Palette.fm is a standout AI colorization tool that breathes life into black-and-white photographs with impressive accuracy and minimal effort. Simply upload a grayscale image, and the AI generates realistic color predictions in seconds. What sets it apart is the ability to guide colorization with text prompts " describe the scene, and the model adjusts its palette accordingly, offering creative control that most competitors lack.

The freemium model is generous enough for casual users to test the waters, while the $9/mo plan unlocks higher resolutions and batch processing for professionals restoring archival photos. The availability of an API is a significant plus, enabling developers to integrate colorization into their own workflows or applications.

Strengths include intuitive UX, multiple color filter options per image, and consistently natural-looking results on portraits and landscapes. Limitations include occasional inaccuracies on complex scenes with unusual lighting, and the free tier's resolution cap may frustrate users needing print-quality output. Overall, Palette.fm is one of the best AI colorization tools available, striking an excellent balance between ease of use and professional capability.