Why people leave UK Passport Size Photo Maker
- The HMPO Digital Photo Code costs extra each time. PhotoAid’s free preview shows a compliant crop, but the actual code submission used on gov.uk is paid.
- Expert review takes hours, not minutes. The advertised acceptance guarantee runs through a human review queue that delays results.
- Background removal struggles on busy scenes. Anything beyond a plain wall needs the paid tier to look clean enough for HMPO.
- Aggressive upsell flow between steps. App Store and Play reviews flag full-screen prompts at almost every action — crop, background, save.
- Storing photos and IDs raises eyebrows. The app holds biometric photos on its server during the review window, which not every user is comfortable with.
If those frictions push you to compare, here are 7 UK Passport Size Photo Maker alternatives worth installing.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free output | Standout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passport Size Photo Maker | Multiple country sizes | Print-ready sheet | Country-specific size presets |
| New UK 35x45mm Photo Editor | UK-only quick crops | Print-ready 35x45mm | UK-specific, simple workflow |
| Passport Photo - ID Photo | German-engineered biometric crops | Print-ready sheet | Strong on European biometric specs |
| ID Photo | International document set | Print-ready sheet | Wide country preset list |
| Passport Size Photo Maker - Suit Editor | Suit and shirt overlay for formal photos | Print-ready | Background and clothing edit combo |
| Official Passport photo | Lightweight, fast crop | Print-ready | Small install footprint |
| Passport and Visa photos | Premium digital and printed delivery | Preview only | iVisa expert review service |
Which app should you choose?
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Passport Size Photo Maker if a single app needs to cover multiple countries. Country-specific size presets and a print-ready sheet layout.
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New UK 35x45mm Photo Editor if only UK passports are the use case. Single-purpose, fast, no upsell ladder.
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Passport Photo - ID Photo if European biometric compliance matters. Built around the same biometric standard HMPO uses.
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ID Photo if the work spans documents and countries. Wide preset list including UK, US, Schengen, India, and more.
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Passport Size Photo Maker - Suit Editor if a formal suit overlay is part of the brief. Combines clothing edit with sizing.
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Official Passport photo if storage and install size are tight. Lightweight app that does the basics.
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Passport and Visa photos if acceptance guarantee with a human reviewer is worth paying for. iVisa’s expert review and printed delivery.
1. Passport Size Photo Maker -- multi-country sizes
Z Mobile Apps’ Passport Size Photo Maker covers UK, US, Schengen, Indian, Australian, and Canadian passport sizes in a single picker. Five million downloads gives it the largest user base in the non-iVisa category and the print sheet layout is the cleanest in this list — eight or twelve photos arranged on 4x6 or A4. UK Passport Size Photo Maker vs Passport Size Photo Maker is paid-code-first versus a print-and-go workflow.
Where it falls short: No Digital Photo Code generation for the HMPO online application — output is print-only. Background removal needs a clean wall to work reliably.
Pricing:
- Free: Crop, basic background tools, print sheet
- Paid: Optional pro for premium features
- vs UK Passport Size Photo Maker: Free print path, no digital code
Migrating from UK Passport Size Photo Maker: Re-take or re-upload. Z Mobile’s app skips the digital-code step entirely, so it suits anyone going to a high-street print shop.
Bottom line: Pick this when the destination is a print sheet, not the gov.uk online form.
2. New UK 35x45mm Photo Editor -- UK-only and simple
This one is built around a single use case: UK 35x45mm passport photos. The crop guide enforces the right dimensions, the background tool is tuned for typical UK home interior lighting, and there’s no country picker getting in the way. Ten million downloads suggests the focused approach works. UK Passport Size Photo Maker vs this app is a feature-rich paid path versus a one-task free path.
Where it falls short: Output is print-only — no HMPO Digital Photo Code. UI design is utilitarian.
Pricing:
- Free: Crop, print sheet, basic background
- Paid: Optional ad-removal
- vs UK Passport Size Photo Maker: Free, narrower scope
Migrating from UK Passport Size Photo Maker: Just re-shoot. The crop guide is the same dimension HMPO accepts.
Bottom line: Pick this when the job is a single UK passport photo and nothing else.
3. Passport Photo - ID Photo -- European biometric specs
VS Media’s Passport Photo app is built around the European biometric standard, which is the same compliance regime HMPO checks against. Face-rotation correction is sharper than most apps in this list and the eye-level grid lines up automatically. UK Passport Size Photo Maker vs Passport Photo - ID Photo is acceptance-guaranteed paid versus do-it-right-yourself free.
Where it falls short: No digital-code submission, only print and PDF export. Some country presets feel slightly outdated.
Pricing:
- Free: Crop, biometric check, print sheet
- Paid: Optional pro for extra country presets
- vs UK Passport Size Photo Maker: Free for HMPO-standard output, no guarantee
Migrating from UK Passport Size Photo Maker: Re-shoot or re-import. VS Media’s biometric check often flags problems UK Passport Size Photo Maker’s free tier misses.
Bottom line: Pick this when European biometric compliance is the priority and you’ll handle submission yourself.
4. ID Photo -- documents and countries
Exigen Services’ ID Photo carries the longest country and document preset list in this comparison — passports, visas, driving licences, residence permits, and bus passes across most of Europe, the US, India, and ASEAN. The crop guide adapts to the country selected and the print sheet generator handles A4 and 4x6 paper sizes. UK Passport Size Photo Maker vs ID Photo is single-country deep versus many-country broad.
Where it falls short: No HMPO Digital Photo Code generation. Interface looks dated next to newer entries.
Pricing:
- Free: Most presets, basic background, print sheet
- Paid: Optional pro for ad removal and premium presets
- vs UK Passport Size Photo Maker: Free for broad country coverage, no digital code
Migrating from UK Passport Size Photo Maker: Re-upload. Useful for households where one app needs to cover multiple family members across different nationalities.
Bottom line: Pick this when the household needs photos for several countries from one app.
5. Passport Size Photo Maker - Suit Editor -- formal suit overlay
This one is for the moment you realise the only recent photo of yourself is a casual t-shirt selfie. Micro Developer’s Passport Size Photo Maker pairs the standard biometric crop with a library of suit and shirt overlays so the photo reads as a formal portrait. UK Passport Size Photo Maker vs Suit Editor is policy-pure versus practical for awkward moments.
Where it falls short: Suit overlays can clip on broader shoulders. Some country presets are out of spec — verify against HMPO’s published 35x45mm rules.
Pricing:
- Free: Crop, suit overlay library, print sheet
- Paid: Optional pro
- vs UK Passport Size Photo Maker: Free, with a feature no other app in this list has
Migrating from UK Passport Size Photo Maker: Re-upload. The Suit Editor pulls the same source photo through a slightly different pipeline.
Bottom line: Pick this when the source photo needs a wardrobe upgrade before it’s passport-ready.
6. Official Passport photo -- lightweight and fast
Official Passport photo (by SmartphoneID) is the smallest install in this list and the fastest to use — open, take, crop, save. No country picker drama, just a 35x45mm guide for UK output and a quick background tool. UK Passport Size Photo Maker vs Official Passport photo is full-service paid versus minimal free.
Where it falls short: No HMPO digital code. Background removal is basic, so a plain wall is essentially required.
Pricing:
- Free: Crop, basic background, print
- Paid: None
- vs UK Passport Size Photo Maker: Free, with a tiny feature set
Migrating from UK Passport Size Photo Maker: Re-shoot in front of a plain wall. The output is print-ready straight from the app.
Bottom line: Pick this when storage is tight and the photo just needs to be done quickly.
7. Passport and Visa photos -- expert review with acceptance guarantee
iVisa’s Passport and Visa photos is the closest competitor to UK Passport Size Photo Maker on positioning. Both offer an acceptance guarantee, both run human review, and both charge for the deliverable. The iVisa app sits at 4.8/5 across thousands of reviews and a clean no-ads experience makes the workflow feel less like a freemium funnel. UK Passport Size Photo Maker vs Passport and Visa photos is two paid services competing on review speed and refund terms.
Where it falls short: No free output beyond preview. Some users report the printed delivery option taking longer to reach UK addresses than HMPO’s online submission path.
Pricing:
- Free: Preview only
- Paid: Per-photo charge for digital and printed delivery
- vs UK Passport Size Photo Maker: Comparable per-photo cost, different refund structure
Migrating from UK Passport Size Photo Maker: Re-upload. iVisa keeps the photo for the review window and removes it after delivery, which some users prefer over indefinite storage.
Bottom line: Pick this when an acceptance guarantee with human review is worth the per-photo charge.
How to choose
Pick Passport Size Photo Maker when one app needs to handle UK plus other countries on a single household setup.
Pick New UK 35x45mm Photo Editor when the job is exactly one UK photo and nothing else.
Pick Passport Photo - ID Photo when European biometric compliance matters and self-submission is fine.
Pick ID Photo when documents span multiple countries and family members.
Pick Passport Size Photo Maker - Suit Editor when the source photo needs a wardrobe overlay first.
Pick Official Passport photo when storage is tight and the photo just needs to be done.
Pick Passport and Visa photos when an acceptance guarantee and human review are worth paying for.
Stay on UK Passport Size Photo Maker if the HMPO Digital Photo Code submission directly from the app is the workflow that matters — none of these alternatives generate the IDPC for gov.uk.
FAQ
Is there a free UK passport photo app?
Yes. New UK 35x45mm Photo Editor, Official Passport photo, and Passport Photo - ID Photo all generate HMPO-compliant prints for free. The catch is that none submits to gov.uk directly — you’ll print and post or upload the JPEG yourself.
Which app generates the HMPO Digital Photo Code?
UK Passport Size Photo Maker (PhotoAid) and Passport and Visa photos (iVisa) both generate the IDPC. The other apps in this list output print files only.
What is the cheapest UK passport photo alternative?
The free apps in this list (New UK 35x45mm, Official Passport photo, Passport Photo - ID Photo, ID Photo, Suit Editor) cost nothing if a high-street print costs a couple of pounds. Compared to PhotoAid’s paid digital code, this saves the per-photo fee.
Are these apps HMPO-compliant?
The crop dimensions are. Compliance also depends on lighting, background, expression, and glasses — apps can’t fully check those. The HMPO online application runs an automatic check on uploaded JPEGs, so any free app’s output can still be tested for free.
What do people use instead of UK Passport Size Photo Maker?
For free home-printing: Passport Photo - ID Photo or New UK 35x45mm. For a paid acceptance guarantee: iVisa’s Passport and Visa photos. For households with mixed nationalities: ID Photo by Exigen Services.
Can I take my own UK passport photo at home?
Yes. HMPO accepts smartphone photos uploaded through the gov.uk application provided they meet the technical rules (size, lighting, expression, background). Any of the free apps in this list will crop to the right dimensions.
