8 Best AI Image Upscalers in 2026 (Free and Paid)

Topaz Gigapixel is built for photos and print, with unlimited local rendering for a flat monthly fee. Magnific Upscaler adds new detail to AI images. Higgsfield lets creators generate, edit and upscale in one place, from 2 credits per upscale. Upscayl is free and runs offline. Let’s Enhance handles product files up to 512 MP.

TL;DR:

• To enlarge photos, products or text without changes, use a fidelity mode: Topaz, Magnific Precision, Let’s Enhance Gentle.
• To add detail to AI art, use a generative mode and check faces and labels afterward.
• The same 4x upscale costs from $0 to about $0.67 across the eight tools.

An upscaler either enlarges the pixels you already have or invents new detail to fill the gaps. This guide compares eight tools on the same file. To create images from scratch, see Best AI Image Generators.

How We Compared These AI Image Upscalers

We loaded the same 1024×1024 AI-generated portrait into every web tool and set a 4x upscale to 4096×4096 (16.8 MP). We recorded the credit cost each tool shows before you run it, then converted credits to dollars at the plan rate listed below. For desktop tools, we used official documentation. We compared upscale type, models, maximum output, free access and cost.

This guide makes no claims about which tool produces the sharpest result. Pricing checked on October 31, 2026. Prices and plan details may change.

Fidelity vs Generative Upscaling: How Much Does the Image Change?

Fidelity upscalers enlarge the existing pixels and try to keep faces, text and product shapes as they are. Generative upscalers redraw the image with new texture and detail. Generative results often look sharper, but they can change a face, a logo or a label, so check them closely before you publish.

Vendors describe this split themselves. Adobe says Topaz Gigapixel “preserves existing detail,” while Topaz Bloom “adds new, creative detail.” Krea warns that its generative models can add undesired detail.

Settings control how far a generative model goes:

• Creativity sliders (Higgsfield Topaz Generative, Magnific Creative, Krea, Firefly Bloom): lower values stay closer to the source.
• Resemblance (Magnific Creative): higher values keep the original composition.
• Face controls (OpenArt Face preservation, Krea face detection and face strength, Gigapixel Face Recovery): limit changes to faces.
• Modes for text: Let’s Enhance recommends Gentle when an image has small text.

No upscaler restores detail that was never captured. A generative model can draw eyelashes or fabric weave that look real, but they are not in the original.

Topaz Gigapixel: Best for Photos and Print

Topaz Gigapixel is a desktop upscaler from Topaz Labs for Mac and Windows. It offers specialized models, from faithful enlargement to face recovery, with local or cloud rendering under one subscription.

Best for: photographers and print shops that upscale many images and want to keep files on their own computer.

Where it runs: desktop app; models include Standard, Standard Max, High Fidelity, Low Res, Text & Shapes, Art & CG, Recover, Redefine, Wonder and Face Recovery.

What you get:

• Upscaling up to 6x
• Unlimited local and cloud image rendering on paid plans
• Dedicated models for text, CGI and low-resolution sources
• Local rendering, so files do not leave your computer

Limits that remain:

• No Linux version; generative models need 8 GB of VRAM to run locally
• Personal plan allows commercial use only for organizations under $1M in annual revenue
• No free plan or trial listed on the official site

Price: Personal plan from $29/mo billed monthly; full commercial use on Pro ($54/mo, billed monthly for 12 months).

Magnific Upscaler: Best for AI Images That Need New Detail

Magnific Upscaler belongs to Magnific, the platform formerly known as Freepik. Creative mode adds new detail with sliders and an optional prompt; Precision mode sharpens while staying close to the source.

Best for: illustrators and AI artists who want texture added to soft renders.

Where it runs: Magnific web app and API; Creative mode (Magnific or Classic model) and Precision mode (Magnific v2 or v1); Topaz upscalers on Premium+ and above.

What you get:

• Creative sliders for Creativity, HDR and Resemblance, plus “Optimized for” presets
• Precision presets (Balanced, Portraits, Grainy Analog) with Sharpness and Grain
• Up to 16x in Precision mode
• Bulk upload of up to 20 images

Limits that remain:

• Credit cost grows with output size: a 4x upscale of our 1024×1024 file cost 360 credits in both modes
• 10K output is available only on Premium+ and above
• Free plan allows personal use only, with attribution

Price: Premium from $20/mo for 20,000 credits.

Higgsfield AI: Best for Creating, Editing and Upscaling in One Place

Higgsfield is a generative platform for creative production, with 35+ frontier models for generating images and turning them into video scenes. Its Upscale tool works on uploads and past generations.

Best for: marketers who generate or edit images, then need a larger file for ads.

Where it runs: Higgsfield web app (Upscale); ByteDance Upscale (default), Topaz and Topaz Generative.

What you get:

• ByteDance Upscale to 2K or 4K for a flat 2 credits
• Topaz at x1, x2, x4, x8 or x16, from 2 credits
• Topaz Generative with Prompt, Sharpness, Denoise, Creativity and Texture settings
• Generation, editing and upscaling under one credit balance

Limits that remain:

• Credit cost depends on the model and scale factor (Topaz Generative x4 was 8 credits on our file)
• The highest factors depend on the source size

Price: from $15/mo for 200 credits; a 4x upscale cost 2 credits (≈$0.15) with Topaz or ByteDance.

Adobe Photoshop Generative Upscale: Best for Photoshop Users

Generative Upscale sits in Photoshop under Image > Generative Upscale. It offers Adobe’s Firefly Upscaler and two Topaz Labs models, and opens the result as a new document.

Best for: designers who already retouch and lay out images in Photoshop.

Where it runs: Photoshop desktop and Firefly web; Firefly Upscaler, Topaz Gigapixel and Topaz Bloom.

What you get:

• 2x or 4x scale
• Firefly Upscaler up to 6144 × 6144 px
• Topaz Gigapixel up to 56 MP, Topaz Bloom up to 9 MP
• Bloom Creativity slider and Gigapixel Face recovery (Firefly web)

Limits that remain:

• Each upscale uses generative credits: 10 credits for our 16.8 MP output with Firefly or Gigapixel
• The Photoshop plan includes 25 credits a month
• Topaz Bloom cannot reach 4096×4096 because of its 9 MP limit

Price: Photoshop plan $22.99/mo on an annual plan billed monthly. Credit costs come from Adobe Help (Partner models in Adobe products), last updated October 23, 2026.

Krea Enhancer: Best for Comparing Many Upscale Models

Krea Enhancer puts Krea’s own models, several Topaz models and Magnific models in one interface, so you can switch between them on the same image.

Best for: designers who want to test different upscalers without separate accounts.

Where it runs: Krea web app (Enhancer); Krea Upscale, Krea Enhance, Topaz (Standard, Low Resolution, High Fidelity, CGI), Topaz Image Upscale, Topaz Bloom and Bloom 2, Magnific Creative and Magnific Precise.

What you get:

• Scale options of 1x, 2x, 4x and 8x
• Up to 22K output with Topaz
• Settings for strength, resemblance, sharpness, denoise and face detection
• Listed prices from 8 units (Krea Upscale) to 250 units (Topaz Bloom)

Limits that remain:

• Topaz and Magnific models require a paid plan
• Generative models carry a minimum price, with the final cost shown before you enhance
• Free upscaling stops at 2K with basic models

Price: Basic from $9/mo for 5,000 units.

Let’s Enhance: Best for Product Photos and Large Files

Let’s Enhance is a web upscaler for e-commerce and print. It charges one credit per image and supports outputs up to 512 MP on its largest personal plan.

Best for: online stores and print teams that need product images at a fixed cost per image.

Where it runs: Let’s Enhance web app and the Claid.ai API; modes include Prime (default), Gentle, Strong, Old Photo and Digital Art.

What you get:

• Upscaling from 2x to 16x
• Gentle mode for images with small text, such as product labels
• Strong mode for very blurry inputs
• One credit per image, regardless of mode

Limits that remain:

• Maximum output varies by plan, from 256 MP (Starter) to 512 MP (Max)
• Free credits produce watermarked images
• Batch processing for businesses goes through sales

Price: Starter from $12/mo billed monthly for 100 credits (≈$0.12 per image).

OpenArt Image Upscaler: Best for Topaz Models on Trial Credits

OpenArt is a creative platform for images and video. Its Image Upscale tool runs on Topaz Labs models in three modes: Precise, Generative and Creative.

Best for: OpenArt users who want Topaz models without a Topaz subscription.

Where it runs: OpenArt web app; Precise (Topaz Standard v2), Generative (Topaz Redefine) and Creative (Topaz Bloom Creative).

What you get:

• Upscale factor from 1x to 16x in Precise mode
• Face preservation toggle in Creative mode
• Cost and estimated time shown before you generate
• 40 one-time trial credits for new accounts

Limits that remain:

• Generative modes cost more: 105 credits (Generative) and 190 credits (Creative) for a 4x upscale of our file
• Commercial use starts on the Plus plan ($34/mo)
• Free accounts keep creations for 7 days

Price: Starter from $14/mo for 4,000 credits; Precise 4x cost 20 credits (≈$0.07).

Upscayl: Best Free AI Image Upscaler

Upscayl is a free, open-source desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux. It runs open models such as Real-ESRGAN on your own graphics card, without credits.

Best for: anyone who needs free upscaling and has a compatible GPU.

Where it runs: desktop app (AGPL-3.0); built-in models include Real-ESRGAN, High Fidelity, Remacri and Ultrasharp, plus custom models.

What you get:

• Upscaling up to 16x
• Batch processing for whole folders
• “Double Upscayl” to run an image through twice
• Local processing on your own hardware

Limits that remain:

• Needs a Vulkan-compatible GPU; most integrated graphics will not work
• No prompt or creativity controls
• Speed depends on your hardware

Price: free desktop app. Upscayl Cloud Pro costs $24.99 for 300 credits, with outputs up to 256 MP.

Where Else Can You Use Topaz Models?

Topaz Labs models run in six of the eight tools: Gigapixel itself, Higgsfield, Photoshop, Krea, OpenArt and Magnific (Premium+ and above). The model family is the same, but each platform exposes a different set of Topaz models and settings, and charges differently.

The standalone app makes sense for high volume and offline work. Access through a platform makes sense when you upscale occasionally or already generate images there. For a full platform comparison, see Higgsfield AI vs Magnific.

How Much Does the Same Upscale Cost?

A 4x upscale of a 1024×1024 image costs from $0 (Upscayl) to about $0.67 (OpenArt Creative). On most platforms, generative modes cost more than fidelity modes; Magnific charges 360 credits for both.

Pricing checked on October 31, 2026. Prices and plan details may change.

Costs use regular monthly prices, not annual discounts. A result you redo costs twice as much. Higgsfield costs less per credit on larger plans: on the $49 plan (1,000 credits), the same Topaz Generative x4 upscale costs about $0.39.

Free vs Paid: Watermarks and Commercial Use

Only Upscayl gives you unlimited free upscales. Krea’s free plan includes daily units but no commercial license, and it stops at 2K. Other free tiers are trials, limited to personal use, or watermarked.

• Upscayl: free and open source; runs locally with no credits.
• Krea: 100 units a day; upscales to 2K with basic models; commercial license from the Basic plan.
• Magnific: free plan for personal use only, with attribution; commercial use on paid plans.
• Let’s Enhance: 10 free credits; free results carry a watermark, removed after you buy a plan.
• Higgsfield AI: upscaling needs a paid plan.
• OpenArt: 40 one-time trial credits, enough for two Precise 4x upscales of our file but not one Generative upscale; commercial use from Plus.

Which AI Image Upscaler Should You Choose?

Choose by the task, not by the maximum scale factor. Fidelity tools suit real photos, products and print; generative tools suit AI art and soft renders. If you already create in Photoshop, Higgsfield, Krea or OpenArt, use the upscaler built into that platform.

Fidelity models keep what is already in the image, while generative models add detail and can change faces and text. Start with Topaz Gigapixel for photos and print, Higgsfield if you generate and edit there, Magnific Upscaler for AI art, Let’s Enhance for product catalogs and Upscayl for free local work.