Why Your Old Photos Deserve Better Than a Dusty Shoebox
Every family has them — a stack of faded photographs tucked inside an album, a drawer, or (let's be honest) a cardboard box in the closet. Maybe it's your grandparents' wedding photo with a crack running right through their faces. Maybe it's a childhood snapshot so faded you can barely make out the colors.
The good news? Photo restoration software has come a long way. Thanks to AI, you no longer need to spend hours in Photoshop manually cloning out every scratch. The best tools in 2026 can remove damage, sharpen blurry faces, colorize black-and-white images, and upscale low-resolution scans — often with a single click.
We tested over a dozen options to find the ones that actually deliver. Here are the 10 best photo restoration software picks for 2026, from AI-powered online tools to professional desktop applications.
What to Look for in Photo Restoration Software
Before we dive into the list, here's what separates genuinely useful restoration software from glorified Instagram filters:
- Scratch and damage repair — Can it detect and remove cracks, tears, stains, and creases automatically?
- Face enhancement — Old photos almost always have blurry or damaged faces. The best tools use AI models specifically trained on facial reconstruction.
- Colorization — Turning a black-and-white photo into color is one of the most requested features. Accuracy matters — nobody wants a green-skinned grandma.
- Upscaling — Many scanned photos are low-resolution. AI upscaling can add detail without making things look mushy.
- Ease of use — Not everyone has photo editing experience. One-click processing is a huge plus.
- Output quality — Does the restored image look natural, or does it have that over-processed AI sheen?
- Pricing — Some tools are genuinely free. Others use the word "free" very loosely.
With those criteria in mind, let's get into it.
1. Adobe Photoshop — Best for Professional-Quality Restoration
Let's start with the obvious choice. Photoshop has been the gold standard for photo editing since before most AI tools existed, and it's only gotten better with its Neural Filters.
The Photo Restoration Neural Filter (introduced in late 2023 and continuously improved) is Photoshop's answer to the AI restoration wave. It automatically detects scratches, reduces noise, enhances faces, and fixes color degradation. You get sliders for "Photo Enhancement," "Enhance Face," and "Scratch Reduction" that let you fine-tune exactly how aggressive the restoration should be.
But here's where Photoshop really separates itself: you can combine the Neural Filter with manual tools. After the AI does its pass, you can use the Clone Stamp, Healing Brush, and Content-Aware Fill to manually fix anything the algorithm missed. The non-destructive layer system means you can always undo changes without losing your original.
Pros
- Unmatched manual editing control on top of AI features
- Non-destructive workflow with layers
- Excellent for complex damage that automated tools can't handle
- Works with any image format and resolution
- Generative Fill can reconstruct missing portions of a photo
Cons
- Steep learning curve for beginners
- Subscription required ($11.99/month for the Photography Plan)
- Overkill if you just need quick one-click fixes
Best for: Photographers, designers, and anyone who wants full control over the restoration process. If the photo has sentimental value and needs to look perfect, this is your tool.
Pricing: $11.99/month (Photography Plan, includes Lightroom). 7-day free trial available.
2. Remini — Best Mobile App for Quick Restoration
Remini blew up on social media for a reason: it takes a blurry, low-resolution photo and makes it look like it was taken with a modern camera. The AI is especially impressive with faces — it can reconstruct facial features from images where you can barely see eyes or mouths.
The app works on both iOS and Android, and the process is dead simple: upload a photo, tap "Enhance," and wait about 10 seconds. The results are consistently impressive for portrait restoration, though it can sometimes over-smooth skin textures (a common AI tradeoff).
Where Remini falls short is non-portrait content. Landscapes, group photos, and architectural shots don't get the same treatment — the AI is clearly trained primarily on faces.
Pros
- Incredible face reconstruction from very low-resolution images
- Extremely easy to use — no editing skills needed
- Fast processing (under 15 seconds)
- Available on mobile and web
Cons
- Limited free usage (daily credits)
- Can over-smooth or alter facial features slightly
- Weak performance on non-portrait images
- Aggressive upsell prompts in the app
Best for: Quickly restoring old portrait photos on your phone. Great for sharing results on social media.
Pricing: Free trial available. Weekly subscription at $6.99/week, or annual plans from $29.99/year.
3. VanceAI Photo Restorer — Best All-in-One Online Tool
VanceAI has built one of the most comprehensive AI restoration platforms available. It's browser-based (no downloads needed) and bundles multiple tools: scratch removal, face enhancement, colorization, denoising, and upscaling — all powered by separate AI models that work together.
What sets VanceAI apart is how well it handles the combination of issues that old photos typically have. Most vintage photos aren't just scratched — they're scratched, faded, noisy, AND blurry. VanceAI's workflow lets you chain multiple restorations together, applying scratch removal first, then face enhancement, then upscaling.
The results are genuinely good, especially for 1950s-1980s era photographs. Faces come out sharp and natural-looking, and the scratch detection is among the best we've tested.
Pros
- Multiple AI tools in one platform (restore, colorize, upscale, denoise)
- No software installation required
- Batch processing for multiple photos
- Strong scratch and tear detection
- High-resolution output
Cons
- Free plan is very limited (5 credits/month)
- Processing can be slow during peak hours
- Requires an internet connection
- Some advanced features are paywalled
Best for: Users who want a complete online restoration suite without installing anything. Great for batch-processing family albums.
Pricing: 5 free credits/month. Paid plans from $5.94/month (annual billing) for 100 credits.
4. MyHeritage Photo Enhancer — Best for Face Enhancement and Animation
MyHeritage started as a genealogy platform but became a viral sensation with its Deep Nostalgia feature — an AI that animates still photographs to make people appear to blink, smile, and look around. Love it or find it slightly unsettling, there's no denying the technology is impressive.
Beyond the party trick, MyHeritage's Photo Enhancer is genuinely excellent for faces. The AI adds remarkable detail to blurry portraits: sharpening eyes, defining jawlines, and adding texture to hair. It's the best tool we tested for turning a grainy 1940s portrait into something that looks like a modern photograph.
The limitation is focus. MyHeritage is built for faces and does not perform as well on landscapes, buildings, or full-scene restorations. It also integrates with their genealogy tools, which is either a bonus or an unwanted upsell depending on your perspective.
Pros
- Best-in-class face enhancement
- Deep Nostalgia animation is unique and engaging
- Simple one-click interface
- Integrates with family tree research
Cons
- Very limited free tier (5 enhancements)
- Not effective for non-portrait restoration
- Can sometimes alter facial features beyond enhancement
- Genealogy platform integration feels forced
Best for: Restoring old family portraits and creating animated memories for sharing. If faces are your priority, this is the tool.
Pricing: 5 free enhancements. Premium from $7.83/month (annual billing). 14-day free trial available.
5. Topaz Photo AI — Best Desktop Software for Upscaling and Sharpening
Topaz Photo AI takes a different approach from most tools on this list. Instead of trying to be an everything-in-one restoration suite, it focuses on three things and does them exceptionally well: denoising, sharpening, and upscaling.
The AI models in Topaz are trained specifically on photographic degradation patterns. This means they understand the difference between film grain (which you might want to preserve) and digital noise (which you want to remove). The sharpening algorithm is particularly impressive — it can recover detail from out-of-focus images without creating the halos and artifacts that plague cheaper tools.
For upscaling, Topaz consistently outperforms browser-based alternatives. It can take a 500×700 pixel scan and produce a clean, detailed 2000×2800 output that's suitable for printing. This makes it ideal for anyone who wants to create large prints from old scanned photos.
Pros
- Best-in-class denoising, sharpening, and upscaling
- Understands the difference between film grain and noise
- Processes images locally — no upload or internet required
- Batch processing with consistent results
- Excellent for creating print-quality enlargements
Cons
- Does not repair scratches or tears (you'll need another tool for that)
- No colorization feature
- Expensive compared to online tools
- Requires a decent computer (GPU-accelerated processing)
Best for: Photographers who need high-quality upscaling and sharpening. Pair it with another tool for scratch removal, and it's unbeatable for final image quality.
Pricing: $58/month or $252/year. Free trial available (watermarked outputs).
6. Fotor — Best Free Browser-Based Option
Fotor is one of the few tools that offers genuinely useful photo restoration for free, right in your browser. The AI Old Photo Restoration tool handles scratch removal, color correction, and face enhancement in a single click. It also includes a separate colorization tool for black-and-white images.
The quality isn't on par with Photoshop or Topaz, but for a free tool, the results are surprisingly good. Fotor handles moderate damage well — light scratches, fading, and color shifts get cleaned up effectively. It struggles more with heavy damage like large tears or water stains, where the AI tends to blur rather than reconstruct.
What makes Fotor stand out is the no-friction experience. No account required for basic use, no watermarks on free exports, and processing takes under 30 seconds. If you just need to quickly clean up a few old photos, this is the fastest path from "uploaded" to "done."
Pros
- Free to use with no watermarks
- No account required
- Simple one-click interface
- Includes colorization, upscaling, and background removal
- Batch processing available
Cons
- Restoration quality is decent but not exceptional
- Struggles with severe damage
- Free tier has limited daily uses
- Can over-smooth fine details
Best for: Casual users who want quick, free restoration without installing software or creating accounts.
Pricing: Free tier available. Fotor Pro from $8.99/month for full features.
7. LetsEnhance — Best Value for Batch Processing
LetsEnhance specializes in AI image enhancement and has a dedicated restoration model trained specifically on old photographs. It's a web-based tool that balances quality with affordability — their credit system ($9 for 100 images) makes it one of the cheapest per-image options available.
The restoration model does a solid job with typical vintage photo issues: fading, minor scratches, noise, and softness. The platform also includes separate models for upscaling (up to 16x), which works well for enlarging old wallet-sized prints to poster quality.
Where LetsEnhance shines is batch processing. You can upload an entire folder of scanned photos and apply restoration + upscaling to all of them at once. This makes it the best option for digitizing a full family photo album efficiently.
Pros
- Very affordable per-image pricing
- Dedicated old photo restoration model
- Up to 16x upscaling
- Efficient batch processing
- No software installation
Cons
- No free plan (only a limited trial)
- Scratch removal isn't as precise as VanceAI
- Colorization not included
- Results can look slightly artificial at extreme upscale levels
Best for: Processing large batches of old photos affordably. Ideal for digitizing entire photo albums or archives.
Pricing: Starts at $9 for 100 credits (one-time) or $24 for 300 credits. Subscription plans also available.
8. GIMP — Best Free Desktop Alternative
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is the free, open-source answer to Photoshop. It won't hold your hand with AI automation, but it gives you every manual tool you need to restore photos properly — Clone tool, Healing tool, Curves, Levels, masking, layers, and more.
The trade-off is clear: GIMP requires skill and patience. Restoring a single heavily damaged photo might take 30 minutes to an hour. But the results can be better than any AI tool because you're making every decision yourself. You control exactly how scratches are removed, how colors are corrected, and how much sharpening is applied.
GIMP also supports plugins, and the community has developed several restoration-focused add-ons over the years. Combined with a free AI upscaler for the final step, GIMP can produce professional-quality results at zero cost.
Pros
- Completely free and open-source
- Full manual control over every aspect of restoration
- Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux
- Extensive plugin ecosystem
- No subscription, no watermarks, no limits
Cons
- No AI-assisted restoration (entirely manual)
- Steep learning curve
- Time-intensive for complex restorations
- Interface is dated compared to modern alternatives
Best for: Budget-conscious users with some photo editing experience who want full control. Great when combined with an AI tool for initial cleanup.
Pricing: Free.
9. Picsart — Best for Casual Mobile and Web Use
Picsart has evolved from a simple mobile photo editor into a full creative platform, and their AI photo restoration tool is surprisingly capable. Available on both mobile (iOS/Android) and web, it offers one-click restoration that handles scratches, fading, and blur automatically.
The restoration quality sits in the middle of the pack — better than basic free tools, but not as precise as VanceAI or Photoshop. Where Picsart wins is the complete creative package: after restoring a photo, you can add borders, text, stickers, create collages, or apply artistic filters — all within the same app.
The free tier is more generous than most competitors, giving you access to basic restoration and editing tools without a subscription. The premium plan unlocks higher-quality outputs and removes ads.
Pros
- Available on mobile and web
- Generous free tier
- Full creative suite beyond just restoration
- Active community and templates
- Affordable premium pricing
Cons
- Restoration quality is decent but not best-in-class
- Can feel cluttered with features unrelated to restoration
- Ads on free tier
- Premium features require subscription
Best for: Casual users who want restoration plus creative editing tools in one app. Good for social media-focused workflows.
Pricing: Free tier available. Picsart Gold from $5/month (annual billing). 7-day free trial.
10. PhotoGlory — Best Beginner-Friendly Desktop Software
PhotoGlory is built specifically for photo restoration and targets users who want desktop software without Photoshop's complexity. The interface walks you through the restoration process step by step: auto-correction first, then scratch removal, then colorization.
The automatic tools are genuinely beginner-friendly. The AI colorization is one-click and produces reasonably natural results. The scratch removal tool lets you paint over damaged areas and the software fills them in automatically. It's not as powerful as Photoshop's Content-Aware Fill, but it handles common damage types (scratches, stains, creases) well enough for most use cases.
PhotoGlory also includes tools for fixing perspective distortion (common in photos of photos), cropping, and basic color grading. It's a self-contained restoration workflow that doesn't try to be a general-purpose photo editor.
Pros
- Purpose-built for photo restoration
- Guided step-by-step workflow
- One-click colorization
- Affordable one-time purchase (no subscription)
- Low system requirements
Cons
- Less powerful than Photoshop for complex repairs
- AI features are basic compared to online tools
- Windows only
- No batch processing
Best for: Beginners who want dedicated restoration software without a subscription. Good for older computers that can't run Photoshop.
Pricing: One-time purchase from $19.25 (Standard) to $42.50 (Deluxe). Free trial available.
Comparison Table: All 10 Tools at a Glance
| Tool | Type | AI Scratch Removal | Colorization | Face Enhancement | Free Tier | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Photoshop | Desktop | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | 7-day trial | $11.99/mo |
| Remini | Mobile/Web | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | Daily credits | $29.99/yr |
| VanceAI | Web | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | 5 credits/mo | $5.94/mo |
| MyHeritage | Web | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | 5 enhances | $7.83/mo |
| Topaz Photo AI | Desktop | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | Trial | $58/mo |
| Fotor | Web | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Yes (no watermark) | $8.99/mo |
| LetsEnhance | Web | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | Limited trial | $9/100 credits |
| GIMP | Desktop | Manual only | Manual only | Manual only | 100% free | Free |
| Picsart | Mobile/Web | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Yes | $5/mo |
| PhotoGlory | Desktop | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | Trial | $19.25 (one-time) |
How to Get the Best Results from Photo Restoration Software
No matter which tool you choose, these tips will help you get better results:
Start with the Best Scan Possible
The quality of your restoration depends heavily on the quality of your scan. Use a flatbed scanner at 600 DPI or higher for prints. If you're scanning negatives or slides, use a dedicated film scanner or a scanner with a transparency adapter.
Avoid taking a photo of a photo with your phone — it introduces glare, perspective distortion, and reduced resolution. If a phone is your only option, use a document scanning app like Adobe Scan or Google PhotoScan that automatically corrects perspective and removes glare.
Work on a Copy, Not the Original File
Always duplicate your scanned image before making changes. This seems obvious, but it's easy to accidentally save over your original, especially in tools that don't use non-destructive editing. Keep the original scan in a separate folder.
Don't Over-Process
AI restoration tools are impressive, but they can overdo it. Over-sharpening creates unnatural halos. Over-aggressive scratch removal can destroy fine detail. Over-colorization produces garish, unrealistic results.
If your tool has strength sliders, start at 50-70% and increase only if needed. A slightly imperfect restoration that looks natural is always better than a "perfect" one that looks fake.
Combine Multiple Tools
No single tool does everything perfectly. A common professional workflow is:
- VanceAI or Fotor for initial scratch removal and damage repair
- Remini or MyHeritage for face enhancement
- Topaz Photo AI for final sharpening and upscaling
- Photoshop or GIMP for manual touch-ups on anything the AI missed
This multi-tool approach consistently produces better results than relying on any single application.
Pay Attention to Faces
Faces are where people's eyes go first, so they're where you should focus your restoration effort. A photo with a slightly scratched background but a clear, sharp face will look far better than one where everything is equally mediocre. If you can only afford one premium tool, choose the one that handles faces best (Remini or MyHeritage).
AI vs. Manual Photo Restoration: Which Approach Is Right?
This isn't an either/or decision. Here's a practical framework:
Use AI-only restoration when:
- The photo has typical age damage (fading, light scratches, softness)
- You're processing a large batch of photos
- You need results quickly
- The photo is for personal use, not professional printing
Add manual editing when:
- The photo has severe structural damage (large tears, missing sections)
- AI tools are altering faces or adding incorrect details
- The photo has high sentimental value and needs to be perfect
- You're creating a print larger than 8×10 inches
Use a professional restoration service when:
- The photo is irreplaceable and severely damaged
- You need museum-quality results
- The damage is beyond what AI can handle (heavy water damage, large missing areas)
For most people restoring family photos, AI tools will handle 80-90% of the work. A quick manual pass in Photoshop or GIMP for the remaining 10-20% gets you to professional quality.
Beyond Restoration: What Else Can AI Do with Old Photos?
Once you've restored your old photos, AI opens up some creative possibilities worth exploring:
- Colorization: Black-and-white photos can be converted to realistic color. Tools like MyHeritage, Palette.fm, and VanceAI all offer this.
- Animation: MyHeritage's Deep Nostalgia or similar tools can create short animations from still photos. These make great gifts or social media posts.
- Upscaling for printing: Take a small wallet photo and upscale it to poster size with Topaz or LetsEnhance. Frame-worthy results from a 2-inch original.
- Style transfer: Turn a restored photo into a painting, sketch, or illustration using AI image generators. This is a popular way to create unique wall art from family photos.
- Video creation: Create short videos from restored photos with music and transitions — perfect for family gatherings, memorial slideshows, or anniversary celebrations.
Final Verdict: Which Photo Restoration Software Should You Use?
There's no single "best" tool — it depends on your situation:
- For professional-quality results with full control: Adobe Photoshop
- For quick mobile restoration: Remini
- For the best all-in-one online tool: VanceAI Photo Restorer
- For face-focused enhancement: MyHeritage Photo Enhancer
- For the best upscaling and sharpening: Topaz Photo AI
- For free browser-based restoration: Fotor
- For affordable batch processing: LetsEnhance
- For free desktop editing: GIMP
- For casual mobile editing: Picsart
- For beginners who want simple desktop software: PhotoGlory
If you're just starting out, try Fotor (free, no account needed) or VanceAI (5 free credits) to see what AI restoration can do. If the results aren't good enough, step up to Photoshop or combine multiple tools for a professional workflow.
Your old photos won't last forever on their own. But with the right software, the memories they capture can.