Canva AI Headshot Generator Review – Free Tool for LinkedIn Headshots

Let’s be real - sometimes it’s not about how good you are at what you do, but how you show up. Clients, employers, even investors, make snap judgments based on your profile photo, your business card, or your website.

And here’s the tough truth: you could be the better choice, but still lose to a competitor simply because they invested in their personal branding- while you didn’t.

If you’re a small business owner, job seeker, freelancer, or entrepreneur, this applies to you. Your headshot isn’t “just a photo.” It’s the first handshake before the real handshake.

The good news? You don’t need to spend $500 on a photographer. You can now get professional headshots for absolutely free using Canva’s AI Headshot Generator.

Canva AI Headshot Generator Interface

Why I Tried Canva’s Free AI Headshot Generator

I didn’t want to just “talk” about Canva’s headshot tool, I wanted to actually see if it works. Because let’s face it - when something is free, we all wonder: “Is it really good enough?”

Getting Started with Canva AI Headshot Tool

The Process (Super Simple)

Using it was as easy as making coffee:

1. Upload a selfie (yep, the kind you’d usually never post anywhere).
2. Hit Generate.
3. Wait around 2 minutes.
4. Done - you get a professional-looking headshot.

You get 1 free credit per day. No hidden costs. Just one polished headshot daily.

Simple Process - Upload and Generate

My Before & After

Here’s where it gets interesting. On the left: my original selfie, taken casually in my room. On the right: Canva’s AI headshot, which looked like it was shot in a studio with perfect lighting.

• My face looked sharper and clearer
• The background went from “random room wall” to “clean, professional backdrop”
• Overall vibe? Way more professional, way more “LinkedIn ready”

And honestly? I still looked like me. Which matters. Because if your headshot doesn’t look like you, it defeats the purpose.

Before and After Results Comparison

Pros & Cons

What I Loved ✅

• 100% free (1 headshot per day)
• Crazy simple to use (no tech skills needed)
• Fast results (~2 minutes)
• Realistic - no weird “AI glitches”

What Could Be Better ❌

• No outfit or background changes in the free version
• Limited daily credits
• Want more customization? You’ll need to pay for Profile Photo Pro

Quick Metrics

Who Should Use This?

If you’re…

• A job seeker polishing your LinkedIn profile
• A freelancer trying to look more professional to clients
• A small business owner working on personal branding
• A student updating resumes or applications

…then this free AI headshot generator is worth checking out

Final Verdict

Canva makes it super easy to upgrade your online presence without spending a single dollar.

My Rating: 7/10 (10/10 for simplicity and quality, but -3 since you can’t customize much in the free version.)

If you want multiple headshots per day or customizations like outfit/background changes, Headshot Photo offers 40 paid headshots for $34. If you’ve got 2 minutes and a selfie, you can walk away with a headshot that looks like it came from a professional studio - for free. That’s a win in my book.