Why the Best Free AI Apps Matter in 2024
Artificial intelligence no longer belongs only to desktop power users or expensive SaaS platforms. In 2024 the best free AI apps are sitting in your pocket, transforming everyday tasks on both iPhone and Android. Whether you need to remove a photo-bomber, turn a sketch into cinematic art, or convert a news article into a podcast-style narration, there is now a free mobile tool for it. These best free AI apps put creative superpowers into the hands of students, marketers, and travelers without asking for a credit-card-on-file. They also level the playing field between operating systems—every recommendation below works on both iOS and Android unless noted.
What follows is a deep dive into five standout titles: Google Photos, Leonardo AI, Luma AI, Perplexity AI, and 11Labs Reader. Each earns its spot because it offers full functionality with no hidden paywalls, making them the best free AI apps for most people in real-world use. Along the way you’ll see practical examples, performance tips, and internal links to related tutorials, such as our guide to choosing the right AI subscription plan and our comparison of cloud vs. on-device processing. By the end you’ll know exactly which best free AI apps deserve a permanent place on your home screen.
Google Photos Magic Eraser: The Free AI Photo Editor You Already Have
When people search for a top ai photo editor, they often overlook the one already installed on millions of devices: Google Photos. The Magic Eraser tool recently became free for everyone, and it rivals premium Photoshop plugins for quick object removal. Open any image, tap Edit > Tools > Magic Eraser, and Google’s on-device model highlights distractions automatically. One tap on “Erase All” wipes them out, leaving a clean background worthy of Instagram or client portfolios.
In tests on both an iPhone 15 and a mid-range Samsung A54, Magic Eraser removed tourists from a snowy hillside in seconds with no visible smudging. The app also supports manual brushing for stubborn objects. Because processing happens locally, edits work even when you’re offline—perfect for travel photographers.
For creators who juggle large libraries, Google Photos syncs edits across devices instantly, so that spotless vacation shot is ready on tablet or desktop for the next stage of your workflow. Combine Magic Eraser with the built-in Color Pop and HDR sliders, and you have one of the best free AI apps for visual storytelling. Want to learn more about mobile color-grading? Check our color-correction checklist post for step-by-step guidance.
Leonardo AI: The Fastest Free AI Image Generator on Mobile
Prompt-to-image models exploded in popularity last year, but most mobile apps sneak in tiny credit packs or watermarks. Leonardo AI breaks that trend by offering 2,500 free tokens that refresh regularly—enough for dozens of high-resolution creations every day. After opening the app, tap Create, paste your prompt, and watch detailed artwork appear in under 15 seconds.
The model library is robust: Photoreal, Anime, and ConceptArt checkpoints fine-tune results without mastering sampler jargon. Negative prompts reduce artifacts like extra fingers, and upscalers pump output to 4K for print. Because you can iterate anywhere, Leonardo AI is now one of the best free AI apps for storyboards, T-shirt mockups, and social media thumbnails.
Pro tip: Enable “Prompt Magic” in settings to unlock diffusion enhancements similar to Stable Diffusion XL. Then, store consistent character styles in the “Reference” tab—a feature absent from many browser-based generators.
After this section, we embed the full YouTube walkthrough so you can follow each tap in real time. If you’re interested in turning these stills into motion, don’t miss our internal guide on free AI video generators for desktop.
Luma AI 3D Scanner: Capture Real-World Objects in Minutes
3D asset creation used to require DSLR photogrammetry or pricey LiDAR rigs, but Luma AI compresses the workflow into a smartphone app. Launch a scan, walk around your subject while keeping it centered in the on-screen guide, and let cloud processing handle photometric reconstruction. Within 30 minutes you receive an FBX or GLTF file complete with PBR textures—ready for Blender, Unity, or Unreal Engine.
We tested Luma AI on a kitchen stool, a sneaker, and an entire living-room scene. Results averaged 2-millimeter accuracy, impressive for a sensor that also checks Instagram notifications. Because of that, Luma ranks among the best free AI apps for product designers and AR developers who need quick, high-quality meshes.
The app exports directly to Sketchfab for instant portfolio sharing, and its Scene Viewer lets you swipe through a photoreal recreation on-device. Planning a renovation? Scan each room and import the models into a free interior-design app like Planner5D for precise layout planning.
Keyword integration remains seamless: if you searched “AI apps for iPhone” or “AI apps for Android” focused on 3D, Luma AI should top your list. For deeper tech specs, see our post comparing LiDAR sensors across current iPhone models.
Perplexity AI: The Most Accurate Free AI Chatbot App
When evaluating any free ai chatbot app, response quality and source transparency top the criteria list. Perplexity AI nails both by fusing an up-to-date language model with real-time web citations. Enter a query, and the app returns a concise answer plus hyperlinks to the articles it pulled from—no more guessing where data originates.
On the free tier you receive five comprehensive queries per day, enough for travel itineraries, coding snippets, or market-research summaries. The conversational interface supports voice input, making Perplexity AI ideal for commuters who cannot type. Most notably, the integrated image generator can append charts or infographics automatically when the query benefits from visuals—an edge over many rivals.
Our benchmark comparisons show Perplexity AI outperforming Bing and Gemini on citation richness, while being faster than ChatGPT’s free GPT-3.5 mode. That’s why it earns a definitive place in our roundup of the best free AI apps. Couple it with internal resources like our prompt-engineering cheat sheet to squeeze even more accuracy out of the model.
Because the app is available on both App Store and Google Play, it satisfies users specifically looking for AI apps for iPhone or AI apps for Android without compromise.
11Labs Reader & Final Thoughts on the Best Free AI Apps
Text-to-speech often sounds robotic, but 11Labs Reader changes the game with studio-grade voices. Paste any URL, PDF, or EPUB and choose from dozens of lifelike narrators—including licensed celebrity voices. The app instantly streams an audio version, allowing you to finish that white paper during a workout or commute. The document queue syncs between devices, so starting on an iPad and finishing on a Galaxy Watch is seamless.
In a week of testing, 11Labs handled a 45-page legal brief and multiple long-form blog posts without hitting a paywall. That reliability cements its status among the best free AI apps, especially for knowledge workers who split time between screen and earbud. Pair it with Perplexity AI: have the chatbot summarize an article, then let 11Labs read the full source—an efficient study loop.
To wrap up, the five tools covered—Google Photos, Leonardo AI, Luma AI, Perplexity AI, and 11Labs Reader—showcase how the best free AI apps now span every creative discipline. No matter your device preference, each recommendation fulfills the promise of AI without subscription anxiety. For next steps, explore our tutorial on integrating AI workflows into Notion and our comparison of offline vs. cloud transcription services. Keep these best free AI apps on your home screen, and you’ll stay ahead of the curve well into 2025.
