First, which job do you need?
| You want to… | Look for |
|---|---|
| Add a caption, quote or title | A text-on-photo or design app |
| Remove words, stamps or labels | An AI remover / healing tool |
| Change existing words and keep the look | An in-place text replacement tool |
Qutu — replace or remove existing text
Qutu detects the text in your photo, lets you tap a line, and either erases it or rewrites it in the original font, size and color. It also restores old photos, sharpens blurry text, enhances images to HD and translates text in place. Available on iPhone and in the browser; the first edit is free, then a Pro membership.
Best for: fixing typos, updating dates and prices, removing date stamps and captions.
Phonto — add text with lots of fonts
Phonto is a long-running app for putting text on pictures, with hundreds of fonts, the option to import your own, and styling such as stroke, shadow, curved and perspective text. It’s built for adding new text rather than changing words that are already in the photo. Free with in-app purchases.
Best for: captions, quotes and decorative titles.
Snapseed — free cleanup
Google’s free editor includes a healing tool that can paint out small blemishes and short bits of text. It doesn’t replace text, and larger areas over detailed backgrounds can show smudging.
Best for: free, quick removal of small marks.
TouchRetouch — object and line removal
TouchRetouch focuses on removing unwanted objects: mark what you want gone and the app fills the area. Useful for clearing signs or labels before adding new text elsewhere.
Best for: removing objects, wires and small text.
Photoshop Express and Canva — all-round editing and design
Adobe Photoshop Express covers filters, retouching and adding text; Canva is a design platform with templates and AI tools on paid plans. Both are strong for creating designs. Changing a word inside a finished photo is usually more manual. See our Photoshop Express and Canva comparisons.
Quick picks
- Change or remove words in an existing photo: Qutu
- Add stylish captions: Phonto
- Free tiny fixes: Snapseed
- Remove objects: TouchRetouch
- Design from scratch: Canva or Photoshop Express
Features and pricing change often. This guide reflects our understanding at the date above — check each app’s current App Store listing.