A hair app comparison on what money actually buys.
You find a hair app that finally feels right, and then the paywall pops up. Locked styles, watermarks, capped tries, subscription prompts… A familiar moment, right? This interruption raises fair questions: Is the paid hair app worth it? Does paying solve all the problems, or does it just unlock the new ones you could live without?
We have tested free vs paid hair apps, so you don’t burn money trying to find the answers. This guide reveals what free tools actually deliver, what you get with paid plans, and how to choose the right option for you.
Beauty technology now mostly runs on freemium hair apps. You get a taste of it, just enough to pique your curiosity. Free access attracts users quickly, increases the number of downloads, and generates numerous five-star reviews in the app store. But once the habit is formed, the hair app paywall goes up.
The push toward premium usually happens after several tries. A watermark may appear. Some styles may get blurred. A click promises access to the full collection of cuts and colors. These nudges guide visitors to paid hair app features that have a high budget of development, such as 3D mapping, improved face tracking, and realistic texture rendering.
Subscriptions are at the heart of it. At, let’s say, $4.99 per week, the hair app subscription seems very little, but then it quickly adds up across beauty tools, fitness apps, and mood trackers. Beauty app subscription fatigue might contribute to the increasing frustration.
Going beyond the marketing copy, this article explains why paywalls exist and when they make sense in real use.
A free hair try-on app can be handy, but its limits become obvious once you start using it.
Most of the free hair makeover apps offer only basic functions. You upload one photo, sample a limited number of haircuts or colors, and see a quick preview. With a free hairstyle simulator, you can briefly scan the length, bangs, or overall shape.
The daily trials are usually limited to one to three, and ads typically pop up between previews. Most of the results are watermarked. Accuracy varies, especially with curls, highlights, and hairlines. It is more suitable for initial judgment rather than a final decision.
Free tools traditionally keep full style libraries locked up. Downloading or exporting images without the watermark often requires payment. Multiple photo uploads are not available; if you don’t like your initial selfie anymore, you’re stuck with it. Tools like 360-degree previews, shade mixing, or fine tone control are all behind paywalls.
The free hair app limitations follow a similar pattern across different apps. You get a brief trial period, and then the fun evaporates.
A few tools are exceptions to this rule. TheRightHairstyles is really powerful in this respect. It presents a selection of over 100 hairstyles for short, medium, and long lengths. The 9-color palette primarily consists of high-demand tones like blonde, brunette, copper, or gray, and lets you try the color along with the cut together, with no access limits.
No strings attached. Using the web version or the HairHunt app does not require an account; a preview can be checked out in a try-on instantly, and it also lands right in your inbox. If you roughly know what you want to test, a single trial session will suffice to visualize the new hairstyle and understand what the try-on can realistically achieve (spoiler: a lot, even 360-degree visualizations!).
Apps supported by brands can also be of great value. Redken and Garnier, to name a few, offer free color try-on tools that let you directly apply shades to your photo. The libraries of colors are normally large and correspond to the dyes they produce. Dark tones show strong saturation and shine. When you want to compare close shades in the same color family, a brand-backed tool can be one of the best free apps.
They stay free since the idea is to introduce customers to the product rather than offering subscriptions. This business model explains why some tools remain free of charge.
Typically, in the minds of consumers, when you pay for a premium hair app, you get better image quality. In reality, the situation is more nuanced, and some upgrades matter more than others.
Premium hairstyle filters often deliver access to an impressive range of 50-200 extra hairstyles and hair colors. You see trend-driven options, like curtain bangs or wolf cuts, and celeb-inspired looks that are not available in the free tiers.
Worth it if you are after a specific look or if you want to compare different cuts side by side. If the aim is a simple check like blonde vs brunette, then free previews already cover that.
Free apps usually stamp images. Paid plans can improve that through hair app watermark removal. If this stays on your phone and you are not planning to share it on social media, the value drops. A screenshot does the job for personal reference, even if it feels a bit clunky.
Some subscriptions come with more advanced color controls, like mixing shades, matching undertones, or placing highlights by sections. Use them to plan balayage, color melts, and layered highlights.
For testing single shades, the difference wanes very quickly. A free hair color app handles the job with solid tones well enough for you to rule the option in or out.
Paid plans eliminate the interruptions that are caused by hair app ads. No pop-ups, no countdown clocks – nothing breaks your focus. This is particularly important during long sessions. For occasional quick checks, ads may be annoying, but they barely block the results.
Realism depends on the strength of the AI, not the cost of the subscription. Since paid app accuracy is determined by technology rather than price, many accessible tools deliver tracking that stands toe-to-toe with the most expensive options on the market. Ideally, a premium tier should enhance workflow, not unlock basic quality. Testing the core technology first is the most reliable way to ensure the realism meets the required standards.
We examined popular hair apps and tried out each of them in two rounds. First, the free tier. Then, the paid tier. The objectives were simple – to find out what happens when money becomes involved and to get a fair hair app comparison based on actual use.
| APP NAME | PRICE | FREE TIER | STYLES | COLORS | 360° PRE VIEW | WATER MARKS | ADS | BEST FOR | OUR RATING |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HairHunt/ TheRightHairstyles | $11,99/ mnth $59,99/ year | 1 free style (color + cut) | 100+ styles | 9 colors + additional options in ALL colors and cuts | ✓ (web-version) | ╳ | ╳ | Testing cuts and colors together | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| YouCam Makeup | $6.70/ mnth $33,60/ year | 2 free tries daily | 25 styles in 22 colors | 48 solid, 48 ombre, 34 multi-color | ╳ | ╳ | ✓ | Fantasy colors with makeup ad-ons | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| FaceApp | $2,80/ mnth $16,20/ year | 2 styles + 2 colors | 14 styles | 11 colors | ╳ | ✓ | ╳ | Casual hair edits and social sharing | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Modiface Haircut | $9,60/ week | 1 style | 200+ styles | ╳ | ╳ | ╳ | ✓ | New haircut or wig try-ons | ⭐⭐ |
| My Hair [iD] | Free | All colors | ╳ | 33 colors | ╳ | ╳ | ╳ | Visualizing hair color before box dye purchase | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| HairWow | $6.99/ week $1.15/ week (year plan) | 1 free style | 51 preset | 22 colors | ╳ | ✓ | ╳ | Fast preset- based previews | ⭐⭐ |
| Haircut AI | $1.99/ 1 pack $7.99 all packs | 7 styles | 200+ styles | 6 colors | ╳ | ✓ | ✓ | Experimenting within 1 category with one-time payment options | ⭐⭐ |
Prices verified: December 2025.
There is a clear trend visible through this chart: free plans allow you to get the right direction; paid ones have the power to impact real-life decisions.
This hairstyle app pricing breakdown helps you understand which plan provides the most for its cost.
The majority of premium tools are subscription-based. The hair app’s monthly fee usually varies from $3 to $12. Annual plans cut that down, and they make sense if you intend to use the app regularly. For example, HairHunt hair app subscription cost is $11.99 per month or $59.99 per year, which means saving $83,89 yearly.
Weekly billing is the actual money leak. The weekly Modiface Haircut charge is $9.60, which is almost $500 per year! HairWow, however, takes a different approach: it is $6.99 per week (billed weekly) or $59.80 for the whole year (also billed weekly), and includes a three-day free trial.
A one-time purchase seems to be less risky. Haircut AI provides $1.99 for one pack or $7.99 for all seven packs, including Fashion Hairstyles, Fresh Cuts, and Celebrity Hairstyles. No renewal, no surprise charge later on. My Hair [iD] is completely free, tied to product discovery instead of subscriptions.
Pro tip: Check renewal terms before tapping confirm.
This depends on how you plan to use the service.
Hair app premium features are a good choice for salon professionals who test cuts or colors with clients during consultations. The same applies if you frequently do color or haircut changes and want to see the results in the before-and-after format. Advanced tools like shade mixing, different highlighting techniques, and clean export sharing can also be valuable.
If you use the application just a handful of times a year, then free versions are more than sufficient. However, if you encounter frequent hair choices in your work or daily life, then a hair app subscription can be a good investment in terms of saving time, money, and eliminating doubts.
Not every hair query calls for a credit card. Free tools can be very effective for occasional curiosity or quick checks. Considering going blonde for the first time? Wondering how bangs might look on your face? Want to grow out a shorter hairstyle? Basic previews give you the answer instantly.
Occasional users get sufficient value from the free tiers, particularly with apps like HairHunt that keep all essential functions open. When the objective is getting a rough idea, free does the job and saves you money.
For many people, free tools close the gap when it comes to answering common hair questions. For testing the length, color family, or overall shape, free options work surprisingly well.
However, if you want something specific and are going to use it regularly, paying makes sense. Advanced color work, repeated comparisons, or aid during a hairstyling consultation all fall into that category.
TheRightHairstyles is a clear example. It offers the full color palette and more than 100 styles, without forcing payment to unlock the entire style library. Test the tool with a free trial and decide on a plan for further exploration.
Need a free trial hair app to understand what you are signing up for? You can test one hairstyle for free with TheRightHairstyles – nothing expires, and no credit card is required.
Visit TheRightHairstyles website or install the HairHunt app on your iOS or Android device.
Check over 100 styles that can be grouped into distinct categories, like Bangs, Bob, Curly, or Short. Browse through the color palette, from gray and platinum blonde to copper and black.
Take a selfie or pick a straight-on photo with your hair tied back out of your device’s gallery. Uniformly lit images without harsh lighting effects give the most accurate results. However, if some strands are still in the way, don’t worry. Smart in-built technology can digitally clear hair from your face without affecting your natural look or distorting facial geometry.
Then, take a screenshot of the favorites to send to your hairstylist. You don’t need to have an account. Neither account, nor watermark, nor ads.
Rapid-fire responses to queries that people usually have just before hitting the Subscribe button.
Are paid hair apps more accurate than free ones?
Sometimes, but not always. The truth is, accuracy relies on the AI used in the app, not the pricing. A free hair try-on app can be just as good as the paid one in terms of face tracking and texture realism, and some even permit wide style libraries and clean previews, which are usually considered subscription features. Eventually, it comes down to the developer and how much of the app’s high-quality functionality they decide to offer for free.
What do you actually get with a paid hair app?
Among other things, the paid plans grant access to larger libraries of styles, watermark-free exports, ad-free content, and advanced color tools. Some provide additional capabilities such as favorites, galleries, or planning features. The worth of it all depends on the frequency of your testing and the quality of your results.
How much do hair app subscriptions cost?
The hair try-on app costs typically vary from $3 to $12 per month. Weekly plans seem cheaper at first glance, but they can exceed $500 a year, so it’s wise to scroll through the billing screen twice before hitting the confirmation button.
Should I pay for a hair color app?
Free color apps can manage basic color previews very well. Paid versions are more suited for color mixing, 360-degree views, saved favorites, and ad-free sessions.
The takeaway is simple. When you have a clear idea of what you want and only need a visual proof that it fits you, then free tools fit the bill. Paid apps come into play when you crave variety, detail, and room to compare. The free vs paid hair apps debate boils down to your needs. If you are ready to make a decision, then start with the free version of one of the apps we recommend. Upload your picture, see more than 100 styles in a few seconds, and decide from there.
