Alternatives to Upscayl
Enlarges low-resolution images with AI models running on your own GPU, in a plain drag-and-drop window. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Upscayl
Enlarges low-resolution images with AI models running on your own GPU, in a plain drag-and-drop window.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Upscayl.
Real-ESRGAN
Open source AI model for upscaling and restoring images and video.
Real-ESRGAN is the BSD-licensed upscaling model used inside many tools, run as a command-line library rather than a drag-and-drop app.
chaiNNer
Build reusable image-processing workflows by connecting nodes.
chaiNNer is a GPL node-based app that chains AI upscaling with other image operations into reusable workflows, though some operations need extra models.
Topaz Photo
Desktop image enhancement software that uses AI models to sharpen, denoise, unblur and upscale photos.
Topaz Photo is paid Windows and macOS software adding denoise, sharpen and face enhancement, with models that can run locally or in the cloud.
Magnific
An online AI creative platform for generating and upscaling images, video and audio, formerly Freepik.
Magnific is a paid web platform offering image and video upscaling up to 4K, so images are uploaded and an account is required.
Clipdrop
A set of web-based AI image tools for background removal, cleanup, upscaling, relighting and generation.
Clipdrop provides free browser-based upscaling alongside background removal and cleanup, but processes images online instead of on your GPU.
Pixelcut
An AI photo and video editor for product images, with background removal, upscaling and generated scenes.
Pixelcut offers upscaling up to 16x on web, iOS and Android, focused on product imagery and dependent on online AI services.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Upscayl as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Let's Enhance
Online AI tool that upscales, sharpens and restores photos up to 512 megapixels.
Upscayl is free and open source, running AI upscaling locally on Windows, macOS and Linux with batch processing, but it needs a Vulkan-compatible GPU.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
NMKD Stable Diffusion GUI
A Windows program for generating images with Stable Diffusion locally on your own GPU.
Cleanup.pictures
A web tool that removes unwanted objects, people, text and defects from photos using AI inpainting.
GIMP
The long-running free image editor for photo retouching, compositing and general pixel work.
Squoosh
Browser tool for comparing and compressing images with different codecs.
Krea
A browser-based suite for generating and upscaling images and video with AI, including real-time generation.
Converseen
A free batch image converter and resizer for Windows, Linux, macOS and FreeBSD.
