Skip to content
SPECIFICTION
Get listed

Hotpot AI Photo Restorer

hotpot.ai

Free plan WebAPISelf-hosted
Visit hotpot.ai
Spec score 9.1 #2 of 28 in AI Image Enhancers

What it is

Hotpot AI Photo Restorer uses AI to reduce wear in old black-and-white and color photographs. It is designed to reduce scratches, sharpen faded details, and enhance faces. Style references include natural, cinematic, vintage, Polaroid, classic color, and several black-and-white finishes. The workflow is to upload a scan or photograph, choose or describe a finish, review the result, and download a copy. Color enhancement, batch processing, API access, web use, and self-hosted deployment are listed. The free plan costs nothing and allows two images daily. Commercial use is billed at $0.02 - $0.25 per image; API access requires payment with pricing by contact. AI may invent details, especially in damaged or unclear images, and results may be weak for groups of more than two people.

Spec sheet

What it does
Hotpot’s browser-based restorer processes color and black-and-white photos to reduce scratches, sharpen colors, and enhance faces.Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Purpose
Photo Restorer uses AI to reduce signs of wear and restore old black-and-white or color photographs.Read 8 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Free plan
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · hotpot.ai
API
The maker documents a paid SaaS API endpoint for picture restoration that accepts an image and a required withScratch true-or-false parameter, returning the restored image as binary data.Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Integrations
The maker describes API integration into an app, website, or workflow, but the opened product and developer pages do not name prebuilt third-party integrations.Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Support
Hotpot directs users who need help to contact the company through its Help page.Read 8 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
API access
Hotpot says API access requires payment and asks prospective users to contact it for access.Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
API and bulk use
Hotpot offers API access and no-code bulk creation for the restoration service; it says to contact the company for details.Read 8 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
API documentation depth
The API documentation includes endpoint descriptions, parameter requirements, accepted values, request examples, and response details for the restorer.Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Color sharpening
The restorer sharpens faded colors as part of its automated restoration.Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Commercial use
The maker says free images are limited by a CC BY-NC license and directs commercial users to buy credits.Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Company founded
A California business-entity directory reports Panabee LLC was filed on December 28, 2011.Read 21 Oct 2026 · bizprofile.net
Company headquarters
The same business directory lists Panabee LLC’s principal address in Palo Alto, California.Read 21 Oct 2026 · bizprofile.net
Company legal name
Hotpot’s privacy policy identifies Panabee LLC as the entity responsible for its services.Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Documentation and support
Hotpot provides a centralized API reference and a separate self-hosting page; API access and custom bulk-creation details are handled by contacting the company.Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Face enhancement
The restorer uses AI to enhance faces in damaged photos.Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Free access
The restorer can be used free without an account, with two free restorations per day reported by the product workflow and independent hands-on review.Read 21 Oct 2026 · shotkit.com
Group photos
Results vary, and the tool may not work well with photographs containing more than two people.Read 8 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Image handling
The product page says photos are not saved without user permission and are retained only as long as needed to run the machine-learning models.Read 8 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Installation
The restorer is available through the website and API, and the maker describes self-hosted containers; the opened pages do not offer a consumer desktop installer.Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Intended use
Hotpot describes the tool as suitable for lightweight consumer work and as a time-saving aid for professionals, while cautioning it cannot replace experts on demanding restorations.Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Invisible watermark
Hotpot says it may use invisible watermarks to identify its creations in legal disputes.Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Licence
The service is proprietary; the opened product and API pages offer paid access rather than publishing software source code or an open-source licence.Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Limit: demanding restoration
Hotpot cautions that its automated restoration cannot replace expert work on demanding restoration jobs.Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Limit: free volume and price clarity
A hands-on reviewer noted the two-image daily free limit and said users need to contact Hotpot to learn their exact per-image price.Read 21 Oct 2026 · shotkit.com
Limit: payment complaints
Trustpilot reviewers reported problems involving charges, refunds, or cancellation; these are individual complaints about Hotpot’s broader services, not specifically the restorer.Read 21 Oct 2026 · uk.trustpilot.com
Limit: support complaints
A Trustpilot reviewer reported difficulty obtaining a response to a refund request after a delayed photo order; this is an individual complaint about Hotpot, not specifically the restorer.Read 21 Oct 2026 · uk.trustpilot.com
Output caveat
AI may reinterpret or invent details, especially when the source is damaged or unclear.Read 8 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Photo types
The service supports both color and black-and-white photographs.Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Praise: ease and speed
A hands-on reviewer praised the free, no-account workflow as immediate and easy to try.Read 21 Oct 2026 · shotkit.com
Praise: restoration quality
A hands-on reviewer described the restoration results as good for the tested photos.Read 21 Oct 2026 · shotkit.com
Price range
The restorer page quotes volume pricing from $0.02 to $0.25 per image depending on volume, subscription, and co-marketing, with details available by contacting Hotpot.Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Pricing model
Hotpot sells credit packs and says credit costs depend on the tool and its settings.Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Privacy and security
Hotpot's privacy policy says it cannot guarantee absolute data security and that data may be transferred to and processed in the United States.Read 8 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Privacy handling
Hotpot says restored photos are not saved without permission and are retained only as long as needed to run its machine-learning models.Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Rating on G2
4.6 out of 5 from 75 reviews; the listing is for Hotpot.ai and includes multiple products, not a restorer-only rating.Read 21 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Rating on Trustpilot
2.1 out of 5 from 9 reviews; the company profile covers Hotpot.ai generally, not only the photo restorer.Read 21 Oct 2026 · uk.trustpilot.com
Repair features
The tool is designed to reduce scratches, sharpen faded details, and enhance faces in old photographs.Read 8 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Restoration styles
The web product offers selectable style references including natural, cinematic, vintage, Polaroid, and black-and-white finishes.Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Scratch removal
The product automatically removes scratches from photographs.Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
SDKs and code examples
The API documentation links to a GitHub repository with code examples; the opened documentation does not identify a dedicated SDK for the restorer.Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Security and compliance
The maker describes self-hosted air-gapped deployment as an option for organizations seeking data control and privacy; the opened pages do not claim a named security certification or compliance standard.Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Self-hosted pricing
Hotpot says self-hosted containers are generally priced by volume, starting at twice SaaS rates.Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Self-hosted privacy
Hotpot says self-hosted deployments can be configured as air-gapped systems so company data does not pass through a vendor system or reach the outside world.Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Self-hosting
Hotpot offers self-hosted containers and says the SaaS and container APIs use the same specification, with the hostname changed for self-hosted deployment.Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Styles
Style references include natural, cinematic, vintage, Polaroid, classic color, and several black-and-white finishes.Read 8 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
System requirements
The product is presented as a web service, and the opened maker pages do not state specific browser, operating-system, processor, or memory requirements.Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Workflow
Users upload a scan or photograph, choose a restoration style or describe a finish, review the result, and download a copy.Read 8 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai

Plans and prices

Free Free Free 2 images daily Read 20 Sep 2026 · hotpot.ai
Premium Price not published Unlimited use · Commercial use · Faster VIP speed · Private images · No ads Read 20 Sep 2026 · hotpot.ai
Free Free 2 restorations per day · free images limited to CC BY-NC use Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Credits $12, paid once 1,000 credits for $12; one-time payment covers access for 30 days Credit costs vary by tool and settings · commercial use requires payment Read 21 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
API Priced on request Contact us for pricing. API access requires payment Read 8 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai
Commercial use Priced on request $0.02 - $0.25 per image depending on volume, subscription, and co-marketing; contact for details. Buy credits for commercial use Read 8 Oct 2026 · hotpot.ai

Every Hotpot AI Photo Restorer plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Restores color and black-and-white photos
  • Scratch reduction and face enhancement
  • Batch processing available
  • API and self-hosted options
  • Free plan allows two images daily

Limits

  • AI may invent details
  • Group photos over two people may perform poorly
  • API access requires payment

Who it suits

It suits people restoring everyday photographs, including users needing color enhancement or batch processing. Organizations seeking greater data control can consider the self-hosted containers and air-gapped architecture described by Hotpot.

Verdict

Hotpot AI Photo Restorer offers guided AI restoration with style choices, color enhancement, batch processing, and API access. The free allowance supports occasional work, while image reinterpretation risks and paid API or commercial use matter for larger workflows.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to Hotpot AI Photo RestorerAll alternatives →