Run the same photo through both tools’ restoration features, then compare the results side by side against the original — Topaz Photo AI is generally stronger at automatic sharpening and denoising, while Photoshop Elements gives more manual, hands-on control over individual edits.
What you need
- A copy of the same test photo, duplicated so you can process it separately in each tool
- Topaz Photo AI (free trial available) and Photoshop Elements
- 20 to 30 minutes total
Why these tools differ
These two tools are built for different approaches. Topaz Photo AI leans on automatic AI analysis with a few sliders to adjust; Photoshop Elements gives you individual guided edits and manual tools with much more granular control, but requires more of your own judgement at each step.
How to compare them on the same photo
- Duplicate your test photo so you have one clean copy for each tool.
- Open the first copy in Topaz Photo AI, let it auto-analyse and suggest settings, adjust if needed (see Try Topaz Photo AI on one difficult old photo), and export the result.
- Open the second copy in Photoshop Elements, and work through the relevant guided edits manually — for example, Restore Old Photo for damage, or Perfect Portrait for a face.
- Export the Elements result under its own file name.
- Open both results plus the original side by side, at the same zoom level, and compare specific details: sharpness, colour accuracy, and how each handled any damage or noise.
- Note which tool did better on this particular photo — the answer can vary from photo to photo, so this is not necessarily the final word for your whole collection.
Check which result looks more accurate
You are checking two things: which result looks more natural and accurate to the original, and which process felt more manageable for you personally. A tool that gives a slightly better result but takes an hour of fiddling may not be worth it compared with one that gives a good-enough result in five minutes.
If you’re still unsure which to use
If you cannot get a fair comparison because one tool is much harder to use than the other, that is a legitimate finding in itself — ease of use matters as much as the technical result, especially if you plan to process many photos. If cost is the deciding factor, check each company’s current pricing before deciding, as this can change.
Next step
What does an app’s AI enhance button actually do, and should you trust it? is a useful follow-up if you want to understand what is happening behind either tool’s automatic suggestions.
Sources and date checked
Topaz Labs and Adobe’s own documentation for Topaz Photo AI and Photoshop Elements respectively. Checked 22 September 2026. Researched from published documentation and general guidance, not a hands-on side-by-side test performed for this article.