If you’re looking for a meaningful way to preserve your family’s memories, you’ve probably considered newcomer Remento, a family storytelling platform that uses AI to transform spoken memories into keepsake books. Remento allows users to record video or voice-only responses to weekly prompts, which are then transcribed and compiled into a hardcover book, along with photos and QR codes linking to the original recordings. But how exactly does Remento work? And how is it different from other family memory books like Storyworth?

As with any platform, understanding how Remento works and who it’s best for is important before making a purchase. Whether you’re considering Remento for yourself or as a gift for a loved one, here are the 10 most important things to know before you buy.

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1. Remento is great for busy people

If your loved one wants to share their story but doesn’t want to spend too much time writing and reflecting on their life, Remento may be a good choice for them. Storytellers can quickly share a response to a photo or a question prompt on any internet-connected device. A family member can then use Remento’s AI tools to adjust the length, tone, or perspective of their story.

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2. Remento is a good option for older family members

Because Remento doesn’t require storytellers to write their stories, it can be a good choice for older relatives who have mobility issues, visual impairments, or just aren’t comfortable with technology. As long as they can open an email or text message on an internet-connected device and speak into the camera, they can share their stories. Family members can help by adding photos, editing and rearranging stories, and performing other administrative tasks within Remento’s platform.

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3. You may get two different versions of their story

Once your storyteller’s book is printed, each chapter will have a QR code that you can scan to hear them tell that story. Depending on how the AI has altered what they’ve said, the written story could differ significantly from the spoken version. However, as long as Remento remains in business and the QR codes work, it may be nice to have both versions.

“I like the prompts and being able to add my own. I wish they had more of her actual words when it is changed over to print from her voice recording.” — Cathy on Trustpilot

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4. Remento’s photo placement is limited

Family members can choose basic questions from Remento’s library, write their own, or upload a photo as a prompt for a story. More photos can be included at the end of a story in a group, but not interspersed within a story to illustrate what’s happening.

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5. Remento’s pricing is complicated

A Remento subscription includes access to their platform for one storyteller, unlimited collaborators, unlimited prompts, unlimited recorded stories (up to 30 minutes each), and one credit for a color-printed hardcover book.

However, additional costs can add up. While you can record unlimited stories and add photos, the book credit only covers books up to 200 pages. Books between 201 and 380 pages will incur a $30 surcharge, and books over 380 pages will require a second volume to be printed for $69. If you want to download an e-book version, it will cost an additional $24.99.

Remento subscriptions renew annually for $99 by default. The renewal price does not include another book credit but does allow you to continue sending and answering prompts. You can cancel your renewal at any time, but once your subscription ends, you’ll only be able to view, not edit, your stories.

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6. Remento lets family members help out

You can add unlimited family members to a storyteller's account to ask questions, upload photos, edit, and thank the storyteller for sharing stories. Because Remento is a good choice for older family members with limited technical ability, it may be essential for family and friends to get involved. When stories are uploaded, a family member can use Remento’s AI tools to translate the spoken story into a narrative, changing the tone, length, and point of view. They can also ensure photos are digitized and added to the account for use as prompts.

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7. Remento’s language limitations

Remento currently supports English and Spanish, so if your storyteller shares their story in one of those languages, it can be translated accurately. If your storyteller speaks another language, you can choose to edit the written stories by providing your own text and translation. This will require you or another family member to be very hands-on in the editing and writing process.

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8. Remento’s return and refund policy

If you purchased Remento for yourself or a family member and aren’t satisfied, you can request a refund for any reason within 30 days of purchase. Note: only the original purchaser can request a refund.

Remento does not offer refunds or reprints on printed books, so before sending your Remento book to the printer, make sure you review each story carefully! This is especially important because once your Remento subscription has ended, you will lose editing access to your stories.

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9. Customer support frustrations with Remento

Remento offers customer support via an AI-powered chatbot on their website, along with email support. They do not offer phone support, which some users find frustrating, especially given the platform’s goal of serving people with varying levels of technical and physical ability.

“Unfortunately I can’t use the subscription I have purchased. When setting up the account my email was misspelled. When I went to resolve it right after my purchase, the only resource was AI. They couldn’t understand I needed to revise my email address on my account and told me there was no other way to get it fixed because real people were too busy to handle this. A few days later I did the same thing. And got the same message.” — Candice L. on Trustpilot

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10. Remento is a newer company with few reviews

Remento was founded in 2020 but didn’t print its first book until the end of 2023. Because it’s such a new company, it’s not surprising that it has a small number of reviews on sites like Trustpilot. With so few reviews from real people, it can be hard to gauge what the experience is really like. For some people, it may also feel hard to trust a company that’s only been around for a couple of years to stay in business long term.

“The issue I see here is the $99.00 annual fee and the QR code. How long will this company stick around and what happens to the content if they go under?” — Fee_Training on Reddit

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Like all family storytelling platforms, Remento has its strengths and limitations. We hope this guide helps you to make an informed choice about whether Remento is a good fit for you and your family.

Read next: Remento v. Storyworth - Everything you need to know