How much does it cost to animate an old photo?
For anyone who wants to know the number before they start digging through the albums.
Animating an old photo costs anything from nothing (a free app) to a few hundred dollars a year (a genealogy subscription). At zazsi it’s a one-time price: $19 for the first photo, $9 for each extra photo, and +$49 to combine them into a short film with music. Restoration of fading, scratches and creases is included, and a person checks every video.
What you get for the price
For each photo:
- Restoration of fading, scratches and creases where needed
- Gentle, natural animation of the face: a smile, a blink, a small turn of the head
- An HD video, plus the restored still image
- A person reviewing the result before it reaches you
- One round of changes
With the montage add-on, your animated photos become one short film with licensed music, an opening title and a dedication in your words, in landscape and vertical versions.
Example prices
| Order | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 photo | $19 |
| 3 photos | $37 |
| 5 photos | $55 |
| 5 photos + montage film | $104 |
| 10 photos | $100 |
| 10 photos + montage film | $149 |
Prices are in US dollars. You pay once, through Stripe, and there is no subscription.
How ordering works
- Choose how many photos you want and whether to add the montage film.
- Pay securely through Stripe. You don’t need the photos at hand yet.
- Upload your photos through the private link we email you after payment, whenever you’re ready.
The delivery time starts once all your photos have arrived.
How it compares with other options
- Free apps: good for experimenting. The trade-offs are usually limited free tries, bigger and less natural movement, and no restoration or human check.
- Genealogy subscriptions: photo animation is often bundled into an annual plan. Worth it if you use the rest of the plan for family history.
- Done-for-you services: you pay per photo, and someone takes care of restoration and quality.
There is more on how it all works in our main guide to animating old photos.
How to spend less and get more
- Pick fewer, better photos. One clear portrait often moves people more than ten small snapshots.
- Start with one. Order a single photo, see how it feels, then add more.
- Choose the montage only when you have a story. A couple across the years or a family growing up is ideal. For a single portrait, the montage isn’t needed.
- Send a good copy. A sharp phone photo of the print, taken flat in daylight, gives the best result for the same price.
If several of your prints are badly faded, read how we restore faded photos first.
Frequently asked questions
Is restoration included?
Yes. Repairing fading, scratches and creases is part of the price.
How long does it take?
Usually 2 to 4 business days, often sooner, counted from when all your photos have arrived. One round of changes is included.
What if a photo can’t be animated well?
We tell you honestly instead of delivering something that doesn’t look like them.
Are there extra fees?
No. The price shown at checkout is what you pay.