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6 Best Free Photo Restoration Tools in 2026

6 min read
Quick Answer

EditThisPic is the best free photo restoration tool in 2026. Upload a damaged or faded photo and describe what you need: 'restore this old photo, fix the scratches, and bring back the color.' The AI repairs damage, enhances faded areas, and can colorize black-and-white photos. No signup required.

How We Tested Photo Restoration Tools

We scanned three damaged photos for testing: a scratched 1970s wedding photo, a faded and yellowed 1950s family portrait, and a torn black-and-white photo from the 1940s. We evaluated how well each tool handled scratch repair, color restoration, face clarity improvement, and colorization of the black-and-white image.

Which Restoration Tool Should You Use?

EditThisPic is the most versatile because text prompts let you address specific damage: scratches, fading, tears, and color issues in targeted descriptions. Remini is the best choice when face clarity is the priority—it dramatically improves blurry or small faces. MyHeritage offers the best colorization and genealogy integration. For scanning physical albums, Photomyne handles the capture step.

Step-by-Step Guide

1

Scan Your Old Photo

Use a flatbed scanner at 300+ DPI, or photograph it with a smartphone in even lighting. Avoid flash, which creates glare. A scanning app like Photomyne can help capture cleanly.

2

Upload and Describe the Damage

Drop the scan into EditThisPic and describe specifically what needs fixing: 'fix the scratches across the faces, restore the faded colors, and brighten the overall image.'

3

Download Your Restored Photo

Compare the result with the original. For treasured family photos, you may want to do multiple passes: first fix physical damage, then enhance colors, then improve faces.

Try These Tools

Photo Restoration Photo Colorization Photo Enhancement Scratch Repair

Frequently Asked Questions

AI handles moderate damage well: scratches, fading, mild tears, and color loss. Heavily damaged photos with large missing sections are more challenging. For irreplaceable photos, start with AI and consult a professional restorer for anything the AI can't handle.
A flatbed scanner at 300-600 DPI produces the best results. If using a phone, photograph in even natural light with the camera parallel to the photo. Avoid shadows and flash. Clean the photo surface gently first.
AI colorization is impressive but not historically accurate. The AI guesses colors based on context—skin tones, sky, grass. The results look natural but may not match the original colors. For family photos, it's a wonderful approximation.
Good restoration preserves the vintage character while fixing damage. In EditThisPic, you can be specific: 'fix the scratches and fading but keep the vintage feel.' This repairs damage without making a 1960s photo look like it was taken yesterday.
AI can fix many water damage effects: staining, color bleeding, and warping artifacts in the scan. Severely warped physical photos should be carefully flattened before scanning for the best digital restoration.

Bring Old Photos Back to Life

Upload a damaged or faded photo and describe what needs fixing. AI restoration in seconds.

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