Best Apps to Blur Faces in Photos and Videos for Android & iOS

ByJim Miller

2020 has seen a rise in the need to cover faces, whether it's due to the COVID-19 pandemic or protests against racism and police violence. Fortunately, many companies have stepped up to offer features that you can use to learn how to blur faces in videos and photos. In this article, we will explore the best apps available for blurring faces during protests.

Best Apps to Blur Faces

1. Signal

Signal is a popular messaging app known for its strong privacy and message encryption. To support protestors, Signal has recently introduced a quick AI-based face blur feature. Here's how you can use it:

  • Download and install the Signal app.
  • Open the app and access the camera icon on the home page.
  • Take a picture or select one from your gallery.
  • Tap on the Blur Faces icon, which looks like a checkered circle, and enable the Blur Faces toggle.

Signal does a great job of detecting faces and blurring them. However, it may occasionally miss faces in shadows or low light conditions. In such cases, you can manually blur the faces using your hand. Please note that Signal currently does not support blurring faces in videos.

Download Signal for Android | Download Signal for iOS

2. ObscuraCam

ObscuraCam is an app developed by the Guardian Project, the organization behind the popular Tor browser. This app is designed specifically for blurring faces in photos and videos. Here's how you can use ObscuraCam:

  • Install the ObscuraCam app on your Android smartphone.
  • The home page of the app displays images and videos from your device.
  • Select a picture, and it will automatically detect and pixelate faces.
  • Adjust the position and amount of pixelation before saving the photo.
  • For videos, you need to manually tap on the faces and adjust the pixelation as you go.

ObscuraCam provides average results when it comes to blurring faces in photos. As for videos, the process is manual, time-consuming, and may not yield satisfactory results.

Download ObscuraCam for Android | Download ObscuraCam for F-Droid

3. Mosaic Pixelate Censor Photo

Mosaic Pixelate Censor Photo is another face blur app available for Android users. Unlike the previous apps, this app requires manual effort to blur faces. Here's how it works:

  • Download and install Mosaic Pixelate Censor Photo from the Play Store.
  • Select a photo from your gallery.
  • Use your finger to scrub and blur the faces.
  • The app offers options for pixelation, blurring, color, and resetting.

Mosaic Pixelate Censor Photo is a minimalistic app that allows you to manually blur faces. It provides basic options for customization and a convenient reset toggle.

Download Mosaic Pixelate Censor Photo for Android

4. PutMask

PutMask is a recently released app that focuses on blurring faces in videos. Unlike other apps, PutMask uses AI to automatically blur faces. Here's how you can use it:

  • Download the PutMask app from the Google Play Store.
  • Select a video from your gallery within the app.
  • PutMask will automatically detect and number the faces in the video.
  • Tap on a number to start tracking the face movement and blur it.

PutMask seamlessly tracks and blurs faces in videos. However, it may rotate portrait videos, requiring the use of a mobile video editor to fix the orientation. Additionally, the app adds a watermark to your videos, which can be removed with a one-time payment of $7.99.

Download PutMask for Android

5. YouTube

If you're using a MacBook or Windows PC, YouTube provides an option to blur faces in videos. Although it requires uploading videos to Google's server, it offers effective face blurring. Here's how you can use it:

  • Upload your video to YouTube via the provided link on your computer.
  • Make sure to publish the video as private.
  • Go to the Videos tab and click on the Edit button.
  • In the Editor tab, click on the Add Blur link at the bottom.
  • Choose the Blur faces option to detect and blur faces in the video.

YouTube's face blur feature is highly effective, but keep in mind that your original video will exist on Google's server.

Closing Words

For those comfortable with the command line, Python tools like Blurry Faces can also be used to identify and blur faces in videos. These tools are safe and can function offline.

If you prefer user-friendly apps, Signal and Mosaic Pixelate Censor Photo are good options. If you have any issues or queries, feel free to let us know in the comments.

Also Read: How to Hide Apps on Android Smartphone to Maintain Privacy