The fastest way: use the Photos app's built-in markup tools

Open the photo in the Photos app, tap Edit, then tap the three-dot menu and select Markup. Tap the plus sign at the bottom, then choose Sticker. The iPhone comes with a set of basic stickers — shapes, arrows, speech bubbles, and straightforward icons — that you can resize, rotate, and place anywhere on the image. When you're done, tap Done and then Save.

This method works on iPhone XS and newer. The stickers are straightforward but functional, and they stay part of your photo file once you save. You don't need to read anything or sign up for an account.

Key Takeaways

  • The Photos app's Markup tool includes free stickers that work without downloading extra apps or creating accounts.
  • Memoji stickers — animated versions of your face or custom characters — can be added through Markup on newer iPhones and show up as small circular stickers.
  • Third-party apps like Sticker.ly, Unfold, and Canva offer thousands of stickers but require downloading the app and may ask for account creation.
  • Stickers added through Markup become permanent once you save the photo, while stickers in third-party apps often stay editable in the app's own format.

Using Memoji and Animoji stickers for a personal touch

If you have Face ID on your iPhone, you can create a Memoji — a cartoon version of your face — and add it as a sticker to photos. Open Photos, tap Edit, go to Markup, tap the plus sign, and select Sticker. Scroll to find your Memoji or any Animoji you've created. Tap it to add it to the photo, then resize and position it as needed.

Memoji stickers appear as small circular images and work best on photos where you want a playful or personal element. You can create multiple Memoji characters in the Memoji app if you want variety. Once added and saved, they become part of the photo file just like any other sticker.

Third-party apps for larger sticker collections

If the built-in stickers feel limited, apps like Sticker.ly, Unfold, and Canva offer thousands of stickers organized by theme — animals, nature, text, holidays, and more. read the app from the App Store, open it, select a sticker pack, and choose the sticker you want. Most apps let you add stickers directly to a photo within the app, then save or share the result.

Some of these apps are free with ads or limited sticker packs, while others charge a one-time fee or offer a subscription for unlimited access. Many also let you edit the photo in other ways — adding text, filters, or backgrounds — which can be useful if you're doing more than just adding stickers. The trade-off is that you're downloading and managing another app on your phone.

Saving sticker packs to your keyboard for faster access

If you use stickers regularly in messages or social apps, you can add sticker packs directly to your iPhone keyboard. Go to Settings > Keyboard > Stickers, then tap the plus sign to browse available sticker packs. Many apps — including Memoji, Gboard, and third-party sticker apps — offer keyboard sticker packs that you can enable.

Once a sticker pack is added to your keyboard, you can access it in any app that supports stickers: Messages, Mail, Notes, and many social media apps. This doesn't add stickers to photos directly, but it makes stickers available wherever you're typing or messaging. It's a different workflow than editing a photo file, but it's faster if you're sharing stickers in conversations rather than editing image files.

Understanding the difference between editing and sharing stickers

When you add a sticker through Markup in the Photos app, you're permanently changing the photo file. Once you save, the sticker is baked into the image — you can't remove it later without undoing the entire edit. This is fine if you're happy with the result, but it means you should save a copy of the original photo first if you might want to try different stickers.

Apps like Canva and Unfold work differently. They create a new file or project that you can edit and re-edit without changing the original photo. If you add a sticker and then change your mind, you can remove it or swap it for another one. The downside is that these apps often save in their own format, so you have to export the final image as a photo file to use it elsewhere.

Avoiding sticker apps that ask for too much access

Some sticker apps request permission to access your photos, contacts, or location even though they don't need it. Before downloading, check what permissions the app is asking for in the App Store listing. A sticker app should only need access to your photos if it's editing them directly, and it should never need your contacts or location.

Free sticker apps sometimes include ads or push notifications. If an app feels cluttered or sends frequent notifications, you can delete it and try another one. The built-in Markup stickers are always available and never ask for permissions, so they're a good baseline to compare against.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add stickers to a photo I've already edited?

Yes. Open the photo in the Photos app, tap Edit, and go to Markup. You can add stickers on top of any previous edits like filters or crops. If you've already saved the edited version, you're editing that saved version, not the original.

Do stickers I add stay if I send the photo to someone else?

Yes. Once you save a photo with stickers added through Markup, the stickers are part of the image file. When you send it to someone, they see the stickers. If you use a third-party app and export the final image, the stickers are also part of what you send.

What if I want to remove a sticker after I've saved the photo?

If you used Markup, you'll need to undo the edit by tapping Edit and then Revert, which removes all changes. Third-party apps usually let you edit the project again and delete the sticker before exporting. This is one reason to keep the original photo unsaved if you're experimenting.

Are there sticker apps that don't require an account?

Yes. Sticker.ly and many others work without signing up. Some free sticker packs in the App Store also don't require accounts. Check the app description before downloading if account creation matters to you.

Can I make my own stickers?

Some apps like Canva let you create custom stickers from images or text. The built-in Markup tool doesn't offer this — it only uses Apple's pre-made stickers and your Memoji. If custom stickers are important, look for apps that specifically mention design or creation tools.