Compared · checked 2026-10-24
The best free AI image upscalers
An AI upscaler makes a small picture bigger and adds detail instead of plain stretching. Here are four free ones: our browser app that runs on your device, a desktop app, and two online services.
We make Upscaler, one of the tools on this page. Every fact about the other tools comes from their own pages, linked under each one, as they read on 2026-10-24. Prices and features change: check each site before you choose.
How we compared them
- Free to use without a monthly cap, and without a watermark
- Where the picture is processed: on your device or on a server
- How far it scales and whether it does batches or video
- What you need: an install, a graphics card, an account
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free limits | Runs where | Account needed | Largest scale | Watermark on free results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upscaler ours | Free | Videos up to 15 seconds; up to 64 megapixels | Browser, on your device | No | 4× | No |
| Upscayl | Free, open source (AGPL-3.0) | Not stated | Desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux; needs a Vulkan graphics card | Not stated | 16× | Not stated |
| Upscale.media | Free tier; paid credits and subscription | Without sign-up 1 image a day; with an account 3 free credits a month | Browser, Android and iOS apps, API | No, for the guest tier | 8× | No |
| Bigjpg | Free; paid from $6 for 2 months | 20 pictures a month, 5 MB uploads, up to 4×, no batch | Web, Windows and Mac apps, iOS and Android; on their servers | No, up to 3000×3000 and 5 MB | 4× free, 16× paid | No |
| Feature | Upscaler ours | Upscayl | Upscale.media | Bigjpg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largest scale | 4× | 16× | 8× | 16× (paid; 4× free) |
| Batch of pictures | Yes | Yes | Partly | Partly |
| Video upscaling | 15 s, no sound | Not stated | Up to 1 min | No |
| Choice of AI models | Yes | Yes | Not stated | Partly |
| Custom models | No | Yes | Not stated | No |
| Processed on your device | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Works in a browser, no install | Yes | Partly | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop app | Works in the browser | Yes | Not stated | Yes |
| Mobile app | Works in the browser | Partly | Yes | Yes |
| API | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| No watermark on free results | Yes | Not stated | Yes | Yes |
| Free without an account | Yes | Not stated | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Yes | No | Not stated |
1. Upscaler (ours)
Best for: Enlarging pictures or a short clip in the browser, with nothing to install and nothing uploaded.
Good
- Runs in your browser with WebAssembly; the picture never leaves your device
- Fast model ships with the page; optional Quality model (Real-ESRGAN x4plus)
- Before and after slider, PNG, JPEG or WebP
- Works on large pictures in tiles, with progress and cancel
- Several files run one after another, and the results download as one ZIP
- Works on your phone, tablet and computer in the browser, even offline
Not so good
- Still in beta
- The Quality model is a 64 MB download and is much slower, as it runs on the CPU
- Stops at 4×; videos are limited to 15 seconds, lose their sound and need WebCodecs (current Chrome or Edge)
2. Upscayl
Best for: Power users with a supported graphics card who want the most models, 16× and batches for free.
Good
- Free and open source, with a choice of AI models and support for custom models
- Scales up to 16× and does batches
- Desktop builds for Windows 10+, macOS 12+ and Linux
- Runs on your own graphics card
Not so good
- Needs a Vulkan-compatible GPU; its README says many integrated GPUs will not work
- An install, not a web page
- The separate Upscayl Cloud service has its own terms
Upscayl website · Sources: Upscayl home, Upscayl on GitHub (README), Upscayl API docs
3. Upscale.media
Best for: A quick online upscale up to 8× from any device, including phones, without signing up.
Good
- 2×, 4× and 8×, with no watermark
- Also upscales videos up to 1 minute (MP4, MOV, WebM)
- Android and iOS apps, an API and plugins
- Takes PNG, JPEG, WebP and HEIC
Not so good
- Small free allowance: 1 image a day as a guest, 3 credits a month with an account
- Sign-up required for bulk processing
- Pictures are processed on its servers
Upscale.media website · Sources: Upscale.media home, Upscale.media pricing, Upscale.media JPG upscaler, Upscale.media terms
4. Bigjpg
Best for: Artwork and anime-style pictures with noise reduction, if 20 free pictures a month is enough.
Good
- Artwork and Photo modes with noise reduction levels
- Apps for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android, and an API
- Low-priced paid plans with 16×, batch and 50 MB uploads
Not so good
- Free plan runs on a shared server and is slow, by its own description
- Free plan: 20 pictures a month and 5 MB uploads, no batch
Bigjpg website · Sources: Bigjpg home and plans, Bigjpg (English), Bigjpg AI transparency, Bigjpg blog: upscaler comparison
Which one to choose
Upscaler is our pick for enlarging a picture privately: it runs in the browser on your device on any recent computer, with no graphics card, account, cap or watermark, and it installs from the browser and works offline. It stops at 4×, and a batch runs one picture after another.
Choose Upscayl if you have a supported graphics card and need more models or up to 16×, and do not mind an install. Choose Upscale.media or Bigjpg for an online upscale beyond 4× or from their phone apps, within small free allowances; they go further on paid plans.
Questions
Which free upscaler keeps my picture private?
Upscaler and Upscayl process the picture on your own device. Bigjpg and Upscale.media process pictures on their servers.
Can I upscale more than 4× for free?
Upscayl goes up to 16× and Upscale.media to 8×. Upscaler and the free Bigjpg plan stop at 4×.
Do I need a graphics card?
Upscayl needs a Vulkan-compatible GPU. Upscaler runs in the browser on the CPU, so any recent computer works, just more slowly for the Quality model.
Can these upscale video?
Upscale.media takes videos up to 1 minute. Upscaler does clips up to 15 seconds without sound. Bigjpg points to a separate site for video.
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