How to Add Text to a Photo (Captions, Titles, Quotes)
Write on a picture: type your text, drag it into place, choose a font, colour, outline or caption bar, and download. Works on phones too. Free, no upload.
3 min read ·
To write on a photo, open Add Text to Image, add the picture, type your text, and drag it where you want it on the preview. Choose a font, size and colour, add an outline, shadow or caption bar so it stays readable, then click Save image and download. You can add several pieces of text, each with its own style.
Add text to a photo step by step
- Open Add Text to Image and add a JPG, PNG or WebP photo.
- Type in the Text box. Press Enter for a new line; long lines wrap automatically.
- Drag the text on the preview to position it — or tap the photo to move the selected text to that spot.
- Choose a Font: Sans, Serif, Meme, Handwritten or Typewriter.
- Set the Size with the slider and pick a Colour (or a custom one).
- Tick Outline, Shadow or Caption bar to make the text stand out.
- Need another line elsewhere — a date, a credit, a price? Click Add text and style it separately.
- Click Save image, then Download.
Making text readable on any photo
Text that looks fine on one part of a photo disappears on another. Four tricks, from subtle to strong:
- Place text over a calm area — sky, a wall, a plain table — rather than a busy pattern.
- Shadow: a soft dark shadow behind white text lifts it off the photo without looking heavy. It's on by default.
- Outline: a black outline around white text (or white around black) reads on anything — the classic meme look.
- Caption bar: a translucent band behind the text, like a TV caption. Best for longer sentences.
Contrast matters more than colour choice: white or yellow on dark areas, black on light ones.
Fonts for different jobs
| Font | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Sans | Social posts, labels, modern designs, small text |
| Serif | Quotes, invitations, elegant titles |
| Meme | Bold, punchy captions and memes |
| Handwritten | Personal notes, greetings, casual posts |
| Typewriter | Vintage looks, labels, "notes" |
Ideas
- Quotes on a photo for Instagram — centred, serif, with a caption bar.
- Product photos with a price or "New" label in a corner.
- Event announcements — date and place over an image of the venue.
- Before/after or step labels on comparison photos.
- Thumbnails with three or four big words.
- Holiday photos with the place and date.
Size the image for where it's going
Text size is relative to the picture, so it stays proportional when you resize. For social media, make the right size first with the Social Media Image Resizer, then add the text — that way nothing important ends up cropped.
Memes and watermarks
- For the classic meme style — white capitals with a black outline at the top and bottom — the Meme Generator does it in two fields.
- For a © notice or your name on many photos at once, use Add Watermark to Image, which works in batches.
Frequently asked questions
Is my photo uploaded?
No. The text is drawn onto the photo in your browser.
Can I edit the text after saving?
The saved image is flat — the text becomes part of the picture. Keep the page open to make changes and save again, or start again from the original photo.
Which languages work?
Any language your device can display, including emoji, since the text is drawn by your browser.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. Drag the text with your finger; turn the phone sideways for a bigger preview.