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October 2026
Best Memory Books of 2026: 6 Options Compared
We compared six popular memory book services, including Remento, Storyworth, and Memorygram, to help families choose the best way to preserve their stories, photographs, and loved ones’ voices.
A memory book can be as simple as a guided journal or as involved as a professionally written memoir. The biggest difference between services is how the storyteller actually shares their memories: typing, speaking into a phone, recording audio, recording a video or being interviewed by a professional writer.
We compared six popular memory book services based on ease of use, voice and audio preservation, price transparency, book quality, and family collaboration. Here’s how Remento, Storyworth®, Memorygram, Storii, StoryTerrace, and My Life in a Book compare.
Best Memory Books at a Glance
- Remento - Best Overall: No writing required. Turn spoken memories into polished stories while preserving the original audio/video through a QR code in each printed story.
- Storyworth® - Best for Structured Weekly Writing: Weekly prompts with the option to write or record, plus several plan and book options.
- Memorygram - Best One-Time Purchase: A shared family memory book with original voice recordings and no recurring subscription.
- Storii - Best for Seniors Who Don’t Want to Type: Share memories by phone, including a landline, without a smartphone, app, or internet.
- StoryTerrace - Best for a Professionally Written Memoir: A professional ghostwriter turns interviews and stories into a finished memoir.
- My Life in a Book - Best Budget Option: A year of guided prompts, voice-to-text storytelling, and a hardcover book for a low one-time price.
What Is a Memory Book?
A memory book is a personalized book that collects someone's memories, stories, photographs, and life experiences into a keepsake that can be shared with family. Some services use weekly prompts, while others rely on phone interviews, voice recordings, or professional writers. Depending on the service, the finished product may include a printed hardcover, digital book, audiobook, or recordings of the storyteller's actual voice.
The Best Memory Books Compared
How We Compared The Best Memory Books
We evaluated each service using five criteria:
- Ease of use: How simple is it for a storyteller to capture and organize memories?
- Voice and audio preservation: Does the service preserve the storyteller's actual voice, and how?
- Price transparency: Is the cost straightforward, and are recurring charges or additional fees clearly explained?
- Book quality: What book format, page count, printing options, and customization are available?
- Family collaboration: Can family members contribute prompts, stories, photos, or other content?
Our comparison is based on publicly available pricing, product information, and customer-facing materials available as of the publication date.
1. Remento: Best Memory Book Overall
Rating: 4.9
Price: $99, includes one year and a hardcover book (renewal optional)
Remento is designed for people who would rather tell their stories than type them. Its Speech-to-Story™ technology turns spoken recordings into written stories, while QR codes in the finished book connect readers to the original recordings. The standard purchase includes one year of platform access, one storyteller account with unlimited photos, unlimited collaborators, expert-curated prompts, unlimited recordings up to 30 minutes per story, and one hardcover book credit for up to 200 pages.
Quick take: Remento Pros and Cons
Pros
- Storyteller can speak their memories instead of typing
- No app and no password: questions arrive by text or email
- Speech-to-Story™ turns spoken memories into written stories
- Can record voice and video memories
- Optional record-by-phone add-on (US only)
- Families hear each new story as it arrives, so the year itself is part of the gift
- Unlimited photos and collaborators
- Full-color 8" x 10" hardcover with 200 pages included, expandable to 380
- Each story chapter has its own QR code that links to original memory recordings
- Free US shipping on the included hardcover
- Everything recorded stays with the family, even without renewing
Cons
- Recording or editing new stories after the first year requires renewing ($99/year or $12/month), but everything already recorded, plus any unused book credits, stays with the family
- Books longer than 200 pages (up to 380) are a one-time $30 upgrade
- The e-book is an optional add-on ($24.99 at first checkout, $49.99 later)
How Remento Compares on Our Criteria
Ease of Use
Remento lets storytellers answer prompts by speaking instead of writing. Each question arrives by text or email, and the storyteller taps a link and talks, with no app or password. Each recording comes back as a written chapter they can edit. Stories can be recorded from any device, with phone recording available as an add-on.
Voice and Audio Preservation
Remento preserves the storyteller’s original recordings alongside the written stories. Each story chapter has its own QR code, allowing readers to hear the original audio or watch the original video.
Pricing Transparency
The $99 purchase includes one year of storytelling and a hardcover book credit for up to 200 pages. Renewing after the first year is optional ($99/year or $12/month) and only needed to keep recording and editing. Recordings, QR codes and book credits stay with the family either way. Books can grow to 380 pages with a one-time $30 upgrade. An e-book is also available as a $49.99 add-on, or $24.99 when added to the initial Remento gift order, 50% off the regular price.
Book Quality
The included book is an 8" × 10" full-color hardcover with 200 pages included, a larger page than the 6" × 9" format common in this category. Families who want more room for stories and photos can take it up to 380 pages with a one-time $30 upgrade.
Family Collaboration
Remento includes unlimited collaborators, allowing family members to suggest questions, add photos, react to new stories and ask follow-ups as the storyteller’s book takes shape.
Our Verdict
Remento uses Speech-to-Story™ technology to turn spoken memories into polished written stories, so storytellers can share their memories simply by speaking, with no writing required. Each story can then appear in a printed memory book with a QR code that links back to the original audio or video recording, preserving not just the story, but the storyteller’s voice and presence.
Remento is Best for
Parents or grandparents who’d rather talk than write, families who want to hear their voice in the book, or anyone who’d rather tell their own story than write it.
Why families trust Remento: Rated 4.9 on Trustpilot from 1,800+ reviews. As seen on Shark Tank, where Mark Cuban invested. Over one million stories recorded by 100,000+ families.
“Remento isn’t just preserving memories. It’s preserving the actual voice and personality of our loved ones.”
Mark Cuban, Shark Tank investor
“We gifted Remento to my parents, and it’s the best gift we could have ever given. They would never have taken the time to type or write out these memories.”
Jodi, Trustpilot review
2. Storyworth: Best for Structured Weekly Writing
Credit: Storyworth
Rating: 4.3
Price: Subscription, $69–$199/year
Storyworth emails the storyteller a new prompt each week. They can write a response or dictate one by phone on higher tiers, and after a year those responses are compiled into a hardcover book. Select plans also include a QR code on the final page for listening to the original recordings. It’s one of the most established formats in this category, with over a decade in the market.
Quick take: Storyworth Pros and Cons
Pros
- Long-established, with 10+ years and 1 million-plus books printed
- Writing and voice-recording options
- Editing access continues after the subscription year ends
- Voice recordings are accessible through one QR code at the end of each book
- Free e-book and audiobook downloads
- Higher plans add more features
- Free e-book download included
Cons
- Book format, features, and page limits vary by plan.
- The writing-first approach may feel like homework for reluctant writers.
- Writing remains the core option on every plan, while more guided voice features require an upgrade.
- No option to record video memories
- The 6" × 9" book has less page area for photos and longer stories.
How Storyworth Compares on Our Criteria
Ease of Use
Storyworth provides a structured process built around regular questions. Storytellers can respond by writing or recording their memories.
Voice and Audio Preservation
Storyworth supports voice recording and on plans that include the feature, original recordings can be accessed through a QR code on the final page of the book.
Pricing Transparency
Storyworth plans range from $69 to $199 per year. Book formats, features, and page limits vary by plan, so the total cost depends on the option selected.
Book Quality
Storyworth books are available in a 6" × 9" hardcover format, with page limits varying by plan. The format provides a compact option for preserving written stories and photos.
Family Collaboration
Storyworth allows family members to participate through its collaboration features. The available options vary depending on the plan.
Our Verdict
Storyworth uses a writing-first approach to guide storytellers through their memories with regular prompts, with voice recording available as an alternative. Stories are compiled into a hardcover book, while select plans preserve original recordings through a QR code on the final page.
Storyworth is Best for
Storytellers who enjoy writing or want a structured, question-by-question approach to creating a written family history.
3. Memorygram: Best One-Time Purchase
Rating: 4.6
Price: One-time, $124.99
Memorygram takes a one-time-purchase approach, with no recurring subscription. Its book is an 8.5" × 11" full-color hardcover that can hold up to 450 pages. Storytellers can contribute stories in different ways by typing, recording, or using phone interviews, with QR codes connecting readers to their voice recordings. Multiple family members can also contribute to the same book for an additional fee.
Quick take: Memorygram Pros and Cons
Pros
- No recurring subscription
- Books can have up to 450 pages
- Voice recordings are accessible through QR codes on the book
- Phone, voice-to-text, and typing options
Cons
- Newer to the category than Storyworth or Remento, with a smaller review base to evaluate
- Additional collaborators cost extra
- No option to record video memories
- The 8.5" × 11" book takes up more physical space and can feel bulkier to store and handle
- Promotions can make the current price differ from the regular/reference price
How Memorygram Compares on Our Criteria
Ease of Use
Memorygram is primarily a one-time book-making service. Memories can be submitted in written or recorded form and are compiled into a large, full-color hardcover book. The one-time purchase includes up to 450 pages, with additional fees for multiple contributors.
Voice and Audio Preservation
Memorygram allows storytellers to record their memories and includes QR codes that connect readers to recorded memories. This adds an audio element to the finished book.
Pricing Transparency
Memorygram uses a one-time purchase rather than a recurring subscription. The base purchase includes up to 450 pages, while additional contributors come with an additional fee.
Book Quality
Memorygram produces a full-color hardcover book with up to 450 pages. Its 8.5" × 11" format provides ample space for longer stories and photos.
Family Collaboration
Memorygram allows multiple family members to contribute, with an additional fee for multiple contributors. This makes it possible for families to build the book together.
Our Verdict
Memorygram is built around creating a large, traditional hardcover book without an ongoing subscription. Its generous page count and option to include multiple contributors make it a practical choice for families who want to gather a substantial collection of memories in one book.
Memorygram is Best for
Families who want a large, full-color hardcover book with plenty of space for stories and photos, without committing to a recurring subscription.
4. Storii: Best for Phone-Based Storytelling
Rating: 4.2
Price: Subscription, $9.99/month or $99/year
Storii is built around phone-based storytelling, including landlines, so storytellers don’t need a smartphone, app, or internet connection. It sends up to three prompts a week, and the storyteller simply answers by speaking. Their responses are recorded and made available in audio and digital formats, with physical print options also available.
Quick take: Storii Pros and Cons
Pros
- No internet, smartphone, or app required
- One of the lowest-tech ways to capture memories in this comparison
- Works with both landlines and mobile phones
- Preserves the storyteller’s spoken memories in audio form
- Offers options for families who also want a physical version of the stories
- Backed by a $1.7 million NIH grant supporting research into its use for reducing senior social isolation
Cons
- Primary output is audio and digital rather than a standard printed hardcover memory book
- No option to record video memories
- Families looking specifically for a traditional hardcover book may want to compare other options
- The phone-first approach may be less appealing to families who want a more visual, book-centered experience
How Storii Compares on Our Criteria
Ease of Use
Storii is designed around a familiar phone-based process. Storytellers can answer prompts by phone without needing a smartphone, app, or internet connection.
Voice and Audio Preservation
Storii records storytellers' answers by phone and preserves them as audio. The recordings are not available directly through the printed book, but they can be downloaded as an audiobook at no additional cost.
Pricing Transparency
Storii offers a $9.99 monthly subscription or $99 annual subscription. Physical book options are available separately.
Book Quality
Storii offers physical book options, but the service is primarily centered on collecting and preserving phone recordings rather than creating a traditional hardcover book as its main experience.
Family Collaboration
Storii allows families to participate in the storytelling process remotely. Its phone-based format can make it easier for family members to collect memories from someone who may not be comfortable using a computer or smartphone.
Our Verdict
Storii stands out for its phone-first approach, making it possible to capture recordings without a smartphone, app, or internet connection. Its main tradeoff is format: the experience is centered on phone recordings and digital preservation, with physical print options available separately.
Storii is Best for
Seniors or families looking for a low-tech way to capture recordings by phone, especially when using a computer or smartphone would be a barrier.
5. StoryTerrace: Best for a Professionally Written Memoir
Rating: 4.4
Price: One-time, $1,200+ depending on package
StoryTerrace pairs storytellers with professional ghostwriters who turn their memories and interviews into a polished memoir. With a network of more than 600 writers, the service is designed for families who want professional help shaping a life story into a finished book.
Quick take: StoryTerrace Pros and Cons
Pros
- Professional writer develops the storyteller’s memories into a polished memoir
- More than 600 professional ghostwriters
- Interviews can be conducted remotely or in person, depending on the package
- Professional support throughout the writing and publishing process
- Hardbound, full-color books
Cons
- Significantly more expensive than self-guided services
- Less direct writing control for the storyteller
- Voice preservation is not the central feature
- No video recording as part of the core service
- Higher-end packages can cost thousands or tens of thousands of dollars
How StoryTerrace Compares on Our Criteria
Ease of Use
StoryTerrace handles much of the writing process for the storyteller. A professional writer interviews the storyteller and uses those conversations to develop the memoir, reducing the amount of writing the storyteller needs to do themselves.
Voice and Audio Preservation
StoryTerrace is focused on creating a professionally written memoir rather than preserving the storyteller's original recordings. Voice preservation is not the central feature of the service.
Pricing Transparency
StoryTerrace starts at $1,200, with the final price depending on the package and scope of the project. Higher-end packages can cost thousands or tens of thousands of dollars.
Book Quality
StoryTerrace produces professionally designed hardbound books. The final format and production details depend on the package selected.
Family Collaboration
The process centers on interviews between the storyteller and a professional writer. Family members can be involved, but collaboration is not the primary focus of the service.
Our Verdict
StoryTerrace is designed for people who want a professionally written memoir and substantial writing and editorial support. Rather than guiding the storyteller through creating the book themselves, a professional writer takes their interviews and memories and shapes them into the finished memoir.
StoryTerrace is Best for
Families who want a professionally written life story and are willing to invest in one-on-one writing and editorial support.
6. My Life in a Book: Best Budget Option
Rating: 4.0
Price: One-time, $79
My Life in a Book offers a year of weekly prompts designed to help someone gradually record their life story. Storytellers can type or use voice-to-text, and the finished project becomes a premium hardcover book of up to 500 pages. The regular price is $79, although the site may run promotional discounts. The service also offers an audiobook option that can create a full narration of the book using the storyteller's own voice from a short audio sample.
Quick take: My Life in a Book Pros and Cons
Pros
- $79 one-time price
- One year of weekly prompts
- Talk or type
- Voice-to-text available
- Hardcover book up to 500 pages
- Own-voice audiobook option
Cons
- The A5 book has less physical space for photos and longer stories than some larger memory books
- No option to record video memories
- More focused on creating a written book than preserving audio with each individual story
- No QR codes linking individual stories to their original recordings
- The audiobook is separate from the printed book
- Fewer specialized interview features than services built around phone interviews
How My Life in a Book Compares on Our Criteria
Ease of Use
My Life in a Book follows a weekly question-and-answer format. The storyteller receives questions throughout the year and responds by typing or using voice-to-text, with the responses collected into the finished book.
Voice and Audio Preservation
My Life in a Book offers an own-voice audiobook option based on a sample of the storyteller's voice. The audiobook is separate from the printed book and does not provide individual recordings alongside each story.
Pricing Transparency
My Life in a Book uses a one-time purchase model starting at $79. This keeps the initial cost straightforward, although additional products or features may affect the final price.
Book Quality
The premium hardcover can hold up to 500 pages. Its A5 format is more compact than some of the larger books in this comparison, providing less space per page for photos and longer stories.
Family Collaboration
My Life in a Book is primarily designed around one person's stories and the creation of their book. It places less emphasis on family collaboration than services built around multiple contributors.
Our Verdict
My Life in a Book is a straightforward, budget-friendly option for families who want weekly prompts and a hardcover keepsake without a recurring subscription. Its own-voice audiobook adds a way to hear the storyteller's voice, but it remains separate from the printed book.
My Life in a Book is Best for
Families looking for an affordable, one-time option with weekly prompts, a large-capacity hardcover book, and an optional own-voice audiobook.
How to Choose the Right Memory Book
Choosing the right memory book depends on more than the price or the finished book. The best fit depends on how the storyteller prefers to share memories, whether preserving their original voice matters, what type of book they want to create, and how much family collaboration they need. The factors below explain what to consider when comparing memory books and choosing the right option for your family.
Pricing: Subscription vs. One-Time Purchase
The first question is whether you want an ongoing storytelling service or a one-time book project.
Storyworth and Storii use subscription pricing. Remento’s $99 purchase includes the first year of storytelling and a hardcover book, and renewing after that is optional ($99/year or $12/month). Recordings, QR codes and book credits stay with the family either way, and renewing is only needed to keep recording and editing.
Memorygram, StoryTerrace, and My Life in a Book use one-time pricing for their core offerings.
Composition: Does the Storyteller Prefer to Type or Speak?
If typing feels like work, consider a service that makes speaking central to the experience.
Remento is built around spoken responses. Memorygram offers voice recording and phone interviews. Storii uses phone calls as its primary storytelling method. Storyworth and My Life in a Book also offer voice-based options, while StoryTerrace uses interviews with a professional writer.
Voice Inclusion: How Important Is the Actual Voice?
Not every memory book preserves audio in the same way. Remento and Memorygram use QR codes to connect printed stories to original recordings, while Storyworth also offers voice recordings with QR access on select plans. Storii preserves spoken memories as downloadable audio, and My Life in a Book offers an audiobook option using the storyteller’s own voice.
One distinction to look for is how the recordings are connected to the book. Some options provide a single QR code for the book, while Remento places a QR code with each story chapter, making it easy to hear the original recording for that specific memory. Remento also supports video recordings, adding another way to preserve the storyteller’s presence.
If hearing a loved one's actual voice years from now is central to the project, check how recordings are preserved and connected to the printed book before purchasing.
Book Size: How Big Do You Want the Book to Be?
Page limits vary considerably.
Remento's included book credit covers up to 200 pages, with a one-time $30 upgrade to extend it to 380 pages. Memorygram offers books up to 450 pages, Storyworth offers up to 480 pages depending on the plan, and My Life in a Book offers up to 500 pages.
More pages are not automatically better. A shorter book with carefully selected stories and photographs may be easier for a family to revisit.
Collaboration: How Much Family Collaboration Do You Want?
If several relatives will participate, look closely at collaboration limits.
Remento includes unlimited collaborators. Storyworth's higher-tier plans support additional storytellers and family calls. Memorygram allows multiple storytellers to contribute to one book, with an additional storyteller available for an added fee. Storii allows unlimited family profiles. My Life in a Book also allows multiple contributors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a memory book?
A memory book is a keepsake that collects a person’s stories, memories, photographs, and other personal details in one place. Depending on the service, memories can be shared by writing, speaking, or answering guided prompts, then turned into a printed book, digital stories, audio, or a combination of formats.
What is the best memory book for seniors?
The right memory book depends on how the storyteller prefers to share their memories. Seniors who would rather speak than write may prefer a voice-first option such as Remento, while Storyworth and My Life in a Book offer writing and voice-to-text options, and Storii is designed around phone-based storytelling. Families who want a professionally written memoir may prefer StoryTerrace.
Do memory books preserve the storyteller's actual voice, or only written text?
Several options preserve spoken memories, but they handle them differently. Remento and Memorygram connect original recordings to the printed book through QR codes, while Storyworth offers voice recordings and QR access on select plans. Storii preserves spoken memories as audio, and My Life in a Book offers an audiobook option using the storyteller's own voice. Remento also supports video recordings and places a QR code with each story chapter.
How much does a memory book cost?
The options in this comparison range from $69/year to $1,200+, depending on the service and package. My Life in a Book starts at $79 one-time, Remento costs $99 for the first year and a hardcover book, with optional renewal at $99/year or $12/month, Memorygram's regular/reference price is $124.99 one-time, Storii costs $9.99/month or $99/year, Storyworth ranges from $69 to $199/year, and StoryTerrace starts at $1,200.
What happens to my stories if I don't renew a memory book subscription?
This varies by service. With Remento, everything already recorded stays with the family, including recordings, QR codes and any unused book credits. Renewing is only needed to keep recording new stories or editing. Storyworth and Storii have different post-subscription access rules, so it's worth checking the specific service before purchasing if long-term editing or access is important.
Can multiple family members contribute to one memory book?
Yes, although the options vary by service. Remento allows unlimited collaborators, while Storyworth, Memorygram, Storii, and My Life in a Book offer different ways for family members to participate or contribute. If multiple people will be adding memories, check the collaboration limits and requirements for the specific service you choose.
Which memory book is best?
The best memory book depends on how the storyteller prefers to share their memories and what the family wants to preserve. Remento is designed for families who want to turn spoken memories into polished stories while preserving the original audio or video.
What is better, Remento or Storyworth?
Remento and Storyworth both use questions to guide storytellers through their memories, but they take different approaches. Remento is designed around speaking, so storytellers can share memories without writing them out. Their spoken memories become written chapters, while the original audio or video is preserved with a QR code for each chapter. Storyworth takes a writing-first approach, with voice recording also available. Its books include one QR code on the final page for access to the original recordings.
How can I create a memory book?
Start by choosing how the storyteller wants to share their memories, whether by writing, speaking, answering prompts by phone, or working with a professional interviewer. Then compare services based on price, book format, voice preservation, and family collaboration.
What's the difference between a scrapbook and a memory book?
A scrapbook typically focuses on photos, memorabilia, and visual layouts, while a memory book centers on personal stories and life experiences. Memory books may also include photos, written stories, audio recordings, video recordings, or other ways to preserve memories.
The Bottom Line
The best memory book depends less on the book itself than on how the storyteller wants to share their memories.
Remento is designed around speaking, giving storytellers the option to record from any device they’re comfortable with, or by phone with an optional add-on, while turning their spoken memories into polished stories and preserving their original voice and presence. Storyworth offers a structured weekly approach with both writing and voice options. Memorygram combines voice preservation with a large, one-time-purchase hardcover. Storii removes much of the technology barrier by letting storytellers share memories by phone. StoryTerrace provides professional memoir writing for a much higher investment, while My Life in a Book offers a lower-cost path to a substantial hardcover keepsake.
For families choosing between them, start with the storyteller: Would they rather speak freely, write their memories, answer prompts by phone, or work with a professional interviewer? If speaking feels more natural, Remento gives families multiple ways to capture those stories while keeping the storyteller’s original voice connected to the finished book.
References
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