Is Upscayl really free to use?

Yes — the desktop application is completely free and open-source under the AGPL-3.0 licence with no usage limits. The cloud platform offers a free trial with a small credit allowance, after which a paid subscription is required for continued cloud use.

What are the system requirements for the desktop app?

Upscayl requires a Vulkan-compatible GPU for hardware acceleration. Most modern dedicated graphics cards (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel Arc) are supported, but many integrated graphics chips are not. The app runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

What types of images does Upscayl work best with?

Upscayl excels at enlarging pixelated, low-resolution, or compressed images — including old photos, thumbnails, and digital illustrations. It is not designed to restore images that are out of focus or heavily motion-blurred, as those degradations are outside the scope of upscaling models.

Can I upscale images in bulk?

Yes. The desktop app includes batch processing so you can queue and upscale multiple images in one session. The cloud platform also supports batch jobs, typically with higher throughput speeds.

How does the cloud version differ from the desktop app?

The cloud platform processes images on remote servers, which can be significantly faster than local GPU processing and supports higher maximum output resolutions. It also provides multi-device access and storage for your upscaled files. The desktop app, by contrast, runs entirely offline with no data leaving your machine.

Reviewed · Updated 2026-06-21

Upscayl

Free, open-source AI image upscaler that enlarges low-resolution photos up to 16× without losing quality, available as a desktop app or cloud service.

Reviewed by the Conversion Gems editorial team · 2026-06-21

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Pricing

Freemium

Best for

Photographers, designers, and content creators who need to upscale or restore low-resolution images without a subscription, or who want cloud-speed processing for larger volumes

Community ratings

2.7/ 5 aggregate · across 1 source

Trustpilot

2.75+ reviews

Third-party ratings shown verbatim; aggregate weighted by review volume.

What it really is

Upscayl — an open-source AI image upscaler available as a free desktop application and a paid cloud service.

Our take

Upscayl offers a robust, free desktop app for local AI-driven image upscaling, complemented by a cloud service for enhanced features and performance. The desktop version is entirely free and open-source, while the cloud service provides additional capabilities at various pricing tiers.

Best for

Photographers needing local upscaling

Designers seeking free AI tools

Users with limited budgets

Not good for

Users without Vulkan-compatible GPUs

Those needing advanced cloud features

Enterprises requiring extensive support

Friction report

Time to value

Fast: Quick setup and immediate upscaling with the desktop app.

Scale breakpoint

Cloud credits may become costly for high-volume users.

Walled garden

Low: Open-source nature allows for customization and integration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Alternatives

Step up

Topaz Gigapixel AI for advanced features.

Lighter alternative

Let's Enhance for simpler online upscaling.

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Upscayl

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