Comparison: Quick Verdict. Choose an active scanning provider for a new project: DigMyPics says it no longer accepts orders or incoming media, so do not ship a new box to its address. ScanCafe remains a candidate for loose photos, slides and negatives, but compare its per-image and Value Kit terms against your actual collection. Existing DigMyPics customers should follow their order correspondence rather than assume that a new provider can access their originals.
Service status checked 5 November 2026: DigMyPics’ official notice says it is not taking orders or incoming media. That changes this comparison from a choice between two available services into a decision about where to send a new project and how to protect an existing one. Old price lists, order links and positive reviews do not override the notice.
DigMyPics vs ScanCafe: the decision now
| Decision | DigMyPics | ScanCafe |
|---|---|---|
| New project | Not accepting new orders or incoming media | Compare current order options and exact format acceptance |
| Price comparison | Old rates are historical, not an available quote | A la carte and prepaid Value Kit terms differ |
| Already sent originals | Use existing order details and current provider instructions | A different company cannot automatically retrieve them |
| What should decide? | Resolve custody and existing-order status first | Acceptance, handling, output, complete cost and turnaround |
If you were about to send a box to DigMyPics
Keep the originals at home while choosing another provider. An old shipping label, saved bookmark or cached promotion is not confirmation that a new order will be received. If you have already paid but not shipped, keep the payment receipt and order confirmation, then seek instructions through the contact details in your existing correspondence. Do not send further media simply because an old ordering page still loads.
Separate loose prints, albums, slides, negatives, videotapes and movie-film reels before asking for a replacement quote. A company that can scan standard prints may not accept every film size, mounted item or unusual tape format. Record approximate counts and any special requirements such as retaining handwritten backs, preserving album order or supplying unedited files alongside corrected copies. That information makes two quotes comparable.
If DigMyPics already has your media
Find the order number, shipping receipt, carrier tracking and last provider email. Distinguish an undelivered parcel from one confirmed as received. If a parcel is still moving, ask the carrier which intercept or return options apply to that shipment; availability and fees depend on its service and status. A website notice alone does not tell you where a particular box is.
For a delivered order, request an itemised update about custody, work completed, files available and return arrangements using your existing order channel. Keep copies of the correspondence. Avoid sending additional payment or disclosing personal information in response to an unsolicited message until you have independently verified the contact. We cannot infer from the public notice that every earlier order has been cancelled, completed or transferred.
If files have already been delivered, download them through the verified instructions you received and check actual images before assuming the archive is complete. Keep the originals and a second independent digital copy. If the provider no longer offers a download, preserve filenames, receipts and any files you already have when asking about your order. Another digitising service cannot reconstruct a missing original from an invoice.
ScanCafe: compare the right ordering option
ScanCafe’s published comparison distinguishes a la carte scanning from prepaid Value Kits. It lists a la carte standard scanning at $0.48 an image and Value Kit rates from $0.34 to $0.46, with quantities and eligibility conditions. These are US-dollar price references checked on 5 November 2026, not a delivered quotation. Shipping, selected outputs, upgrades and any continuing service can change the total.
The same comparison lists 600 dpi for prints and 3000 dpi for slides and negatives, with paid higher-resolution options. Those are different originals and should not be mixed into one claim that every scan has the same resolution. Ask about the exact format, output dimensions and file type you will receive. A high pixel count is not proof of good colour, focus or cleaning, and it does not restore detail missing from a damaged original.
A Value Kit can be useful when you have enough eligible images to fill it. A la carte ordering is worth comparing for a smaller or less predictable collection. ScanCafe distinguishes their online review terms: its comparison offers the ability to discard up to 20% of scans under a la carte, while showing no equivalent review option for Value Kits. This is a purchase-selection rule, not a promise that only 80% of your originals will be scanned successfully.
Check the current photo-scanning order page for delivery choices and whether a selection creates an ongoing subscription. A cloud gallery, downloadable originals and a USB delivery are different purchases. For long-term preservation, establish how you will retain usable files after an optional account or subscription ends. Keep your own backup outside any viewing service.
Calculate the complete project cost
Use an item count that reflects what the provider bills: individual photographs, film frames, slides, albums or another unit. Include postage both ways, special handling, requested resolution, file-format upgrades and physical delivery. A low unit price can be poor value if much of a prepaid allowance goes unused or if it excludes the formats in your box.
For example, 500 scans at a hypothetical $0.48 each total $240 before extras. A hypothetical $200 package used for only 250 images has an effective scanning cost of $0.80 per used image before extras. These are budgeting examples, not two current offers. Divide the amount you will actually pay by the number of usable scans you expect to keep, and compare the same output on both quotes.
Turnaround, reliability and handling
ScanCafe’s public pages describe standard and express processing differently by order type. Its FAQ qualifies express timing by quantity, scan premiums and non-standard media. Ask for the estimate for your specific order and whether it runs from receipt, payment or another milestone. Processing time is separate from outbound and return shipping. A reunion deadline needs allowance for both.
Choose handling arrangements before packing. Photograph the contents and packaging, include the provider’s required order identification, and keep a count of each media type. Do not force stuck photographs out of an album, feed brittle prints through inappropriate equipment or use a cleaning method that could damage the surface. Ask the receiving service about fragile material before including it.
A stated handling guarantee is not proof that every loss is covered. Read the current terms for limits, exclusions and the steps required to make a claim. Keep delivery tracking and the original inventory until every original has returned. For irreplaceable collections, consider sending a small representative batch first rather than committing everything to an unfamiliar workflow.
Image quality: judge the files, not an overall star rating
The useful comparison is the result on your own formats: fine detail, focus, cropping, orientation, colour treatment and completeness. For slides, check edges and shadows as well as the bright centre. For prints, compare a few scans against the originals under consistent lighting. Ask whether colour corrections can be adjusted and whether unedited or lossless outputs are available at extra cost.
A single customer review cannot establish a provider’s normal output, and an old aggregate score can describe a different period or service. When reading feedback, look for the media type, order date, specific problem and how it was resolved. General praise for delivery or a low price does not establish scanning quality. Equally, an isolated complaint is not grounds for labelling an entire service unreliable.
For damaged photographs, discuss restoration as a separate task. Scanning captures the available original; restoration interprets or repairs defects in the digital file. Ask to keep the underlying scan as well as any restored version so later edits do not become your only copy. A promotional before-and-after image should not set an expectation that every damaged photo can be returned to its original condition.
Policies and support to check before paying
Read ScanCafe’s current terms alongside the order-specific quote. Distinguish cancellation before processing, rejection of selected scans, rescanning and a refund for a quality complaint. These are different remedies. A headline guarantee should not be interpreted as an unconditional trial after all work is complete.
Keep the email showing your selections and save the final invoice. If returned originals or delivered files do not match the inventory, report the exact missing items and filenames promptly through the verified order channel. Provide a small example of a quality issue rather than sending your entire private archive. Ask for the proposed remedy and any deadline in writing.
Which alternative fits your collection?
For the two providers named here, ScanCafe is the one to investigate for a new order because DigMyPics has stopped accepting new work. That is an availability judgement, not evidence that ScanCafe has won a fresh matched scanning test. Its ordering choices deserve comparison with the specific job you need done.
If a mixed box of photos, film and tapes matters more than a specialised print-scanning workflow, read our iMemories review for its supported formats, output and limitations. Compare other active options in our photo-scanning shortlist. For keeping originals at home, our DIY photo-digitising guide explains the equipment and time tradeoffs. No one option is automatically cheapest for every archive.
Final recommendation
Do not send new originals to DigMyPics while its official notice says they are not accepted. If your collection is still at home, inventory it and obtain a complete quote from an active provider. Compare format acceptance, handling, output, cost and return arrangements before choosing. If a previous order is already in progress, resolve its status through the original order channel before starting another transaction.
Once files arrive, open representative images, check the total against the agreed inventory and make an independent backup. Keep the physical originals while resolving any missing scans or corrections. A successful checkout or a parcel marked delivered is only one stage; the goal is a complete, accessible archive you can continue to use.
Frequently asked questions
Is DigMyPics still taking new orders?
No. Its official notice checked on 5 November 2026 states that it is not accepting orders or incoming media. Do not ship a new digitising project to its address.
Does ScanCafe allow in-person submissions?
Do not assume there is a local branch or walk-in service. Confirm current arrangements directly before travelling or handing over originals.
How can a ScanCafe Value Kit save money?
It may lower the effective scan price when enough eligible images fill the prepaid allowance. Compare unused capacity, formats, shipping, delivery and upgrades against a la carte pricing.
What if DigMyPics already has my originals?
Use the existing order number, verified correspondence and carrier tracking to establish the shipment and order status. The public closure notice does not establish what happened to a particular order.
Is a scanning guarantee a free trial?
No. Cancellation, scan rejection, rescanning and quality refunds have different conditions. Read the current terms for the option you actually order.
Sources and image credits
Service status: DigMyPics. Ordering details: ScanCafe price comparison, photo scanning, FAQ and terms.
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Stuart Kerr Spindlow is Pixoneye’s Publisher, Editor-in-Chief and Lead Product Reviewer. He tests consumer products and leads coverage of practical gadgets and personal-media preservation. His reviews focus on usability, limitations, value and the trade-offs that matter when choosing a product. Read Stuart’s full profile.
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