Top 5 AI Photo Restoration Tools in 2026: Complete Comparison Guide
Looking for the best AI photo restoration tool? We tested BestPhotoAI, Remini, MyHeritage, VanceAI, and Fotor. Compare features, pricing, real user opinions, and results to find the perfect tool for restoring your old photos.
AI photo restoration has transformed how we preserve family memories in 2026. What once required hours of manual Photoshop work -- removing scratches, repairing tears, correcting faded colors, and sharpening blurry faces -- can now be done in seconds with the right AI tool. We spent 75+ hours testing the top AI photo restoration tools to help you find the right one for your needs.
Quick Answer: For the most versatile restoration with multiple AI models, free upscaling, and a full suite of 40+ editing tools, try BestPhotoAI. For standalone tools: Remini for quick mobile face enhancement, MyHeritage for genealogy-focused restoration, VanceAI for batch processing, Fotor for all-in-one editing.
Important Reality Check
No AI tool can perfectly reconstruct details that are completely missing from a photo. Severely damaged areas, completely blown-out highlights, or faces that are just a few pixels will be "hallucinated" by AI -- meaning the tool invents plausible details rather than recovering originals. Results vary significantly based on the quality of your source image. For best results, scan old photos at the highest resolution possible before running them through AI restoration.
The 5 Tools at a Glance
1. BestPhotoAI -- Best Overall
Scratch & Damage Removal
Face Enhancement
Color Restoration
Full Restoration
BestPhotoAI stands apart from dedicated restoration tools because it offers multiple AI models optimized for different restoration tasks. Need to remove scratches and repair tears? Use the image-to-image editor with a restoration prompt. Want to upscale a low-resolution scan? The free image upscaler handles that without costing a credit. Need to colorize a black-and-white photo? Multiple AI models can add historically accurate colors.
Unlike single-purpose restoration apps that apply one algorithm to every photo, BestPhotoAI lets you choose the right model for each task. GPT Image 1.5 excels at understanding context and filling in missing details intelligently. FLUX.2 delivers photorealistic results for face restoration. And the free upscaling tool lets you enlarge restored photos for printing without any additional cost. Combined with 40+ other tools -- background removal, person removal, object removal -- you have everything needed for a complete restoration workflow.
Why BestPhotoAI Ranks #1
- Multiple AI models: Choose the best model for each restoration task instead of being locked into one algorithm
- Free image upscaling: Enlarge restored photos for printing at no cost via the free upscaler
- Complete restoration workflow: Scratch removal, colorization, face enhancement, denoising, and upscaling all in one platform
- No watermarks: Even the free tier produces clean, watermark-free results
- 40+ additional tools: Background removal, object removal, and more for complete photo editing after restoration
- Step-by-step guide available: How to restore old photos with AI
Price: Free tier | Paid from $14/mo
2. Remini -- Best for Quick Mobile Face Enhancement
Remini is the most popular AI photo enhancement app on mobile, known for its impressive face restoration capabilities. Upload a blurry or low-resolution photo, and Remini's AI sharpens facial features, corrects skin textures, and enhances overall clarity in seconds. It's particularly effective for portrait-style photos where faces are the main subject.
The app supports both photo and video enhancement, with a web version available alongside iOS and Android apps. However, Remini is primarily a face enhancer rather than a full restoration suite -- it doesn't offer scratch removal, tear repair, or colorization as dedicated features. The free tier limits you to a small number of daily enhancements with watermarked results, pushing users toward the weekly subscription model.
What Users Complain About:
- • "I was charged $5.99 per week without realizing it. Canceling the subscription didn't stop the charges."
- • "Remini doesn't actually find detail in blurred photos -- it borrows facial features from its library, making people look like someone else."
- • "Recent updates removed the video enhancement and double enhance features. The app now takes longer to load and the history feature is gone."
- • "Excessive advertisements even with the paid version. Very little professionalism from customer support."
Price: Free (limited, watermarked) | Personal $6.99/week | Business $9.99/week
3. MyHeritage Photo Enhancer -- Best for Family & Genealogy Photos
MyHeritage is best known for its genealogy platform, but its Photo Enhancer has become a standout feature for anyone restoring family photos. The tool uses deep learning to sharpen blurry faces, increase image resolution, and restore faded details. Their In Color feature adds realistic colorization to black-and-white photos, and the viral Deep Nostalgia feature animates old portrait photos.
The Photo Enhancer works well on portrait photos and family snapshots, making it a natural fit for anyone working on family history projects. However, it's primarily part of a larger genealogy subscription, which means you're paying for family tree features, DNA matching, and historical records alongside photo tools. If you only need photo restoration, the pricing feels steep. The free tier offers just 5 enhancements before requiring a subscription.
What Users Complain About:
- • "The enhancer added glasses and a mustache to my grandmother's photo where they never existed -- the 'Groucho Marx effect' is real."
- • "I was charged $149 after canceling a free trial. Customer support was extremely difficult to reach."
- • "Enhanced photographs sometimes look too fake, more like a cartoon than a photo. The animation feature falls into the uncanny valley."
- • "Expensive if you only need photo enhancement -- you're forced to pay for the full genealogy platform."
Price: Free (5 enhancements) | Reimagine app $49.99/yr | Full platform from $129/yr
4. VanceAI Photo Restorer -- Best for Batch Processing
VanceAI offers a dedicated Photo Restorer that combines multiple AI models for scratch removal, color correction, face enhancement, and old photo colorization. The platform automatically analyzes each photo and applies the appropriate restoration techniques, making it a decent option for processing multiple photos at once.
The batch processing feature is VanceAI's main differentiator -- you can upload several damaged photos and have them restored simultaneously. The tool also includes separate AI enhancers for sharpening, denoising, and upscaling. However, the credit-based pricing system (1 credit per image) adds up quickly if you have a large collection. All uploaded images are deleted within 24 hours for privacy, which is a plus. The 2000x2000px upload limit can be restrictive for high-resolution scans.
What Users Complain About:
- • "Paid $33.99 for credits but faces came out distorted with garbled text and weird artifacts. The restored photo looked like a different person."
- • "The watermarked 'free trial' is misleading -- you can't actually see the full result without paying. It forces you into a subscription even for occasional use."
- • "Upload limit of 2000x2000px is frustrating when you have high-res scans. Poor customer service when requesting refunds."
- • "The credit system is confusing. You think you're getting 100 restorations but advanced features use multiple credits per image."
Price: Free (5 credits, watermarked) | From $5.94/mo (annual) for 100 credits | $9.90/mo (monthly)
5. Fotor AI Photo Restorer -- Best for All-in-One Editing
Fotor bundles AI photo restoration with its broader photo editing and design platform. The Old Photo Restorer can fix scratches, tears, creases, and holes while automatically detecting and reconstructing damaged or missing parts. It also includes face enhancement for blurry portraits, colorization for black-and-white images, and 2x upscaling without quality loss.
With over 300 million users, Fotor is a well-established platform that offers batch photo restoration alongside its suite of design tools, templates, and AI image generation. However, the restoration feature is locked behind a Pro or Pro+ subscription -- there is no way to test it online without starting a trial. The tool also has notable limitations: it's unsuitable for group photos, full-body shots, or distant views, and won't fix missing corners or large stains.
What Users Complain About:
- • "Tried the 7-day free trial with a 1970s wedding photo. The restoration result was actually worse than the original image."
- • "Fotor deceives you into a reduced annual subscription, then still makes you pay for credits before using features. It's a double paywall."
- • "Customer service was rude and unhelpful when I tried to cancel. Difficulty stopping the trial before being charged."
- • "Doesn't work on group photos or full-body shots. Only really handles close-up portraits. Limited detail restoration for anything beyond basic scratches."
Price: No free restoration (trial required) | Pro $8.99/mo or $39.99/yr | Pro+ $19.99/mo or $89.99/yr
Feature Comparison
| Feature | BestPhotoAI | Remini | MyHeritage | VanceAI | Fotor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Free | $6.99/week | $49.99/yr | $5.94/mo | $8.99/mo |
| Scratch Removal | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Colorization | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Face Enhancement | ✓ | ✓ (primary feature) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (portraits only) |
| Free Upscaling | ✓ Unlimited | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ (uses credits) | 2x (paid only) |
| Multiple AI Models | ✓ GPT 1.5, FLUX.2+ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Watermark-Free Results | ✓ All tiers | Paid only | ✓ | Paid only | Paid only |
| Batch Processing | ✓ | Business plan | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Platform | Web | Mobile + Web | Web + App | Web | Web + Desktop |
| Additional Tools | 40+ tools | Video enhance | Animation, genealogy | Enhancer, denoiser | Editor, design tools |
Why Multiple AI Models Matter for Photo Restoration
Most photo restoration tools use a single AI algorithm that applies the same processing to every image. This works for simple tasks but falls short when you need nuanced restoration. Here is why model choice matters:
Single-model tools (Remini, MyHeritage, VanceAI, Fotor):
- One algorithm for everything: The same AI handles face enhancement, scratch removal, and colorization -- it cannot excel at all tasks equally
- Fixed restoration style: If the AI hallucinates incorrect facial features or adds artifacts, you cannot switch to a different approach
- Limited damage handling: Scratches, tears, water damage, and fading each require different reconstruction techniques that one model cannot master
- No iterative refinement: You get one result and hope for the best -- there is no way to try a different AI interpretation
Multi-model platform (BestPhotoAI):
- Choose the right model for each task: Use GPT Image 1.5 for intelligent context-aware restoration, FLUX.2 for photorealistic face enhancement, or faster models for quick touch-ups
- Iterative workflow: Start with one model, switch to another if results are not ideal -- each AI interprets damage differently
- Specialized tools for each step: Remove scratches with image-to-image, upscale with the free upscaler, adjust colors with editing tools -- instead of relying on one automated process
- Stay current: As new restoration models launch, you get access without switching platforms or learning a new tool
This flexibility is especially important for restoration because every damaged photo is unique. A water-stained wedding photo needs different treatment than a scratched childhood portrait or a faded landscape from the 1950s. Having multiple AI models means you can match the tool to the damage.
What Users Actually Say
We collected real user feedback from reviews, forums, and community discussions. Here is the unfiltered truth about each platform:
On Remini:
"The enhanced faces don't look like the actual person anymore. It borrows features from its database rather than recovering what was actually in the photo. My grandmother looked like a completely different woman."
On MyHeritage:
"The AI added accessories that never existed in the original photo. It also makes some faces look cartoonish rather than photorealistic. The Deep Nostalgia animations are fun but fall into uncanny valley territory."
On VanceAI:
"Paid for credits expecting clean restorations but got distorted faces and artifacts. The watermarked free trial is basically useless -- you cannot evaluate quality without paying first."
On Fotor:
"The restoration made my photo look worse than the original. It only works on close-up portraits -- group photos, full-body shots, and landscapes are essentially unsupported. Plus you need a paid subscription just to try it."
On multi-model approaches:
"Being able to try different AI models on the same photo is a game-changer for restoration. One model might struggle with a specific type of damage while another handles it perfectly. You don't get that flexibility with single-purpose apps."
When to Use Each Tool
Choose BestPhotoAI if:
- • You need complete restoration control
- • Photos have varied types of damage
- • You want free upscaling after restoration
- • Multiple AI models matter to you
- • You also need other editing tools
Choose Remini if:
- • You only need face enhancement
- • Mobile-first workflow preferred
- • Quick one-tap results are enough
- • You also want video enhancement
Choose MyHeritage if:
- • You are building a family tree
- • Deep Nostalgia animation interests you
- • You already have a genealogy subscription
- • Photos are mostly family portraits
Choose VanceAI if:
- • You have many photos to process at once
- • Batch processing is a priority
- • Privacy matters (auto-delete in 24h)
- • Budget is moderate ($5.94/mo annual)
Choose Fotor if:
- • You also need a full photo editor
- • Design templates are important
- • You work with close-up portraits only
- • All-in-one platform preferred
Final Verdict: Which Should You Choose?
Choose BestPhotoAI for comprehensive photo restoration:
With multiple AI models, free upscaling, scratch removal, colorization, face enhancement, and 40+ additional tools, you get capabilities that span across what all competitors offer individually:
- Remini's strength: Face enhancement -- we have multiple AI models that restore faces without hallucinating incorrect features
- MyHeritage's strength: Colorization -- we offer AI-powered colorization with model choice for historically accurate results
- VanceAI's strength: Batch processing -- we support bulk restoration plus free upscaling for every restored image
- Fotor's strength: All-in-one editing -- we include 40+ tools for complete post-restoration editing
- Plus exclusives: Free image upscaling, multiple AI models, no watermarks on any tier, commercial rights on all plans
Ready to Restore Your Old Photos?
Multiple AI models, free image upscaling, scratch removal, colorization, face enhancement, 40+ editing tools
No credit card required • Free tier available
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free AI photo restoration tool in 2026?
BestPhotoAI offers the most generous free tier with watermark-free results and free image upscaling. Remini provides limited free enhancements but adds watermarks. VanceAI gives 5 free credits but also watermarks results. MyHeritage offers 5 free enhancements without watermarks but with very limited features.
Can AI restore severely damaged photos?
AI can handle scratches, tears, stains, fading, and moderate blur effectively. However, for severely damaged areas where most of the image data is missing, AI will "hallucinate" or invent plausible details rather than recovering originals. For best results, start with the highest resolution scan possible and use a multi-model platform like BestPhotoAI where you can try different AI approaches.
Why does Remini make faces look like different people?
Remini uses a single AI model that generates facial details from its training data rather than recovering actual features from the original photo. When a face is very blurry, the AI essentially invents new features that look realistic but may not match the original person. Multi-model platforms let you try different AI approaches to find one that stays closer to the original.
How do I upscale a restored photo for printing?
After restoring your photo, use an AI upscaler to increase resolution for print quality. BestPhotoAI offers free image upscaling with no credit cost. Most other tools charge for upscaling as a separate feature. For best print results, upscale to at least 300 DPI at your target print size.
Is MyHeritage worth it just for photo enhancement?
If you are only interested in photo restoration, MyHeritage is expensive since its subscription includes genealogy features, DNA matching, and historical records that you may not use. The Reimagine app at $49.99/year is more focused, but standalone restoration tools like BestPhotoAI or VanceAI offer more restoration features at a lower price point.
Can I colorize black-and-white photos with AI?
Yes. BestPhotoAI, MyHeritage, VanceAI, and Fotor all offer AI colorization. The quality varies -- BestPhotoAI lets you choose between different AI models for colorization, giving you more control over the result. MyHeritage's In Color feature is simple but effective for portraits. Remini does not currently offer colorization.
What should I scan old photos at before using AI restoration?
Scan at the highest resolution your scanner supports -- ideally 600 DPI or higher. Higher resolution scans give AI more data to work with, resulting in better restorations. Even if the original photo is small, a high-resolution scan captures subtle details that AI can enhance. Check our complete restoration guide for more scanning tips.
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