Kolorize

AI colorization that rebuilds true color in old black-and-white photographs.

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Screenshot of Kolorize, AI colorization that rebuilds true color in old black-and-white photographs

What is Kolorize?

Kolorize is a colorize drawing tool. Kolorize colorizes black-and-white and sepia photos with proprietary AI models, generating several color passes per upload so you can preview free and pay only when you download. No account is needed to try, files are deleted after processing, and results are licensed for commercial use.

Kolorize is a web-based colorizer for black-and-white photography. You drop in a monochrome image, the model reads its tone, grain and subject context, and a full-color version comes back in seconds. The site pitches itself as the pioneer of the category since 2023 and reports more than 120,000 people using it to restore historical photos. Uploads are capped at 4096 by 4096 pixels, and anything larger is downscaled automatically before processing. JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, HEIC and AVIF files are accepted, and finished images download as high-quality JPGs. The workflow is deliberately narrow: one upload box, no sliders, no masking tools and no editing skill required. Instead of a single output, Kolorize generates several color interpretations of the same photograph so you can slide between the original and each pass and keep whichever feels faithful. It also detects whether a file was shot in black and white, sepia-toned or printed in faded color, then either introduces new color or restores the original hues. The stated aim is era-accurate reconstruction rather than a flat tint, which the team says comes at the cost of a few extra seconds compared with generic one-click filters. Family historians and archivists are the obvious audience, along with photographers handling inherited negatives, documentarians and anyone sitting on a shoebox of prints. Privacy is handled by processing over an encrypted connection and deleting files once work finishes, and the vendor states that no human views or retouches submissions. Colorized output is yours to use commercially without extra licensing. Against general-purpose image editors and filter apps, Kolorize trades flexibility for a single well-defined job. It will not retouch scratches, upscale resolution or composite layers. Credit accounting is the main friction: previews cost nothing, but each download spends a credit, and credits expire after two years.

How do you use Kolorize?

  1. 1Open the colorizer and drop in a photo
    Go to the homepage and drag a black-and-white image onto the upload area, or browse for a file. Keep it within 4096 by 4096 pixels; JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, HEIC and AVIF are accepted.
    Kolorize — Open the colorizer and drop in a photo
  2. 2Let the model process the image
    The AI analyzes tone, texture and context to infer plausible colors. Most photos finish in 3 to 8 seconds, and no settings need to be configured.
  3. 3Compare the colorized variations
    Several color interpretations are produced for each upload. Slide between the original and each pass to see what changed, then keep the version that matches your memory of the scene.
  4. 4Download at full resolution
    Downloading a finished image costs one credit and returns a high-quality JPG. Re-downloading the same image at the same resolution does not spend another credit.
  5. 5Check the gallery for reference results
    Browse the public gallery to see how the model handles different eras, subjects and source conditions before committing your own photographs.
    Kolorize — Check the gallery for reference results
  6. 6Colorize video footage too
    A separate video page extends the same colorization approach to motion footage for projects that go beyond still photographs.
    Kolorize — Colorize video footage too

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Free, no-signup previews let you judge results on your own photographs before spending anything.AI
  • Multiple color interpretations per photo, with a slider comparison against the original.AI
  • Preserves grain, focus and original resolution, adding color beneath the image rather than over it.AI
  • Handles sepia and faded color prints as well as true black and white, detecting the source type first.AI
  • Commercial use of colorized output is included with no extra licensing fees.AI

Cons

  • Every download costs a credit, so bulk restoration of an album adds up quickly.AI
  • Uploads above 4096 by 4096 pixels are downscaled, which rules out high-resolution archival scans.AI
  • Only colorization is offered, with no dust, scratch or tear repair for damaged vintage prints.AI
  • Results are statistical predictions, so there is no guarantee of matching the original scene's real colors.AI
  • Purchased credits expire after two years, which penalizes occasional users.AI

How much does Kolorize cost?

Free trial

No account or payment is required to preview results: upload a photo and see colorized variations for free. Only downloads consume credits.

Learn more

Pricing

Kolorize uses a credit system: previews are always free, and one credit is spent per download. Re-downloading the same processed image at the same resolution is free, and credits stay valid for two years. The pricing page advertises a 20 percent discount, though the homepage does not list per-credit rates.

Learn more

Support

Answers to common questions about formats, accuracy, processing time, credits and licensing appear in an FAQ on the homepage. No dedicated help centre or contact channel is listed on the site pages provided.

Features

Proprietary colorization models trained on millions of restorations, several color passes per upload with before and after comparison, detection of black-and-white versus sepia versus faded color sources, preservation of grain and resolution, 3 to 8 second processing, automatic downscaling above 4096 by 4096, high-quality JPG downloads, encrypted transfer with files deleted after processing, and a separate video colorizer.

Frequently asked questions about Kolorize

  • How much does Kolorize cost?
    Kolorize uses a credit system: previews are always free, and one credit is spent per download. Re-downloading the same processed image at the same resolution is free, and credits stay valid for two years. The pricing page advertises a 20 percent discount, though the homepage does not list per-credit rates.
  • Does Kolorize offer a free trial?
    No account or payment is required to preview results: upload a photo and see colorized variations for free. Only downloads consume credits.
  • How do you use Kolorize?
    The walkthrough on this page covers 6 steps: 1. Open the colorizer and drop in a photo 2. Let the model process the image 3. Compare the colorized variations 4. Download at full resolution 5. Check the gallery for reference results 6. Colorize video footage too.
  • What platforms does Kolorize support?
    Kolorize is available on Web App.
  • What are the limitations of Kolorize?
    Every download costs a credit, so bulk restoration of an album adds up quickly. Uploads above 4096 by 4096 pixels are downscaled, which rules out high-resolution archival scans. Only colorization is offered, with no dust, scratch or tear repair for damaged vintage prints.

Status

StatusActive
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Added10/21/2026

Platforms

Web App

Pricing

FreemiumFree