To turn a photo into a WhatsApp sticker on an iPhone, open StickerBridge, go to the Create tab, tap Photo → Sticker, and choose a picture — the subject is cut out of its background automatically and the result can be sent straight to WhatsApp. The cut-out runs on your device using iOS's own subject-detection, so the photo is never uploaded.
That tool is free. Captions, custom packs and video clips are the Pro ones — which is which is set out below, along with the WhatsApp rule that shapes all of it.
Steps: a photo into a sticker
- Open the Create tab in StickerBridge.
- Tap Photo → Sticker.
- Choose a photo. You will be asked for photo access the first time; the app needs it to read the picture you pick.
- Let the cut-out run. The subject is separated from the background automatically — no tracing, no manual masking. This happens on the phone.
- Send it to WhatsApp, or add it to your sticker keyboard so you can use it in other apps.
A photo with a clear subject against a distinguishable background gives the best result, which is the same thing that makes iOS's own subject lift work well elsewhere.
The WhatsApp rule that shapes this: three stickers minimum
A WhatsApp sticker pack must contain at least 3 stickers. One image is not a pack, as far as WhatsApp is concerned.
The single-image tools each produce exactly one sticker, so that lone sticker is duplicated to clear the minimum when it is sent as its own pack. It is worth knowing so that seeing the same sticker three times in a new pack does not look like a bug. If you would rather build something real, the Build a custom pack tool lets you assemble several stickers — mixing photos and stickers pulled from Telegram packs — into one proper pack. There is more on WhatsApp's constraints in WhatsApp sticker size and format requirements.
The four creation tools, and what each costs
| Tool | What it does | Free or Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Photo → Sticker | Cuts the background out of a photo automatically | Free |
| Text & captions | Adds meme-style text to a photo, positioned top, middle or bottom | Pro |
| Build a custom pack | Mixes stickers from packs and your own photos into one pack | Pro |
| Video → animated sticker | Turns a short clip into an animated sticker | Pro |
Pro is a one-time payment, not a subscription. Besides these tools it removes ads, unlocks the sticker keyboard, and lifts the caps on importing Telegram packs described in the import guide.
Video → animated sticker, specifically
Clips are limited to 3 seconds, and the source clip has a file size ceiling — iOS's own trim sheet appears when you pick a video, so you choose which 3 seconds to use. A sticker is a small looping thing; 3 seconds is the shape of the format rather than an arbitrary restriction.
Where the processing happens
The Create tools run on the device. The background cut-out in particular uses a system framework built into iOS rather than a server, so the photo does not leave the phone. Anything you make stays on your device unless you choose to publish it. StickerBridge has no accounts, no sign-up, and no analytics of its own — the privacy policy has the detail.
Requirements and limits, honestly
- iPhone only. There is no Android version.
- Automatic background removal needs a recent iOS. It relies on a system capability added in iOS 17, so on an older iPhone the tool is not offered at all rather than shown and failing.
- WhatsApp must be installed before you send a sticker to it — the hand-off is app-to-app, with nothing queued for later.
- Photo access is needed to pick an image. If you decline it, you can grant it later in iOS Settings.
- Three-sticker minimum applies to every pack, as above.
StickerBridge
Make stickers from your own photos on-device, and bring Telegram packs across to WhatsApp. No account, no sign-up, no analytics of our own. iPhone only.
Frequently asked questions
Is making a sticker from a photo free?
Yes. The Photo → Sticker tool, including the automatic background removal, is free. Text captions, custom packs and video stickers are Pro features, and Pro is a one-time payment rather than a subscription.
Does the photo get uploaded anywhere?
No. The background cut-out uses a capability built into iOS and runs on the device. What you make stays on your phone unless you choose to publish it.
Why does my new pack contain the same sticker three times?
WhatsApp requires at least 3 stickers in a pack, and the single-image tools produce exactly one. The sticker is duplicated to clear that minimum. To build a pack with different stickers in it, use the Build a custom pack tool.
How long can a video sticker be?
Up to 3 seconds. iOS's own trim controls appear when you pick a clip, so you choose which part to use. The source clip also has a file size ceiling.
Why isn't the Photo → Sticker tool showing up?
Automatic background removal depends on a system capability introduced in iOS 17. On an older iPhone the tool is hidden rather than offered and then failing.