How ReColor Colorizes Photos On-Device: What Stays Private and What the App Stores

TL;DR

ReColor's colourisation and upscaling models are inside the app and run on the device, so photos are not uploaded and no account exists. The app stores your originals and results locally. Purchases go through Apple; nothing else leaves the phone.

The problem

Old family photos are as personal as pictures get: relatives who have died, children, weddings. Most online colourisers ask you to upload them to a server you know nothing about, often with an account and fine print. You’re asked to trust a stranger with your family’s faces.

How ReColor keeps it local

  • The colourisation model is in the app (about 250 MB) and runs on the CPU of your iPhone.
  • The upscaling model (Real-ESRGAN, Pro) is also in the app and runs through Apple’s Core ML.
  • No account, no sign-in.
  • No upload. There’s no server in the loop for your photos.
  • Local storage. Your originals and results are kept in the app on your phone.

Check it yourself

  1. Turn on airplane mode.
  2. Colourise a photo.
  3. Run a HD Upscale if you have Pro.

It all works with no connection.

What this doesn’t cover

  • Anything you share. Once you send a photo by a messaging app, that app’s rules apply.
  • Your own backups. If your Photos library syncs to iCloud, saved copies go with it.
  • Purchases. Handled by Apple’s App Store.

A side benefit

No server means no queue and no waiting for a result. It’s as fast as your phone.

FAQ

Are my photos uploaded? No. Colourisation and upscaling run on the device.

Do I need an account? No.

How can I check? Turn on airplane mode and colourise a photo. It works.

What leaves the phone? Nothing about your photos. App Store purchases are handled by Apple.

The app ReColor →