HANDS-ON REVIEW
iMemories Home Movie & Photo Digitizing Review: Is It Worth It?
Mail in your old tapes, film and photos — get them back digitized, organized, and ready to stream on any device.
Old tapes and film degrade over time. iMemories digitizes them before they're lost. Photo: iMemories
Our verdict
Magnetic tape doesn't last forever, and every year those memories sit in a box they get harder to recover. iMemories is the most hands-off way we've found to rescue them: you ship a box, they do the work, and you get a streamable library plus your originals back. For preserving irreplaceable family history, it's an easy recommendation.
The short version
Those VHS tapes and film reels in the closet are quietly degrading — and you can't stream a VHS. iMemories sends you a prepaid SafeShip Kit, you fill it with your old home movies, film and photos, and they professionally digitize everything. You get the originals back plus a private digital library you can stream, download and share like Netflix.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Digitizes virtually any format — VHS, camcorder tapes, 8mm/16mm film, photos and slides
- Professional quality scanning and transfer
- Private app to stream, download and share your memories
- Your original tapes and photos are returned to you
- Trusted by over 1 million families
- Satisfaction guarantee
Cons
- Turnaround takes time (shipping + processing)
- You pay per item digitized beyond the starter kit
- You're mailing irreplaceable originals (SafeShip tracking helps)
How it works
Order your SafeShip Kit
A prepaid, trackable kit arrives at your door with everything you need to send your memories in safely.
Fill it and ship it
Pack in your old tapes, film reels, photos and slides — any mix of formats — and send it off with the prepaid label.
Stream, download & share
Your memories come back digitized in a private app you can watch on your TV, phone or laptop — and your originals are returned to you.
Who it's for
- Families with old home movies slowly degrading in a closet
- Anyone preserving a parent's or grandparent's memories
- People who want to share old footage with relatives anywhere
- Gift-givers looking for something genuinely meaningful
Frequently asked questions
What formats can iMemories digitize?
Just about anything — VHS and other videotapes, camcorder tapes, 8mm and 16mm film reels, printed photos and slides. You can mix formats in one kit.
Is it safe to mail my originals?
The SafeShip Kit is prepaid and trackable so you can follow your memories through the process, and your original tapes and photos are returned to you when it's done.
How do I watch them afterward?
Everything goes into a private digital library you can stream, download and share from the app on your TV, phone, tablet or computer.
How much does it cost?
You start with a low-cost SafeShip Kit and pay to digitize the items you send in. It's a per-project service, so the cost scales with how much you have.
When you buy through links on this page, TopCrate may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. iMemories is a third-party digitizing service; pricing and turnaround are set by iMemories. Prices accurate as of publish time.
