How to Get Two Pictures Side by Side on Any Device: Free

Pick your path:

---

Quick Online Tool – CollagePhotoApp

The fastest way to get two pictures side by side without installing anything is an online tool. CollagePhotoApp offers a dedicated side-by-side maker that runs in any browser. It supports JPEG, PNG, and WebP uploads, and gives you four layout options, two width modes, and extensive customization — all for free with no account required.

The CollagePhotoApp interface lets you upload two photos and adjust layout, borders, and labels before downloading.

How to Upload and Choose a Layout

1. Go to the side-by-side photo tool on CollagePhotoApp.
2. Select Side by Side from the layout options (you can also choose Vertical, Diagonal, or Diagonal Square).
3. Upload your first photo, then your second photo. Accepted formats: JPEG, PNG, WebP.
4. Choose a width mode — Proportional or Equal Width (see below for the difference).
5. Adjust border, padding, corner radius, labels, and divider line to taste.
6. Download the combined image at your preferred size.

Tip The corner radius setting scales with your final image size. A value of 40 px at 800 px wide will remain proportionate if you output at 4000 px.

Understanding Proportional vs Equal Width

This tool gives you two width modes that handle different-sized photos differently — a detail many other tools skip entirely.

Proportional

Both photos are normalized to the same height while preserving their original aspect ratios. If one photo is portrait and the other landscape, each keeps its proportions. Ideal when composition matters — you won't lose any part of either image.

Equal Width

Each photo is cropped to fill identical cells, so they end up the same width and height. This creates a uniform grid look, but parts of each image may be trimmed to fit. Best for a clean, magazine-style layout where perfect symmetry is the goal.

Use Proportional for a before/after comparison where you need to see the full frame of each shot. Use Equal Width when you want a tidy, matched pair — for example, two headshots or product photos of the same dimensions.

Creative Layouts – Diagonal and Diagonal Square

Beyond the standard horizontal split, the tool offers two diagonal options that add visual interest.

Diagonal

The canvas is split along a diagonal line. You can choose Left Up or Left Down direction. A divider line can be added along the diagonal boundary for a crisp edge.

Diagonal Square

Each photo appears as a square in opposite corners of the canvas. The remaining two quadrants are filled with your chosen background color. This works well for product comparisons or social media posts that need a branded background.

Customizing Borders, Labels, and Divider Lines

• Border (padding) — adds space around each photo inside the combined output.
• Corner radius — rounds the outer corners of each photo. Scales proportionally with output size.
• Labels — toggle on/off, enter independent text for each photo, and choose from four position options (e.g., top-left, bottom-right).
• Divider line — adds a visible line between the two photos, adjustable in thickness and colour.

Download and Output

Once you're happy with the preview, click the download button. The tool saves your combined image at the resolution you chose. Because all adjustments (border, radius, labels) are embedded in the output, the result is ready to share, print, or upload directly — no further editing needed.

---

Native Google Photos Collage (iPhone and Android)

If you already use Google Photos, its built-in collage feature is one of the quickest ways to combine two images. No extra apps, no downloads.

1. Open the Google Photos app on your iPhone or Android device.
2. Tap and hold the first photo, then tap the second photo to select both.
3. Tap the + (plus) button at the bottom of the screen.
4. Choose Collage from the menu that appears.
5. Google Photos automatically arranges the two photos side by side. You can save the result — it is stored near your original images.

Note This method works on both iPhone and Android as long as you have the Google Photos app installed and signed in. No subscription is required for basic collage creation.

Select two photos in Google Photos, tap the + button, and choose Collage to generate a side-by-side layout instantly.

The collage output is a single image that combines both photos. Google Photos applies its own layout algorithm — you won't get the same level of control over borders, aspect ratios, or labels that a dedicated tool provides. But for a fast, no-fuss result, it's hard to beat.

---

iPhone Native – Shortcuts and Share Sheet

Apple's built-in Shortcuts app and the Photos Share Sheet both offer native ways to combine two images, no third-party software required. Which one works best depends on your iOS version and whether you want a one-off combine or a repeatable automation.

Using the Shortcuts “Combine Images” Action

1. Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the + button to create a new shortcut.
3. Add the Combine Images action (search for it in the action library).
4. Set the combine mode to Side by Side (or Horizontal).
5. Add a Select Photos action before it, so you can choose which images to combine each time you run the shortcut.
6. Run the shortcut, select your two photos, and the combined image is saved to your library.

Tip You can add a Save to Photo Album action at the end of the shortcut so the result is automatically stored. Once set up, this shortcut can be reused any time you need a quick side-by-side merge.

The Hidden Share Sheet “Combine” Option

Many iPhone users don't realize the Photos app's Share Sheet includes a Combine option — but it can be hidden. Here's how to find it:

1. Open the Photos app and select two photos.
2. Tap the Share button (square with arrow).
3. Scroll down through the row of action icons. If you see Combine, tap it.
4. If you don't see it, scroll to the end of the row and tap Edit Actions… (or More).
5. Find Combine in the list and toggle it on. It will now appear in your Share Sheet whenever two or more photos are selected.

Heads up The availability of the Combine action depends on your iOS version. Devices running iOS 13 or earlier may not have this option in the Share Sheet at all. On those devices, use the Shortcuts method instead.

A Reddit user described this exact frustration — they knew the feature existed but couldn't find it. The fix is almost always tapping Edit Actions… in the Share Sheet to enable the Combine option.

---

Android Native – Google Photos Collage and Image Combiner

Android users have two solid native-ish paths: the same Google Photos Collage covered above, and a lightweight dedicated app called Image Combiner.

Google Photos Collage (Android)

The steps are identical to the iPhone version described in the Google Photos section. Open the app, select two photos, tap the + button, choose Collage, and save. It's the fastest option if you already use Google Photos as your gallery.

Image Combiner App

If you prefer a native Android app with more control over the layout, Image Combiner (available on the Play Store) lets you select two photos and choose from several layout options including side-by-side. You can adjust spacing, add borders, and save the result directly to your gallery.

• Free to download with basic layout options.
• Supports side-by-side, stacked, and grid arrangements.
• Output resolution matches your original photos.

Note Some Android manufacturers (Samsung, OnePlus) include a built-in collage maker in their default gallery app. Check your Gallery app for a "Collage" or "Story" feature before downloading anything new.

---

Adobe Express Free Collage Maker

Adobe Express offers a free side-by-side collage maker that runs in the browser or as a mobile app. It's a strong choice if you want more than just a combined image — you can add text, stickers, filters, and use thousands of templates.

How to Use It

1. Go to the Adobe Express side-by-side collage maker.
2. Choose a Side-by-Side template from the library, or start with a blank canvas.
3. Upload your two photos and drag them into the layout cells.
4. Use the editing panel to add text, stickers, filters, or adjust the background.
5. Your work is auto-saved in the cloud. When you're finished, download the image in your preferred format.

Notable Features

• Thousands of free templates — not just side-by-side but also grids, story collages, and more.
• Quick Action tools for removing backgrounds, resizing, and converting formats.
• Auto-save means you can return to your collage later without losing your edits.
• The free plan includes dozens of Quick Action tools and thousands of templates, with a generous set of features before any paywall.

Adobe Express does require a free account (Adobe ID) to save and download your work. If you prefer not to sign up, the CollagePhotoApp tool above works without any account.

---

Troubleshooting Common Frustrations

Even with clear steps, users sometimes hit a wall. Here are the most frequent problems and how to fix them.

“Combine” Not Showing in Share Sheet (iPhone)

As noted in the iPhone section, this is the single most common issue — and the fix is simple. A Reddit user described exactly this situation: they selected two photos, tapped Share, but couldn't find the Combine option.

Fix: After selecting two photos and opening the Share Sheet, scroll to the bottom of the action icons row and tap Edit Actions…. Find Combine in the list and toggle it on. It will appear immediately. If you still don't see it, your iOS version may be older than iOS 14, which introduced the feature.

Different-Sized Photos Don't Align

When you combine a portrait photo and a landscape photo, they won't align into a neat rectangle without some adjustment.

Fix: Use the CollagePhotoApp tool's Proportional width mode. It normalises both photos to the same height while preserving each image's original aspect ratio. If you need them to match exactly in width and height, choose Equal Width mode — the tool will crop each photo to fill identical cells. Alternatively, manually crop both photos to the same aspect ratio in your phone's photo editor before combining.

Facebook User Never Got an Answer

A member of the SIX FINS Facebook group asked how to combine two photos side by side for a group picture and received no reply. This article fills that gap: any of the methods above — especially the online tool or Google Photos Collage — will produce a shareable image in under a minute. The original post remains unanswered, but the steps here work on any device.

---

Limitations and What's Not Covered

This guide covers the most accessible methods for putting two pictures side by side on mobile and via web tools. Here is where this information stops — and what you may need to look for elsewhere.

• Desktop methods — Windows Paint, Mac Preview, and full Photoshop workflows are not covered here. Those require separate instructions for canvas resizing and layer alignment.
• Batch combining — All methods in this article are designed for two photos. If you need to combine 3, 4, or more images into a grid, you will need a dedicated collage app or a tool like Canva.
• Print-ready setup — Settings for 4×6 prints, bleed margins, and specific DPI requirements are not addressed. Use a desktop app like Photoshop or Affinity Photo for print-specific layouts.
• iOS version differences — The Share Sheet "Combine" option and the Shortcuts "Combine Images" action are available on iOS 14 and later. Devices running older versions may lack these features. Test your method before relying on it for a time-sensitive task.
• Social media cropping — Instagram's square crop and other platform-specific aspect ratios can cut off your side-by-side composition. Add padding or a background canvas (available in CollagePhotoApp's border settings) to keep the full image visible.

Compatibility note As of October 2026, all methods described here work on current versions of iOS 20, Android 16, and major browsers. Always check that your app or tool is up to date, as platform changes can shift menu locations and feature availability.