Toonify
Toonify is an AI-powered platform that gives users the ability to transform photographs into numerous styles and aesthetics, akin to charac...
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What is Toonify?
Toonify is an AI face-transformation web tool that turns uploaded photos into stylized character versions of the same face. Its main promise is simple: upload a portrait and see what you would look like in a CGI movie, cartoon, emoji, caricature, comic, or horror style.
The site offers multiple transformation models, including Toonify Classic, Toonify HD, Toonmoji HD, Caricature HD, Comic HD, Comic, Caricature, Emojify, and Halloweenify. The HD models add higher resolution output and more controls, while the SD models are simpler and more limited.
A notable feature is the ability to edit the face result with sliders such as age, smile, anger, and glasses on supported HD models. The site also says it uses deep learning and generative adversarial networks to produce the effect.
Toonify is aimed at people who want a playful portrait effect, profile-image makeover, or novelty AI transformation from a single face photo. It is also useful for users who already have a valid license key and want to keep using the older models the service supports.
Toonify pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
Toonify Classic is free to use as much as you like. All other face transformations require a license key. The website lists past license options of £3 for 10 HD images with unlimited SD models, £5 for 30 images with unlimited SD models, £10 for 100 images with unlimited SD models, and £25 for 1000 images with unlimited SD models. The site also states that new license purchases are no longer available, and existing valid licenses continue to work through at least the end of 2025.
Toonify pros
- Turns selfies into CGI-style faces
- Offers multiple transformation styles
- Includes Toonify Classic for free
- Supports HD and SD models
- Provides higher-resolution HD outputs
- Lets users adjust age on HD models
- Lets users adjust smile on HD models
- Lets users adjust anger on HD models
- Has a glasses control for HD results
- Includes caricature transformation options
- Includes emoji transformation options
- Includes comic-style transformation options
- Includes Halloween-style transformation options
- Discards uploaded photos after processing
- Uses a straightforward upload-and-transform workflow
- Works with an existing license key for continued access
- Unlimited SD usage with a license
- Supports face editing for more personalized results
Toonify cons
- Service is described as old and outdated
- New license purchases are no longer available
- HD models require a license key
- Only Toonify Classic is free
- HD usage is limited by image quota
- Works best only with high-resolution, low-noise photos
- Front-facing faces work best
- May fail to detect some faces
- Can remove glasses from results
- Has trouble with bald people and hats
- API only runs the older, lower-resolution model
- Some features are available only in HD models
- The service is scheduled for discontinuation in the future
Frequently asked questions about Toonify
What does Toonify do?
Toonify transforms an uploaded photo into a stylized version of the same face. The site describes it as a set of AI-powered tools for face transformation, letting you see what you would look like in an animated movie, CGI movie, comic, emoji, caricature, or horror style.
Which transformation models are available?
The site lists Toonify Classic, Toonify HD, Toonmoji HD, Caricature HD, Comic HD, Comic, Caricature, Emojify, and Halloweenify. The HD models are presented as better quality and higher resolution, while the SD models are simpler and the Classic model is the original free option.
Which features are only available in HD models?
The website says the slider controls for editing features like age, smile, and anger are only available for HD models. It also says the HD models provide higher resolution output and support more detailed image refinement.
Is Toonify free?
Yes, Toonify Classic is free for everyone to use as much as they like. The other transformations require a license key, and the website says new license purchases are no longer available.
How does pricing work?
The site previously offered license tiers for HD access: £3 for 10 HD images, £5 for 30 HD images, £10 for 100 HD images, and £25 for 1000 HD images. Every listed license also included unlimited use of the SD models.
Can I use Toonify for my own project?
The FAQ says not quite. It mentions that there is an API available, but it currently only runs the older, lower-resolution model.
Does Toonify keep uploaded photos?
No. The FAQ says the image is discarded as soon as the result is generated, and it is not stored or used for anything other than producing the toonified output.
What kind of photo works best?
The FAQ says the algorithm works best with high-resolution images that do not have much noise. It also says looking straight into the camera tends to work best, and that a corporate-style headshot is a good example.
Why wasn’t my face detected?
The site says it uses the open source dlib face detector, which is designed for frontal faces but is not perfect. That means some photos may fail if the face angle or image quality makes detection harder.
Why did my glasses disappear?
The FAQ says the model tends to remove glasses because animated characters often do not wear them. It also notes the model can struggle with bald people, hats, and other features, and says the HD model may let you restore glasses using the glasses slider.