Memento AI vs SoftOrbits Photo Retoucher

Memento AI restores old photos by repairing scratches, sharpening blurry faces, and refreshing faded color. It can also make a color version of a black-and-white image. Each restoration is separate from the original, and users can compare the result with the source before saving. The app accesses the selected photo through the system photo picker or camera and sends that image to an AI restoration service; it says unrelated library photos are not uploaded. AI estimates details and color from the image, so it cannot verify information missing from the original. Pro restoration History remains in the app’s private local container and is not synced to an account or cloud history service. Memento is available on iOS and macOS. The listing requires iOS 18.0 or later and iPadOS 18.0 or later for iPad. Mac requires macOS 15.0 or later and an Apple M1 chip or later, and the app is not verified for macOS. The free Standard plan saves restorations without a watermark. Memento Pro Annual adds HD export and private on-device History for $36.99 a year, billed through Apple.

SoftOrbits Photo Retoucher uses AI tools to restore old and damaged photos, addressing imperfections, noise, and blur while colorizing black-and-white images. It can detect scratches, dust, and print damage; the maker says the process preserves film grain. A face-restoration model is intended for blurry, scratched, or low-resolution pictures, and the product page says images can be enlarged up to 800%. Generative AI removes unwanted objects and restores backgrounds, while brushes and cleanup layers support localized manual corrections. Batch processing can handle multiple pictures or a whole folder. Desktop restoration runs locally without an internet connection, and the maker says photos are not uploaded to a server. The browser tool supports PNG, JPEG, JPG, WebP, and HEIC. Severe damage or missing areas may need manual touch-ups; the maker says it has tested images up to 25 megapixels. The software does not control a scanner, but scanned photos can be opened for restoration. A free trial is available, and the online tool can restore a photo or two at no cost. The product is paid, with no free plan.