Last updated: February 2026
The LEGO Mosaic Maker sounds perfect on paper. Upload a photo, get a custom brick portrait, build something personal. But then you discover it only uses five colors, requires visiting specific LEGO Store locations, and produces flat 2D results that look more pixelated than artistic. No wonder so many people search for LEGO Mosaic Maker alternatives.
You want something better. Maybe you need more color options, or you want a service that ships to your door, or you are looking for a three dimensional sculpture instead of a wall mosaic. Whatever brought you here, the good news is that several alternatives now offer more flexibility, better results, and complete kit delivery.
After researching the photo to brick space extensively, here are the five best alternatives. Voxl stands out for 3D sculptures that capture depth and detail. Brick Me and Memobrick excel at affordable 2D mosaics with richer color palettes. For DIY enthusiasts, LEGO Art Remix and Stud.io offer free tools to design your own. Each serves a different need, and the right choice depends on whether you want a complete kit shipped to you or prefer sourcing bricks yourself.
Why People Search for LEGO Mosaic Maker Alternatives
The official LEGO Mosaic Maker has real limitations that frustrate customers. Understanding these helps explain why the alternatives exist.
The biggest complaint is the five color palette. White, light gray, dark gray, black, and yellow. That works for simple portraits with high contrast, but it fails for anything with subtle color gradations like pet photos, landscapes, or colorful images. The result often looks washed out.
Location is another barrier. The Mosaic Maker experience only exists in select LEGO Store locations worldwide. If you do not live near one of these stores, you cannot access the service at all.
Finally, the 48x48 stud format produces a specific aesthetic. Some people love the classic pixelated look. Others want something that captures more detail or creates a three dimensional effect rather than a flat wall hanging.
The personalized gifts market has grown to nearly $30 billion in 2024, expanding at 7.5% annually according to market research. This demand has spawned multiple brick art services designed to fill the gaps LEGO leaves open.
The 5 Best LEGO Mosaic Maker Alternatives
1. Voxl: Best for 3D Brick Sculptures
Voxl takes a fundamentally different approach than the LEGO Mosaic Maker. Instead of creating flat 2D mosaics, Voxl transforms photos into three dimensional brick sculptures using Pix Brix interlocking bricks.
You upload a photo of a pet, person, or meaningful image. Voxl's system converts it into a buildable 3D sculpture that captures depth, contour, and detail that flat mosaics cannot achieve. A human designer reviews every order before shipping to ensure quality.
The complete kit arrives with every brick included plus custom building instructions. No hunting for parts, no subscription required. Pricing starts at $79 for small sculptures with around 500 bricks, scaling up to $249 for large detailed pieces with 2,500 or more bricks.
Best for: Pet portraits, meaningful gifts where you want the wow factor of a sculpture rather than a flat image. People who value convenience and want everything included.
Pricing: $79 to $249 depending on size
2. Brick Me: Best for 2D Mosaics with Rich Color
Brick Me offers a direct upgrade to the LEGO Mosaic Maker for people who want traditional flat mosaics but need more color options. Their palette includes 50 colors compared to LEGO's five, which dramatically improves results for photos with varied tones.
The web app lets you upload images and adjust the design for free before ordering. When satisfied, you purchase a complete kit with all bricks, baseplates, and step by step instructions shipped from Arizona.
Pricing is based on baseplate size. Each 24x24 stud baseplate measures 7.5 inches square. A 2x2 baseplate mosaic comparable to the LEGO Mosaic Maker size costs significantly less. Larger pieces scale up in price but the per baseplate cost decreases with size.
Best for: Traditional brick mosaic lovers who want more color variety than LEGO offers. People who appreciate the classic pixelated wall art aesthetic.
Pricing: Varies by size, generally $35 to $150+
3. Memobrick: Best Budget Complete Kit
Memobrick positions itself as an affordable entry point for custom brick mosaics. Like Brick Me, they offer 50 color options and ship complete kits with bricks, baseplates, and instructions.
Their starter 10x10 inch mosaics retail around $35 on sale, making them accessible for first time buyers or gifts where budget matters. The building experience aims to be family friendly with simple step by step guides.
Memobrick also offers gift cards that let recipients choose their own image, solving the common problem of not having the perfect photo ready when ordering a personalized gift.
Best for: Budget conscious buyers, first time brick art purchasers, gifts where you want the recipient to choose their own image.
Pricing: Starting around $35 for small mosaics
4. LEGO Art Remix: Best Free Design Tool
LEGO Art Remix is an open source web application that converts photos into mosaic designs compatible with official LEGO Art sets. The tool is completely free and produces high quality results.
You upload an image, select your target size and color palette, and the app generates a buildable design with piece by piece instructions. The catch is that you must source all the bricks yourself, either from existing LEGO sets or through marketplaces like BrickLink.
For LEGO purists who want authentic bricks and enjoy the sourcing process, this offers unlimited creative freedom at no software cost. The tradeoff is time spent gathering parts and higher total costs if buying bricks new.
Best for: LEGO enthusiasts who want authentic bricks, people who enjoy the hunt for specific parts, those with existing LEGO collections to repurpose.
Pricing: Free software, bricks purchased separately
5. Stud.io and BrickLink: Best for Custom Designs
Stud.io is the official design software from BrickLink, now owned by LEGO. It includes a powerful mosaic generator that converts images into brick by brick building instructions.
The software offers more customization than simpler web tools. You can specify which brick types to use, adjust color matching algorithms, and tweak designs manually. The direct BrickLink integration generates shopping lists and lets you order parts from multiple sellers.
This combination gives serious builders professional level control over their projects. The learning curve is steeper than web based alternatives, but the results can be exceptional for those willing to invest time.
Best for: Experienced builders who want maximum control, people creating large or complex projects, those who enjoy the design process as much as the building.
Pricing: Free software, bricks purchased separately through BrickLink
With five solid options on the table, how do they stack up against each other?
Quick Comparison
When choosing between these options, consider three factors: whether you want a complete kit or prefer sourcing parts yourself, whether you want a flat mosaic or 3D sculpture, and your budget.
For complete kits shipped to your door, Voxl leads for 3D sculptures while Brick Me and Memobrick compete for 2D mosaics at different price points.
For DIY with your own bricks, LEGO Art Remix offers simplicity while Stud.io provides professional control.
The LEGO Mosaic Maker itself remains a valid option if you live near a participating store and want the official in store experience with the five color grayscale aesthetic.
Still not sure which fits your project? Here is a quick decision guide.
Which Alternative Should You Choose?
Choose Voxl if you want a three dimensional sculpture that stands out as a conversation piece. The 3D format captures pets and portraits with depth that flat mosaics cannot match. The complete kit approach means no part hunting.
Choose Brick Me or Memobrick if you love the classic pixelated mosaic look but need more colors than LEGO offers. Brick Me suits those wanting larger pieces while Memobrick works well for budget friendly gifts.
Choose LEGO Art Remix if you already own LEGO bricks or enjoy sourcing parts from BrickLink. The free tool produces excellent designs without any software cost.
Choose Stud.io if you want professional level control over your mosaic design and enjoy the technical aspects of brick building. The learning curve pays off for complex projects.
Before you decide, here are answers to the questions people ask most often.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the LEGO Mosaic Maker? The LEGO Mosaic Maker still exists but only operates in select LEGO Store locations worldwide. The home kit version sells for around $60 and includes 4,702 bricks in five colors with a web app for design.
Can I get a brick mosaic shipped to my home? Yes. Services like Voxl, Brick Me, and Memobrick ship complete kits with all bricks and instructions directly to your address. You build the final piece yourself.
How much do custom brick portraits cost? Prices range from $35 for small 2D mosaics to $250 or more for large detailed pieces. 3D sculptures from Voxl start at $79. Free software options require purchasing bricks separately.
What is the difference between 2D mosaics and 3D sculptures? 2D mosaics create flat wall art using studs arranged like pixels. 3D sculptures build outward with depth and contour, creating a sculptural piece that captures form rather than just a flat image.
Which brick portrait service has the most colors? Brick Me and Memobrick both offer 50 color palettes, compared to 5 colors in the official LEGO Mosaic Maker. Voxl uses a 32 color Pix Brix palette optimized for 3D sculpture rendering.
Ready to create custom brick art? Try Voxl for 3D sculptures that transform your favorite photos into buildable art.