How To Make a Collage On iPhone: The Complete Guide

Collages are a fantastic way to stitch together memories, add a bit of creative flair to your photos, and share a whole story in a single image, especially for social media. It’s something I get asked about quite a bit, and while it might not always be immediately obvious, there are indeed several ways to make a photo collage on iPhone. Whether you want a quick grid or a truly personalised masterpiece, your iPhone, with a little help from some clever tools, can handle it.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the easiest methods, from using built-in features to exploring some excellent apps. Let’s dive in and look at how to create a photo collage on iPhone.

Method 1: Using the Shortcuts App (No Extra Apps Needed)

Many people don’t realise it, but you can actually create simple photo collages using the Shortcuts app that comes pre-installed on your iPhone. While it might lack some of the creative bells and whistles of dedicated apps, it’s a handy way to make a quick grid without downloading anything new.

Here’s how you set it up and use it:

Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone.
Tap on the ‘Gallery‘ option at the bottom of the screen.
In the search box, type “Photo Grid“.
Tap the ‘+‘ button on the ‘Photo Grid‘ shortcut to add it to your collection.
Now, switch back to the ‘Shortcuts‘ tab at the bottom. You’ll see your new ‘Photo Grid‘ shortcut listed.
Tap on the ‘Photo Grid‘ shortcut. This will open your iPhone’s Photos app.
Select the photos you want to include in your collage.
Tap ‘Add‘.
The shortcut will automatically generate a collage from your selected photos.
You can then save the image to your Photos app.

You can customise how the images are combined (horizontally, vertically, or in a grid) by editing the shortcut actions.

A neat trick is to add this shortcut to your Share Sheet for quicker access:

Open the ‘Photo Grid‘ shortcut in the Shortcuts app and tap the three-dots icon.
Tap the central icon at the bottom (it might look like an ‘i’ or a share icon depending on your iOS version).
Toggle on “Show in Share Sheet“.
Tap ‘Done‘ (you might need to tap it twice).

Now, when you’re viewing a photo in the Photos app, you can tap the Share button, scroll down, and select your ‘Photo Grid’ shortcut directly. You’ll then be prompted to select the other images you want to include, and the combined image will be saved to your Camera Roll.

Keep in mind that this method is quite basic. As some users have noted, it can be a bit clumsy, and it’s not easy to zoom in or edit individual photos within the grid layout generated by the shortcut without complex workarounds.

Method 2: Using Google Photos (If You’re Already a User)

If you already use Google Photos to back up or manage your pictures, it offers a simple and quick way to create collages directly within the app. It’s a free app available on the App Store.

Here’s how to do it:

Open the Google Photos app on your iPhone.
Ensure your photos are uploaded to the app.
You can either tap the ‘+‘ icon in the top-right corner or tap and hold one image until you can select more.
Select the photos you want to use. You can select up to 6 photos.
From the toolbar that appears at the bottom, tap the ‘Add to’ icon (it might be the second icon) or the ‘+‘ icon again.
Tap the ‘Collage‘ option in the pop-up menu.
Google Photos will create a collage with one of two grid styles.
You can edit the collage further by tapping on an image to replace, edit, rotate, or reposition it. You can also pinch to zoom in or out and tap and hold to change the order of the photos.
Once you’re happy, tap the ‘Save‘ icon.

The collage will be saved to your Google Photos library and can be easily shared from there.

Method 3: Using Third-Party Photo Collage Apps

For more creative control, diverse layouts, and extra features like stickers, text, and backgrounds, using a dedicated third-party photo collage app is the way to go. The App Store is full of options, each offering slightly different tools and styles.

Here are a couple of popular and well-regarded options mentioned in the sources:

PhotoDirector

PhotoDirector is highlighted as a top choice due to its user-friendly interface and powerful features. It offers a wide variety of free collage styles (classic, minimalist, paper tear, retro, seasonal, and more) and versatile layouts that accommodate different numbers of photos. You can also enhance and customise your photos within the collage by adjusting brightness, contrast, applying filters, and even replacing images. It’s available for free on iOS.

To create a collage with PhotoDirector:

Download PhotoDirector from the App Store.
Tap “collage” on the app’s launcher screen.
Select the perfect collage layout and theme from the options by scrolling horizontally or choosing by the number of photos.
Add and arrange your photos. You can simply tap and drag photos to change their order.
Enhance and customise individual photos within the collage using the editing tools.
Save or share your finished collage.

PicCollage

PicCollage is another highly-rated app for creating collages, invitations, and greeting cards. It boasts a vast library of over 3000 designs, layouts, grids, and templates for various occasions. It also offers simple photo and video editing tools like filters, effects, retouching, and background removal. You can add text, drawings, doodles, and stickers, and even include videos (up to 2 in the free version, 5 with VIP).

Here’s a look at how to get started and use some of its features:

Download PicCollage from the App Store.
To start, tap ‘Get Started’ / ‘Select Photos’ to choose your images and videos (or tap ‘+’ on the Home Page for iOS). Then tap the check mark. The app will suggest designs.
In the collage editor, you can adjust the layout, size, and background. Tap ‘Layout’ in the bottom left. Scroll for options, use the slider for grid spacing/rounded corners. Tap ‘Sizes’ and ‘Backgrounds’ for more creative choices. Instagram post sizes like 1:1, Portrait, and Story are available.
To rotate and resize images, tap the image once and drag the corner dot, or use two fingers to pinch.
To add videos, tap ‘Photos’, select videos (up to 2 or 5 for VIP), tap the check mark.
To edit a video, double-tap or tap and hold it. A menu appears allowing you to trim, mute, or edit the border.
To edit text, select ‘Text’ from the bottom menu. Icons let you add text (‘Keyboard’), change fonts (‘T’), change colour and background (‘Palette’), and change alignment and outline (‘…’). Double-tap text on the collage to re-edit. You can also use the ‘Doodle’ feature to handwrite text.
Removing the watermark: This differs between platforms. On iOS, it’s part of the VIP Subscription (£4.49/month or £34.99/year). On Android, it’s a one-time payment (£1.99) on the Save or Share page. The VIP subscription also includes unlimited access to content, exclusive templates, stickers, backgrounds, premium fonts, and no ads.

If you’ve purchased items and can’t access them, ensure your device is connected to the same account used for the purchase. You can try restoring purchases via the ‘Settings’ menu or the ‘Store’ section. If you switch platforms (iOS to Android or vice versa) or still have issues, you’ll need to contact their support with receipts.

A very important point about PicCollage drafts: they are saved only on the device they were created on. They won’t transfer between devices, even with the same account. If you uninstall the app or reset your device, drafts will be deleted. To avoid losing your creations, save your collages to your device’s library often, back them up, or share them on social media. Note that collages saved to the device typically cannot be re-edited in the app.

Other apps like Canva also offer templates and tools for collage creation. Exploring a few options can help you find the one that best fits your creative style.

Other Methods (Workarounds)

While not full-fledged collage tools, here are a couple of other ways people sometimes combine photos on their iPhone using built-in features, though they are more like workarounds:

Using an Album and Screenshot: You can add photos to an album in the Photos app, adjust the zoom level so they appear in a grid layout (like a 3×3 grid for 9 photos), and then take a screenshot of the album view. You might need to resize the screenshot to crop out the extra bits. This provides a simple grid but offers no control over the individual photos’ appearance within the grid.

Using the Stickers Feature: A less common method is to use the feature that lets you tap and hold an object in a photo to turn it into a sticker. You can then open a base photo, go into the Markup editing tools, and add these stickers on top. This method is more for blending elements rather than creating structured grids and can be a bit fiddly depending on the photos.

Tips for Making a Stunning Collage

No matter which method you choose, here are a few tips to help your collage stand out:

Consistency is Key: Try to maintain a consistent theme, colour palette, or style across the photos in your collage for a visually pleasing result.
Experiment with Layouts: Don’t be afraid to try different grid patterns, asymmetrical arrangements, or overlapping elements to create visual interest.
Play with Scale: Varying the sizes of your photos within the collage can add depth and hierarchy. Cropping photos creatively can also enhance the artistic touch.
Utilise Negative Space: Sometimes, leaving empty areas or using solid backgrounds can draw more attention to your photos and make them pop.
Add Text and Graphics: Incorporate text (using different fonts and colours), stickers, or doodles to enhance the story or add a personal touch.

Ultimately, the best way to find your style is to experiment and have fun with it.

As you can see, you have several options to make a collage on iPhone. For simple grids without needing new software, the Shortcuts app is a built-in solution. If you’re already a Google Photos user, their integrated collage tool is convenient. For maximum creativity, flexibility, and a host of features like templates, stickers, text, and detailed editing, a dedicated third-party app like PhotoDirector or PicCollage is likely your best bet.