An Honest Side-by-Side Comparison
Timeline Scan vs MyHeritage PhotoDater (2026)
Both put dates on old family photos, but they do different jobs.
By Spencer Baker, founder of Timeline Scan · Last updated: October 1, 2026 · facts checked against MyHeritage's published materialsQuick answer
MyHeritage PhotoDater is a free AI photo dater for undated photos taken between 1860 and 1990 that include people[1]. In MyHeritage's own testing, about 60% of estimates were within 5 years of the true date[1], and they aren't saved in the file's metadata[2]. Timeline Scan dates any era and writes the date into each file where possible.
- Free year labels for photos already in a MyHeritage tree? PhotoDater.
- Your photo files themselves dated and organized? Timeline Scan.
- Is it free? PhotoDater is, with a MyHeritage account[1]. Timeline Scan has a free trial, then per-photo pricing.
Feature by feature
Timeline Scan vs PhotoDater: Comparison Table
Numbered citations point to MyHeritage's own blog and help center (sources).
| Feature | MyHeritage PhotoDater | Timeline Scan |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A free AI feature inside the MyHeritage genealogy website and mobile apps[1] | A done-for-you dating and organizing service, in your browser |
| Supported date range | LimitedPhotos taken between 1860 and 1990 only[1] | Any eraOld scans and digital photos alike |
| Reported accuracy | ≈60% of estimates within 5 years of the actual date, in MyHeritage's own testing[1] | Dated, front or back: 95 to 99% of photo pairs in the right order and 96 to 99% within a year of the true dateNo date anywhere: 83% within five years, 91% once family faces are tagged (methodology) |
| Writes the date into the photo file (EXIF/XMP)? | No“Date estimates are not automatically saved to the photo's metadata” and must be confirmed manually; confirmed dates live in your MyHeritage family site's data[2] | YesStandard EXIF/XMP capture-date fields where possible, so Google Photos, Apple Photos, Immich and Lightroom sort them |
| What it analyzes | The image itself: clothing, hairstyles, facial hair, furniture, and other period objects[1] | The image, handwriting on the backs, lab and camera dates, neighboring photos, and family details you share |
| Photos it will date | Only undated photos that include people (not documents or gravestones), and only when its confidence is high enough[2] | Every photo in the batch; you can adjust any date |
| Date precision | An estimated year, with a confidence level and error range shown on request[2] | A full date where clues allow, like a lab-printed “JUL 87” |
| Where your photos end up | Uploaded to and stored in your MyHeritage online family site[1] | Your computer, in folders by year, month or person; Google Photos or Immich; or online in Family Library ($39 a year or a small monthly fee) |
| Batch handling | Estimates appear photo-by-photo as you view each photo page; each estimate is confirmed or rejected individually[2] | The whole collection at once, as one reviewable timeline |
| Price | FreeWith a MyHeritage account[1] | Free trial with no credit card, then per-photo pricing (see pricing) |
The honest recommendation
When Each Tool Is the Right Choice
Choose MyHeritage PhotoDater if…
- Your photos already live in a MyHeritage family tree
- They're from 1860–1990 and show people
- You want a free, instant year estimate for genealogy
- An on-screen label is all you need
PhotoDater is genuinely good at what it does, and it's free.
Choose Timeline Scan if…
- You want the whole collection organized: folders by year or Google Photos
- Your photos include eras PhotoDater skips, like after 1990
- You want the handwriting on the backs read
- You want the date written into each file
- You'd rather it be done for you, not photo by photo
Try it free, no credit card.
Not either/or
Using Both? Run Timeline Scan First
MyHeritage reads dates already present in a photo's metadata; PhotoDater itself only estimates photos that don't have one[2].
-
Date your scans with Timeline Scan
Each file carries its corrected date.
-
Download them in folders by year
-
Upload copies to MyHeritage
They arrive already dated: no photo-by-photo confirming.
-
Let PhotoDater estimate any stragglers
Common questions
Timeline Scan vs PhotoDater: FAQ
How accurate is MyHeritage PhotoDater?
Approximately 60% of PhotoDater's date estimates were within 5 years of the actual date the photo was taken, in MyHeritage's own published testing[1]. It only estimates photos taken between 1860 and 1990 that include people, and only when its confidence is high enough; otherwise no estimate is shown[2].
Does MyHeritage PhotoDater write the date into my photo files?
No. MyHeritage's help center states that date estimates “are not automatically saved to the photo's metadata” and must be confirmed manually; confirmed dates are stored in your MyHeritage family site's data rather than inside the photo file[2].
Timeline Scan does the opposite: it writes the corrected date into each file's standard EXIF/XMP capture-date fields where possible, so the photos sort correctly in Google Photos, Apple Photos, Immich and other metadata-aware apps.
Can PhotoDater date photos taken after 1990 or before 1860?
No. MyHeritage states that PhotoDater provides date estimates only for undated photos taken between 1860 and 1990[1]. Timeline Scan has no era restriction: it reads the dates already inside recent digital photos and estimates older scans from handwriting on the backs, printed lab dates, visual clues and neighboring photos.
Is MyHeritage PhotoDater free?
Yes. MyHeritage describes PhotoDater as completely free[1]; you need a MyHeritage account and your photos must be uploaded to MyHeritage. Timeline Scan offers a free trial with no credit card, then charges per photo dated; see the pricing page.
Which is better for organizing scanned family photos: PhotoDater or Timeline Scan?
They do different jobs. PhotoDater is best if your photos already live in a MyHeritage family tree and you want free, on-screen year estimates for genealogy research.
Timeline Scan is best if you want your whole collection dated and organized as files you keep: it writes dates into each photo's metadata and returns the collection in folders by year, or delivers it to Google Photos or Immich.
Can I use Timeline Scan and MyHeritage PhotoDater together?
Yes, and order matters. Run your scans through Timeline Scan first so each file carries its corrected date in standard metadata, then upload to MyHeritage.
MyHeritage reads dates already present in a photo's metadata, and PhotoDater itself notes it only estimates photos without one[2]. So your family-site photos arrive dated instead of needing photo-by-photo confirmation.
Show your work
Sources
The 3 MyHeritage sources
- MyHeritage Blog: “Introducing PhotoDater™: Find Out When Old Photos Were Taken” (August 2023). States the 1860–1990 range, the “approximately 60% … within 5 years” test result, the clothing/hairstyle/object clues the model uses, and that the feature is free.
- MyHeritage Help Center: “What is PhotoDater™ and how does it work?” (accessed July 5, 2026). States that estimates are calculated only for photos without a metadata date that include people, that estimates are not automatically saved to the photo's metadata and need manual confirmation, and describes the confidence/error-range display.
- MyHeritage Blog: “PhotoDater™ Now Available on the MyHeritage and Reimagine Mobile Apps” (November 2023).
MyHeritage® and PhotoDater™ are trademarks of MyHeritage Ltd. Timeline Scan is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by MyHeritage.
PhotoDater details on this page were checked against MyHeritage's public materials on July 5, 2026. Out of date? Tell us and we'll correct it.
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