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Restory.pics vs RestorePhotos.me 2026: Why Restory Wins for AI Photo Restoration

January 2026: Comprehensive comparison of Restory.pics vs RestorePhotos.me. Discover why Restory offers better value with 50MB file size vs 1MB limit.

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Mark Tate

Restoration Expert & AI Photo Specialist

January 14, 2026
10 min read

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Restory.pics vs RestorePhotos.me 2026: Why Restory Wins for AI Photo Restoration

Restory.pics vs RestorePhotos.me 2026: Why Restory Wins for AI Photo Restoration

Looking for the best AI photo restoration service in 2026? This detailed comparison between Restory.pics and RestorePhotos.me (also known as RestorePhotos AI) reveals why Restory delivers better value, more features, and superior results for your precious family memories.

Quick Verdict: Restory.pics Wins

After comparing both platforms, Restory.pics emerges as the clear winner. Here's why:

  • Better Value: $8.99/mo for 25 credits vs $6.99/mo for unlimited (but with 1MB limit)
  • 50MB File Size vs RestorePhotos.me's Tiny 1MB Limit
  • Gallery Storage with Folders (RestorePhotos.me has none)
  • Video Animation from Restored Photos
  • Bulk Restore up to 10 Photos at Once
  • 4K Upscaling with Face Preservation
  • 5 Bonus AI Tools Included

See Restory's AI Colorization in Action

Watch how Restory transforms vintage black & white street scenes into vibrant, colorized memories.

Vintage 1960s black and white street scene Before
Colorized 1960s street scene with vibrant colors After

Vintage 1960s European street scene beautifully colorized with period-accurate colors by Restory's AI

Feature Comparison at a Glance

Feature Restory.pics RestorePhotos.me
AI Photo Restoration ✅ Era-accurate (1840-1990) ✅ Basic restoration
AI Colorization ✅ Period-appropriate tones ✅ Available
Max File Size 50MB Only 1MB!
AI Upscaling ✅ 4K with face preservation ⚠️ Basic enhancement only
Gallery Storage ✅ Cloud storage with folders ❌ Cloud storage (no organization)
Video Animation ✅ Create videos from photos ❌ Not available
Batch Processing ✅ Up to 10 photos at once ❌ One at a time
Pencil Sketch Effect ❌ Not available ✅ Available
Background Removal ❌ Not primary focus ✅ Available
Bonus AI Tools ✅ 5 tools included ❌ None
Free Trial ✅ 1 credit, no card required ❌ Requires account
Pricing ✅ From $8.99/month ✅ From $6.99/month

1. The Critical File Size Difference

The most significant limitation of RestorePhotos.me is its 1MB file size limit. This is extremely restrictive for photo restoration work.

Critical Issue: RestorePhotos.me only allows files up to 1MB. Most smartphone photos are 3-10MB, and scanned historical photos are often 5-50MB. This tiny limit makes RestorePhotos.me impractical for serious restoration work.

Restory.pics File Handling

  • 50MB Maximum: Handle any photo
  • High-Res Scans: Full quality uploads
  • No Compression Needed: Original quality preserved
  • JPG, PNG, TIFF, BMP, WEBP: All formats supported
Professional-Grade

RestorePhotos.me File Handling

  • 1MB Maximum: Very restrictive
  • Compression Required: Quality loss
  • Limited Uploads: Most photos too large
  • PNG, JPG, JPEG only: Fewer formats
Limited by 1MB Cap

2. Pricing Comparison: Value vs Raw Cost

While RestorePhotos.me appears cheaper at $6.99/month, the value proposition changes when you consider what you actually get.

Restory.pics - $8.99/month (Starter)

  • 25 credits/month (~25 restorations)
  • 50MB file size - no restrictions
  • Gallery with folders - organize everything
  • 4K upscaling - print-quality results
  • 5 bonus AI tools - thumbnail, try-on, etc.
  • Video animation (Memory Keeper+)
  • Bulk processing (Memory Keeper+)

RestorePhotos.me - $6.99/month

  • Unlimited photos (but limited by 1MB cap)
  • 1MB file size only - severely limiting
  • Cloud storage - basic, no organization
  • Fast processing - quick results
  • No ads - clean experience
  • No video animation
  • No bulk processing
The Real Cost: RestorePhotos.me's "unlimited" is worthless if your photos don't fit under 1MB. You'll spend time compressing images and losing quality. Restory's $2/month premium gets you 50x the file size limit and far more features.

3. RestorePhotos.me Admits AI Limitations

RestorePhotos.me explicitly acknowledges on their website that their AI has limitations:

From RestorePhotos.me: "AI-powered restoration software is not perfect. The software can sometimes make mistakes and produce unrealistic results. Users should maintain realistic expectations and be prepared to make manual adjustments when needed."

While all AI has limitations, Restory's specialized training on historical photos (1840-1990) and six category optimization produces more consistent, era-accurate results.

4. Exclusive Restory Features

Gallery Organization (Restory Exclusive)

  • Create custom folders for different collections
  • Tag photos by people, locations, keywords
  • Timeline view for chronological browsing
  • Before/After comparison views
  • Easy sharing with family

Video Animation (Restory Exclusive)

  • Transform restored photos into lifelike videos
  • Make loved ones hug, wave, or smile
  • Create shareable family memories

4K Upscaler (Restory Exclusive)

  • Enhance resolution for printing
  • Intelligent face preservation
  • Create large-format prints

Bonus AI Tools (Restory Exclusive)

  • YouTube Thumbnail Designer
  • Virtual Try-On
  • House Exterior Designer
  • Tattoo Designer
  • Workspace Upgrade Tool

5. Performance Comparison

Metric Restory.pics RestorePhotos.me
Processing Speed 3-15 seconds Fast (unspecified)
Max File Size 50MB 1MB
Batch Processing Up to 10 photos One at a time
Formats Supported JPG, PNG, TIFF, BMP, WEBP PNG, JPG, JPEG

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is RestorePhotos.me cheaper?

The lower price comes with severe limitations - most notably the 1MB file size cap. Most photos you want to restore won't fit under 1MB without quality-destroying compression.

Q: Is RestorePhotos.me's "unlimited" really unlimited?

Technically yes, but the 1MB file limit makes it impractical. You'll constantly hit the limit and need to compress your images, defeating the purpose of quality restoration.

Q: Which has better AI quality?

Restory's AI is specifically trained on historical photos from 1840-1990 with era-accurate color palettes. RestorePhotos.me acknowledges their AI "can sometimes make mistakes and produce unrealistic results."

Q: Can I organize my restored photos?

Restory offers gallery organization with folders, tagging, and timeline views. RestorePhotos.me has basic cloud storage without organizational features.

Conclusion: Restory.pics Delivers Superior Value

While RestorePhotos.me appears cheaper at $6.99/month, Restory.pics delivers dramatically better value for just $2 more. The 50x larger file size limit alone justifies the difference, and you also get gallery organization, video animation, 4K upscaling, bulk processing, and five bonus AI tools.

Final Verdict: Choose Restory.pics

  • 50MB file size vs 1MB - practical for real photos
  • Gallery with folders vs basic storage
  • Video animation and 4K upscaling included
  • 5 bonus AI tools at no extra cost
  • Era-accurate restoration from specialized AI

Upload photos up to 50MB - no compression needed