Ever imagined yourself as Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic or Beyoncé on stage? A few years ago, transforming such ideas into reality required expert artists armed with high-end tools. But thanks to the AI face swap tools, anyone can swap faces in images or videos. Magic Hour Face Swap is one such tool that helps you create image or video face swaps, but it isn't the only AI face swap tool on the market.
I've probably tried a lot of AI face swap apps, only to end up with results that look more like a glitchy character than a seamless deepfake. Magic Hour claims to create studio-quality face swaps with its advanced face swap technology. But does it live up to expectations and deliver the quality of face swaps you're looking for? Let's check out how well Magic Hour stacks up in my honest, hands-on review.
What is Magic Hour Face Swap?
Magic Hour Face Swap is just one feature within the Magic Hour platform. It lets you change faces in images or videos, making you look like a movie character. This feature is great for creating fun memes or GIFs that can be shared on any social media platform.
Magic Hour can be used by both beginners and professionals. I tried the Magic Hour Face Swap by putting my face on a meme, and the results were quite decent. While the online AI face swap tool allows you to swap a few faces for free, the results have a watermark until you choose a paid plan.
Key Features of Magic Hour Face Swap
If you enjoy making your friends laugh with memes or want to create viral content, Magic Hour Face Swap might help you out. But before you pay for the paid plan or spend time trying the tool, check out the key features of Magic Hour Face Swap:
Photo Face Swap
Magic Hour's photo face swap feature lets you replace your face with someone else's. There are multiple templates available, so you don't even have to upload your own image to try. I've tried the photo face swap feature to see how well the tool performs, and the outcome was not too shabby.
Even though not every face swap was flawless, the overall results were pretty convincing. If you want to try the photo face swap of Magic Hour, here's a tip from me: the closer the replacement face looks to the original, the better the swap will be. I learned this the hard way after attempting a few face swaps, and most of them didn't quite work out.
Video Face Swap
Magic Hour's video face swap feature works pretty much the same way. You just need to upload the video and the target face for swapping. While testing Magic Hour’s video face swap, the quality really boils down to the original image and the face in the video.
I've tried the video face swap, and the results are usually hit or miss. Sometimes, the results can be surprisingly good (or seamless), but other times, you may end up with a funny face swap. What Magic Hour video face swap did to my face just got me laughing in the video:
AI Headshot Generator
Other than images and videos, Magic Hour also allows you to create headshots for personal or professional purposes. When I tried Magic Hour's AI Headshot Generator, some of the features wowed me the most. First off, it's really quick, and in the blink of an eye, you can get a customized image.
I feel it's not 100% perfect, mainly because you cannot control how the final look of the headshot image turns out. I would have liked a bit more customization there. But you can see the facial lines looking quite natural, which is definitely a good point. Not to mention, as long as you are using the free plan like me, you'll have watermarks in all the images.
How to Do Face Swapping With Magic Hour?
Magic Hour offers a free plan that lets you swap 10 images and 3 videos every day without paying anything. If you want to try Magic Hour's photo or video face swap, here are the simple steps you'll need to follow:
Step 1: Go to the Magic Hour Face Swap page and click on either 'Video Face Swap' or 'Photo Face Swap.'
Step 2: Upload the face you want to use by selecting 'Upload Image' or using one of the preset images.
Step 3: Click on 'Upload Image' to choose the image or video you want to swap faces into.
Step 4: Finally, click on the 'Swap Faces' to change faces with the help of Magic Hour.
Step 5: Click the 'Download' icon to save the swapped image in JPG or video in MP4 format.
Use Cases of Magic Hour Face Swap
Magic Hour Face Swap isn't just for laughs. Instead, it's a creative tool that lets you explore various scenarios. You can use the face swap feature to create unique content, such as fantasy scenes or stylized animations. You can also use the Magic Hour Face Swap to create memes and funny images, which can be shared on social media to boost engagement.
Pricing & Plans of Magic Hour Face Swap
Magic Hour offers one free and three paid plans that are designed for different target audiences. For example, the free plan is suitable for those who want to simply test the Magic Hour features. On the other hand, if you are a professional, you'll need a paid plan to unlock the features. Let's break down what each Magic Hour plan includes:
| Parameters | Basic | Creator | Pro | Business |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $0 | $12/month | $59/month | $299.4/month |
| Frames | 400 frames | 10,000 frames | 50,000 frames | 250,000 frames |
| Key Face Swap Features | Around 33 seconds of video Access to animation, face swap, and lip sync 100 MB uploads API Access Watermark | Around 13 minutes of video Access to animation, face swap, lip sync, video-to-video, text-to-video, image-to-video 1 GB uploads API Access No watermark | Around 69 minutes of video Access to animation, face swap, lip sync, video-to-video, text-to-video, image-to-video 2 GB uploads API Access No watermark Priority support | Around 5 hours of video Access to animation, face swap, lip sync, video-to-video, text-to-video, image-to-video 3 GB uploads API Access No watermark Priority support CEO's phone number |
| Targeted Audience | Someone who just wants to try the face swap tool. | Creators with basic face-swapping needs. | Professionals and small teams who need priority support. | Large enterprises with high-volume face-swapping needs. |
Best Alternatives to Magic Hour Face Swap
When you try the Magic Hour Face Swap feature, you'll notice that face swaps need improvements compared to the price being paid. That being said, finding a face swap tool that provides realistic transformations without making your face look fake is tough.
That's why I've spent time testing the popular AI face swap apps online, and here are the three best Magic Hour Face Swap alternatives. They'll not only meet your expectations but also turn creative ideas into lifelike masterpieces. Check out which Magic Hour alternatives make the cut:
1. VidMage
Best for anyone looking to create realistic face swaps online or offline
VidMage is a free AI face swap online tool that can swap faces in any image or video. It's completely online and doesn't even ask you to log in before face-swapping. You can swap a single face in a photo or video, or even upload a multi-face image with up to 4 faces to create realistic results. It's simple, fun, and engaging!
If you want to swap unlimited faces offline, you can download the free, unlimited video face swap app — VidMage Mac Client. Just download the Mac Client app and upload images to get seamless results every single time. If you are someone (like me) who thinks twice before uploading their images to the servers, you'll appreciate the Mac Version of VidMage.
VidMage's Mac Client app works 100% locally on your device and offers complete privacy. What's more interesting about VidMage is that the AI face swap app matches angles, skin tones, and lighting, so the output feels authentic. The original resolution is preserved in VidMage, so no quality is lost from the source media.
Verdict: VidMage is a go-to face swap tool for anyone looking to replace a face, swap faces in bulk, blend two faces, or create funny GIFs.
2. DeepSwap
Best for social media creators
DeepSwap is a Magic Hour alternative that lets you edit faces in photos and videos for fun or creativity. You can turn yourself into a movie star or make your photo look like it was taken from a dream destination. The best part is that the user interface is friendly, and you don't have to be a tech expert to use DeepSwap.
If you are like me and want to try AI face swaps just for fun, I would definitely say DeepSwap is worth a try. You just need to upload a photo or video, choose the faces you would like to swap, and let DeepSwap do the rest. Compared to Magic Hour, DeepSwap is a bit more affordable, with the monthly payment starting at $9.99 instead of $12.
Even though DeepSwap is a decent tool, it doesn't always produce realistic or consistent results like VidMage. In fact, a Reddit user also noted issues with refunds, which can be a major concern for someone planning to try the free trial of the tool.
Verdict: You can use DeepSwap if you are a content creator, meme-maker, or just someone looking to try the AI face swap technology.
3. BasedLabs
Best for personal face-swapping use
BasedLabs is an AI face swap app like Magic Hour that can help you make memes or create funny viral content. The advanced AI-powered technology ensures the face swaps look genuine and blend things like expressions and lighting well. I would recommend BasedLabs to those who want a free face-swapping app with basic features.
When I tried BasedLabs, I found that the AI face swap feature doesn't offer the same level of control and customization as other platforms. In fact, a BasedLabs user shared their honest experience on Reddit. According to the user, BasedLabs was fun to play around with, but the results can be a hit or miss.
Verdict: If you want to create memes or funny viral content with face swaps without paying, you can consider trying BasedLabs.
VidMage Face Swap vs. Magic Hour Face Swap
Below is a quick comparison between the features of VidMage and Magic Hour Face Swap:
| Features | Magic Hour Face Swap | VidMage |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Face Swap | ✅ | ✅ |
| Image Face Swap | ✅ | ✅ |
| Video Face Swap | ✅ | ✅ |
| Real-Time Face Swap | ❌ | ✅ |
| Facial Feature Swap | ❌ | ✅ |
| GIFs Face Swap | ❌ | ✅ |
| Batch Face Swap | ❌ | ✅ |
| Free Trial | ✅ | ✅ |
| Speed/Performance | Moderate | Fast |
| Platform Support | Web Only | Web and Mac |
| Offline Support | ❌ | ✅(Mac App) |
Magic Hour Face Swap is a solid AI face-swapping tool for creating quick, professional-looking swaps. However, it doesn't work without an Internet connection, and the output lacks realism. That's where high-quality AI face swaps like VidMage come into the picture. VidMage also offers a dedicated Mac app that works offline and offers unlimited daily swaps. Unlike Magic Hour, VidMage offers multiple AI tools, like Real-Time Face Swap, Facial Feature Swap, GIF Face Swap, and Batch Face Swap.
FAQs
Is Magic Hour Face Swap really free?
Yes, Magic Hour offers a free plan with 400 frames. But if you want to create additional face swaps beyond 400 frames, you'll need to subscribe to the Creator, Pro, or Business plan.
How do I get the best results with Magic Hour Face Swap?
In order to get realistic face swaps with Magic Hour, you need to focus on choosing clear, frontal images with proper lighting and angles. You also need to ensure the chosen image has a similar head tilt and rotation to the original.
Can I use Magic Hour Face Swap on mobile?
While Magic Hour doesn't offer a dedicated mobile app for face swapping, it is primarily web-based. This means you can access Magic Hour through a web browser without having to download a separate app.
Conclusion
Magic Hour Face Swap offers a user-friendly and swift face-swapping experience. It's a playful AI face-swap tool for those who want to add a twist to their images and videos or just want to share a giggle with friends. Overall, if you aim to add some creativity to your photos or videos, Magic Hour does a good job.
But it's not without quirks, and you'll need to upgrade to a paid plan to unlock all the features. That's why many people often look for Magic Hour alternatives like VidMage. It's an online AI face swap tool that instantly transforms your photos and videos with high precision. It's affordable and delivers realistic results in seconds!