Ranking updated
Best apps to restore old photos in 2026
To restore, colorize and sharpen a damaged print in one tap, paying per photo with credits, AI Restore Old & Faded Photos. To turn a blurry or low resolution portrait into clear HD, Remini. To scan a whole album, slides or negatives first and restore as you go, Photomyne. To repair and colorize photos inside your family tree, MyHeritage. For a simple restore and colorize app, Renew. Full breakdown below.
How we picked: we read each app’s own App Store description for what it repairs, scratches, tears, fading, blur, black and white, how you get the photo in, from your library or by scanning a print, and what else it does with the result. We do not quote prices; check them in the store for your country. For everyday editing and filters, see our guide to photo editing apps.
Restore, colorize and sharpen in one tap
AI Restore Old & Faded Photos, published as RestMemo, puts three tools behind one tap: Restore removes scratches, tears, creases, stains and water damage and rebuilds faces and lost detail, Colorize turns black and white into natural color, and Enhance fixes blur and brings back resolution. You add a photo from your library or snap a printed one with the camera, then compare the original and the result with a slider. It can also animate a photo into a short video, upscale it for canvas prints or a TV, and keep your results in a private gallery synced across devices. It works on credits rather than a forced subscription, and the first restore is free.
Sharpen blurry and low resolution photos
Remini is built around turning old, blurry, grainy or pixelated photos into clear high definition in one tap: it sharpens faces, repairs old, blurry or scratched photos and lets you share before and after comparisons, which makes it a quick way to bring a vintage family album up to date. Renew focuses on old photo restoration: it removes scratches and damage, fixes blurry, faded or worn images, colorizes black and white photos and can combine people from different photos into one image, all behind a simple interface meant for every skill level.
Scan the albums first, then restore
Photomyne starts where most old photos are, in printed albums: it scans several prints in a single shot, as well as slides, negatives and scrapbook pages, with automatic cropping, rotation and color correction, and lets you add names, dates, places, stories and even the back of each photo. Its restore tools sharpen blurry faces, colorize black and white photos and bring back faded colors, and optional AI tools remove scratches, tears and glare. MyHeritage ties restoration to family history: you scan photos in the app, repair scratched or damaged ones with Photo Repair, colorize black and white pictures, bring blurry faces into focus with its Photo Enhancer and animate portraits, next to building your family tree.
| App | What it fixes | How you add photos | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Restore Old & Faded PhotosCensuusApp Store | scratches, tears, stains, water damage, fading, blur | photo library or camera | colorize, animate, upscale for prints |
| ReminiApp Store | blurry, grainy, low resolution and scratched photos | photo library | before and after comparisons |
| PhotomyneApp Store | faded colors, blurry faces, scratches and glare | scan several prints in one shot | albums with names, dates and stories |
| MyHeritageApp Store | scratched or damaged photos, blurry faces | scan from the app | colorize, animate, family tree |
| RenewApp Store | scratches, damage, blur and fading | photo library | colorize, combine people from two photos |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best app to restore old photos on iPhone?
It depends on the photos: AI Restore Old & Faded Photos for repair, colorizing and sharpening in one tap, Remini for blurry portraits, Photomyne for scanning whole albums and MyHeritage for photos in a family tree.
Can an app fix scratches and tears on an old photo?
Yes. AI Restore Old & Faded Photos removes scratches, tears, creases, stains and water damage, MyHeritage has Photo Repair and Renew removes scratches and damage.
Which app colorizes black and white photos?
AI Restore Old & Faded Photos, Photomyne, MyHeritage and Renew all describe colorizing black and white photos.
How do I digitize printed photos before restoring them?
Photomyne scans several printed photos in one shot, plus slides and negatives, and AI Restore Old & Faded Photos lets you snap a printed photo with the camera.