Exploring MyHeritage’s Top 5 AI Tools for Genealogy
(With Free & Paid Options)
In recent years, artificial intelligence has become a game-changer in many industries—and genealogy is no exception. Thanks to platforms like MyHeritage, uncovering your family’s past is no longer limited to dusty records and static documents. With the power of AI, you can now see your ancestors in color, sharpen their portraits, animate their faces, and even hear them tell their stories.
MyHeritage has become a leader in integrating AI into genealogy research, offering tools that are not just powerful but surprisingly personal. In this post, we’ll explore five of the most transformative AI tools on MyHeritage—tools that help make history feel human again.
Each tool comes with its own pricing structure—some are free to try, while others require a MyHeritage Complete subscription for full access. I've included those details to help you decide which tools are worth trying right away.
Disclaimer: We are not affiliated with or sponsored by the product or company mentioned in this post.
1. Colorize Photos (Free Limited Use, Then Paid)
Old family photos are priceless, but many of them are faded or black-and-white, making it hard to fully appreciate the people in them. MyHeritage’s Photo Colorization tool solves that problem by using AI to add realistic color to monochrome images.
The process is incredibly easy: upload a scanned photo, and the AI analyzes everything from clothing to skin tones, producing a colorized version in seconds. The result is often striking—grandparents who once looked distant and shadowy now appear full of life, in hues that make them feel like part of the modern world.
While the AI doesn’t always get the colors historically perfect, it does a fantastic job of bringing out the humanity in the photo. For many users, it’s an emotional experience to see their ancestors in color for the first time.
Try the Colorize Photos tool here
2. Enhance Photos (Free Limited Use, Then Paid)
If you’ve ever squinted at a blurry old photo trying to make out a familiar face, you’ll love the Photo Enhancer. This AI tool sharpens and clarifies images—especially faces—by reconstructing the fine details lost to time.
Unlike basic photo editing filters, MyHeritage’s enhancement feature uses deep learning to improve resolution and definition. It can take a low-quality scan of a family portrait and make it look almost like a studio photo. This is particularly helpful for group shots or distant relatives where visual clues matter.
For genealogists, the clarity can be more than cosmetic—it can help identify people, compare facial features, or match photos across generations. It’s a brilliant example of how AI can enhance not just aesthetics, but actual research outcomes.
Try the Enhance Photos tool here
3. Animate Photos (Deep Nostalgia™) (Free Limited Use, Then Paid)
Of all the AI tools offered by MyHeritage, Deep Nostalgia™ is perhaps the most talked-about—and for good reason. This feature animates old photos, adding lifelike movements like blinking, smiling, and turning of the head. It’s powered by licensed video segments and AI motion-mapping that creates realistic mini-videos from still images.
The experience of seeing a great-grandparent come to life in a short animation can be powerful and, for some, deeply moving. What was once a static, silent image now feels like a moment captured in time—a glimpse into the spirit of someone long gone.
While it may not be a traditional research tool, Deep Nostalgia adds an emotional depth to genealogy that words or documents alone can’t provide. It’s a modern way to feel connected to those who came before you.
Try the Animate Photos tool (Deep Nostalgia™) here
4. DeepStory (Free Limited Use, Then Paid)
Genealogy is more than names and dates—it’s about stories. MyHeritage’s DeepStory takes storytelling to a whole new level by turning static photos into narrated videos. Using AI voice synthesis and facial animation, this tool brings your ancestors’ biographies to life.
The process starts with a photo and a written story (either your own or one auto-generated by the platform). The AI then produces a video where your ancestor "tells" their story in their own voice (well, almost—it’s an AI-generated voice). The photo is animated in sync with the speech, creating a surprisingly lifelike effect.
DeepStory is a fantastic way to share family history with others, especially younger generations. It adds a personal, emotional layer to your research and transforms static data into a dynamic narrative. Whether used for family reunions, school projects, or personal keepsakes, DeepStory is one of the most engaging tools in the genealogy world today.
5. AI Time Machine™ (Paid Only)
Looking for a fun, imaginative way to explore history through a personal lens? Enter the AI Time Machine™. This tool takes a modern photo of you (or a relative) and generates portraits of how you might have looked in various historical settings—Ancient Rome, Victorian England, 1920s America, and more.
Unlike the other tools, AI Time Machine is not included in MyHeritage’s standard Complete subscription—it’s a separate premium feature, and access requires an additional payment. However, the results are visually impressive and highly shareable.
While not a tool for research in the strictest sense, the AI Time Machine adds an interactive, creative spark to genealogy. It’s great for sparking curiosity, imagining the lives of ancestors, or simply creating content for your next family newsletter or blog post.
Why These Tools Matter
Genealogy used to be confined to archives, libraries, and scribbled family trees. Today, thanks to MyHeritage’s AI tools, it’s possible to step into the past in vibrant, emotional, and visually engaging ways. These tools aren’t just novelties—they open doors to deeper understanding, clearer memories, and stronger connections.
Colorizing photos makes history tangible.
Enhancing faces sharpens our understanding.
Animating ancestors brings them to life.
Telling stories with AI voices preserves family legacies.
Traveling through time with stylized portraits sparks curiosity and fun.
Whether you’re just beginning your family history journey or diving deep into ancestral archives, these tools are worth exploring. Try a few for free—and see which ones bring your past to life.
If you give any of them a try, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Which tool surprised you the most?
