StoryWorth vs Remento vs Stories of You: Which Is Right for Your Family?
If you're comparing family story preservation services, you've probably already found StoryWorth. They've been around since 2013 and have printed over a million books. Remento is the newer alternative that appeared on Shark Tank, focused on voice recording. And Stories of You is different from both: we call your parent on the phone and turn their stories into watercolor-illustrated videos.
This is written by the founder of Stories of You, so I'll be transparent about that. But I've done my best to be fair here, because these are all good products serving the same important goal: helping families preserve stories before they're lost. The right choice depends on your family, not on which company writes the most persuasive marketing copy.
The Fundamental Difference
All three services help families preserve stories, but they differ in how the storyteller participates and what the final output looks like.
StoryWorth — your parent receives a weekly email prompt and can respond by typing a reply, writing on the StoryWorth website, or requesting a phone call where they tell their story and it's transcribed verbatim. The storyteller initiates each response. The output is a printed hardcover book.
Remento — your parent receives a prompt by email or text and records an audio or video response using their phone or tablet's browser (no app download required). AI converts their spoken words into polished written narratives. The output is a printed book with QR codes linking to original recordings.
Stories of You — we proactively call your parent on their phone (any phone, including a landline) at times you schedule. They answer, hear a question, and talk for as long as they'd like. Their story is transcribed and cleaned up (removing filler words like "um" and "uh," but keeping their actual words and phrasing). AI then generates original watercolor illustrations to accompany the story, and the whole thing becomes a short video with their voice, captions, and background music. The storyteller can also record through their browser. One subscription covers up to 6 family members.
The key distinction is about who does the work: with StoryWorth and Remento, the storyteller initiates each story by opening an email or clicking a link. With Stories of You, the system initiates contact by calling the storyteller. They just answer the phone.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | StoryWorth | Remento | Stories of You |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $99/year | $99/year | $96/year |
| Storytellers per subscription | 1 storyteller + unlimited readers | 1 storyteller | Up to 6 storytellers |
| How storyteller responds | Types via email/website OR requests a phone call | Speaks into phone/tablet browser | Answers a scheduled phone call OR records in browser |
| Who initiates each story | Storyteller (opens email, clicks through) | Storyteller (clicks prompt link) | System calls storyteller at scheduled time |
| Technology required from storyteller | Email access + ability to click links (for phone option) | Smartphone/tablet with internet | Any phone (including landline). No email or internet needed |
| Managed accounts for elderly | No (storyteller must interact with email/web to request phone call) | No | Yes (buyer manages everything) |
| Book format | Hardcover (included) | Hardcover (included, up to 200 pages) | Digital (watercolor video + printable PDF storybook) |
| Voice preserved | Phone recordings exist on platform but aren't in the printed book | Yes (QR codes in book link to recordings) | Yes (original voice narration in video, downloadable) |
| What AI does | Nothing (verbatim transcript, filler words included) | Rewrites spoken words into polished prose | Removes filler words from transcript; generates watercolor images and video |
| Primary output | Hardcover book (text + photos) | Hardcover book + QR audio | Watercolor-illustrated video |
| Prompt delivery | Weekly email | Email or SMS | Phone call with text preview 15 min before |
| Custom prompts | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Family can submit questions | Yes (suggest prompts) | Yes | Yes (Story Requests) |
| Scheduling control | Weekly (adjustable frequency) | Flexible | Choose specific days and times for calls |
| Support | Email, text, phone | Email, chatbot |
Who StoryWorth Is Best For
StoryWorth is the right choice if your parent is self-motivated and comfortable initiating the process each week. The service offers three ways to respond: typing a reply to the email, writing on the website, or requesting a phone call that gets transcribed. There's flexibility in how stories are captured.
It's also the most proven option. With over a million books printed and nearly 50,000 five-star reviews, there's minimal risk. The process is well-tested, the weekly email cadence provides gentle structure, and the hardcover book at the end is a tangible, meaningful keepsake.
The main limitation is that StoryWorth requires the storyteller to take action each week. They need to open the email, click through to the story editor, and either write their response or request a phone call. For self-directed parents who enjoy the weekly ritual, this works beautifully. But many families report that responses start strong and trail off after a few months when the initial enthusiasm fades.
For the phone recording option specifically, the storyteller still needs to navigate to the story editor and request the call. It's not a proactive outreach from StoryWorth. Phone transcripts are verbatim, including filler words and pauses, which preserves authenticity but can read roughly on the page without manual editing.
StoryWorth also has the broadest support options: email, text, and phone support. That matters if your parent runs into issues.
Who Remento Is Best For
Remento is the right choice if your parent is comfortable with a smartphone or tablet but doesn't want to type. Speaking into a device is easier than writing for many people, especially those with arthritis, vision issues, or simply a preference for talking over typing.
Remento's AI "Speech-to-Story" technology converts spoken answers into polished written narratives, which addresses a real problem with raw transcripts. They tend to include filler words, false starts, and circular phrasing that doesn't read well on the page. The AI cleanup makes the final book more readable.
The QR codes in Remento's books are a nice feature. Scanning one lets you hear the original recording alongside the written version. It bridges the gap between a written book and voice preservation.
The main limitation is that Remento still requires your parent to interact with technology. They receive a prompt by email or text, click a link, and record themselves speaking into their device's microphone. For tech-comfortable seniors, this is straightforward. For parents who struggle with smartphones or feel self-conscious recording themselves alone into a device, it can be a barrier. There's no live conversation. The parent is essentially speaking into a void, which feels unnatural to some people.
Who Stories of You Is Best For
Stories of You is the right choice if you want to record stories from multiple family members, or if you want the lowest possible burden on the storyteller.
The most obvious difference from StoryWorth and Remento: one $96/year subscription covers up to 6 storytellers. You can set up recording for both parents, a grandparent, an aunt, an uncle. Everyone on one plan. With StoryWorth or Remento, you'd need a separate $99 subscription for each person.
The proactive phone call approach is the other big differentiator. Rather than waiting for the storyteller to open an email and initiate a recording, Stories of You calls them at scheduled times. A text message arrives 15 minutes before with the question they'll be asked. The storyteller's only job is to answer the phone and talk. They don't need an email address, a smartphone, or an internet connection. Any phone works, including a landline.
For family members who prefer recording on their own, Stories of You supports browser-based recording too. You can record a story on the website using your device's microphone, upload photos, and choose your own prompts.
The video output is unlike anything else in this category. Each story becomes a short video with AI-generated watercolor illustrations, your parent's actual voice as narration, captions, and background music. The AI transcribes what they said and cleans up filler words ("um," "uh," repeated false starts), but it doesn't rewrite or change their words. What you hear in the video is what they actually said. The illustrations are generated from the content of the story, not from any photos of your family.
The managed account system means the buyer handles everything. You set up the phone number, the call schedule, the question queue. Your parent never logs into anything.
The main limitations: there's no physical hardcover book. The output is digital video and a printable PDF storybook. The service is newer and smaller than StoryWorth, with fewer reviews. And the buyer needs to tell their parent about the service upfront so they know to expect the calls.
Pricing Breakdown
| StoryWorth | Remento | Stories of You | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 cost | $99 | $99 | $96 |
| Storytellers included | 1 | 1 | Up to 6 |
| Book format | 1 hardcover included | 1 hardcover included (up to 200pg) | Digital: watercolor video + printable PDF storybook |
| Additional copies | $39 B&W / $79-99 color | $69/copy | N/A (digital output, shareable) |
| Year 2 renewal | $99 | $99 | $96 |
If a printed hardcover book is your main goal, StoryWorth or Remento are the better choice. The physical book is central to what they do. Stories of You's strength is in video output, voice preservation, and covering your whole family under one subscription.
The Question Nobody Talks About: Will Your Parent Actually Do It?
This is the real differentiator, and it's harder to compare in a feature table.
The biggest risk with any story preservation service isn't the price or the features — it's abandonment. Your parent starts enthusiastically, responds to the first few prompts, and gradually stops. This happens with all three services, and it happens more often than any of us would like to admit.
The factors that affect follow-through are:
How much effort each story requires from the storyteller. Writing a full story (StoryWorth) requires the most. Recording yourself speaking (Remento) requires medium effort. Answering a phone call (Stories of You) requires the least. Lower effort generally means higher completion rates.
Whether the storyteller feels accountable. Weekly emails can feel like homework. Phone calls feel more like appointments — and there's social pressure to not "stand someone up," even if the caller is automated.
Whether the buyer stays involved. All three services work best when the adult child actively participates — suggesting prompts, reading or watching the stories, giving feedback to the storyteller. When the buyer sets it up and walks away, engagement drops across all platforms.
My Honest Recommendation
If your parent is self-motivated and will engage with weekly emails on their own: StoryWorth. They've earned their reputation over 12 years, the book is beautiful, the phone recording option adds flexibility, and the experience is polished.
If your parent prefers speaking over writing and uses a smartphone comfortably: Remento. The voice-to-story AI, video recording, and QR code features are well done.
If you want to record stories from multiple family members, or if your parent has no email and limited tech comfort: Stories of You. Seven storytellers on one plan, proactive phone calls, managed accounts where the buyer handles everything, and watercolor video output that's unlike anything else in this space. It's the most cost-effective option if you have more than one family member you want to record.
The most important thing is that you start with one of them. Every week that passes is a week of stories that might not get told.
Stories of You calls your loved ones on the phone, records their stories, and turns them into watercolor-illustrated videos. No apps, no passwords — they just answer the phone.
Learn More →Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch between services?
Yes. Your stories, recordings, and content belong to you on all three platforms. StoryWorth lets you export stories as text. Remento preserves original recordings. Stories of You videos can be downloaded at any time.
Which service works best for parents with dementia?
For early-stage memory issues, Stories of You's phone format may work well since it requires no technology navigation and older memories are often preserved longer. For moderate-to-advanced dementia, no automated service can replace a patient human interviewer. Consider a professional biography service for complex situations.
Do any of these services offer a free trial?
StoryWorth does not offer a free trial. Remento does not offer a free trial. Stories of You allows anyone to record up to 2 free stories per day through their website to experience the video output before subscribing.
What happens to my stories if the company goes out of business?
With StoryWorth, your printed book exists regardless. With Remento, QR codes in printed books would stop working, but you can download recordings. With Stories of You, you can download all videos and audio files at any time — they're yours to keep permanently.
Can multiple family members use one account?
StoryWorth and Remento focus on one storyteller per subscription. Stories of You includes up to 6 storytellers on one $96/year Family Plan, making it more economical for families who want to record stories from multiple relatives.