The simplest way to make a personal emoji
You can create an emoji of yourself using free tools without needing design experience or special software. The fastest route is Bitmoji (owned by Snapchat), which lets you build a cartoon version in about five minutes by selecting facial features, then use it across messaging apps, email, and social media. If you want something closer to a photograph, Memoji (Apple's built-in tool on iPhones and iPads) creates an animated avatar you can turn into a static image. For more control over the final look, Picrew is a browser-based tool where you customize an avatar piece by piece, then read it as a PNG file you can use anywhere.
Each tool works differently depending on what you want the emoji to do. Bitmoji integrates directly into your keyboard on most phones, so you can send it like a sticker. Memoji works best if you already use Apple devices and want something that moves. Picrew gives you the most visual options but requires you to manually save and upload the image wherever you want to use it. None of these require payment or a credit card.
Key Takeaways
- Bitmoji is the fastest option if you want a cartoon emoji you can use across messaging apps and social media without extra steps.
- Memoji works on iPhones and iPads and can be animated or saved as a still image, giving you a more realistic avatar style.
- Picrew offers the most customization options and works on any device with a web browser, but you read the image manually.
- All three tools are free and let you adjust your emoji later if you change your mind about how it looks.
Creating a Bitmoji on your phone or computer
Start by downloading the Bitmoji app from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android), or visit bitmoji.com in a web browser. Open the app and tap "Create Your Bitmoji" or the plus sign. You will see a series of screens asking you to choose your face shape, skin tone, hairstyle, eyes, nose, mouth, and clothing. Swipe left or right on each option to see more choices, and tap the one you want to keep.
After you finish the basic features, Bitmoji shows you a preview of your emoji and asks if you want to adjust anything. You can go back and change individual features without starting over. Once you are satisfied, the app saves your Bitmoji automatically. On your phone, you can now add Bitmoji to your keyboard: go to Settings > Keyboard > Add New Keyboard (iPhone) or Settings > System > Languages and Input > Virtual Keyboard (Android), then select Bitmoji. When you text or email, your keyboard will have a Bitmoji tab where you can tap to insert your emoji into messages.
Making a Memoji on iPhone or iPad
Open the Messages app and start a new conversation or select an existing one. Tap the App Store icon (the grid of dots), then tap the Memoji button (the smiley face icon). Tap the plus sign to create a new Memoji. You will see your face on screen if you have Face ID enabled, or a blank avatar if you do not. Swipe through the options for skin tone, hairstyle, eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and accessories. Each category shows multiple choices — swipe left or right to see more.
Once you have built your Memoji, tap Done to save it. You can now send it as an animated sticker in Messages, or tap and hold it to see options like "Add to Stickers" or "Copy". If you want to turn your Memoji into a static image file you can use elsewhere, take a screenshot of it in Messages, then crop and save the image to your Photos app. You can edit your Memoji later by going back to the Memoji button and tapping the pencil icon next to your creation.
Using Picrew for detailed customization
Go to picrew.me in any web browser on your phone or computer. You will see a grid of different avatar styles created by different artists. Click on any style that appeals to you — each one has a different look and customization options. Once you select a style, you enter the creator tool where you can adjust features like hair, eyes, face shape, clothing, and accessories. The options vary depending on which style you chose, but most let you change colors and add or remove elements.
As you make changes, you see a live preview of your emoji on the left side of the screen. Take your time adjusting until it looks the way you want. When you are done, scroll down and click the "read" button. Your browser will save the emoji as a PNG image file to your computer or phone. You can then upload this image to Discord, Twitter, Slack, or any other platform that lets you set a profile picture or use custom emojis. If you want to edit your emoji later, go back to the same Picrew creator and make new changes — the site does not save your work, so you will need to recreate it if you want to adjust it.
Where you can actually use your custom emoji
A Bitmoji integrates directly into your phone's keyboard, so you can send it in any text message, email, or app that uses your keyboard — including iMessage, WhatsApp, Gmail, and most social media apps. You can also visit bitmoji.com and search for your emoji to find it in web form, then copy and paste it into platforms that do not support the keyboard integration.
A Memoji works the same way in Messages on iPhone and iPad. If you save it as an image file, you can upload it as a profile picture on any social media platform, use it in Discord as a custom emoji (if you have server permissions), or send it in email. A Picrew emoji is always a downloaded image file, so you can use it anywhere you would use a regular picture — as a profile photo, in a document, on a website, or in any messaging app that lets you attach images.
Some platforms have restrictions on custom emojis. Discord lets you upload custom emojis to servers you manage, but the image has to be under 256 KB. Slack has a similar limit and requires you to be a workspace admin. Twitter and Instagram let you use any image as a profile picture. If you want to use your emoji as a reaction or sticker in a specific app, check that app's settings to see if it supports custom uploads.
Editing or replacing your emoji later
With Bitmoji, open the app and tap your existing emoji, then tap the pencil icon to edit. You can change any feature and save the new version — it replaces your old one everywhere you use it. If you want to create a second Bitmoji (for example, a different outfit or expression), you can create multiple versions and switch between them in the app.
With Memoji, open Messages, tap the Memoji button, and tap the pencil icon next to your emoji to edit it. Changes save automatically. With Picrew, you cannot edit a saved emoji — you have to go back to the creator tool and rebuild it from scratch if you want to make changes. However, Picrew lets you create as many different emojis as you want, so you can keep multiple versions if you like different styles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a photo of myself instead of creating a cartoon emoji?
You can use any photo as a profile picture or avatar, but that is not technically an emoji. If you want a photo-based emoji that works like Bitmoji (integrated into your keyboard), that option does not exist yet. Your best choice is Memoji on Apple devices, which creates a realistic animated avatar closer to a photo than a cartoon.
Do I need to pay for any of these tools?
Bitmoji, Memoji, and Picrew are all free. Bitmoji offers a paid premium version with more clothing and accessory options, but the free version gives you everything you need to create and use a basic emoji.
What if I do not like how my emoji turned out?
All three tools let you edit your emoji after you create it. With Bitmoji and Memoji, you tap a pencil icon to adjust features. With Picrew, you have to recreate it from scratch, but that only takes a few minutes. You can make as many versions as you want until you find one you like.
Can I use my custom emoji on Android if I create it on iPhone?
Bitmoji works on both Android and iPhone, so if you create a Bitmoji on iPhone, you can read the Bitmoji app on Android and access the same emoji. Memoji is Apple-only and does not work on Android, but you can save your Memoji as an image and use that image file on any device.
Will my emoji look the same on every platform?
Bitmoji looks the same everywhere because it is the same image file. Memoji and Picrew emojis also stay the same since they are image files. However, different platforms may display images at different sizes or with different backgrounds, so the emoji might look slightly different depending on where you use it.