Quick verdict
AI headshot generators promise the same thing: skip the $250 photographer, upload a few selfies, and get studio-quality LinkedIn photos in under an hour. But the two best-known players take opposite approaches. Aragon AI is the speed and variety leader — tiered one-time packages from $35, results in as little as 15 minutes, and a wide menu of attires and backgrounds. Secta Labs is the volume and privacy play — one flat $49 package delivering 300+ headshots with unlimited Remix editing and a privacy-first pitch.
This is a research-based comparison. We have not tested Aragon AI or Secta Labs hands-on; every fact below comes from the vendors’ published pricing and docs plus independent reporting. Prices checked September 30, 2026.
The short answer: most people get better value from Secta Labs — $49 one-time buys 300+ headshots across 90+ styles with editing included, versus Aragon’s $35–$75 tiered packages topping out at 100 headshots. But Aragon wins on speed (15-minute turnaround on Executive), style selection at checkout, and a larger review footprint — if you need headshots today, in exactly the attire and background you choose, Aragon’s higher tiers justify themselves.
Aragon AI: fast, tiered, and polished
Aragon AI is one of the most established names in AI headshots, built by a team with roots at Meta and Microsoft and now serving Fortune 500 companies alongside individuals. The workflow is simple: upload 6–10 photos (selfies and casual shots, varied angles and lighting), pick your attire and backgrounds, and the AI generates a batch of studio-style portraits. A dedicated iOS app exists alongside the web platform, and a newer proprietary model architecture launched in early 2026 aimed at fixing classic AI headshot tells — overly smooth skin, unnatural hands, and lifeless expressions.
Pricing is one-time, no subscription, and Aragon currently advertises a 20% limited-time discount off list prices:
| Plan | Price | Headshots | Turnaround | Key details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $35 (was $44) | 40 | 45 minutes | 1 attire, 1 background; standard resolution (896×1088); commercial use rights; Remix included |
| Standard | $45 (was $56) | 60 | 30 minutes | 2 attires, 2 backgrounds; standard resolution; commercial use rights; Remix included |
| Executive | $75 (was $94) | 100 | 15 minutes | All attires and backgrounds; enhanced resolution (1792×2176); priority processing |
Team plans start around $35 per person for groups of 2+, with batch processing and admin-managed branded backgrounds; enterprise quotes cover teams of 10+ with SSO and dedicated support. Refund policy: a complimentary redo or refund is available within 14 calendar days, subject to conditions — it can be declined if upload instructions weren’t followed.
What it’s good at:
- Speed. 15–45 minute turnarounds depending on plan — the fastest in the category, per independent 2026 roundups.
- Style and attire choice at checkout. Executive buyers get every attire and background; you pick the look before generation rather than hoping for it.
- Wide style variety from one upload. Corporate, creative, casual, editorial, legal, healthcare, real estate, graduation, dating, glamour — the category list is one of the broadest available.
- Review footprint. Roughly 5,800+ Trustpilot reviews averaging 4.9/5 — far more social proof than most rivals (note: a competing headshot company’s review cites 4.7/5 across a wider review set, so treat review scores as directional).
- Few source photos needed. 6–10 uploads minimum is one of the lower input requirements in the category.
- Team tooling. Batch processing, branded backgrounds, and admin controls make it a real option for company directories, not just solo users.
Where it falls short:
- Lower headshot counts per dollar. $35 buys 40 headshots ($0.88 each); only the top tier matches Secta’s per-image value, and the top tier costs $75.
- Resolution caps on lower tiers. Basic and Standard deliver 896×1088 — fine for LinkedIn, tight for print; only Executive upgrades to 1792×2176.
- Inconsistent quality reports. Third-party reporting (including a competitor’s review, read with that caveat) and user reviews flag that some outputs don’t resemble the uploader — AI headshot quality varies with your source photos.
- Refund friction. The 14-day redo/refund policy has conditions and documented complaints about difficulty getting refunds.
- Limited post-generation editing. Aragon includes a Remix feature, but Secta’s unlimited editing suite is more extensive.
Secta Labs: one flat price, 300+ headshots, editing included
Secta Labs keeps it simple: one personal package, one price, no tiers to decode. Upload 20+ photos and get back 300+ professional headshots across 90+ styles, typically within 30–60 minutes (Secta advertises about an hour; independent roundups cite 2–3 hours at the high end). The differentiator is Remix — unlimited AI-powered editing, variations, uncropping, recoloring, and retouching after generation — plus two free retries and a 100% money-back guarantee. There’s also a genuine free trial: 5 sample photos with no credit card required, so you can judge quality before paying.
Secta leans hard on privacy as a selling point: the company positions itself as the privacy-first option in the category, with encrypted storage and SOC 2 compliance cited for team plans. Team and enterprise plans are custom-priced with brand-color styles, centralized dashboards, and GDPR compliance.
Secta Labs pricing in 2026:
| Plan | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | $49 (one-time) | 300+ professional headshots; 90+ styles; Remix editing suite; 2 free retries; private gallery and sharing; 100% money-back guarantee |
| Free trial | $0 | 5 sample photos, no credit card required |
| Teams / Enterprise | Custom | Brand-color styles, centralized dashboard, onboarding management, SOC 2 and GDPR compliance, dedicated account management |
A note on pricing history: some older review pages (from early 2026) list Secta’s personal package at $99. The current official price on secta.ai is $49 — treat the $99 figure as outdated.
What it’s good at:
- Sheer volume per dollar. 300+ headshots for $49 works out to about $0.16 each — roughly five times cheaper per image than Aragon’s entry tier.
- Unlimited editing. Remix variations, uncrop, recolor, and retouch are included rather than paywalled — this is the best post-generation toolkit in the category.
- Real free trial. 5 sample photos before paying; Aragon has no equivalent free tier.
- Privacy posture. Encrypted storage, SOC 2 compliance, and an explicit privacy-first positioning — the strongest data story of the two for regulated industries.
- Money-back guarantee. 100% guarantee with two free retries lowers the purchase risk meaningfully.
- Simple pricing. One package, one price — no tier math, no wondering whether the $75 tier was worth it.
Where it falls short:
- Slower than Aragon. 30 minutes to 2–3 hours versus Aragon’s 15-minute Executive turnaround — if you need headshots this afternoon, that gap matters.
- No attire/background selection at checkout. You get 90+ styles across the batch, but you can’t pre-select exactly the suit and backdrop you want the way Aragon’s tiers allow.
- More uploads required. 20+ source photos versus Aragon’s 6–10 — more work upfront, and quality still depends on photo variety.
- Smaller track record. Fewer independent reviews and a lower-profile brand than Aragon; the review footprint is thin by comparison.
- Realism rated “good,” not “extreme.” Independent team-focused roundups rate Secta’s realism below the very best photoreal specialists — though the unlimited editing helps close that gap.
Head-to-head
| Aragon AI | Secta Labs | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $35 / $45 / $75 one-time (tiered) | $49 one-time (single package) |
| Headshots per package | 40 / 60 / 100 | 300+ |
| Cost per headshot | ~$0.88 / $0.75 / $0.75 | ~$0.16 |
| Turnaround | 45 / 30 / 15 minutes | ~30 min to 2–3 hours |
| Styles | Broad category list; attire/background chosen per tier | 90+ styles across the batch |
| Post-generation editing | Remix feature included | Unlimited Remix suite (variations, uncrop, recolor, retouch) + 2 free retries |
| Resolution | 896×1088 (1792×2176 on Executive) | HD downloads |
| Free trial | None | 5 sample photos, no card required |
| Guarantee | Redo or refund within 14 days (conditions apply) | 100% money-back guarantee |
| Privacy | Encrypted storage | Encrypted storage, SOC 2 compliance, privacy-first positioning |
| Best for | Speed and exact style control | Value, volume, and editing flexibility |
Which should you pick
- Pick Secta Labs if: you want the most headshots for your money, unlimited editing to perfect them, a free trial before you pay, and the strongest privacy story. For most individuals updating a LinkedIn photo, $49 for 300+ editable headshots is simply the better deal.
- Pick Aragon AI if: you need headshots fast (Executive’s 15-minute turnaround is unmatched), you want to choose your exact attire and backgrounds up front, or you’re buying for a team and want batch processing with branded backgrounds. Standard at $45 is the sweet spot for solo users who value speed over volume.
- For job seekers on a deadline: Aragon Executive — 15 minutes, enhanced resolution, every style available. The $75 is still a third of a photographer session.
- For maximum options to choose from: Secta — 300+ images and unlimited Remix edits mean you’ll find (and then perfect) a winner.
- For teams: both offer team plans; Aragon’s are more productized (batch upload, branded backgrounds, per-person pricing from ~$35), while Secta’s pitch is privacy compliance (SOC 2/GDPR) for regulated industries.
Getting the best results from either tool
Whichever service you choose, the source photos do more work than the AI model. Independent reviewers and both vendors agree on the same advice: upload photos with varied lighting (indoor, outdoor, natural light), mix straight-on shots with different angles, and avoid heavy filters, sunglasses, hats, or anything that obscures your face. Group photos are a non-starter — the AI needs clear solo shots to learn your features.
Aragon asks for 6–10 photos; Secta asks for 20+. More is genuinely better here: reviewers report that 10–15 quality, varied photos produce noticeably better facial accuracy on Aragon, and Secta’s higher minimum exists because its model trains on a wider sample. Take the extra ten minutes with your phone camera under a window — it’s the cheapest quality upgrade either service offers.
Set expectations on the first batch, too. AI headshot services occasionally miss likeness on individual images, especially with unusual expressions or harsh shadows. That’s why guarantees matter: Secta includes two free retries and a 100% money-back promise, while Aragon offers a complimentary redo or refund within 14 days (subject to conditions). If the first gallery doesn’t look like you, use the redo — and download the images you like promptly either way.
FAQ
How much do AI headshots cost in 2026?
Aragon AI charges $35–$75 one-time depending on tier (40–100 headshots). Secta Labs charges a flat $49 one-time for 300+ headshots. Both are one-time purchases, not subscriptions — roughly a fifth to a third of a $250 professional photoshoot.
How long do Aragon and Secta take to generate headshots?
Aragon advertises 45 minutes (Basic), 30 minutes (Standard), and 15 minutes (Executive) — the fastest in the category. Secta advertises about an hour, with independent roundups citing 30 minutes to 2–3 hours. These are provider estimates, not guarantees.
Will AI headshots actually look like me?
Usually, but not always. Both services depend heavily on your source photos: varied lighting, multiple angles, no filters or sunglasses, and no group shots. Upload quality is the single biggest predictor of facial accuracy — the minimums are 6–10 photos for Aragon and 20+ for Secta.
Can I use AI headshots on LinkedIn and resumes?
Yes — both services grant you full ownership and commercial use rights, and LinkedIn/resume use is the primary use case. Secta offers the stronger explicit privacy posture (encrypted storage, SOC 2), which matters if your employer is buying team headshots under data policies.