Top 20 Best AI Photo Restoration Software and Online Tools Review | 2023

This article explores the top 20 photo restoration tools in 2023 that use AI algorithms to repair and enhance old, damaged, or faded photos. It provides an overview of their features, benefits, and drawbacks to help you choose the best one for your needs.

As we reminisce on past memories during Thanksgiving, old photos serve as a poignant reminder of our cherished moments. However, these photos often suffer from scratches, fractures, and other imperfections that detract from their appeal. Although many families possess damaged photos, throwing them away is not an option. Therefore, utilizing a senior old photo restoration tool is necessary.

Nowadays, as AI develops, an AI image restoration tool can help you easily restore your old photos. A professional AI Photo Restorer can meet these requirements to make old photos shine again like new and easy to store.

Here are the 20 best picture restoration tools online, AI photo restoration software on the market (here is also a photo restoration service online platform):

Top 10 Best AI Tools to Restore Old Photos Online

Photo Restoration Tool	Generating Speed	Output Quality	Online or Not	Free or Paid	Suitable for
VanceAI Photo Restorer	★★★★✩	★★★★✩	Online	Paid	Personal and Professional Use, High-Quality Work
MyHeritage	★★★✩✩	★★★★✩	Online	Free/Paid	Personal Use, Genealogy Research
Hotpot.AI	★★★★✩	★★★★✩	Online	Free	Personal Use, Basic Editing
ImageColorizer	★★★✩✩	★★★✩✩	Online	Free/Paid	Personal Use, Colorization
Remini-AI Photo Restoration App	★★★★✩	★★★★✩	Online	Free/Paid	Personal Use, Basic Editing
Photo Works	★★★✩✩	★★★★✩	Offline	Paid	Intermediate Users, Detailed Work
AKVIS Retoucher	★★★✩✩	★★★★✩	Offline	Paid	Intermediate Users, Detailed Work

Please note that 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 Restorer

• Price: Free & Paid
• Compatibility: Online
• Notable features: AI-powered restoration, automatic detail recovery, and colorization option.
• Rating: 10/10

VanceAI Photo Restorer deserves first place on our list. Having experienced a broad spectrum of photo restoration tools, I can confidently say that VanceAI Photo Restore delivers a practical solution, particularly for those seeking to recover the original appeal of their old or damaged photos. Leveraging artificial intelligence, it provides an efficient and user-friendly method for restoring images with just one click, a feature that's particularly beneficial to individuals with no prior editing skills.

During our testing, we noticed that the tool's ability to repair photo with significant precision and speed stands out among its competitors. Its robust deep learning mechanism effectively removes blemishes such as scratches and spots, often surpassing the results of traditional photo editing methods. Furthermore, the "Colorize" option allows users to add vibrancy to old photos, making it a well-rounded restoration tool.

Here is a photo (left) we download from Unsplash, when we restoring old photos, we will use this photo to test all tools that I reviewed.

See the performance (the right photo, click and you can zoom in), this old photo comes to life like it was taken in modern times and the family looks natural and vivid. The only minor drawback is that the algorithm may have miscalculated some parts, for example, the algorithm for this picture thinks of the dad's white socks as skin and paints it as the color of skin. And also the mom's skirt is also painted with skin color.

A downside to VanceAI's product offering is the limited number of free restorations. With only three free images, users may find the need to opt for the paid version earlier than anticipated if they have a larger batch of photos to restore.

Pros:	Cons:
AI pictures Restore precious old photos using deep learning	Limited free images with photo restoration AI (only 3)
Fix old images which are greatly damaged online
Perform well in restoring old portrait photos

Also read: This AI Helps You Restore Old Scratched Pictures Like a Pro.

2. MyHeritage

• Price: Free & Paid
• Compatibility: Online
• Notable features: AI-powered colorization, old photo animation, resolution enhancement.
• Rating: 9/10

MyHeritage Deep Nostalgia, a worthy runner-up in our list, presents a distinctive blend of colorization and animation for old photos, catering ideally to users who wish to bring their old photos to life.

My hands-on experience with this tool has highlighted its ability to revamp blurry photos and restore original colors with an impressive degree of accuracy. The integration of deep learning technology from DeOldify provides a seamless one-click restoration process, simplifying the task for users of all experience levels.

When I use My Heritage to repair the testing image (You will be asked to sign in and can download the improved image for free), we found that you will need to upload the image and it will first make it more clear, and then I should click colorize to make it a normal photo. Here is our testing result:

MyHeritage can also recognize the person and see the before and after effects in detail. But compared to the VanceAI, the color in this image is not as vivid as the photo restored by VanceAI. As with VanceAI, My Heritage's algorithm has some minor problems, with the picture of the dad's hand being painted the same gray as the color of his clothes, which seems to be very strange.

Despite its intuitive interface and remarkable capabilities, one major shortcoming lies in its pricing. Free users only have access to 10 images, after which a subscription is required, potentially deterring users with a high volume of photos to restore.

Read our latest review about MyHeritage Photo Enhancer: How to Restore Old Photos with MyHeritage Photo Enhancer?

Pros:	Cons:
Online photo restoration tool	Not free to use
Enhance color and quality of old photos
Increase the resolution of old blurry images
Use AI restoration techniques for restoring old photos

3. Hotpot.AI Photo Restoration

• Price: Limited features for free; Paid plans start from $10/day for 1000 credits.
• Notable features: Multiple image editing tools, API access, and colorization feature.
• Rating: 8/10

If diversity in image editing tools and customization options is what you seek, Hotpot.AI proves to be a commendable choice for old photo restoration tool. In addition to restoring old photos, this tool offers NFT art creation and AI-assisted graphics, providing an extensive toolkit for both personal and professional use.

During my experience with Hotpot.AI, I found its ability to colorize black and white photos and remove undesired objects particularly useful. By granting users control over elements like background replacement, the platform enhances the restoration process with an added layer of personalization.

Here is the image colorized by Hotpot.AI, it also looks like the colors in this picture are more vibrant, but there are some inaccuracies in the colors, such as the color of the face is different from the color of the neck, and the picture is not clear enough, so if you want a clear version it will cost you 25 credits.

On the downside, despite its array of features, the limited free use could discourage potential users. Additionally, while it provides an API, the added costs and somewhat lengthy processing times are drawbacks worth noting.

Pros:	Cons:
Offers multiple tools.	Limited free photo repair.
Easy to use.	It may take 5 min to process.
Offers an API.

4. ImageColorizer

• Price: Eight image credits for free; Paid options start from $6/mo with better features and more credits.
• Notable features: Image enhancement, colorization, accessible across devices.
• Rating: 8/10

Image Colorizer is an online application that is a bit more accessible since it is available on desktop browsers and mobile devices such as iOS and Android.

This application offers other tools as well, such as image enhancement, image colorization, and more. Using this application is easy enough thanks to its AI based design and automatic image processing. As a user, when restoring old photos, you only have to upload images and wait for about 10 seconds.

See the old photo restoration effect from above, the color of the object spills out of the object after this photo is processed, and there are some faint squares of noise in the processed photo.

Pros:	Cons:
Good UI design.	Without enhance features.
Affordable pricing plans.	A few customization options can be helpful.
Offers good results.	Occasionally unresponsive.

5. Phowd (Artificial Old Photo Restoration Platform)

• Price: Basic one costs $0.30, standard at $1.00, and advanced at $2.00.
• Notable features: Expert image editing, photo retouching, personalized services.
• Rating: 8/10

Distinguishing itself from typical AI restoration tools, Phowd offers a human touch, making it a unique solution for those seeking professional photo editing services. In the past, when we want to repair old photos, we will have to find a photography store for photo restoration near me, but now we can do it online.

With real experts handling image editing, users can expect high-quality, personalized results. The retoucher communicates with users, providing regular updates and revisions, ensuring the final product meets their expectations.

However, from an experienced perspective, this photo restoration service may not be ideal for daily work or for fun due to the time-consuming process. If this old photo is very important to us and we are willing to spend more money and time to achieve this purpose, and we don't want to find photo restoration near me, Phowd is a good choice.

Check the processing performance (from the official site of Phowd ):

Pros:	Cons:
Offers good results.	Not suitable for daily work.
Different types of old photo restoration.	Finding retouchers can take time.
Can process any kind of image.	More expensive.

6. Img Kits - Photo Restoration & Colorize & Enhance

• Price: $5 for 10 image credits; $8.99/mo for unlimited credits
• Notable features: AI-assisted restoration, user-friendly interface, varied pricing.
• Rating: 8/10

Img Kits is a more under-the-radar tool in the realm of photo restoration, but its capabilities should not be overlooked. Primarily catering to professionals, the tool delivers decent features that prove useful in everyday tasks.

From my experience using the product, the platform's AI-assisted restoration service particularly stands out, capable of repairing faded colors, sharpening blurry images, and rectifying various types of damage caused by aging. Moreover, the user-friendly interface allows for easy upload and progress tracking.

Img Kits' processing effect is very similar to ImageColorizer, the color around the object is colored wrong.

The platform has room for improvement. For instance, it occasionally delivers below-average results, and the user interface could be better polished. Additional features would further enhance its appeal.

Pros:	Cons:
Easy to use.	Results can be below average at times.
Affordable prices.	Can add more features to old photo.
Automatic processing.	The UI can be better polished.

7. PhotoRestoration.AI

• Price: Free
• Notable features: AI-based restoration, user-friendly design
• Rating: 7/10

If you're often colorizing old photos to give them a new lease on life, PhotoRestoration.AI provide a good photo restoration service. The fact that it offers these services for free is a major bonus.

From the perspective of an AI expert, this tool's utilization of AI technology for fast and high-quality restoration results is commendable. Its user-friendly design enhances efficiency, making it a great choice for personal projects.

However, its limitations include a restricted feature set and a maximum resolution limit that could be increased.  And the processing time can be very slow sometimes. It's also worth noting that the tool may better suit cartoon style images rather than realistic photographs

Pros:	Cons:
Free to use.	Not many features.
Easy to use.	Max resolution limit can be increased.
Processes images quickly.	Better suited for cartoon style images.

8. Colourise.com

• Price: Free
• Compatibility: Online
• Notable features: AI-assisted restoration, easy-to-use interface, colorization.
• Rating: 8/10

As an AI-powered tool, Colourise.com serves a specific niche by focusing primarily on restoring colors to old photos. It offers these services free of charge, making it an accessible tool for many users.

The advanced algorithms it utilizes are quite impressive, capable of restoring and retouching old photos by adding lifelike colors to them.

After testing the product, as you can see from the image, I noticed that it lacks some essential features for comprehensive photo restoration. It seems there is only one color in the image, the skin color.

Pros:	Cons:
Photo restoration online is as easy as one click	Limited feature for old photo restoration
Use NVIDIA AI technology to remove unwanted items in old photos	Not comprehensive coloration
One of the best free online photo restoration tools

9. Photomyne

• Price: A three-day free trial; Paid plan costs $59.99/year.
• Notable features: Mobile compatibility, diverse tools, image editing.
• Rating: 7/10

Photomyne finds its strength in its mobile compatibility, making it an ideal choice for those who prefer to work on the go. It offers more than just photo restoration, including video colorization and family tree creation.

From my hands-on experience, Photomyne image restoration does well in providing basic image editing features, alongside its diverse set of functionalities.

However, some downsides were observed during testing. Its mobile apps can be buggy, the results sometimes underwhelming, and the website could benefit from an increase in tools.

Check the picture below, as you can see, Photoymne handles well. But the color is also not comprehensive enough, it seems to only change the song and blue. The items on the wall and the green plants have no color:

Pros:	Cons:
Higher accessibility.	Mobile apps can be buggy.
Offers some other great features.	Not comprehensive coloration
Good UI design.

10. jpgHD

• Price: Free with limited access to features and amount of images; Paid plans start from $5 for 50 images and offer full access to the app.
• Notable features: AI-based restoration, animation, and multiple tools.
• Rating: 7/10

jpgHD offers a robust suite of tools for photo restoration, including the conversion of images into animation, which is a feature that sets it apart from other tools.

The AI-based restoration feature can correct a wide range of imperfections, offering good performance during testing. And when I restore old photos, I can customize whether you want to colorize them or not, as well as choose the magnification.

Nevertheless, some areas for improvement include the low processing speed, and more exquisite UI interface.

Check the after processing picture, this tool does a good job of fixing the colors without any color overflow from the object, but the richness of the colors could be improved. For example, the green color of the plant and the dress color of the dress can be shown. And the image turns out very clear after upscaling.

Pros:	Cons:
Easy to use.	Limited free use.
Automatic processing.	The API can be improved.
Multiple tools.	Low processing speed

Top 10 Best Photo Restoration Software

1. Remini-AI Photo Restoration App

• Price: Free & Paid
• Compatibility: Online
• Rating: 10/10
• Notable features: AI generative technology, mobile compatibility, automatic restoration.

In my hands-on experience with the Remini image restoration tool, it stands out as an effective solution for those seeking to revamp low-quality old photos on mobile devices. Its ability to automatically rectify scratches and enhance images makes it especially appealing.

The application's use of AI to restore and colorize old photos was impressive. During my testing, the one-click restoration feature consistently produced improved image quality.

However, the application's major pitfall was its ad display, which I found intrusive and detrimental to the user experience.

Pros:	Cons:
Enhance and add colors to faded old photos	Show annoying ads when restoring old photos
Use AI picture restore technology restore old photos automatically

2. Photo Works

• Price: $27.5 /standard/1 year license（special offer $19.25）
• Compatibility: Windows
• Rating: 10/10
• Notable features: Non-AI integrated techniques, smart brushes, and sharpness tools.

As a seasoned image editor, I found Photo Works to be an adept tool for improving old photo quality. Its non-AI techniques blended with AI integration caught my attention.

Throughout my interaction with the software, the smart brushes and sharpness tools excelled in recovering the charm in old photos. Sliding adjustment features for saturation, light, tint, or clarity proved practical and efficient.

Notably, its paid-only nature can deter those looking for free tools.

Pros:	Cons:
Restoring old photos automatically	Not free to use
Provide editing tools to manually fix the details in old photos
Correct distortions and retouch portraits with the photo restoration software

3.   AKVIS Retoucher

• Price: $87/lifetime
• Compatibility: Windows & Mac
• Rating: 9/10
• Notable features: Effective defect removal, intelligent analysis, object replacement.

During my assessment, AKVIS Retoucher emerged as a competitive alternative to AI-based photo restoration software.

I appreciated the software's ability to eliminate unnecessary elements like date stamps and reinstate missing photo areas by extrapolating surrounding details. The performance of the software in removing dust, scratches, and restoring colors was commendable.

Yet, one downside is the software's demanding system requirements, which may exclude certain users.

Pros:	Cons:
Remove dusts and scratches of old photos effectively	Requirement for computer system
Eliminate date stamps, details and larger objects in old photos

4.  SoftOrbits Photo Retoucher

• Price: $49.99/one time payment
• Compatibility: Windows
• Rating: 8/10
• Notable features: User-friendly design, content-aware algorithms, imperfection masking.

SoftOrbits Photo Retoucher shines as a user-centric solution for rapid, efficient photo restoration.

After my evaluation, the software demonstrated its prowess in utilizing smart content-aware algorithms to correct old photos automatically and effectively. I found the software particularly skilled in reviving the lost parts of an image without compromising other details.

Despite its impressive performance, its inflexible one-time fee model and demanding system requirements may limit its accessibility for some users.

Pros:	Cons:
Use smart content-aware algorithms to fix defects in photos	Requirement for computer system
Clean up digitized old photos and remove unwanted objects	Inflexbile charging method, only one time fee supported

Rating: 9/10

5. Photo Glory

• Price: $19.25
• Compatibility: Windows
• Rating: 9/10
• Notable features: Comprehensive restoration features, color addition, toning effects.

From my analysis, Photo Glory serves as a dedicated tool for restoring various old photos, ideal for historical images or family mementos.

The software skillfully eliminated scratches and stains from scanned photos and even added colors to grayscale images. I appreciated the simplicity in applying toning effects, retouching, and cropping old images.

Despite its advantages, the software's compatibility is limited to Windows systems, and the lack of AI integration may discourage some users.

Pros:	Cons:
A comprehensive software for photo restoration	System requirement: Windows 10, 8, 7, XP, Vista
Add colors to black and white images	Only English language available
Advanced color correction technique	Not powered by AI, not automatic

6. Luminar 4

• Price:  $55/one time for full access
• Rating: 8/10

When using of Luminar 4, we found it to be a powerful software for routine photo restoration, making it a suitable choice for professional users seeking daily-use tools.

Despite being a feature-rich software, its automatic functions make it user-friendly, and the quality of the results was consistently high throughout my tests.

However, the trade-off is its somewhat lengthy processing time and relatively high price, which might be prohibitive for occasional users.

Pros:	Cons:
Good UI design.	Limited free use.
Provides great results.	Takes time to process.
Works on most systems.	Expensive.

7. Old Photo Restoration Software

• Price: Free download
• Rating: 8/10
• Notable features: User-friendly design, fast image processing.

Old Photo Restoration Software, this aptly-named software stands as an intuitive and straightforward tool for restoring old photos.

The process was simple, requiring only an image upload followed by slider adjustments and application of changes. The swift processing of images was a positive aspect.

However, there are occasional bugs and felt the software could benefit from a wider range of features.

Pros:	Cons:
Easy to use.	Limited free use.
Quick processing of images.	Can be buggy.
Light software.	Can add more features.

8. Vivid-Pix Restore

• Price: A free trial and $49.99/one time
• Compatibility: Windows and Mac
• Rating: 7/10
• Notable features: AI and patented algorithms, automatic color and brightness adjustment, manual customization tools.

Vivid-Pix Restore established itself as a robust software that leverages AI and proprietary algorithms for photo restoration.

Its automated adjustments of color, brightness, contrast, and sharpness stood out during my use, as did its manual tools for further customizations. The software's Smart Fix feature was particularly beneficial, suggesting a series of beneficial adjustments.

A possible downside was the software's occasionally slow processing times when I try restoring old photos, which can delay user workflows.

Pros:	Cons:
Quick processing.	Average results.
Good free trial.	Can add more features.
Automatic processing.	Takes time to process sometimes.

9. Retouch Pilot

• Price: A free demo;  Paid version costs 29.95 Euros.
• Rating: 7/10
• Notable features: Wide range of enhancement tools, Scratch Remover tool, color correction.

Retouch Pilot is a photo restoration software that offers a wide range of tools for enhancing old and damaged photos.

One of its key features is the Scratch Remover tool, which helps to eliminate scratches, dust, and other imperfections from photos. With this tool, users can easily restore old photos to their former glory, without the need for any professional skills or knowledge.

Additionally, Retouch Pilot offers a range of other useful features, such as color correction, image resizing, and perspective correction. Overall, it is a comprehensive image restoration solution that is easy to use and provides impressive results. This picture restoration software is also usable as a plugin for Adobe Photoshop and a few other compatible software applications.

During our testing, the software occasionally became unresponsive, slightly detracting from an otherwise impressive experience.

Pros:	Cons:
Plugin offered.	Limited free use.
Easy to use.	Can have more tools.
Good results.	Can be unresponsive.

10. PaintShop Pro

• Price: Depends on the plan you choose.
• Rating: 7/10
• Notable features: Comprehensive editing capabilities, Color Restoration feature, manual control over results.

From my use of PaintShop Pro, it is apparent that the software offers robust photo editing and graphic design capabilities.

During my testing, the Color Restoration feature performed well in reviving faded colors of old photos. It also offers various ways to restore old photos, providing the user with considerable control over the results.

A possible downside is its limited free use and lack of automated processing options, which could deter certain users.

Pros:	Cons:
The editor mode is comprehensive and useful.	Limited free use.
It provides pretty good results.	Can offer more features.
Multiple ways to restore old photos.	Automatic processing options can be included.

FAQ

1. How does AI restoration work?

Online photo restoration tools empower you to rectify imperfections, eliminate blemishes, boost luminosity, regenerate lost sections, and even introduce hues to age-old monochrome images. These solutions are automated and user-friendly. AI picture restoration platforms employ sophisticated algorithms and deep learning, breaking away from traditional methods such as supervised learning, to breathe life into old, faded, and impaired photos.

2. What is the effectiveness of NVIDIA AI Photo Restoration?

NVIDIA excels in filling in the gaps in photographic prints. Its system has been trained on an extensive range of hole variations. The AI algorithms it utilizes have gained significant proficiency in the reconstruction of images. To gauge its performance in a more tangible way, you might consider viewing the video below.

3. How to repair damaged photos with Photoshop?

Photoshop is a top-tier AI image revival tool that assists in the renovation of old photos. The process of restoring impaired photos using Photoshop necessitates advanced expertise, it will be too much longer to talk the step by step, so I suggest you watch this video below:

4. How to make photo restoration online?

An online picture restoration solution is what you require. For instance, VanceAI provides a holistic solution for enhancing old photos, comprising VanceAI Photo Restorer and VanceAI Photo Colorizer. By leveraging these tools, you can revitalize damaged photos by automatically eliminating fractures, scratches, and more from your images and then infuse some color into your old black and white photographs.

Conclusion

If you want AI tools for old photo restoration online free, VanceAI Photo Restorer and Colourise.com are worth trying out. When it comes to conventional means, there is no free picture restoration software listed in this post, but paid versions like AKVIS Retoucher can work as the best old photo restoration software. By comparison, old photo restoration using AI is more accessible than traditional solutions. But lacking editing features hinders you from customizing effects.

Old photos can connect us to the past and capture a wonderful moment with our beloved ones. Moreover, many old photographs have historical significance. They remind us of what happened in history and give us inspiration and the power to move on. If you happen to have old photos in your album, you want to share them with your families and friends to make them feel warm on this Thanksgiving Day, just use these photo restoration tools to make them better.

If you are going to try any of the tools here, don’t forget to share your fantastic experience. You can leave your comment below or subscribe to our YouTube channel for more AI reviews and valuable tricks. We also recommend you to read our ultimate best image upscaler review that can help you choose a suitable image upscaling tool.