15 Best Free Watermark Software and Apps in 2024

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Watermarker software is designed to place signatures or logos on top of images in order to assert copyright ownership. This protects an author’s content from plagiarism or theft because it makes it difficult to republish the image without permission. Some watermark apps require payment but there is also free watermark software for those who are happy to accept software restrictions or need to work with a small budget.

Quick summary

Best web-based watermarking app: Water Marquee

Best online watermarking app: PhotoMarks

Check these out before choosing the best free watermark software

  1. Movavi Photo Editor – best for making and editing creative collages on the go
  2. PhotoMarks – batch watermarking
  3. Arclab Watermark Studio – multiple watermarks on images
  4. Watermark Software – fast processing
  5. Format Factory – best for photo and Video watermarking
  6. uMark – uses barcodes and QR codes too
  7. Alamoon Watermark – best for adding text and graphics as watermarks
  8. Mass Watermark – intelligent watermark placement
  9. Water Marquee – online watermarking
  10. JACo Watermark – watermarking freeware
  11. Motionbox – pre-made templates
  12. Star Watermark – free, online watermarking
  13. iWatermark Pro – standalone and plug-in compatible
  14. 123 Watermark – best for logo and QR code watermarks
  15. TSR Watermark Image – wordpress and FTP watermark sharing
  16. Easy Watermark Studio – raw file watermarking support

At Movavi, our primary goal is to provide you with only verified information. Here’s what we do to ensure this:

  • When selecting products to include in our reviews, we research both demand and popularity.

  • All the products in this article have been tested by Movavi Content Team.

  • We compare the key characteristics of every product, including photo scaling and cropping, object and background removal, image restoration, and other significant features.

  • We study user reviews from popular review platforms and make use of this information when writing our product reviews.

  • We collect feedback from our users and analyze their opinions of Movavi software as well as products from other companies.

Best photo watermark freeware for desktop computers

Movavi Photo Editor can easily be used as a watermark free download software but it is also much more than that. With millions of users worldwide, it’s available as a free watermarking software for Windows 10 and up or for those using Mac machines. It features AI tools such as auto enhance to optimize colors and contrast in images. Remove objects, increase sharpness and retouch photos to professional quality, Movavi Photo Editor is a watermark editor that also features a wide range of editing tools such as: light and color correction, noise reduction, text insertion, basic editing tools, and it also supports RAW image editing as well as custom export settings.

Pros:

  • Powerful image-editing software

  • Trial version is free for all users

  • Compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems

Cons:

  • Pay to unlock full, unrestricted version

  • May be overkill for users that just want the watermarking ability

Arclab Watermark Studio

Arclab Watermark Studio

  • OS:

    Windows

  • Softpedia rating:

    2.5/5

If you’ve ever wondered how to put a watermark on a photo without Photoshop®, then Watermark Studio by Arclab may be the watermarking tool for you. Not only does it support multi-layers but other features such as resizing and converting file formats (such as JPEG, PNG, and TIFF) make it simple to export web-optimized pictures.

Pros:

  • Able to resize and convert files to some formats

  • Many great watermark designs

Cons:

  • The trial version adds its own watermark

  • Managing a batch of files might be hard

A key feature that comes from Watermark Software is its ability to add a QR code as a watermark. For users in commercial work, this is essential for directing customers to company websites. You can also watermark using the metadata from the image to include EXIF settings. Watermark Software is also available as a separate program called Video Watermark for adding watermarks for movies and each is available for free and for purchase.

Pros:

  • Can add a QR code as a watermark

  • Supports invisible marks (EXIF)

Cons:

  • Hard to additional guides if needed (because of the program name)

  • The full version is not free

Format Factory

Format Factory

As far as watermark programs go, Format Factory is relatively comprehensive for free watermark software for Windows 10. Able to process both still photos and videos, it appeals to users who need to work with both media. It’s a flexible free watermark app for a PC because it also handles audio accompanying video when outputting finished results.

Pros:

  • Has many useful functions apart from creating watermarks

  • Free

Cons:

  • Windows-only

  • Might install extraneous software

uMark

uMark

uMark is a watermarking program that handles bulk images processing easily. Easily stamp your name, barcodes or QR codes to pictures to make it easier for viewers to navigate back to the original author. It’s also available in eight languages, making it more accessible than other software for watermarking images.

Pros:

  • Can add barcodes or QRs

  • Supports batch processing

Cons:

  • In the free version, adds the uMark logo

  • Might be hard to work with several folders

Best free watermark apps for mobile devices

Great for iPhone and iPad users with compatibility across iOS devices

PhotoMarks
Bestseller

Watermark program for single or batches of image files and also a powerful image-editing software

Movavi Photo Editor

Perfect for seamless integration into existing workflow across iOS and Android devices

iWatermark
PhotoMarks

PhotoMarks

Blessed with a slick user interface that is both easy to use and relatively contemporary in its Mac variation, PhotoMarks is a free watermark app that allows users to customize text and logo watermarks on images with full editing ability. The text and/or logo can be resized, renamed, and automatically rotated to fit with image designs. Not only this, but PhotoMarks also allows for graphical frames to add to photos during the watermarking process for added creativity. Export settings can be saved as profiles for speedier edits and publishing processes and is compatible with multi-core processors. It’s compatible across mobile devices too, with the image watermarker app also available for iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.

Pros:

  • Cross-device compatibility

  • Utilizes faster multi-core processing

Cons:

  • Not available on Android devices

  • Full version requires one-off payment

iWatermark (iOS & Android)

iWatermark is a watermarking freeware best suited to photographers who already have an existing image editing workflow. That’s because as well as being compatible with all major image file formats, it also handles RAW image files – a format that professional photographers will be using almost exclusively for their photographs. It also handily links in with other photo editing software like Adobe® Lightroom® and Photoshop®, Picasa, Photos, and others because it can be installed as a plug-in for said software. Better yet, it’s compatible software for PC and Mac desktop devices and iOS and Android mobile devices, which means no matter what kind of laptop, desktop, tablet, or smartphone you have, it should be cross-compatible with any combination of setup you might have.

Pros:

  • Great cross-device compatibility

  • Visible and invisible forms of watermarking files

Cons:

  • Software name changes between OS

  • Full version is paid-for only

Add Watermark on Photos

There are three styles to choose from for applying watermarks over images: to manually change settings of text or icons, applying them in a cross-shape (with an X across the image) and tiled to repeat the text or icon across the entire frame of the photo.

Add Watermark on Photos gives users full manual control over each aspect of the watermark including the ability to change: the rotation, horizontal or vertical flip orientation, crop, and contrast settings of the watermark. Plus an entire section dedicated to adding ready-designed frequent watermarking logos such as copyright, registered trademark, camera, and shopping icons.

Pros:

  • Compatible with contemporary Android devices

  • Pre-made text and logo watermarks look stylish

Cons:

  • Free version only works on 5 images

  • Some reviewers prefer older interface

Photo Watermark

Photo Watermark is a watermark photo freeware app available for Android devices. It’s aimed at beginner users who need to add watermarks quickly and with minimal effort, hence its simple user interface when first booted up. Photo Watermark uses a layer editing style so users can add as many text or logo watermarks as desired to photos for a fully bespoke look. It’s easy to change the size, opacity, rotation, and orientation of the watermarks and users can either make their own or use one of the many preset text-based or graphic watermarks. It also has a timestamp option for businesses that need to prove dates and times an image was taken.

Pros:

  • Lots of preset text and graphics-based watermarks

  • Timestamp function useful for small businesses or litigation

Cons:

  • Not available for desktop

  • No iOS version available

Watermark Photo: Add Copyright

Watermark Photo: Add Copyright is a bit of a mouthful for an app that essentially adds watermarks to photos but it doesn’t do itself justice in namesake. In fact, users can add watermarks to videos as well as images. For power users, the option to add watermarks to multiple photos in just a few clicks is useful and of course watermarks are fully customizable and can be applied in sticker, text, graphic, and signature formats. A feature that many content creators and small business owners will like is the ability to save and share watermarks between users, though recent reviews have reported function and compatibility issues, despite upgrading to the paid-for version.

Pros:

  • iPad and iPhone compatibility

  • Works with iPod and Mac as well

Cons:

  • Designed for iPad, not iPhone

  • Some users reporting function issues with paid-for version

Best online watermark maker free software

Process watermarks across images, GIFs, video, PDFs, and more

Watermark.ws

Editor’s rating:

4
/5
Bestseller

Watermark program for single or batches of image files and also a powerful image-editing software

Movavi Photo Editor

Works across multiple storage platforms such as Dropbox and Google Drive without issue

Watermarkly.com

Editor’s rating:

4.5
/5

Water Marquee

  • OS:

    all (online)

Users looking for watermarking software for free can turn to Water Marquee. This free watermark software is online so can be accessed via any kind of device so long as it’s connected to the internet, meaning you can even add a watermark on your smartphone when travelling. There is a full version that provides unlimited photo processing, to any size, and it even includes premium fonts and templates, but once you buy it, it’s yours to keep.

Pros:

  • Access from any browser

  • Free version to try before you buy

Cons:

  • Remove restrictions requires purchase

  • Not dedicated software

Motionbox

  • OS:

    all (online)

A little more slick in design than many others in this round-up, Motionbox can be used as a free photo-editing software to add a watermark but can also apply automatic subtitle captions to video content. There are plenty of templates and themes to work with for users that want to match their brand or content style.

Pros:

  • Modern, easy to use interface

  • Extra features such as automatic subtitles

Cons:

  • Not dedicated watermark software

  • Free trial but purchase required for full use

Watermark.ws

  • OS:

    all (online)

Compatible with any operating system that can access the internet (that’s pretty much all of them), Watermark.ws is a free watermark app that operates by applying watermarks to image files and video footage like a few other watermarking software do in our round-up, but it goes a step further, too. Add watermarks to GIFs (helpful for content creators who are making content from scratch), RAW image files (great for professional photographers), and even PDFs for office based work or those creating instructional literature.

Pros:

  • Can apply watermark to wide range of media

  • Entirely online

  • Watermark maker is free

Cons:

  • Free version is great for trialing software

  • Subscription-based payment for full version only

Watermarkly.com

Applying watermarks to images via Watermarkly.com is as simple as uploading image files to get started, but there’s also a desktop version for those that have slow internet connection speeds or variable connection issues. While this software is limited to watermarking image files only, it does benefit from integrated compatibility with multiple storage platforms such as Dropbox or Google Drive, which helps to consolidate content from a wider selection of teams and staff. Two purchasing levels accompany its free version, which automatically puts a ‘Watermarkly.com’ watermark across your files, as well as applying your own watermark. Simply purchase for one year or get lifetime access with the higher rate. 

Pros:

  • Compatibility with Dropbox and Google Drive

  • Able to watermark tens of thousand of images quickly

Cons:

  • Free version applies proprietary watermark

  • Lifetime purchase option only available as long as company runs for

Makewatermark.com

  • OS:

    all (online)

Makewatermark.com is a photo watermark software for free that allows users to apply watermarks to batch image files or single photos as required and is a useful app for Windows, Mac, or other operating systems. But the company is keen to point out that privacy is a big part of the software’s ethos. By using their online processing, Makewatermark.com says, the files never reach servers on the company end. In fact, no one in the company can view your files because all the processing happens directly at the browser level. This is encouraging for all users who have sensitive information which may be private, or protected by Intellectual Property copyright and are concerned with files being recovered by unwanted third parties or leaked.

Pros:

  • Good privacy options for image files

  • Simple drag-and-drop features

Cons:

  • Free version limited with unwanted watermarking

  • Paid-for versions aren’t the cheapest around

How we chose the winning photo watermark software

We had some strict guidelines to follow for all the watermarking software looked at in this article. The software had to be easy to use, powerful enough to process batch files quickly, and be stable and free from bugs. Below is a short run-down on how we chose the winner:

  • Up-to-date release versions
  • Compatible on wide variety of systems including Windows and macOS
  • Simple but effective graphical user interface
  • Consistently provided a good result
  • Stable operation, not showing glitches or problems when processing larger files
  • Single and batch processing-capable

Tips on choosing watermarking freeware

  • If you need completely free watermarking software, be sure to check the time or usage restrictions of the software.
  • Not all software will process images in the same way, and some will be quicker than others.
  • Check whether you want to pay for the full version of software and choose your software based on subscription or one-off payment models.
  • Look for compatibility between your devices, operating systems, and storage platforms such as Dropbox.
  • If privacy is a concern, check the terms of service before processing images.
  • Consider whether you’ll need to watermark more than just image files, some software offer video, GIF, and PDF watermarking.

Program

OS

Best for

Download

Windows

Multiple watermarks on images

Show more

Summary

If you need a free watermarking software, it’s possible to get multiple images processed relatively quickly, whether using desktop apps, mobile apps, or processing them entirely online in your internet browser. But these often come with restrictions and will only process watermarks, so a software like Movavi Photo Editor will give you access to a full image-editing suite for a professional look.

Jason Parnell-Brookes

An award-winning photographer with more than 10 years of experience. A qualified teacher and Master’s graduate, he also writes for TechRadar, Creative Bloq, and Digital Camera World. He won Gold in the Nikon Photo Contest 2018/19 and was named Digital Photographer of the Year in 2014.

Get to know all the authors

Frequently asked questions

Why do you need watermark software?

To protect your photographs from plagiarism and outright cyber thieves. It’s imperative to do this when publishing photos on the internet because it’s so simple to republish images. Including copyright metadata in your image files is fine, but this can be stripped out using computer software and shouldn’t be relied upon for fully protecting your intellectual property. Generally though, if you watermark a photo with freeware it’s likely to have fewer features and process images a little slower. Either way, in this guide we’ve rounded up the best watermarking software for you to choose from.

How can I add a watermark to my photos?

  • In any watermarking software listed above, the first step is to load your desired photo/s into the software of choice.
  • Next, select the watermark function and either type your desired text or upload a logo/graphic.
  • Now alter the watermark, changing its size, color, transparency, and position on the photo. You may want to tile the design so the watermark appears across the entire photograph.
  • Once you’re happy with the placement, apply the watermark to all of the uploaded photos (if working on a batch process).
  • Export the images, paying attention to convert or resize the exported photos to your desired output (i.e. web-optimized sizes and formats for online use).

How can I add a watermark to my video?

The process for adding watermarks to video is similar to the photo option above. For an in-depth look at how to do this, and to watch a video which demonstrates how to do this in Movavi Video Suite take a look here:

Is it illegal to remove watermarks?

A watermark isn’t necessarily a proof of ownership, because anyone could download your images or videos and place their own watermark on it. However, if the watermark is placed on there by the copyright holder of the intellectual property and someone else were to purposefully remove some or all of it by way of cropping or cloning the image, this infringes the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and is seen as unlawful and the offender could receive a fine if found out. Copyright is something that changes between territories and countries, so if you’re in doubt search for your local copyright law online to make sure. The World Intellectual Property Organization's website is a good place to start.

Visit the WIPO’s website

How do you put a watermark on a photo without Photoshop®?

Standalone watermarking software is widely available, choose from any of the watermark programs from this list and you’ll be able to use it without owning Photoshop® – some even work within Photoshop® as a plug-in though, should you wish to do that.

How can I create my own watermark?

It’s as simple as entering the text into your watermarking software and letting the program do the rest. However, you could also make a logo or other graphic in an image-editing software and then upload it to the watermarking application for more unique stamps.

What is the best free watermark software for Windows 10/8/7?

The best free watermark software are applications that run reliably, are simple to use, and give accurate results – even across batch processed images. We’d recommend: Movavi Photo Editor, PhotoMarks, Arclab Watermark Studio, and iWatermark Pro for their good user interfaces and compatibility with multiple file types.

What is the best free watermark software online?

Accessing watermark software online is useful for those working across devices and on different platforms. The best watermark software you can use for free is: Water Marquee and Star Watermark.

What is the best free watermark software for photos?

  • Movavi Photo Editor – best for watermarking and editing photos
  • PhotoMarks – best for use across desktop and iPhone/iPad devices
  • iWatermark – best for integrating into a pre-existing editing workflow
  • Watermark Photo – best for iPhone and iPad users that require watermarks on stills images and videos
  • Watermark.ws – best for fast online watermarking
  • Watermarkly.com – best for working across file storage platforms
  • Makewatermark.com – best for privacy-concerned users

What is the best app to make a watermark?

Try these apps:

  • PhotoMarks
  • iWatermark
  • Add Watermark on Photos
  • Photo Watermark
  • Watermark Photo: Add Copyright

Which software is used for digital watermarks?

There are many specialist open-source and digital watermarking software that are available both as desktop or mobile apps and online. But Movavi Photo Editor offers full image-editing tools as well.

What is the best way to watermark your photos?

Use Movavi Photo Editor:

  1. Download and open Movavi Photo Editor.
    Download Movavi Photo Editor for Windows
    Download Movavi Photo Editor for macOS
  2. Load your image file.
  3. Click on Caption or Picture in Picture tabs.
  4. Apply text or a graphic.
  5. Click Save to export your picture.

What is watermark software?

Watermark software is designed to place text or graphic imagery over photographs, video footage, GIFs, or PDFs in order to make it harder to steal. All original content automatically has copyright which is owned by the creator in the first instance and a watermark helps enforce this when content is publishing in print or online.

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