Top 15 AI Photo Colorizers to Colorize Black and White Photos (2024)

This article reviews the top ten tools and software that can be used to colorize black and white photos, with options ranging from AI-powered online tools to advanced desktop applications. The aim is to provide the user with the best option by comparing various aspects of the product.

What Is An Image Colorizer?

Imagine you discover a vintage photograph of a bustling city street from the early 1900s. The image is captivating, but its black and white tones fail to convey the vibrancy and energy of the era. That's where an image colorizer comes in. This remarkable tool can magically colorize black and white photos into a vivid, colorized masterpiece, bringing to life the rich hues of the bustling cityscape.

With the help of advanced machine learning algorithms, the colorizer intelligently analyzes the image's content, textures, and contextual cues, accurately assigning colors to the buildings, vehicles, and people in the scene. The once-static snapshot now bursts with life as the image colorizer revitalizes history, allowing you to experience the past in a whole new light.

This is a general overview table made by us, if you want to see our more detailed review, please keep reading:

Best 10 AI Photo Colorizers to Colorize Black and White Photos (July 2024)

As professional and objective reviewers, we have personally tested and evaluated a range of AI photo colorizers. By comparing the price, output quality, processing speed, user-friendliness, and compatibility of each product, you can more clearly find the AI photo colorizer generators that suit you. And prices and detailed features of the following products are subject to change as products are updated. We will try to update the articles as much as possible so that the information presented is correct.

1. VanceAI Photo Colorizer

• Price: $9.90/mo or $59.88/year
• Compatibility: Online
• Notable features: AI-powered colorization, support for PSD file format.
• Rating: 9/10

You can choose AI models (This methodology makes analytics smarter and faster, and it can handle more data as we go along. And choosing the right model can make your photo coization faster and more accurate.)for photo of human or landscape. For creative professionals and Photoshop users, the support for PSD file format is an added advantage.

Know more about AI models

For this review, we will use this old photo taken in the last century to test the photo colorizer tool we mentioned today.

Output comments

This is the processing effect of VanceAI Photo Colorizer, you can see that VanceAI is very accurate in processing the skin color of people. The picture becomes much clearer and seems to be the most recent photo taken. The clothes worn by the characters even have color, such as the pink heels and blue jeans. The only downside is that the colors of the background may not be vibrant enough.

Pros:

• Automatically colorize black and white photos online
• Use deep neural networks to restore beautiful color to images
• Offer 5 images free trial
• Pro users can access PSD format

Cons

• Lack editing tools
• Limited credits to colorize black and white pictures free

How to colorize photo with VanceAI Photo Colorizer?

Step 1: Upload the image you want to colorize into this image colorized

Step 2: Click "Start to Press" and let AI colorize the photo.

Step 3: Download the results.

If you want to know the steps of how to use this AI photo colorizer better, below is a video that may be helpful.

2. Palette Colorizer

Notable features: Free usage, (not free to download HD image)ease of use.
Rating: 8/10

The pros of AI Palette Colorizer lie in its free usage and simplicity, allowing users to colorize their photos quickly and easily.

However, it's important to note that there may be a compromise in quality, and achieving perfect colors may require multiple attempts. And you should note that you have to pay for HD image download.

Output comments

Palette Colorizer offers more restored styles than VanceAI, and they really do present different results in the end. We prefer the effect of the first image, which is very colorful. The second and third images, on the other hand, both seem a bit too green.

Click Palette Colorizer Review to know more about Palette AI Colorize Photo.

Pros

• Free to use
• No limit
• Fast to use

Cons

• Loss in quality
• Sometimes you can not get the color correct at one time.

3. Colourise.com

Notable features: Fast and efficient.
Rating: 8/10

Colourise.com offers a powerful AI photo colorizer that instantly converts black and white photos to color with just one click. Whether it's a portrait or a landscape, this AI colorizer can handle a variety of images. The best part is that there is no need to sign up or download any software, ensuring a hassle-free experience.

On the positive side, Colourise.com excels in its claim of using AI to deliver quick and accurate colorization results. It is a fast and efficient tool, allowing users to colorize old white photos free of charge. However, the lack of batch processing capability and longer processing time is a notable drawback.

Output comments

The model used by Colourise.com seems to be similar to a certain style of Palette Colorizer, which has bright, rich colors after all. But there are some small mistakes, in which one woman's face is not colored, and her hair turns red.

Pros

• Claim to use AI to colorize images in one click
• Fast to use
• Colorize black and white photos free

Cons

• No batch processing

For more information about this free AI image colorizer, please check out How to Convert Black and White Photo to Color Online Free?

How to colorize photo with Colourise.com?

Step 1: Drop your photo in this AI colorizer

Step 2: The AI will colorize your photo automatically

Step 3: Wait for a few seconds and get your colorize photo

4. MyHeritage

Notable features: Lossless colorization, easy-to-use interface, free trial and subscription options.
Rating: 8/10 

The advantages of MyHeritage include lossless colorization, ease of use, and the ability to download, compare, and share colorized photos. However, the requirement of signing up and the need for payment information during the 14-day free trial, as well as the inclusion of a watermark for non-subscribers, are potential drawbacks.

Output comments

MyHeritage's has turned the pictures into colorful and vivid colors. Leaves are also recognized by MyHeritage and colored green. One thing to note is that the contrast in this image seems to be a little too high.

Here are more information about MyHeritage: How to Restore Old Photos with MyHeritage Photo Enhancer?

Pros

• Colorized photo is lossless in quality
• Easy and fast to use
• Free to colorize 10 photos after signing up
• 14-day free trial to access unlimited photo colorization
• Download colorized photo or comparison
• Share on Facebook or Twitter

Cons

• Require signing up
• 14-day free trial requires payment information
• Add watermark to result for non-subscribers

How to colorize photo with Deepai?

Step 1: Upload an image to this AI photo colorizer or input the url of the image

Step 2: After only 2 seconds you will have your AI colorize photo

Step 3: Save the result

5. DeepAI Colorizer

Notable features: Free colorization, ease of use.
Rating: 7/10 

The strengths of DeepAI Colorizer lie in its ability to colorize old photos for free and its user-friendly interface. However, users should be mindful of the image size limit and potential reduction in quality.

Output comments

DeepAI Colorizer has a performance that belongs to the normal level, the coloring is more accurate, but the color is not vivid enough. There are some minor problems with the color of the pants and the color of the background plants.

Pros

• Free photo colorizer online
• Easy to use
• No watermark

Cons

• Limit the size of an image
• Colorized photo has lower quality

6. Picwish

Notable features: Effortlessly colorize black and white photos with PicWish, bringing new life to old images for free.
Rating: 8/10 

During our experience with PicWish, we found it to be a free and user-friendly photo colorizer. With no limitations or required skills, anyone can easily transform their black and white photos into color photos within seconds. One of the key features of Picwish Colorizer is fast to process and does not require any action other than uploading images. In the same way, there will be a lot less customization as a result.

Output comments

As you can see from the graphs we tested, Picwish is fast with old photos, but it also misses a lot of color details in the pictures as a result. For example, the woman in the dress still seems to be black and white.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface for easy use.
• Can colorize black and white pictures for free.

Cons:

• Detailed color missing

7. Img2go .com

Notable features: Free colorization, user-friendly interface.
Rating: 7/10 

The main advantage of Img2go.com is its total free usage and user-friendly interface. While using the product, we identified room for improvement such as the tool's processing speed is relatively slow, both the uploading and processing take time.

Output comments

As you can see from the graphs we tested, img2go is not colorful enough. And the image is rather blurred after processing. The only reassuring thing is that it is a free tool.

Pros:

• Total free to use
• Doesn't require any skills

Cons:

• limited image size
• Long processing time

8. Image Colorizer

Notable features: Online and software options, accurate colorization.
Rating: 9/10 

The advantages of Image Colorizer include its no-registration requirement, accuracy in colorization, and the availability of both an online tool and a more powerful software option. However, users should keep in mind the file size limit imposed by the online version.

Output comments

This is the image we processed with Image Colorizer, and you can see that the result of this tool is also of medium level. The coloring is relatively accurate, but the final output is blurry and not of high quality.

Pros

• No need to register or log in
• Quite accurate
• Convert black and white photo to color online free
• Easy to use
• Provide both online tool and colorize black and white photos freeware (free&paid)

Cons:

• Set file size limit: less than 3000px for any dimension

9. Colorize.cc

Notable features: Easy to use, colorful output, not free
Rating: 8/10

The main advantage of Colorize.cc lies in its effective colorization capabilities using advanced algorithms, and the high quality in accurate color. Based on our experience, a potential issue some users might face is the image may become not very clear and there will be a huge watermark in output.

Output Comments

As you can see from the graphs we tested, colorize.cc handles it very well. The colors are rich, the colors of the clothes in the picture, the white high heels, the brown leather shoes, and the green plants are all very good. But the free version is not clear enough and has a watermark.

Pros:

• Colorize black and white pictures effectively using advanced algorithms
• Rich colors in the output
• Accurate colorization

Cons:

• Not free
• Become blur in output

10. Hotpot.ai

Notable features: AI-based colorization.
Rating: 9/10 

After spending some time with the product, it seems that the advantage of Hotpot.ai lies in its AI-powered colorization capabilities. Our hands-on evaluation revealed that the product may fall short in terms of free trial version.

Output comments

For HotPot.AI Photo Colorizer. I think the colors in this image are relatively rich, but the saturation is a bit too high. And the output quality is not high. Maybe it will be better in a paid version.

Pros:

• Colorize black and white pictures using AI

Cons:

• Not an online app but an API
• No free trial

How to colorize photo with Hotpot.ai?

Step 1: Upload an image to this AI photo colorizer

Step 2: Choose the colorization factors to meet your colorize photo requirements

Step 3: Click "Colorize" to get an AI colorize photo

Best 5 AI Colorize Programs (Updated May 2024)

1. ColorSurprise - Colorized Software

• Price: $39.99
• Compatibility: Windows & Mac
• Notable features: Lossless quality output, high color factor option
• Rating: 9/10

During our experience with ColorSurprise, we found it to be one of the top AI photo colorizers on the market. It excels at colorizing black and white photos using artificial intelligence, delivering impressive results. The software offers lossless quality output, ensuring that the colorized photos maintain their original sharpness and clarity. Additionally, users have the option to choose a high color factor for even more stunning results, although this may require slightly longer processing time due to increased computations.

ColorSurprise is incredibly user-friendly. Once you download the software, simply upload an old black and white photo from your computer, and within seconds, you will see a preview of the colorized version. Saving the colorized photo to your computer is also straightforward.

It's worth noting that ColorSurprise offers a free trial service, allowing users to explore its capabilities before making a purchase. However, the unlimited photo colorization feature requires a paid subscription, and the free trial version adds a watermark to the results.

Also read: How to Make Pictures Come to Life - Best 5 Ways.

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Fast to use
• Output lossless quality in original size
• Offer free trial service

Cons:

• Paid subscription required for unlimited photo colorization
• Results in the free trial version contain a watermark

2. Photoshop - Best photo colorizing software

• Price: $9.99/mon
• Compatibility: Windows & Mac
• Notable features: Dust and scratch removal, color settings, layers

Photoshop is undoubtedly a powerful photo colorizing software with extensive customization options. Users can employ various color settings to transform grayscale images into vibrant and colorful ones. Additionally, Photoshop allows for dust and scratch removal, ensuring clean and polished colorized photos. Advanced users can also leverage layers to neutralize colors and enhance their editing process.

However, it's important to note that Photoshop may not be suitable for everyone. Newcomers to the software might find it complex and time-consuming, as it requires manual adjustments to achieve desired colorizing effects. Furthermore, using Photoshop extensively may demand a high-performance computer system. We recommend considering AI photo colorizers as a starting point to obtain the base color of your black and white photo and then using Photoshop for further refinements.

Pros:

• Removes dust and scratches in the software
• Allows for color neutralization with layers

Cons:

• Can be complicated for beginners
• Manual adjustment of colorizing effects can be tedious
• High system requirements

3. Luminar

• Price: $89
• Compatibility: Windows & Mac
• Notable features: Professional photo colorizer, brushing tools, powerful photo enhancement
• Rating: 8/10

Luminar stands out as a professional photo colorizer that offers an array of editing features. It serves as both a standalone application and a plugin, providing users with flexibility in their editing workflow. When it comes to colorizing old black and white photos, Luminar impresses with its quality outputs. The software offers brushing tools that allow users to precisely apply colors to their photos.

Powered by AI technologies, Luminar also excels in photo enhancement, making it an ideal choice for users with advanced photo editing skills.

However, it's worth noting that the colorization process in Luminar is manual, requiring users to actively participate in the coloring process. Additionally, Luminar is not available for free and requires a one-time purchase.

Pros

• Produces superior quality colorized photos
• Offers a wide range of editing features

Cons

• Colorizes photos manually
• Requires a one-time purchase

4. Movavi AI colorize photo

• Price: Free/trial 10 pictures & Paid/$44.95
• Compatibility: Windows & Mac
• Notable features: Neural network integration, user-friendly interface
• Rating: 7/10

Movavi is a powerful photo colorizer that comes equipped with additional editing features. With the integration of neural networks, this AI-driven colorizer enables users to effortlessly colorize black and white photos with just one click. The software boasts an intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it accessible to users of all levels of expertise.

To get started with Movavi, simply install the software and let the artificial intelligence handle the colorization process. The free trial service allows users to colorize up to 10 black and white pictures, providing an opportunity to explore the capabilities of the software. For unlimited photo colorization, a paid subscription is required, and the trial version adds a watermark to the colorized results.

Pros

• Automatic photo colorizer
• User-friendly and slick interface
• More editing features
• Offer free trial service

Cons

• Paid subscription required for unlimited photo colorization
• Results in the trial version contain a watermark

Read our full review about Movavi colorizer here: How to Colorize Black and White photos with Movavi Photo Editor?

5. AKVIS Coloriage

• Price: $75
• Compatibility: Windows & Mac
• Notable features: Manual colorization with brushes, standalone and plugin functionality
• Rating: 8/10

AKVIS Coloriage offers a unique approach to photo colorization, allowing users to manually add colors to black and white portraits, landscapes, fashion, and still life images. Unlike AI-driven colorizers, this software provides precise control over the coloring process through brush strokes. AKVIS Coloriage also functions as a comprehensive photo editor, offering features for eliminating red-eye effects and correcting colors.

One of the standout features of AKVIS Coloriage is its ability to automatically identify edges and borders, making the colorization process less demanding in terms of precision. This software operates as both a standalone program and a plugin, providing users with flexibility in their editing workflow. While AKVIS Coloriage offers a 10-day free trial, it comes with a price tag higher than average.

Pros

• Enables precise manual colorization of black and white photos
• Functions as a standalone program and a plugin
• Offers a 10-day free trial

Cons

• Pricing is higher than average

Summary

In conclusion, Image colorizers have become valuable tools for transforming old black and white photos into vibrant, colored images. These colorizers employ advanced AI algorithms and deep learning models to automatically add lifelike colors to grayscale photos. They offer convenience and accessibility to users, with various options available online and through software.

Throughout our analysis, we have explored several image colorizers and assessed their processing speed, output quality, user-friendliness, compatibility, and suitability for different user categories. Each colorizer has its strengths and limitations, such as free usage, lossless colorization, ease of use, or the presence of editing tools. Users can choose the colorizer that best suits their needs and preferences.

However, it is important to note that while these image colorizers provide impressive results, they may not always achieve perfect color accuracy or vibrant backgrounds. Some colorizers also have limitations, such as the need for payment for certain features or reduced image quality.

And we also reviewed some well performed AI image upscaler that can help increase the image quality of the colorized photos to make it more delicate.

If you want to refine the colorized photo for a better look, check out in Top 10 Photo Enhancers Review 2020.

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