2025 Best 10 Softwares to Restore Old Photos without Losing Quality
With the passage of time, photographs tend to fade or lose color. It doesn't matter whether they are physical or come from digital files. Thanks to technology and AI-powered tools, it has become easy to retrieve old photos. You can do multiple things, such as remove scratches, color the black-and-white image, or get the details to be better.
Here, we will discuss the best photo restoration software that will work for both Windows and Mac users. These will be the top 10 software for the year 2024 and are considered the best software to restore old photos without losing their quality.
Part 1. How to Choose the Best Old Photo Restoration Software
When looking out for the best photo restoration software, you have to think of a number of factors, some of which are:
AI-Powered Features: AI tools have become the core thing in photography. With that, they are very quick. From these tools, you can expect them to perform scratch repair, color correction, and even facial enhancement, which, to be honest, are key in restoring old photos.
Ease of Use: Whether you are a beginner or a pro, ease of use is something that comes as a priority. However, professionals would also prefer customizable settings and more keyboard usage for the features.
Manual Editing Options: For fine-tuning, manual controls are quite important. AI might miss some of the important details, such as clone stamp or layer-based editing, so you need to have the authority to adjust color balance, contrast, and sharpness so that it looks as authentic as possible.
Cross-Platform Availability: It is very important to have flexibility in software because running on both Windows and Mac is an absolute must. Also, the features should stay the same as professionals really need everything to be the same if they are working on cross-platform.
Part 2. Top 10 Best Free Photo Restoration Software
1. HitPaw FotorPea - AI Photo Restoration
In a very short time, HitPaw FotorPea has become a very common choice for restoring old photos with the use of AI. It is ideal for beginners with vast options and easy usage. Its advanced AI is smart and can detect scratches and repair them along with faded details. For this reason, it is considered as one of the best choices for the best photo restoration software in 2024.
Key Features of HitPaw Photo Restoration:
HitPaw FotorPea - All-in-one Photo Editing Tool for Win & Mac
Secure Verified. 212,820 people have downloaded it.
- AI scratch repair to flawlessly restore old photos
- AI colorization to make black and white photos vivid
- Batch processing for multiple photos at the same time
- One-click enhancement o make blurry old photos clear
Secure Verified. 212,820 people have downloaded it.
Step-by-Step Guide to Restore Photos with HitPaw:
Step 1.Launch HitPaw FotorPea.
Step 2.Upload your old photo
Step 3.Choose the “Scratch Repair” tool
Step 4.Save your restored photo
AI Tools to Restore Old Photos by One Click
2. Adobe Photoshop
Whenever it comes to editing, Adobe Photoshop is the first name that pops up. It has quite advanced features to cover every detail. Its most features come with a paid version, but it is all worth it and makes it the best software for restoring old photos. Some of its features for restoring old photos are a healing brush, clone stamp, and reconstruction.
Pros:
- Powerful, professional-grade tools.
- Content-aware fill and advanced retouching tools.
- Highly customizable with plugins and additional brushes.
Cons:
- Subscription-based pricing can be expensive.
- Steep learning curve for beginners.
3. inPixio Photo Studio Pro 12
Pixi Photo Studio Pro 12 has some very useful AI features when it comes to restoring old photos. Whether you want to remove scratches or work on faded detail, you can do it with ease.
Pros:
- Easy to use with AI-based features.
- Affordable compared to Adobe Photoshop.
- One-click editing options.
Cons:
- Limited manual editing features for advanced users.
4. PhotoWorks
PhotoWorks is mainly considered for its quick processing system. Its AI tools are very accurate to detect and fix when it comes to old images. Not only this, but it also has very useful basic tools such as adjusting colors, exposure, and contrast.
Pros:
- Simple, user-friendly interface.
- AI tools for quick restoration.
- Affordable with both free and premium versions.
Cons:
- Limited advanced features for professionals.
5. PhotoGlory Pro
PhotoGlory Pro is considered one of the best photo restoration software because it works very efficiently for old photos. It also offers batch processing along with other very common and useful editing tools.
Pros:
- Batch processing for time efficiency.
- Excellent colorization tools.
- Simple to use for beginners.
Cons:
- Requires a paid version for most advanced features.
6. GIMP
GIMP is considered an alternate option for Adobe Photoshop Though it doesn't have built-in AI features, there is a number of manual features for restoring old photos, and with the practical customization options, this falls into the list of best free photo restoration software.
Pros:
- Free and open-source.
- Highly customizable with plugins and brushes.
- Powerful editing tools.
Cons:
- Lacks AI-powered features.
- Not very beginner-friendly.
7. Luminar Neo
If you are looking for a simple and useful AI photo editor, then Luminar Neo is for you. It comes with a very basic and easy-to-use interface to restore old photos and get the quality right for images.
Pros:
- AI-based restoration tools.
- Clean, intuitive interface.
- Available for both Windows and Mac.
Cons:
- Requires a subscription for full features.
8. Softorbits
Softorbits AI technology is very efficient as it automatically detects and fixes old photos, just to give you the best photo restoration.
Pros:
- AI-powered scratch removal.
- Supports various image formats.
- Easy to use for both beginners and professionals.
Cons:
- Limited features in the free version.
9. Akvis Retoucher
Akvis Retoucher is kind of an expert in removing scratches, spots and other issues. Its features and advancements in restoring old photos are something that you would really enjoy.
Pros:
- Advanced defect removal algorithms.
- Works on both Windows and Mac.
- High-quality output.
Cons:
- Expensive compared to other options.
10. Retouch Pilot
For removing defects like scratches and stains from your old photos, the Retouch Pilot is a feasible choice because it is quite lightweight and efficient.
Pros:
- Simple and user-friendly.
- Effective at removing small scratches.
Cons:
- Limited feature set.
- Not suitable for heavy restoration tasks.
Part 3. Comparison of Best Software for Photo Restoration
SOFTWARE
AI FEATURES
PLATFORM
PRICING
FREE VERSION AVAILABLE?
USER RATING (5)
Hitpaw Fotorpea
Yes
Win/Mac
Affordable
Yes
4.8
Adobe Photoshop
Limited AI
Win/Mac
Subscription
No
4.5
InPixio
Yes
Win/Mac
Moderate
No
4.2
Photoworks
Yes
Win/Mac
Free/Premium
Yes
4
PhotoGlory
Yes
Win/Mac
Paid
Yes (Limited)
4.3
GIMP
No
Win/Mac
Free
Yes
4.4
Luminar Neo
Yes
Win/Mac
Subscription
No
4.6
Softorbit
Yes
Win/Mac
Free/Premium
Yes
4.1
Akvis Retoucher
No
Win/Mac
Paid
No
4.3
Retouch Pilot
No
Win
Free/Paid
Yes
4
Part 4. FAQs about Best AI Photo Restoration Software
Q1. What is the best free photo restoration software?
A1. There are many options available, but GIMP is a good choice because of its manual tools for photo restoration.
Q2. Can AI restore old black-and-white photos?
A2. Yes, it can, and AI tools such as HitPaw FotorPea and PhotoGlory Pro come as a top contender for it.
Q3. What file formats do these software support?
A3. Most of the commonly used formats are supported by this software, such as JPEG, PNG, and TIFF, and some even support RAW.
Conclusion
Among the numerous options mentioned above for restoring old photos, HitPaw FotorPea stands as the top choice for 2024. It comes with a number of features and options, such as scratch repair, colorization, and enhancing the image.
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Daniel Walker
Editor-in-Chief
My passion lies in bridging the gap between cutting-edge technology and everyday creativity. With years of hands-on experience, I create content that not only informs but inspires our audience to embrace digital tools confidently.
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