A good passport photo is mostly about following your country's rules. Where you make it changes the cost, the checking and the privacy. We write DocPro, so we are not neutral, and we say below where a paid service or a shop is the safer pick. Details are as of November 2026 from each provider's own pages and can change.
Read the official rules first
The official page decides what is accepted, not any app.
- United States. The State Department says the photo is 2 x 2 inches, taken in the last 6 months, on a white or off-white background, and printed on photo paper for paper forms. It says photocopies and digitally scanned photos are not accepted for paper forms. It also says not to change your photo with computer software, phone apps, filters or AI, for paper and online submissions. For online renewal you upload a digital photo during the application. Acceptance facilities and any photo company, or a friend, can take the photo.
- United Kingdom. GOV.UK says a photo from a booth or shop is more likely to be approved than one taken on your own device, though you can take your own with help. A booth or shop can give a code to enter during the online application. A digital photo must be at least 600 by 750 pixels, between 50KB and 10MB, taken within the last month and not altered by software.
- Australia. We could not read the Passport Office's photo page, so check it directly. Australia Post says its photos are designed to meet Australian and ICAO requirements.
The options side by side
| DocPro | PhotoAiD | Persofoto | Walgreens (US) | Australia Post | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free, no account | Price not shown on page read | Free download; paid prints and retouched file | US$16.99 for two prints | A$23.50 for six prints |
| Checked by | You, guides only | AI, then expert | Paid orders only | Staff check | Staff, free retake |
| Guarantee | None | Acceptance or double refund | Paid orders only | Government compliant | Free retake |
| Your photo | Stays on your device | Uploaded | Uploaded | Taken in store | Taken in store |
DocPro
DocPro's passport photo tool is free with no account. It has 30 size presets, including passport, visa and ID sizes for the US, UK, Australia, Canada, India, China and the Schengen area, and a custom size. You drag and zoom the photo to match head guides, optionally replace the background using a model that runs on your device, make a digital JPEG with a file-size limit, and build a print sheet for 4 x 6 inch or A4 paper. The photo is not uploaded. It does not review your photo, supply a code or guarantee acceptance. Background replacement is a software change to the photo. Countries that forbid altered photos, such as the US (State Department) and the UK (GOV.UK), do not allow it, so there choose Keep original and shoot against a plain light wall instead. Presets are common requirements, so confirm them on the official page. Browse sizes on the passport photo pages.
PhotoAiD
PhotoAiD's site says an AI step is followed by a review from a photo expert, and offers an acceptance guarantee or a double money-back guarantee. It says uploaded images are not shared with third parties or used to train AI. You upload a photo. We could not confirm prices from the page we could read, so check its pricing before you start.
Persofoto
Persofoto's page shows a free download that lets you crop and print yourself, with no compliance check, retouching or guarantee. Paid options on the page we read were printed packages at GBP 7.95 and a retouched digital download for an extra GBP 5.95, with a compliance check. Its privacy policy says data is not passed to third parties but does not give a retention period for uploaded images.
Pharmacies and post offices
Walgreens' page lists two printed 2 x 2 inch photos at US$16.99, taken in store, with a free emailed copy and a compliance guarantee. Australia Post lists A$23.50 for six photos at 35 x 45 mm or three larger, with a free retake if they are not accepted. We did not confirm CVS prices because its page did not load. These cost more, but a trained person takes the photo against a proper backdrop, which is often what a rejected application needed.
How to choose
- Cheapest, private, and you are comfortable following the guides: DocPro, then verify against the official rules.
- You want someone to check and a guarantee: PhotoAiD or a paid Persofoto order.
- You want a physical, compliant print today: a pharmacy or post office.
- Your authority bans edits or wants a booth code: use a shop that supplies one.
For why photos fail, read why passport photos get rejected, and to shoot one yourself, how to make a passport photo at home.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free passport photo maker?
Yes. DocPro's tool is free with no account and runs in your browser. Persofoto offers a free download without a compliance check. Paid prints, checks or retouching cost extra.
Can I take my own passport photo at home?
Often yes. The US allows any company or a friend, and GOV.UK allows your own photo, though it says booth or shop photos are more likely to be approved.
Does the US State Department accept edited passport photos?
Its page says not to alter photos using software, phone apps, filters or AI, for paper and online submissions. Photocopies and scanned photos are not accepted for paper forms.
Is my passport photo uploaded when I use a maker?
It depends. PhotoAiD and Persofoto work by upload. DocPro processes the photo in your browser and does not upload it.
How much does a passport photo cost at Walgreens?
Walgreens' page lists US$16.99 for two 2 x 2 inch prints, taken in store, as of November 2026.