How to Make Your Own Deepfake: Best AI Tools, Tips & Tricks

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Learn about AI deepfake tools and the technology behind them
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A deepfake is an image, video, or audio that has been manipulated or generated using AI to appear real. This may include face swapping, mimicking voices, or generating synthetic video that appears to be real. While there are some legitimate uses for deepfake technology, there are also a lot of ethical and legal concerns. This wikiHow article teaches you what deepfakes are, how they’re made, and the legitimate ethical concerns surrounding deepfakes. We’ll also tell you about a few apps that are used to make deepfakes.

Note: Using someone else's image to create a deepfake without their permission is illegal in most jurisdictions. Non-consensual deepfakes can lead to legal repercussions, including jail time. Never use someone's image to create a deepfake without their permission.

Quickly Make a Deepfake

Be aware of the legal and ethical considerations. Gather high quality images or video of the subject you want to depict. Choose a deepfake creation tool. Input your source material. Select a destination video (if doing a face swap). Wait for the video to finish rendering.

Section 1 of 7:

How to Create Deep Fakes

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  1. 1
    Gather your source material. To create deepfake videos, you will need high-quality HD or 4K video of the person you want to depict. The more samples you can get, the better. The video should show clear facial features and a range of emotional expressions. For audio, you can often create deepfakes with just 30 seconds of audio of someone talking. If you are doing a faceswap, you’ll need a destination video with a scene or body that you want to apply the face to. It should have a similar face shape and features as the person you want to depict to avoid artifacts.
  2. 2
    Choose the right tool. Some tools are made for a specific purpose (i.e., face swapping, bringing old photos to life, video generation, etc). Others have more general intentions. If you are a beginner, you may want to choose a tool that has an intuitive user interface. For more advanced users, you can download a tool to your computer that uses your GPU to produce deepfakes. For this, you will also need a computer with a decent GPU.
    • If you are just looking for something fun to swap faces or touch-up your images, apps like FaceApp, Reface, Face Swap Live, or Face Magic might be something good to start with.
    • If you want to create a digital avatar for professional use, HeyGen is a great tool to use.
    • If you want to generate a synthetic video of a specific subject, general-purpose AI video generators like Kling AI and Hailou AI allow you to upload an image of a subject and generate a video of the subject from text.
    • For advanced users who want to generate deepfake face-swapped videos for free using their own computer hardware, DeepFaceLab is the perfect tool, but it does have a bit of a learning curve.
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  3. 3
    Input your source material. Depending on the tool, this may be as simple as dragging and dropping the files or putting all the files in a single folder and indicating which folder contains the source material.
  4. 4
    Upload the destination video or enter your prompts. If you are doing a face swap, you’ll need to indicate which video is the destination video that the face will be applied to. If you are making a synthesized video, you’ll need to enter your prompts that describe the scene and what the person is doing or saying. The more descriptive your prompts are, the better.
  5. 5
    Wait for the video to be rendered. Depending on how long and sophisticated the video is, this may take several hours.
  6. 6
    Edit the video in post. In some cases, you may need to do some post editing to make the video look more authentic and to reduce or remove artifacts. This will require some video editing skills and use of video editing tools, such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects, DeVinci Resolve, or Final Cut Pro.
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Section 2 of 7:

AI Creation Tools

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  1. 1
    Kling AI is an advanced AI video generator. Kling AI allows you to generate AI video from text or images. It allows you to upload multiple images to guide video generation. You can use the Multi-elements feature to create face-swapped video. Upload one video and select the video subject. Then you can upload an image of a subject you want to swap in. You can also upload images of other subjects you want to add to the video. Use the prompt to explain that you want to swap one subject for another.
    • You can purchase credits, which can be used to generate each video. The amount of credits needed to generate a video depends on the video length, resolution, and the model you use. Kling AI also has a variety of monthly subscription plans starting at $6.99, which include monthly credits. [1]
  2. 2
    Hailuo AI is another AI video generator with subject reference. Hailuo AI allows you to generate video from text or images. It also includes a subject references option that allows you to upload an image you want to use as a subject for your video generation. Then all you need to do is add a prompt of what you want the subject to be doing in the video.
    • Hailuo offers subscription plans that start at $7.99 per month for 1000 monthly credits. This allows you to generate about 40 videos. You can also get 500 free credits to use within 3 days of signing up. [2]
  3. 3
    HeyGen allows you to create a digital avatar of yourself. After uploading 2 to 5 minutes of high quality video of yourself, you can create a digital avatar. You can input a script you want your avatar to say or use an audio recording. HeyGen also has a built-in ChatGPT script generator.You can also translate your avatar’s speech into different languages or connect a voice generator API. [3]
    • You can use HeyGen to create 3 videos per month of up to three minutes for free. The creator plan is $29 per month and allows you to create unlimited videos up to 30 minutes. [4]
  4. 4
    There are many AI voice generators that can clone voices. Some of these are free, but some require a paid subscription. ElevenLabs is one of the best AI voice generator tools, but you need a subscription in order to clone voices. MiniMax is part of the Hailuo AI model and offers a free voice clone tool that lets you clone audio from an audio recording. Uberduck is another great AI voice generator that offers free voice cloning.
  5. The Lensa AI app is available on Android and iOS, and it's perfect if you want to see your own face in varying styles and characters such as a wizard, astronaut, fairy, and more. This app is free to try, but you'll need to subscribe to Lensa AI's premium version to fully customize and save your portraits. [5]
    • The app works by taking 10-20 pictures of your own face and using them to train its AI system to generate new images. This could take up to 40 minutes.
  6. As this online app focuses on videos rather than photos, Deepfakes Web could take up to four to five hours to completely train the AI with your sources. After that, it takes another 30 minutes to switch the model into your desired face. If you want to save time, you can subscribe to the app's premium version; this will reduce your processing time to under one hour.
  7. Previously known as Doublicat, Reface can transform you into a cartoon, create realistic face swaps, and more. You'll just need to provide an image or video for the AI to learn, and then you can choose your desired output from their extensive gallery. You can face swap with GIFs, memes, and even popular movie scenes. This app is available in a web browser, iOS, or Android.
  8. AI Time Machine was popularized due to its ability to turn old photos into living memories. You'll just need to upload a photo to begin animating. If you want better results, you can always upload more photos to train the AI better. This can be used on your computer, iOS, or Android device, and it's free to try. [6]
  9. Deep Art Effects intelligently scans your photos and learns different art styles to apply to your image. You can turn a photo of yourself into a stylized portrait or a scenic photo into a realistic painting. This app is available to try for free, but you can subscribe to the premium version for more perks and styles.
    • Deep Art Effects is available on desktop, iOS, or Android.
  10. If you have a friend nearby, you can use Face Swap Live to instantly switch and edit your faces. Similar to filters on Snapchat and TikTok , you'll be able to move with the new faces intact. This app is free for Android users, but you'll need to pay a low cost on iOS devices.
  11. FaceApp is mostly used to edit your selfies for social media. You can use FaceApp's numerous filters to see yourself in a different light. There are filters to make yourself look older, have a buzzcut , give you a smile, and more. If you're curious how you'd look with these features, this app is for you. [7]
  12. Similar to Reface, you can upload a photo of your face to FaceMagic and select from the gallery to create your own personalized video. If you have a friend's approval, you can even upload both your faces to fit a video with two characters, such as Rose and Jack in Titanic . Once created, you can easily share to different platforms with the built-in tools. FaceMagic is available in Apple's App Store and the Google Play Store.
  13. Avatarify creates real-time movement with an image of your choice. The image syncs with your facial movements, so it appears as if you're controlling the image. You can even add a song to the saved video and sing along to share with your friends. This app is free, but you'll need to upgrade to the premium version to remove any watermarks.
  14. DeepFaceLab is only available on Windows and Linux computers. Its user interface is complex, so this isn't the best program for casual users who want easy access to face swaps. If you're curious about deepfake tech and want to research its abilities, this program is for you. You'll be able to create deepfake videos, but you'll need to study the user guide closely to use it properly.
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Section 3 of 7:

What are deepfakes?

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  1. Deepfakes are media files generated by AI to appear real, but are not. They usually involve a person and are generated to make it appear as if the person did or said something they did not. This can take the form of face swapping, which is transferring one person’s face onto the face of another person in another video, mimicking voices to make it sound like they said something they didn’t, or generating a video of a person doing something they never did. [8]
Section 4 of 7:

How do deepfakes work?

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  1. Deepfakes are made using AI models to generate artificial videos and images. Typically, deepfakes are made using an app. You need to feed the app source material, which is images or videos of the person you want to make a deepfake of. The AI model will analyze the source material to recognize patterns, facial landmarks, anchor points, and sometimes speech patterns. This is called the training process. Once the AI model has enough data, it can use that data to face swap onto another video or synthesize a fake video of the person in the source material. [9]
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Section 5 of 7:

Benefits of Deepfake Technology

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  1. There are several benefits of deepfake technology. Deepfake technology is often used for entertainment purposes. It’s been used in movies and commercials to create actors who have passed away. Likewise, some apps can be used to create realistic videos of loved ones who have passed on. Some people use deepfake technology to make enhanced videos of themselves to display on social media. Deepfake technology can often be used as a joke, depicting someone (i.e., a politician or celebrity) doing something so outlandish that it is obviously fake.
    • Many state laws and social media platforms require that AI video to be clearly labeled as such, especially if it depicts a politician or someone running for office.
Section 6 of 7:

Risks of Deepfake Technology

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  1. Obviously, there are a lot of risks and concerns about deepfake technology. Deepfakes are often exploitative in nature. One of the most common uses of deepfake technology is to make pornographic images and videos of people without their consent. Deepfakes can also be used in scams. Deepfake video and audio have been used to solicit money from concerned loved ones by mimicking the voice and depiction of family members and kids. Deepfakes can also be used to spread misinformation and incite civil unrest. There are many deepfake videos of political leaders. The proliferation of deepfake videos can also cause people to mistrust legitimate sources of information.
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Section 7 of 7:

Is it legal to make deepfakes?

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  1. There can be legal consequences for making deepfakes. The Take It Down Act, passed in May 2025, makes it a crime to knowingly publish real or fake sexually explicit images of another person without their consent in the US. Violations can involve fines and prison time of up to 2 years (3 years if it depicts minors). [10] Additionally, many US states and other countries have enacted their own laws against publishing deepfakes of another person without their consent and/or requiring disclosure when publishing a deepfake. [11]

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      Warnings

      • Creating deepfakes of others may land you in legal trouble. Do not use deepfake tech to replicate someone's likeness without their permission. This article is for educational purposes only.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://app.klingai.com/global/membership/membership-plan
      2. ↑ https://hailuoai.video/subscribe/modal
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3K2KZF8fEg
      4. ↑ https://www.heygen.com/pricing
      5. ↑ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lensa-ai-photo-video-editor/id1436732536
      6. ↑ https://www.techupdates.net/best-deepfake-apps-for-android-and-ios/
      7. ↑ https://www.techupdates.net/best-deepfake-apps-for-android-and-ios/
      8. ↑ https://www.gao.gov/blog/deconstructing-deepfakes-how-do-they-work-and-what-are-risks
      9. ↑ https://www.sei.cmu.edu/blog/how-easy-is-it-to-make-and-detect-a-deepfake/
      1. ↑ https://www.fisherphillips.com/en/news-insights/new-federal-ai-deepfake-law-takes-effect.html
      2. ↑ https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en-us/posts/government/deepfakes-federal-state-regulation/

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