Upscayl

Upscayl is an AI image upscaling product with a free, open-source desktop app for Linux, macOS, and Windows, plus Upscayl Cloud for browser-based enhancement. The desktop app processes images locally, supports multiple and custom models, batch processing, output customization, and upscaling without a recurring fee. Upscayl Cloud adds browser/device access, faster processing, face enhancement, more formats, AI image generation, storage, and credit-based plans. The current Cloud pricing page lists a $0 Free Trial with 10 credits, a displayed Pro selection at $24.99 with 300 credits/month, credit selectors and one-time purchases, and Custom pricing; the desktop product is presented as free and open source.

✨ Key Features

• AI upscaling — Increase image resolution with AI enhancement models.
• Up to 16x enlargement — The public site advertises upscaling up to 16x for supported workflows.
• Local desktop processing — Process images on the local machine without requiring an internet connection.
• Cross-platform desktop app — Download for Linux, macOS, and Windows.
• Multiple models — Choose among included models and add custom models in the desktop app.
• Batch processing — Upscale multiple images in one workflow.
• Custom output controls — Adjust model, output resolution, theme, and related settings.
• Format support — Cloud supports additional image formats and higher-resolution processing than desktop in eligible workflows.
• Face enhancement — Use Cloud face enhancement for supported images.
• Color accuracy — Preserve detail and color for display or print workflows.
• Upscayl Cloud — Run enhancement in a browser on desktop, tablet, or phone without local GPU hardware.
• AI image generation — Use the Cloud service’s text-to-image feature where available.

💳 Pricing

• Desktop — Free, open source and locally operated without a subscription; local hardware costs remain your responsibility.
• Cloud trial — The current page lists 10 credits for $0 and requires login plus a trial application. This is limited trial access.
• Cloud Pro example — The displayed 300-credit/month selection costs $24.99. It is one option among 100, 300, 500, 1,000, 2,500 and 5,000-credit selections, with monthly/annual subscription controls and a separate one-time purchase option.
• Cloud Custom — Contact Upscayl for custom credits, storage and support.
• Rollover — Subscription credits can roll over while eligible under the active plan; cancellation affects remaining credits. Image-size and storage limits depend on the selected plan.

⚖️ Alternatives Compared

🎯 Use Cases

• Old photo restoration: Improve low-resolution family photos locally or in the Cloud.
• Illustration enlargement: Prepare artwork for larger displays or prints.
• Game and texture assets: Upscale textures and visual assets during creative production.
• Print preparation: Increase usable resolution while preserving color and detail.
• Batch asset cleanup: Process multiple images with the desktop batch workflow.
• Offline privacy workflows: Enhance images locally without uploading them to a service.
• Mobile/cloud enhancement: Upscale from a browser when no local GPU is available.
• Image generation experiments: Combine Cloud upscaling with the available AI image-generation workflow.