Upscayl

A cross-platform open-source AI image upscaling tool. The desktop version is free, using multiple upscaling models to enhance resolution while preserving color details; the cloud version offers up to 16x upscaling, face enhancement and batch processing.

AI Image Tools#Image Upscaling#Open Source#Image Enhancement

Updated: 2026-10-26

What is Upscayl?

Blurry screenshots, low-resolution old photos, insufficient size of printed manuscripts — the solution to such problems shouldn’t be to buy more expensive software. Upscayl is a free and open-source AI image upscaling tool. Its desktop version covers Linux, macOS and Windows, and its official website describes it as being so easy to use that there’s no need to learn it. Its approach is very simple: hand blurry images to the model for upscaling while trying to avoid losing colors and details.

Who is it for?

Ordinary users who have a lot of blurry images to restore, as well as people who organize old photos.
People who do design, printing or secondary material processing and need output that meets printing requirements.
Developers who want a tool that runs locally and keeps the original images from being shared externally.
People who have a lot of photos and want to process a whole batch at once instead of clicking one by one.

Key features

AI Upscaling

Enhances image resolution using AI, with a free and open-source desktop version.

Multiple Models Available

The official website emphasizes that there are different upscaling models for different types of images, and you can choose according to the material, instead of using one model for all scenarios.

Upscayl Cloud

The cloud version is officially claimed to support up to 16x magnification, multi-model processing, and its speed is said to be 10 times faster than before.

Color Accuracy

The official website emphasizes the retention of colors and details, which caters to the output requirements for printing.

Batch Processing & Face Enhancement

The cloud version supports processing a batch of images at once, including face enhancement, detail restoration, and intelligent editing.

Cloud AI Image Generation

The official website also lists generating images from descriptions as one of the cloud capabilities, offering a variety of artistic styles.

Multi-device Compatibility

Works on desktops, mobile devices, and tablets, as listed under the "General Compatibility" section on the official website.

How to use Upscayl

Prefer the desktop version: It's free and open-source, no need to upload the original image, and you can rest assured with sensitive materials.
The magnification ratio isn't always better the higher it is.
First test the same image at 2x and 4x magnification, then decide whether to go for 8x or higher.
The batch processing and face enhancement features in the cloud version are upgrade functions.
use the free credits to verify the effects first before deciding whether to pay for them.
Different models produce outputs with distinct styles, so it’s worth running the same image through each one to pick the best result.
as stated on the official website, you should choose a model based on the type of material.
Face enhancement has high requirements for input clarity.
for original images that are so blurry that facial features cannot be distinguished, the effect often falls short of expectations.
Magnification cannot restore lost details out of thin air.
the super-resolution results must be compared with the original image before being used for commercial purposes.
The official website has links to both Cloud and the desktop version.
first confirm whether you want local processing or cloud-based capabilities.