.com
4.2Upload a selfie and ask for a professional headshot edit.
- Best for
- Free, quick upgrades: background, lighting and outfit changes.
- Free plan & limits
- Free within daily image limits. Facial features can drift with each edit, so compare with your real face and keep edits minimal. Gemini adds a SynthID watermark.
Fotor AI Headshot
fotor.com
3.8Online photo editor with an AI headshot feature.
- Best for
- Trying an AI headshot generator before paying for one.
- Free plan & limits
- A few free credits. Full sets, HD downloads and removing the watermark require a paid plan.
HeadshotPro
headshotpro.com
4.3Dedicated AI headshot generator, also used for team photos.
- Best for
- Professionals and companies needing many consistent business headshots.
- Free plan & limits
- Paid only, from about $29 for a set of headshots. You upload selfies and get results in a few hours. Check the data-deletion policy.
Aragon AI
aragon.ai
4.1AI headshot service with many styles and backgrounds.
- Best for
- A large set of varied professional looks from one upload.
- Free plan & limits
- Paid only, from about $35. Uploads are deleted after processing under its stated policy. Results vary with the quality of your photos.
02 — Comparison
Side by side
Scroll sideways to see every tool. The first column stays pinned.
| Feature / Criterion | DIY phone photo | Gemini / ChatGPT | Fotor | HeadshotPro | Aragon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free (daily caps) | Free credits / paid | ~$29+ | ~$35+ |
| Looks like the real you | Exactly | Mostly (may drift) | Varies | Mostly | Mostly |
| Number of results | As many as you shoot | Few per day | Few free | Dozens | Dozens |
| Watermark | No | SynthID (Gemini) | Yes on free | No | No |
| Face data uploaded | No (if edited locally) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
03 — Guide
How to get a free professional headshot step by step
Take a good source photo
Face a window (soft daylight, no direct sun), with the camera at eye level and arm's length or on a timer, and a plain background. Wear a solid-colored top. Take 20+ shots and pick the sharpest with natural expression.
Clean up the background
Remove the background in Windows Paint, Apple Preview or Adobe Express and replace it with a neutral gray, soft blue or blurred office. Avoid busy or obviously fake scenes.
Optionally refine it with AI
In Gemini or ChatGPT, upload the photo and ask: 'Make this a professional LinkedIn headshot: keep my face, hair and features exactly the same; improve lighting; neutral gray background; navy blazer.' Reject any result that changes your face.
Crop and export
Crop to a square (1:1), with your face filling about 60% of the frame and space above your head. Export at least 800×800 px.
04 — FAQ
Common questions
Are there completely free AI headshot generators?
Not dedicated ones that produce full sets without watermarks. The truly free routes are general AI image editors (Gemini, ChatGPT) within their daily limits, and a well-lit phone photo edited with free tools. Most 'free' headshot sites give a few watermarked previews and then charge $29–75.
Is it OK to use an AI headshot on LinkedIn?
Yes, if it looks like you. LinkedIn's policies require your profile photo to be a real likeness of you. A heavily altered or idealized face can backfire when you meet people in person or on video calls.
What happens to the selfies I upload?
It depends on the service. Reputable headshot generators state that they delete your photos and trained models after a set period (often 7–30 days). Read the privacy policy before uploading, avoid services that don't state a deletion policy, and never upload photos of other people without consent.
What are the best alternatives if I need advanced features?
A local photographer typically charges $100–300 for a professional headshot session with retouching, and many offer mini sessions. For teams, HeadshotPro and similar services offer company packages with consistent backgrounds. Some co-working spaces and career fairs run free headshot booths.
Scores reflect our own assessment of free-tier value. Prices and limits change, so check them on each provider's site before you buy.