Preserving memories is paramount in our lives, as they form a crucial part of our identity and history. Often, we rely on photographs and films to recall forgotten moments. However, these old formats of tapes and film deteriorate over time, more rapidly than our own aging process. With the constant advancement of technology, the challenge of accessing these old formats intensifies.
In the pursuit of a viable solution to digitize old media into formats compatible with modern devices, our research led to the discovery of Legacybox and Costco. Further investigation revealed a third option, iMemories, which appears to surpass the former two in certain aspects. This article aims to clearly outline the differences between these digitization services.
So, Who's the Winner?
While all three services offer commendable solutions for digitizing old media, iMemories emerges as the preferred choice. Its distinctive features, such as the accompanying application for easy access and sharing, alongside the ability to handle diverse analog formats, render it highly advantageous. Moreover, it holds a commendable reputation for both quality and customer satisfaction, offering more affordable prices.
Comparison Table
| Service | Legacybox | Costco Digitizing | iMemories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where to buy | Legacybox.com | Costcodvd.com | GetiMemories.io |
| Shipping kit/box | Yes | No | Yes |
| Free repairs (splicing) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free digital download | No | Yes | Yes |
| Average turnaround times | 10-12 weeks | 3-4 weeks | 2-3 weeks |
| Expedited turnaround times | 3-4 weeks (additional $89.99) | N/A | N/A |
 |      4/5 | N/A |      4.4/5 |
 |      3.4/5 | N/A |      4.7/5 |
 | N/A | N/A |      4/5 |
 | N/A | N/A |      4.4/5 |
| Tape conversion | Yes VHS, VHS-C, Mini-DV, Hi8, Digital 8, MicroMV, Betamax, 8mm Video Cassette | Yes VHS, S-VHS, Betamax, VHS-C, S-VHS-C, Video8, Hi8, Digital 8, DV, DVCAM, MiniDV, DVC | Yes Betamax, VHS, VHS-C, 8mm, Hi8, Digital 8, MiniDV, MicroMini, DVDs, MiniDVDs |
| Film conversion | Yes 16mm, 8mm, Super 8, Regular 8 | Yes 8mm, Super 8mm, 16mm | Yes 8mm, Super 8, 16mm (with and without sound) |
| Photo conversion | Yes Prints, 35mm Negatives, 35mm/126 slides | Yes Prints from 2″ x 2″ to 8″ x 12″ | Yes Photos up to 12x16 Negatives (any size), Slides (any size) |
| Audio conversion | Yes Reel to Reel, Audio Cassette, Micro-Cassette | No | No |
| Tape conversion price | $59.99 for 2 items* $279.99 for 10 items* $559.99 for 20 items* $1099.99 for 40 items* | Starting at $19.99 | $14.99 per tape |
| Film conversion price | $59.99 for 2 items* $279.99 for 10 items* $559.99 for 20 items* $1099.99 for 40 items* | Starting at $19.99 | $14.99 per 50ft. |
| Photo conversion price | $59.99 for 2 items* $279.99 for 10 items* $559.99 for 20 items* $1099.99 for 40 items* | Starting at $19.99 | $0.49 per photo |
| Audio conversion price | $59.99 for 2 items* $279.99 for 10 items* $559.99 for 20 items* $1099.99 for 40 items* | N/A | N/A |
| Learn more | Legacybox Review | Costco Photo Center Review | iMemories Review |
Legacybox
Legacybox is a company service that helps people convert their old analog memories to digital format. They transfer media such as film, videotapes, audio, photos, and slides. The company has 10+ years of experience and professional staff who will digitize your old memories and handle them with care.
What we like
- They provide a comprehensive shipping kit, ensuring an efficient process.
- The procedure is straightforward and user-friendly, with the added convenience of shipping.
- The company offers regular updates via email.
- They accept and transfer a wide range of analog media, including audio formats.
- The pricing is reasonable compared to other similar services.
- Customers receive email updates throughout the digitization process.
What we don't like
- There have been reports of longer than anticipated processing times.
How Legacybox works
Companies that offer digitization services today generally have a simple operating system, and Legabybox is no exception. It offers different size box kits equivalent to the number of media you plan to convert.
The system involves the customer receiving a box kit, which they fill with their media and return for digitization. The kit includes extra barcodes for any additional media you might find. The entire process can span 10 to 12 weeks, depending on the volume and type of media sent.
What digital options does Legacybox offer?
With each box kit, you can choose from three digital options for storing transfer media such as:
USB thumb drive
Cloud
Disc set
Legacybox pricing
Legacybox may seem a little expensive compared to other services, but they often have promotions, especially before the holidays. The lowest box kit is $65.98, which covers two items: two videotapes or films and two sets of 25 images. Other box kits range from $299.98 for ten items, $599.98 for 20 items, and a staggering amount of $1179.98 for a box kit of 40 items.
The box kit price doesn't include a digital copy of your choice, which you will be charged additionally. Also, the price goes up depending on the amount of media.
So the cost of cloud storage starts at $5.99 for two items that renew annually, and for one-time downloads, the price is also $5.99. Also, the thumb drive and disc cost $5.99. The prices increase depending on the package you choose.
Costco Digitizing
At Costco, you can digitize your old VHS tapes and files through its professional services. The Costco company has a partnership with YesVideo, where actually YesVideo will transfer your memories, even if you order from Costco.
As of January 2023, Costco's video transfer service has ceased operations. Visitors to the site are now redirected to Costco Next, their hub for recommended products and services. Here, they endorse a company named Capture, which is essentially YesVideo, the entity previously handling Costco's digitizing services. Costco members can log in with their credentials to receive exclusive value on media digitization.
What we like
- It offers competitive pricing.
- Suitable for orders of varying sizes.
- Easy and straightforward order process.
What we don't like
- The service is outsourced to another company.
- Processing takes a lot longer because of outsourcing.
How Costco digitizing works
Costco has a partnership with YesVideo digitizing service, where YesVideo will transfer your memories, even if you order from Costco.
To digitize your memories, the first thing you have to do is make an online order. After you make an order, you will get a shipping document printout which you will stick to the box in which you previously packed your media. After that, drop off your package at the nearest UPS store.
Transfer time can vary, but approximately you will have to wait 3-4 weeks before receiving your digitized memories. You could also track any updates about the order online and verify its progress anytime you'd like.
What digital options does Costco offer?
With Costco, you get the same digital options as with Legacybox, which are DVD, Thumb drive, and cloud, with one difference. You have the additional option of choosing both a DVD and a Thumb drive instead of only one.
Costco pricing
Costco is a little different in terms of pricing because it doesn't offer box kits like Legacybox. Instead, they charge per item, and the price includes the digital copy.
For example, transferring one videotape will cost you $19.99 for a DVD, $24.99 for a USB, and $29.99 for DVD+USB.
As you can notice, for videotapes the price goes per item. For films, on the other hand, price is determined by feet. So for the first 150 feet, it's $19.99 for the DVD option, and after that, every additional foot is $0.13.
For photos and slides, it's similar; for the DVD option, the price is $19.99 for the first 62 photos and slides, and then it is $0.32 per photo and slide.
Also, with every order, besides the digital copy of your choice, they include a MemoryCloud account for downloading your media.
iMemories
Like Legacybox and Costco, iMemories is also a well-known digitizing service with 15 years of experience and a popular choice among customers. Therefore, it is important to include and compare it with the first two services.
What we like
- iMemories accepts and digitizes a wide variety of media types
- Many options for digital copies, including cloud storage with an app
- Quick turnaround time
- Affordable pricing
- Customers receive regular email updates throughout the process
- Includes enhancements and repairs for certain types of media
- Highly rated by customers
What we don't like
- The shipping kit provided by iMemories may not be suitable for those sending a large quantity of media.
How iMemories works
When you look at iMemories, you will see that it combines the way Legacybox and Costco work. With iMemories, you can order a box kit, but also, if you prefer, you can send your media in your own box. The iMemories SafeShip Kit is a good option if you can afford it because it is crush-proof and contains additional protective packaging bags for your media, ensuring extra protection during shipping.
When they receive your media, no matter which method you use for shipping, you will receive a free, no-obligation quote that you can accept or decline. After you accept it, the digitizing process starts.
Additionally, you can submit whatever you want digitized, and they will sort and organize all your videos and photos for you, after which you can choose what you want to digitize. During digitizing, they will handle your media with care, and their professional staff will enhance specific media types to look even better without additional cost. For the broken film, they will professionally repair it without losing footage and also free of charge.
What's also great is that iMemories keeps you updated with every step your media goes through via email and order page, so you don't miss it.
What digital storage does iMemories offer?
In terms of digital copies of your media, iMemories offers many options. You can choose from the iMemories cloud, customized DVD, USB, Blu-ray, and portable hard drives with 1TB of storage. However, what makes iMemories unique from the others is the included free digital download of your memories.
iMemories pricing
Compared with the other two services, iMemories offers you much more value for your money. So for transferring videotapes, it's going to cost you $14.99 per tape, whereas, for movie films, it's $14.99 per 50ft. For photo prints, slides, and negatives, it costs $0.49 per item.
As with other services, a digital copy is charged additionally, except for a digital download, which is free of charge. So for a custom DVD, it's going to cost you $19.99 per DVD, $39.99 for an 8GB thumb drive, and for the iMemories cloud, it goes for $7.99 per month and $49.99 per year.
Costco vs Legacybox vs iMemories: Differences
Generally, all three services are good and have their own advantages and disadvantages. Although Costco will no longer be offering its services in the future, we will focus on Legacybox and iMemories services.
We'll say straight away that in general, you won't go wrong with choosing either Legacybox or iMemories.
Legacybox has a simpler approach to ordering, especially when it comes to a smaller amount of media, and also features conversion of audio formats such as audio cassette tapes and more. iMemories, on the other hand, doesn't accept audio media. The only downside of Legacybox we could find is its processing time and pricing. Due to the large volume of orders they receive, the digitization process can take anywhere from 10 to 12 weeks.
For iMemories, the digitization process is a lot shorter and depending on the media type and volume of your order, it can take from 2 to 3 weeks. Ordering and shipping media with iMemories is even easier, and you are not limited to a number of items per box and labeling like with Legacybox.
In terms of digital options you receive, iMemories offers more choices, although Legacybox will also leave you satisfied. An important distinction is that iMemories allows free digital downloads of your files, which must be downloaded within 30 days before they are deleted. In contrast, Legacybox does not offer free digital downloads. Instead, you have to pay $5.99 for a cloud subscription, after which you can then download the files if you wish.
Regarding the cost of services, Legacybox generally charges more per item than iMemories when comparing base prices. However, considering that both services occasionally offer discounts, you could potentially secure a better deal with either, especially during promotional periods.
Abdo is a Zoopy writer who loves spending his free time outdoors, camping, and enjoying the peace that nature brings. He also enjoys fixing things - he's particularly good with electronics. His favorite movie is I Am Legend, and he's fascinated by survival gear and safety.
Can you put 8mm and 16mm on CD's or DVD?
Yes, you can choose how you want to receive your newly digitized media. You can pick between a USB drive, Digital Download, DVD, or in some cases on Cloud Storage.
i have a bundh of slides what can you do with them and is there any way to narrative them?
We personally can't do anything with your slides but the companies in the article can. They can digitize them and send it to you on a DVD, USB, or via Cloud as a downloadable file. None of the digitation services do narration.
IMemories prices are not accurate as of September 2022. They are twice as much. Photos are 1.00 each and video tapes are 29.99...I am rethinking the package I purchased from them now.
If you use the code
SAVE50the price goes down to $14.99 per tape/film, and $0.49 per photo. When you click one of our links the code is automatically applied.