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Android Alternatives for Instagram’s New Collage-Making Layout App

Mar 24, 2015 07:22 PM

Instagram recently rolled out their new Layout app that helps users build photo collages more easily, and it's quick and easy to use with great results. Unfortunately, only those with an iOS device can enjoy Layout at the moment, with the Android version slated for release "in the coming months." Luckily, there are a trove of alternatives that you can use right now, and here are the three we like best.

Alternative #1: Fotor

The folks at Everimaging created an app with a minimal UI and great design called Fotor, which has become one of the best photo editors to create collages on Android for free.

Photo editor application showcasing various edited photos and features.

You can select from a handful of layouts for your photos, then choose photos from your gallery and edit them with a variety of tools. If you want borderless collages like Layout from Instagram has, go to "Width" and drag both cursors all the way to the left. From the "More" tab, you can change the size of each photo in the layout.

Grid layout options for a design application.

Android Alternatives for Instagram’s New Collage-Making Layout App

With over fifty different photo layouts to choose from and many helpful tools, you'll be sure to find something that will fit your needs when creating a Instagram-worthy collage.

Alternative #2: Retrica

Retrica, from developers Venticake, is different from other photo editing apps in that it only allows you to use photos that you take inside of the app—which means no importing from your gallery.

Choose your layout and snap whatever amount of photos you need to fill it up. The photos will be taken concurrently, so prepare yourself for some quick shots. There aren't many editing tools, but you can add filters, which appear live in the viewfinder, from the icon at the bottom right.

And yes, your collages will initially come with a watermark on the bottom-right corner, but you can go into the settings and disable it without having to purchase anything.

Alternative #3: PicGrid

If you're looking for something a little more interesting, PicGrid from RC Platform not only allows you to create collages, but does so with unique layouts, stickers, text features, and more.

Collage of images featuring a child with a dog, a person on colorful skateboards, a scenic view with buildings, and a red sports car, with the text "PICGRID."

You can edit the size of the border, change the color of the background, resize the layout, add filters, place text on the picture, add frames, and choose from dozens of stickers.

Colorful icons representing various fashion and music items.

With a heck of a lot of layouts and stickers to choose from, you can definitely have more fun with PicGrid than with any other photo editor.

Which photo editing apps do you use to create collages for Instagram (or whatever) on Android? Tell us below, and let us know why you like them so much. (We can never have enough photo editing tools!)

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The next big software update for iPhone is coming sometime in April and will include a Food section in Apple News+, an easy-to-miss new Ambient Music app, Priority Notifications thanks to Apple Intelligence, and updates to apps like Mail, Photos, Podcasts, and Safari. See what else is coming to your iPhone with the iOS 18.4 update.