What Upscayl is
Upscayl is a free open-source upscaler. It runs locally on Linux, macOS and Windows, upscaling images up to 16x with selectable models, and a cloud option now exists.
Local open-source processing means privacy and no per-image costs, in exchange for hardware requirements.
What you can do with it
- Upscale images locally up to 16x
- Choose models per material type
- Batch process archives
- Try the optional cloud version
Who it is for
- Privacy-conscious users
- Creators avoiding subscriptions
- Open-source software fans
What to watch out for
- Local upscaling needs a capable GPU
- Inferred detail still needs review
- Model choices affect results significantly
- Cloud option has its own terms
Pros & cons
✓ What we like
- Free, open source, private
- High magnification with models
- Cross-platform
! What to watch out for
- GPU requirements
- Interpretive results
- Desktop only for local use
FAQ
Is Upscayl free?
Yes. It is free and open source, with an optional cloud offering.
How far can it upscale?
Up to 16x, with multiple models to choose from.
Who is it for?
Users wanting private, free local upscaling on desktop.
Last reviewed: 2026-09-17
More AI image generation tools
View all →-
123RF Stock library with integrated AI image tools Free tools Text to image Image editing Background remover Image upscaler -
360智图 Image search, licensing and AI editing from 360 Free tools Text to image Background remover Product image Model generator -
360鸿图 Image generation aimed at Chinese-speaking users, with prompts written in Chinese Free tools Creator tools Text to image Art generator Image to image -
a1.art Filter-driven image generation with face swap Free tools Creator tools Text to image Art generator -
AI Anime Generator Photos and text into anime-style art Freemium tools Creator tools Text to image Image to image Image to video -
AI Art Generator Text prompts into original artwork drafts Freemium tools Creator tools Text to image Image editing Art generator