Merge

Merge is an iPhone app that creates an AI motion video from a still photo and a reference motion video, with an optional style prompt. The site says generation takes under a minute. Creation options include dance videos, animated portraits, moving selfies and cinematic motion, with output up to 1080p. Finished videos can be saved to a device or shared to a community feed, where people can browse and like them. The free Starter plan includes 300 credits per month, Full HD videos and community feed access. Creator provides 1,000 monthly credits and a priority generation queue; Studio provides 3,000 monthly credits and a top-priority queue. One-time credit packs have no listed price, start at 1,200 credits and do not expire. Merge uses Apple Sign-In, and Apple handles billing. Selected photos are uploaded temporarily for processing and automatically deleted within about 48 hours. Merge says photos and reference videos are not used to train AI models. The app lists English, Spanish, German, Dutch, Turkish and Russian.

Merge focuses on turning still images into short AI motion videos, with device saving and community sharing.

Merge may suit iPhone users who want to animate still photos using a motion reference and share or save the results. Its free Starter plan offers a way to use the app without a recurring paid plan.

Merge is an iPhone app for turning a still photo and a reference video into a short AI-generated motion clip. It suits people who want a quick, focused way to animate portraits or selfies, rather than a broader video-production toolkit. The 300 monthly free credits make it easy to try, but its iPhone-only reach and 1080p ceiling narrow its appeal.

Overview

Merge pairs a still image with a reference motion video and can apply an optional style prompt. It supports creations such as dance clips, animated portraits, moving selfies, and cinematic motion. The site says generation takes under a minute, which suits quick experiments, though the app is built around this single image-to-video workflow.

Videos can be saved to the device or posted to a community feed where others can browse and like them. Exports top out at 1080p, or Full HD: a sensible limit for everyday sharing, but not for users who need higher-resolution output.

Key features

Reference-driven animation

Using a motion video as a guide gives the image animation a defined source of movement, while the optional prompt adds a way to steer its style. This is a focused approach for bringing a selected photo to life; it is not a substitute for a general-purpose video editor.

Saving and community sharing

Keeping a clip on the phone is straightforward, and the feed offers a place to publish work and browse or like other videos. Users who want private, device-only output can simply save their videos, while the social element is useful for those interested in sharing within the app.

Photo handling and account terms

Selected photos are uploaded to temporary storage for generation and automatically deleted within about 48 hours. Photos and reference videos are sent to Wan AI through fal.ai for processing and are not used to train AI models. The privacy policy also names HTTPS/TLS, Supabase Row Level Security, Google Secret Manager, JWT authentication, and Google Cloud Armor among its security measures.

Merge uses Apple Sign-In exclusively, and Apple handles billing. The terms require users to be at least 13; users under 18 need parental or guardian consent. Merge aims to respond to support requests within two business days.

Pricing

Merge is freemium, with a free Starter plan and no free trial. Starter costs nothing and includes 300 credits per month, Full HD AI motion videos, and community feed access. That monthly allowance makes the app accessible for occasional use, but it is a recurring credit cap rather than unlimited generation.

One-time credit packs have custom pricing and start from 1,200 credits; those credits never expire and carry no recurring charge. That suits users who prefer an occasional top-up over a subscription. Creator has custom pricing and provides 1,000 credits per month, everything in Starter, and a priority generation queue. Studio also has custom pricing, with 3,000 credits per month, everything in Creator, and a top-priority queue. Prices for both subscription tiers may vary by region.

Subscription credits reset each billing cycle, and unused credits expire at the end of that cycle. One-time pack credits do not expire. Creator and Studio are better suited to regular users who need larger monthly allowances or faster queue priority; Starter is the lower-commitment choice, but offers neither paid tier’s priority queue.

Platforms

Merge is an iOS app for iPhone only. Its listed languages are English, Spanish, German, Dutch, Turkish, and Russian. It is not a fit for Android users or people who need a desktop version.

Who it's for

Merge is best for iPhone owners who want to animate a photo with a reference clip, save the result, or share it in an in-app feed. It is less suitable for creators seeking higher than 1080p output, a cross-platform workflow, or a broader editing suite.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Starter includes 300 monthly credits at no charge, giving occasional users room to try the core workflow.
• Pros: One-time packs do not expire, which avoids losing unused pack credits at a billing-cycle boundary.
• Pros: Users can save videos locally or share them to a feed with browsing and likes.
• Cons: The iPhone-only platform excludes Android and desktop users.
• Cons: 1080p is the maximum output resolution, limiting its use for higher-resolution delivery.
• Cons: Unused monthly subscription credits expire when the billing cycle ends.

Alternatives

For a broader set of AI photo animation tools, compare other apps in the category. Choose HeyGen instead if you need Android, web, or API access and can work within its free plan of up to three videos per month, each no longer than one minute.

Pika is another option for iOS, web, or API access, but its free plan provides zero monthly credits and relies on packs. PicAlive is an iOS alternative whose first animation is free during onboarding; free videos have usage limits, a watermark, and occasional ads.

Photo Restore – Fix Old Photos is an iOS option for restoring old photos rather than making motion clips. TryMotion is another paid iOS alternative.

Luma AI is worth considering for a paid, non-subscription purchase: it has no free plan, and its listed single video costs $2.99, paid once, while a 4,500-credit pack costs $9.99, paid once, with no renewal. Kaiber is a paid alternative across Android, iOS, and web; its 5-day trial costs $5, paid once. Picto.Video is a paid iOS and web choice whose first website video costs $1, paid once and produces a 5-second MP4 usable only with the web version.

Verdict

Choose Merge if you use an iPhone and want a direct way to turn a still photo into a motion clip, with free monthly credits and the option to save or share results. Its focused workflow is the main reason to pick it; look elsewhere if you need Android or desktop access, higher-than-1080p exports, or a more flexible video-editing tool.