Best 4 AI Photo Restoration Tool: 2025 Guide

We ran a practical, side-by-side comparison of three leading photo restoration apps: LetsEnhance, HitPaw and DeeVid AI.

Tests: To keep things fair and authentic, we tested each tool on two damaged photos and measured them against the same three criteria:

Quality of restoration: To what extent did AI improve details, colors, and sharpness while staying faithful to the original?
Ease of use and speed: How intuitive the process is and how fast are the results delivered?
Affordability: Do the costs match the value of the restored photos?

If you’re ready to dive-in, let’s get started.

What is AI photo restoration?

AI photo restoration is the process of repairing, enhancing, and giving old or damaged photos another life. Instead of manually retouching scratches, fixing fading or guessing missing details in Photoshop, AI models are trained on millions of images to automatically reconstruct textures and sharpen details.

With just a single upload, the right AI software can:

Remove scratches, stains, and noise.
Restore sharpness and fine details that faded over time.
Fix lighting and contrast issues.
Add realistic colors to black-and-white photos.

Photo restoration with LetsEnhance: Fast, high-quality and affordable

LetsEnhance has a separate image restoration model called Old Photo that is built specifically for bringing back the damaged photos. This is what makes the results so much sharper and cleaner compared to general-purpose AI enhancers. Right under the upscalers, you’ll also find an Authentic mode optional toggle. If you turn it on, the AI will preserve more of the original photo’s characteristics and deliver a more natural and authentic look.

Advantages

High-quality restoration brings back fine details, sharpness, and color while staying true to the original photo.
LetsEnhance is super fast and beginner-friendly. It is fully web-based with cloud processing and finishes most jobs in seconds.
You can upload and restore as many images as you want simultaneously.
Available free trial with 10 credits to test out the results. Subscription plans start at just $9/month (noticeably cheaper compared to DeeVid and HitPaw) + available API access through Claid.ai for businesses.

Disadvantages

Each run is slightly different, sometimes it’s worth running the same photo again to get the version you prefer.
Free usage is limited, but you can buy one time purchase bundle credits that never expire.

How to restore an old photo with LetsEnhance

Log into LetsEnhance.
Upload your image either by dragging and dropping, browsing, or importing from Google Drive or Files.
From the six available upscalers, choose Old Image.
(Optional) Switch on Authentic mode if you want to preserve the original color palette and off if you want to colorize it.
Click Enhance and wait a few seconds for the magic to happen.
When it’s ready, download and preview the restored photo in full size to compare before and after.

💡 Pro tip: If the Old Image restoration alone isn’t quite enough, you can push it further by upscaling the result through the Ultra. This model is designed for maximum sharpness and detail.

With the Ultra upscaler, you also get more control over the final look. The Size of changes feature lets you decide how far the AI should go in terms of keeping the original. Intensity adjusts how strong the restoration is. You can also use Light AI to fix lighting and colors, and a Background remover that works on photos up to 16 MP.

Here’s the before-and-after after running LetsEnhance’s Old Image restoration through the Ultra model with these settings: Size of changes 0, Intensity 10, Light AI off.

Though the results with Old Image are already quite satisfactory, this is a lifehack for those you want to get sharper details on their old photo collection.

Photo restoration with HitPaw: High quality but locked behind downloads

HitPaw positions itself as an all-in-one AI tool with a wide range of models and templates. One of the big inconveniences is that HitPaw does not offer a browser-based option, though the application itself is straightforward and beginner-friendly.

You need to download the desktop application for Windows or Mac before you can test it. For some users, this extra step may feel frustrating, especially if they just want to just get to know the tool.

Advantages

Has a dedicated Image Restoration model, just like LetsEnhance
The application is straightforward and beginner-friendly.
The restoration quality is quite high and it also does an excellent job at restoring original colors and fine details.
It offers a wide variety of AI models such as Gemini, Flux, GPT, Bytedance, and Stable Diffusion. This makes it suitable not only for restoration but also for other creative use cases.
HitPaw also includes several creative templates like Nano Banana, AI Style, and Magic Scenarios, which expand its possibilities.
It supports custom aspect ratios, so you are not limited to the original format only.

Disadvantages

HitPaw does not support web-based photo processing and users must first download the desktop app.
Processing times are slower but the results are delivered under 1 min.
The trial version is extremely limited. You cannot preview or export results without a watermark for most of the core features.
Even within the trial, usage is heavily restricted. You only get 2 tries with AI Generator, 3 tries for background removal, 3 for face swap, 5 for AI background generation, and 3 for image reconstruction.
Pricing is relatively expensive as subscriptions start at $29.99 per month for 100 credits, or $99.99 per year for 500 credits and $179.99 for a perpetual license with 800 credits.

Step-by-step guide to restore old photo with HitPaw

Download the application for Windows or Mac.
Choose Image Restoration from the available models.
Upload the original image by dropping or clicking.
Click on the Generate button and wait for about 1 min.
Once the restoration is done, use the download icon or zoom button to preview the watermarked result.

Bringing old photos back with Picsart. Quick but not natural

Picsart is widely known as an all-in-one creative editor, and its photo restoration features are built into its broader AI editing suite. There are two main ways to restore an old photo with Picsart:

1. Enhance the photo’s overall quality, remove scratches and add color manually, or 2. Use Edit with AI tool and restore with a prompt.

Advantages

The Edit with AI tool makes the process straightforward: upload an image, type a short prompt, and instantly get two restored variations.
The interface is clean, modern, and very user-friendly for beginners.
No extra manual steps needed when using the Edit with AI tool.
Available across both web and mobile platforms and is integrated into a full editing suite
A 7-day free trial is available, which is enough time to properly test it.
Subscription costs start at just $5/month and are among the lowest in the industry.

Disadvantages

Picsart is not a dedicated restoration app but rather a general editing platform that happens to include AI features.
The path to restoration is a bit unclear, since users must decide between manual editing, which is time-consuming and AI prompt-based editing, which is faster but less natural.
The Edit with AI option can sometimes produce results that feel artificial, with overly smooth or softened textures.
There are no fine-tuning controls with Edit with AI for sharpness, detail, or intensity, which makes it harder to adjust the output to your liking.

How to restore an old photo with Picsart

Log into Picsart օn desktop or mobile.
Upload your photo, click on it and choose Edit with AI.
Type a simple prompt (for example: “restore and colorize this old photo”).
Wait a few seconds to receive two variations, then download the one that looks best.

For manual editing, follow these steps:

Upload your image and click AI Enhance to improve the quality.
After the process is completed, click on Remove, choose the brush size and manually remove the scratches from the photo. This may be time-consuming as you need to carefully go into details.
After that you have full control over your final result. You can go to the Adjust section and play around with light, colors, details and HSL.
You can also go to the Effects section and try out some existing effects and overlays. It’s all up to you.

Old photo enhancement with MyHeritage: simple color + repair, but less precision

MyHeritage is better known for genealogy, but its photo tools let users enhance, colorize, and fix old images with minimal clicks. Its strength lies in simplicity, though it’s not as powerful or customizable as dedicated restoration apps.

Advantages

Enhancing color and sharpness is very simple and requires a few clicks.
The processing speed is fast, and most photos are restored within about 30 seconds.
The platform is accessible and easy to use on the web, and it also offers apps for iOS and Android, making it convenient across devices.
A generous 14-day free trial is available, and after that the subscription costs $7.83 per month when billed annually, making it one of the most affordable options in the industry.

Disadvantages

Restoring an old photo often requires multiple steps such as Colorize, Enhance, and Repair, instead of restoring the image with a single click.
The interface feels outdated, which can make the overall experience less smooth.
For severely damaged or very low-quality originals, the repair capability is limited, and the results are not always sharp or accurate.
Overall quality is lower compared to more advanced alternatives, especially with color enhancement.
Batch processing is not supported, so unlike LetsEnhance or HitPaw, you cannot restore multiple images at once.

Restoring old image with MyHeritage

Go to MyHeritage and sign in.
From the menu choose Photos and Enhance Photos
Upload your photo and wait a few seconds for the result.
After this process, we recommend to also choose Colorize and Repair for a better result.
That’s it. You can download and use your restored image as you wish. Your photos will be saved in the My Photos section in the menu.

What is the best AI photo restoration tool?

The truth is, the best AI photo restoration tool depends on what you need and expect from the process. Each of the software tested brings something valuable to the table.

LetsEnhance
Best overall value. At just $9 for 100 credits or $24 for 300, it’s the most affordable option while still offering a model built specifically for old photos. If your main goal is to restore and sharpen large batches of family albums or archives without breaking the bank, LetsEnhance is the smartest pick. It’s also web-based, so you don’t need to install anything.
Picsart
Best for budget-conscious users who want something quick and simple. With a 7-day free trial and plans starting at just $5/month, it’s the cheapest option here. The Edit with AI feature restores photos in seconds, but results often look artificial. You can also restore the image manually but that’s time-consuming compared to dedicated apps.
HitPaw
Best for desktop users who want more variety. Priced at $29.99/month for 100 credits, it’s noticeably more expensive, but it includes a wide range of AI models and templates beyond restoration. If you’re planning to use AI for other creative projects and prefer having a desktop app, HitPaw may justify the cost.
MyHeritage
Best for beginners who want a simple and fast process. With a few clicks, you can restore the image even if you’ve never tried AI apps before.The downside is less realistic and lower quality results compared to LetsEnhance, but the second cheapest option with $7.83/month.

FAQ

What are the top 10 tools to restore photos?
The best choice depends on your needs, budget, and expectations. Based on our testing and industry research, here are 10 of the most recognized websites in 2025:

1. LetsEnhance: Affordable, web-based, with a dedicated model for old images.

2. HitPaw: Desktop app with multiple AI models and templates beyond restoration.

3. Picsart: Cheap all-in-one editor with both manual and AI restoration options

4. MyHeritage: Beginner-friendly mobile and web app with fast results.

5. Adobe Photoshop CC: Powerful with all the tools needed for scratch removal and enhancement. Manual involvement needed.

6. Fotor: Online photo editor with built-in AI repair and enhancement tools.

7. VanceAI: Web-based platform offering both restoration and general upscaling.

8. GIMP: Alternative for Photoshop. Less “automated” help built in and more manual work required for complex repairs.

9. Hotpot AI: Simple web app that focuses on restoring scratches and color.

10. Luminar Neo: Offers AI-based enhancements and non-destructive editing workflows.

What are the key features to look for in a photo restoration app?
The most important features are restoration quality, ease of use, and speed. A good app should repair scratches, be beginner-friendly and fast enough to handle large batches of photos.

Can AI restore black and white photos in color?Absolutely, some tools include colorization features, allowing you to turn old black-and-white family photos into realistic color images.

Is AI photo restoration worth paying for?Yes, especially if you’re working with important family memories or need consistent results. Free trials are useful for testing, but paid plans unlock advanced features. For individuals, subscriptions like LetsEnhance’s $9/month plan are affordable and offer excellent value. For professionals or businesses who need to restore photos at scale, Claid.ai’s API would be the best solution.

Which AI photo restoration app is best for beginners?
If you’re just getting started, look for a fully web-based tool with one-click restoration. LetsEnhance is a strong option here because it’s intuitive, fast, and doesn’t require any downloads. You simply upload a photo, choose the Old Image model, and click Enhance. The free trial with 10 credits also gives beginners a chance to test the process without commitment.

Why restore old photos digitally?
Old printed photos naturally fade and get physically damaged over time. Digital restoration not only restores but also preserves them for the future. You can easily create backups, print in high resolution, share with family or use restored versions in albums. It’s the most reliable way to make sure memories don’t disappear with age.