PicRenewDeveloper API
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PicRenew Developer API

The PicRenew API lets you restore and enhance photos programmatically. You can submit restoration jobs, poll their status, and receive results via webhook — all from your own application.

Base URL

https://picrenew.com/api/v1

Quick start

  1. Create an API key from your account page (under "Developer API").
  2. Include the key as a Bearer token in every request.
  3. Submit a restoration with POST /v1/restorations.
  4. Poll GET /v1/restorations/:id until status is complete.
  5. Download the output from output_url.

Authentication

All requests require an Authorization: Bearer <key> header. API keys are prefixed with pk_live_. See the Authentication page for full details.

Rate limits

ScopeLimitWindow
Per API key60 requests1 minute (sliding window)

When the limit is exceeded the API returns 429 Too Many Requests with a Retry-After header (seconds until the window resets).

Error responses

All errors return JSON with an error field:

{
  "error": "Insufficient credits"
}
StatusMeaning
400Bad request — invalid parameters
401Missing or invalid API key
402Insufficient credits
404Resource not found
429Rate limit exceeded
500Internal server error

MCP integration

PicRenew also ships an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server at https://picrenew.com/api/mcp — the same Bearer API key authenticates it. See the MCP endpoint page.

Credits

Credit cost is based on output resolution only. All restoration presets (standard, enhance, colorize, portrait) cost the same — there is no surcharge for options.

OperationCost
Restore (any preset, any options)1 credit (1k) · 2 credits (2k) · 3 credits (4k)
Superscale1 credit · free for subscribers

Options like colorize and remove_frame do not add to the credit cost — they change the prompt sent to the AI, not the price.

Credits are debited atomically when the restoration is created. If the job fails to enqueue, credits are automatically refunded.

Next steps