Upscayl review (2026): is the free plan enough?
Free desktop image upscaler with a paid credit-based cloud
Black Friday: is there a Upscayl sale?
Upscayl report card
Very good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 12, 2026
Best for a free image upscaler that runs on your own computer
Upscayl is a free, open-source desktop app for Linux, macOS and Windows that enlarges images on your own machine with no stated limits. It only upscales, and the paid cloud service, with editing and image generation, starts at $24.99 a month for 300 credits.
Who Upscayl is for
- Fits if you want to enlarge photos for free, on your own machine
- Works for people who batch-process images and would rather not upload them
Who Upscayl is not for
- Skip it if you need editing or image generation, as those are in the paid cloud only
- Tight if you try the cloud: the trial is 10 credits once, and it needs a trial application
- Pricey if you want cloud credits, at $24.99 a month for 300, and unused ones are lost when you cancel
- Not for you if you want it on a phone, since only desktop and web versions are listed
Why Upscayl gets a 3.0
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyThe desktop app is free and open source, with no stated limit on images or formats. The cloud service is $24.99 a month for 300 credits, but you don't need it.
- AFree plan and trialFree outright for the desktop app, with no account, and it works offline. The cloud's only free offer is 10 credits once, after a trial application.
- CFeaturesDoes one job completely: several models, batch upscaling and your own custom models, up to 16x. It's a smaller job, and editing and generation exist only in the paid cloud.
- BEase of useNo store rating on record. You download it, drop in an image and pick a model, with nothing to set up.
- CPlatforms and integrationsDesktop for Linux, macOS and Windows plus a cloud web app. No phone apps, no API on the listing and no integrations.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Upscayl's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/upscayl#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/upscayl.svg" alt="Upscayl: 3.0 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Upscayl stands among AI image and video generators
Upscayl's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 82 of the 89 other AI image and video generators we grade, and level with 6.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 86 of 89) and worst on features (C, above 2).
Its paid plans start at $24.99 a month, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 61 of the 65 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 32 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 90 AI image and video generators we grade, cut by the letter each got. Upscayl’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 80 of 89, level with 9
- AFree plan and trialAbove 86 of 89, level with 3
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 89, level with 39
- BEase of useAbove 58 of 89, level with 25
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 2 of 89, level with 36
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 67 AI image and video generators. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Keep Upscayl, or make your own?
Keep it
To replace Upscayl you would be making an image model, which you can rent by the picture but not make. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 82 of the 89 other AI image and video generators we grade. It costs $299.88 a year. Upscayl is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could not
- An image model, which you can rent by the picture but not make.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
What this rests on. Upscayl’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is Upscayl?
Upscayl enlarges and sharpens low-resolution images with AI models. The desktop app for Linux, macOS and Windows is free and open source and processes images on your own machine. A separate paid cloud service, Upscayl Cloud, adds credit-based upscaling, image editing and AI image generation in the browser.
Worth knowing
- The cloud service is sold by monthly credits, and the pricing page shows only one price at a time as the slider moves.
- If a cloud subscription is cancelled, unused subscription credits are lost and history is deleted after 1 month.
- The cloud trial is only 10 credits and requires a trial application.
- The desktop app has no cloud editing or image generation features.
Key features
- Local desktop upscaling
- The desktop app does all processing on your machine and needs no internet connection.
- Several AI models
- Choose between different models for different kinds of images, add your own custom models, and run a double upscale for better quality.
- Batch processing
- Upscale several images in one go. The site advertises enlargement of up to 16x.
- Upscayl Cloud editing
- The cloud service lists face enhancement, detail recovery and smart editing, with batch processing.
- AI image generation
- Upscayl Cloud can generate images from a text description in several styles. It is included on the paid cloud plans.
- Large output sizes
- Cloud Pro upscales up to 256 megapixels and the Business tier up to 512 megapixels.
Upscayl pricing
As of Nov 12, 2026, Upscayl has a free plan, and paid plans start at $24.99 per month for 300 credits, billed monthly.
- Starts at
- $24.99 per month for 300 credits, billed monthly
- Free plan
- Upscayl Desktop is free and open source with no stated limits on images or formats. Upscayl Cloud gives a one-time 10-credit trial.
- Free trial
- Upscayl Cloud: 10 free credits after signing up and filling in a trial application.
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Upscayl Desktop | $0 | Free, open-source app for Linux, macOS and Windows. Runs on your own computer, with several AI models and batch upscaling. |
| Free Trial (Cloud) | $0 | 10 credits for Upscayl Cloud, one time. Needs a login and a trial application. |
| Pro (Cloud) | $24.99per month for 300 credits, billed monthly | Unused credits roll over, 6 months of storage, upscaling up to 256 MP, AI image generation and priority support. The price follows the credit amount chosen on a slider. |
| Business (Cloud) | Custom | Offered for larger credit amounts on the slider, with upscaling up to 512 MP and 6 months of storage. No price was shown for it. |
Read from upscayl.org on Nov 12, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Upscayl before you buy.
Ways to pay less
- Annual discountUp to 40% off with annual billing
The pricing page shows an Annual option labelled up to 40% off for Upscayl Cloud subscriptions. The annual prices were not displayed.
Stated on upscayl.org
Upscayl alternatives
- Upscayl vs Topaz Labs
From $19/mo
- Upscayl vs Let's Enhance
Free trial · from $9/mo
- Upscayl vs VanceAI
Free trial · from $15/mo
- Upscayl vs Remini
Free plan · from $4.99
Common questions
Does Upscayl have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Upscayl is listed for Web, macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Upscayl have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Upscayl is listed for Web, macOS, Windows and Linux.
Is Upscayl open source?
Yes. Upscayl is open source, according to its own site.
Does Upscayl work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 12, 2026.