Best AI Image Upscalers in 2026
Updated
In short: Real-ESRGAN is ranked #1 of 29 as of 3 October 2026, ahead of Cutout.Pro and Bigjpg. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Cutout.Pro. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Cutout.Pro at $4.99/mo.
AI image upscalers are for enlarging images, with the listed options spanning tools such as Real-ESRGAN, NextGenUp, and Bigjpg. Compare them on maximum upscale and output formats to see what image sizes and file types are listed. Batch processing and API access may matter if you handle multiple images or want programmatic access; desktop app availability and video upscaling provide other points of distinction. The ranking also includes free-plan availability and the price each entry is paid from. Use those details to weigh image handling, access, and cost as you compare the entries.
29 AI image upscalers ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
14 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 1 has open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real-ESRGANWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | — | 7.0 | |
| 2 | Cutout.ProWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · API | Three bars | — | 6 of 6 | $4.99/mo | 6.8 | |
| 3 | BigjpgWeb · Windows · Mac · Android · iPhone · API | Three bars | — | 5 of 6 | $6/mo | 6.7 | |
| 4 | ImglargerWeb · Mac · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $9.99/mo | 6.6 | |
| 5 | NextGenUpWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 6 | Adima Image Upscaler ProWindows · Android | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | $7.99/mo | 6.4 | |
| 7 | UpscalWindows · Mac · iPhone | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 8 | ClaidWeb · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 9 | ImgUpscalerWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $9.90/mo | 6.3 | |
| 10 | LetsEnhanceAPI | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | $9/mo | 6.3 | |
| 11 | TensorPixWeb · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $5.50/mo | 6.3 | |
| 12 | Upscale.mediaAPI | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | $5.83/mo | 6.3 | |
| 13 | UpscaleAIWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $7.99/mo | 6.3 | |
| 14 | Ximilar Image UpscalerAPI | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | $69/mo | 6.3 | |
| 15 | UpsamplerAPI | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | $15/mo | 6.2 | |
| 16 | Image UpscalerWeb · API | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $9.90/mo | 5.4 |
| 17 | Nero LensAndroid · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 18 | Icons8 Smart UpscalerAPI | One bar | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 19 | ProductImageUpscale AIWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 20 | UpscaylAPI | One bar | — | — | 0 of 6 | $24.99/mo | 5.2 |
| 21 | Waifu2x-Extension-GUIWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 22 | AI UpscaleWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 23 | ON1 Portrait AIWindows · Mac | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 24 | EnlargerWindows · Mac | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | $39/mo | 4.9 |
| 25 | GoStudio AI Image EnlargerWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 4.8 |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which AI image upscaler is ranked first on Freedom251?
Real-ESRGAN is ranked #1 of 29 with a score of 7.0. Cutout.Pro is second and Bigjpg third.
How many of these have a free plan?
14 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Cutout.Pro has the lowest first paid tier we found: $4.99/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.