FilmLab From $5/mo · Free plan 9.3 Visit FilmBox by Photomyne
photomyne.com
What it is
FilmBox by Photomyne turns film negatives into digital photos with a smartphone. The app guides users to hold a strip vertically in front of a backlight and capture it; its scanning algorithm reverses the negative colors and enhances the image. A computer screen can supply the light, or users can open Photomyne’s web backlight source. FilmBox supports iOS and Android, and Photomyne says photos can also be accessed on a computer. A free option covers limited scanning, with the App Store listing describing the first few photos as free. Paid memberships add unlimited scanning, saving and sharing in print quality, backup, enhancements, and access on other devices and online. Membership is billed yearly; the One-Shot plan is a single upfront payment valid for two years. Photomyne says most information is saved to the cloud for backup, using AWS systems in the United States and Ireland. Support is listed at [email protected].
Spec sheet
- What it does
- FilmBox converts camera-film negatives into digital photos using a smartphone and offers backup and computer access.Read 14 Oct 2026 · photomyne.com
- Purpose
- FilmBox turns film negatives into digital photos using a smartphone, with backup and computer access.Read 8 Oct 2026 · photomyne.com
- Integrations
- The app can use a computer screen as a backlight source, or a backlight link provided inside the app.Read 8 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Support
- The app listings direct users to [email protected] for assistance.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Headquarters
- Bnei Brak, IsraelRead 28 Sep 2026 · photomyne.com
- Company
- Photomyne says it was founded in 2014.Read 8 Oct 2026 · photomyne.com
- AI scanning
- The app uses an AI-powered scanning algorithm to reveal negatives and automatically invert their colors.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Android availability
- Google Play lists FilmBox for phones and tablets, with more than 1 million downloads.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Backlight
- Photomyne provides a web backlight source for scanning slides or negatives with its apps.Read 8 Oct 2026 · photomyne.com
- Backlight workflow
- Users are instructed to place the film strip vertically in front of a computer backlight or the app-provided backlight link.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Capture control
- Scanning starts by long-pressing the capture button, and the iPhone listing also supports saying “Go” with voice control enabled.Read 14 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Cloud access
- Membership provides photo backup plus access from other devices and online.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Company founding
- LinkedIn lists Photomyne as founded in 2014.Read 14 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
- Company headquarters
- LinkedIn lists headquarters in Bnei Brak, Merkaz, Israel.Read 14 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
- Company legal name
- Crunchbase identifies the legal entity as Photomyne Ltd.Read 14 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
- Company size
- LinkedIn lists the company in the 11–50 employee range and describes a 22-person team.Read 14 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
- Enhancement tools
- The product page describes editing, cropping and colorizing tools for processed images.Read 14 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Extensibility restriction
- The terms prohibit copying, reverse engineering, decompiling, source-code discovery, scraping and derivative works.Read 14 Oct 2026 · d3ebpjo8i5k1d2.cloudfront.net
- Free usage
- The first few photos are available without payment, while unlimited use requires an in-app plan.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Free use limit
- The App Store listing says the first few photos are free and paid plans are optional for unlimited use.Read 8 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- How to scan
- The app instructs users to place a film strip vertically in front of a backlight and capture it in the app.Read 8 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Image enhancement
- FilmBox automatically enhances scanned negative images after color inversion.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Licence
- The terms describe FilmBox as proprietary software and grant only a personal, nonexclusive, nontransferable, revocable, limited license.Read 14 Oct 2026 · d3ebpjo8i5k1d2.cloudfront.net
- Limit: advertisements
- Google Play reviewers complained about 30-second commercials during scanning, while an Apple reviewer reported ads even after paying.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Limit: capture quality
- The Japan Camera Hunter test found glare, distortion and inaccurate crops when negatives were not held precisely flat and aligned.Read 14 Oct 2026 · japancamerahunter.com
- Limit: cropping
- Reviewers repeatedly reported incorrect automatic crops, sometimes losing most of the frame or producing skewed images.Read 14 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Limit: desktop access
- A Google Play reviewer reported that photos visible on mobile sometimes appeared unavailable through the desktop interface.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Limit: film format
- The independent Japan Camera Hunter test reported that the app was limited to cropping 35mm film at the time of review.Read 14 Oct 2026 · japancamerahunter.com
- Limit: free tier export
- The Japan Camera Hunter review said its first seven trial images could be viewed but not exported without subscribing and removing the watermark.Read 14 Oct 2026 · japancamerahunter.com
- Limit: scanner quality
- Japan Camera Hunter concluded that phone captures could not replace a proper scanner for serious work and had visibly lower image quality.Read 14 Oct 2026 · japancamerahunter.com
- Limit: subscription clarity
- A Google Play reviewer said the app appeared free until export required a three-day trial that automatically converted to paid subscription unless cancelled.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Notable update
- Google Play records an app update on August 24, 2026.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- One-time plan duration
- The App Store listing says its upfront One-Time plan is valid for 2 years.Read 8 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Ownership and funding
- Crunchbase lists Photomyne as privately held, with seed and Series A rounds and founders Nir Tzemah, Omer Shoor, Natalie Verter and Yair Segalovitz.Read 14 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
- Paid features
- The App Store listing describes unlimited scanning, photo saving and sharing, backup, and access on other devices and online as paid features.Read 8 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Platform
- The US App Store listing identifies FilmBox as an iPhone app; Photomyne says photos can also be accessed on a computer.Read 8 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Praise: ease of use
- A German App Store reviewer reported that scanning decades-old negatives, quality, and colorization worked well.Read 14 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Praise: preview workflow
- A UK App Store reviewer found it useful for quickly pre-digitizing negatives and selecting images for later full-quality scanning.Read 14 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Praise: results
- An Apple reviewer said the app processed negatives well and produced pleasing colors.Read 14 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Privacy and data
- Photomyne says most information is saved to the cloud for backup and that its systems use AWS in the United States and Ireland.Read 8 Oct 2026 · photomyne.com
- Privacy compliance
- Photomyne’s privacy policy includes disclosures about rights under the EU and UK GDPR.Read 8 Oct 2026 · photomyne.com
- Privacy disclosures
- The iOS listing says purchases, contact information, user content, identifiers, usage data and diagnostics may be linked to the user, with identifiers used for tracking.Read 14 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Rating on Apple App Store
- 4.4 out of 5 from 6.2K ratingsRead 14 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Rating on Google Play
- 3.5 out of 5 from 24.8K reviewsRead 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Saving
- Paid access allows unlimited saving of scanned photos to the phone.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Scanning
- The scanning algorithm automatically inverts negative colors and enhances the image.Read 8 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Security: deletion
- Google Play states that users can request deletion of collected data.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Security: encryption
- Google Play states that data is encrypted in transit.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Sharing
- Paid access allows unlimited photo sharing and collage sharing is advertised in the app description.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- System requirements
- The current UK App Store listing requires iOS 17.6 or later; Mac use requires macOS 14.6 or later and an Apple M1-or-newer Mac.Read 14 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Web access
- Photomyne terms say website access is available for FilmBox accounts through the Photomyne portal.Read 14 Oct 2026 · d3ebpjo8i5k1d2.cloudfront.net
Plans and prices
FilmBox Basic Free Limited film negative scanning · saving · sharing Read 8 Oct 2026 · photomyne.com
Unlimited (Monthly) $9.99 a month auto-renewing unlimited scanning · saving and sharing · photo backup and online/device access Read 14 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
FilmBox membership $19.99, paid once single purchase membership access Read 14 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Unlimited (Yearly) $39.99 a year auto-renewing unlimited scanning · saving and sharing · photo backup and online/device access Read 14 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Unlimited scanning (2 years) $49.99, paid once single upfront payment; valid for 2 years unlimited scanning · saving and sharing · photo backup and online/device access Read 14 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Scanning Suite $59.99 a year after 3-day free trial; auto-renews until cancelled Photomyne Photo Scan · SlideScan · FilmBox · Colorize · cloud backup · online access · ad-free use Read 14 Oct 2026 · photomyne.com
FilmBox One-Shot Membership Price not published Single upfront payment; price varies by promotion, time of year, location and more. Unlimited scanning · saving and sharing in print quality · photo backup and access on other devices and online · enhancements Read 8 Oct 2026 · photomyne.com
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Automatically reverses negative colors and enhances scans
- Can use a computer screen as a backlight
- Photos can be accessed on a computer
- Paid plans include backup and online access
Limits
- Free scanning is limited to the first few photos
- One-Shot plan is valid for two years
Who it suits
FilmBox suits people digitizing film negatives with a smartphone who also want photo backup or computer access. Its free option is limited, while paid memberships add unlimited scanning and additional saving and access features.
FilmBox by Photomyne in depth
Read the full write-up
FilmBox by Photomyne converts film negatives into digital images with a smartphone, guided positioning and automatic image processing. It is best for families and hobbyists who want a phone-based route rather than a dedicated scanner. The paid tiers make it a workable archive tool; the free tier is mainly for sampling the process.
Overview
FilmBox asks you to place a strip vertically in front of a light source and photograph it in the app. It then reverses the negative colors and applies automatic enhancement. That removes the most tedious technical steps, although the result still depends on how evenly you can position the strip and illuminate it.
A computer display can act as the backlight, and Photomyne supplies a web backlight link for its apps. This is a practical convenience when you do not own a purpose-built light panel. The service also provides computer access to photos, while most information is stored in the cloud for backup. Photomyne says its AWS systems operate in the United States and Ireland, and its privacy policy addresses EU and UK GDPR rights; users who keep family archives online should consider that storage model.
Key features
Guided negative capture
The vertical-strip instruction gives the phone workflow a clear physical setup. Automatic inversion means you do not need to understand negative color correction before starting, and automatic enhancement handles a further adjustment pass. That suits occasional users and family-history projects more than photographers seeking detailed manual control.
Backup and sharing
Paid access includes unlimited scanning, saving and sharing in print quality, cloud backup, access on other devices and online, plus enhancements. Those capabilities turn a phone experiment into a collection-management service. They are less compelling if you only need a handful of scans or intend to keep files solely on your own storage.
Pricing
PlanPrice and termIncludesFilmBox BasicfreeLimited film-negative scanning, saving and sharingFilmBox MembershipCustom pricing; billed Yearly recurring subscriptionUnlimited scanning; print-quality saving and sharing; photo backup and access on other devices and online; enhancementsFilmBox One-Shot MembershipCustom pricing; billed Single upfront paymentUnlimited scanning; print-quality saving and sharing; photo backup and access on other devices and online; enhancementsThe free tier covers only the first few photos, so it is suitable for checking whether the workflow fits you, not for digitizing a box of negatives. The yearly membership is the natural choice for an active scanning project that benefits from continued access and backup. The upfront One-Shot plan avoids recurring billing, but its stated validity is two years, so it is not a permanent license. Photomyne says paid prices vary with promotion, time of year and location; neither paid plan has a published amount here.
Platforms
FilmBox supports iOS and Android, with photos accessible on the web and on a computer. The US App Store identifies it as an iPhone app. The computer and web options matter when you want to review or retrieve scans beyond the phone used for capture.
Who it's for
Choose FilmBox if you have negatives but no dedicated scanner, want guided capture, and value cloud backup and access across devices. It is particularly well suited to a finite family archive when a two-year upfront term is preferable to an ongoing subscription. It is a weaker fit for large, long-term collections if recurring cloud costs are unwelcome, or for users who require extensive manual color and scan controls.
Pros and cons
Pros: Automatic color inversion and enhancement reduce technical work; a phone camera and computer-screen backlight lower the equipment barrier; paid plans combine unlimited scanning with print-quality sharing, backup and online access.
Cons: The free allowance ends after the first few photos; paid pricing is promotion- and location-dependent; the One-Shot plan lasts two years rather than indefinitely; cloud storage places most information on Photomyne's infrastructure.
Alternatives
Photo Scanning Software is the broader category to browse when you want to compare scanning tools rather than commit to FilmBox's phone workflow.
FilmLab is the better alternative when Linux, macOS or Windows support matters alongside Android and iOS; it also offers free educator licenses by request.
Google Photos suits users who want a general Android, iOS and web photo library rather than a negative-scanning-focused app.
Nostalgia is worth choosing for restoration and family-vault features, with a free plan that includes monthly restore and storage limits.
Brother iPrint&Scan is the choice when you own a supported Brother machine and need a free scanner companion.
SlideScan by Photomyne is the closer match for slides instead of film negatives, using a similar freemium structure.
MyHeritage Mobile App fits genealogy projects centered on family trees and document storage.
PaperScan is for Windows users who need TWAIN/WIA batch scanning, including a paid unlimited-batch Home Edition.
SilverFast is preferable when you want paid desktop scanning software with film profiles and one-time licenses.
Verdict
FilmBox is a sensible choice for people digitizing negatives with a phone who want automatic processing, cloud backup and access beyond the capture device. Its main reason to choose it is the guided, low-equipment workflow; its main reason to look elsewhere is the small free allowance and the cost and duration trade-offs of paid access.
Verdict
FilmBox pairs guided negative scanning with automatic color reversal and enhancement.
Where Specifiction places it
- Photo Scanning Software#2 of 299.2
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