Best Image Upscaling Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Real-ESRGAN is ranked #1 of 100 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of NextGenUp and Bigjpg. The best-ranked option with a free plan is NextGenUp. The lowest first paid tier on this page is PixelPanda Image Upscaler at $1.99/mo.
Image upscaling software is for enlarging images, with different tools offering different processing options and limits. Compare maximum scale, upscaling method, and supported input formats; batch processing, a desktop app, and API access can also shape how a tool fits your workflow. Real-ESRGAN, NextGenUp, and Bigjpg are among the entries to compare. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing offer further context. Consider the kinds of files you need to enlarge, whether you process images individually or in batches, and how you prefer to access the software. The listed formats, methods, and access options can help you weigh the available approaches.
100 image upscaling software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
24 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 | — | 8.6 | |
| 2 | NextGenUpWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 8.1 | |
| 3 | BigjpgWeb · Windows · Mac · Android · iPhone · API | Three bars | — | 5 of 6 | $6/mo | 8.0 | |
| 4 | LetsEnhanceAPI | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | $9/mo | 7.8 | |
| 5 | PixelPanda Image UpscalerWeb · API · Extension | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $1.99/mo | 7.8 | |
| 6 | PicWish Image UpscalerAPI | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | Free | 7.7 | |
| 7 | Krea EnhancerAPI | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | $9/mo | 7.7 | |
| 8 | SupaResAPI | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | $9/mo | 7.7 | |
| 9 | Upscale.mediaAPI | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | $5.83/mo | 7.7 | |
| 10 | UpscaleAIWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $7.99/mo | 7.6 | |
| 11 | Adima Image Upscaler ProWindows · Android | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | $4.99/mo | 7.6 | |
| 12 | UpsamplerAPI | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | $15/mo | 7.5 | |
| 13 | Topaz Labs APIAPI | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | $50/mo | 7.5 | |
| 14 | UpscalWindows · Mac · iPhone | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 7.5 | |
| 15 | SuperImageWindows · Mac · Android | Two bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 7.5 | |
| 16 | ImglargerWeb · Mac · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $9.99/mo | 7.3 | |
| 17 | OpenPixelsWeb | One bar | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 7.2 | |
| 18 | ClaidWeb · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 7.2 | |
| 19 | Super ResolutionWeb · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $4.90/mo | 7.2 | |
| 20 | AroraLabs AI Image UpscalerWeb | One bar | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 7.1 | |
| 21 | Ximilar Image UpscalerAPI | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | $69/mo | 7.1 | |
| 22 | Upscale Media AIWeb · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $4/mo | 7.1 | |
| 23 | Aiseesoft Image UpscalerWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $14.90/mo | 7.1 | |
| 24 | Cutout.ProWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · API | Three bars | — | 6 of 6 | $4.99/mo | 7.1 | |
| 25 | Bulk Image UpscalerWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $5/mo | 7.0 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Upscaling method | Maximum scale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real-ESRGAN | 8.6 | No | — | Yes | — | ai | custom |
| 2 | NextGenUp | 8.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Real-ESRGAN for super-resolution, with GFPGAN v1.4 for face restoration | Images up to 8K; video up to 4K |
| 3 | Bigjpg | 8.0 | Free plan | $6/mo | Yes | — | ai | custom |
| 4 | LetsEnhance | 7.8 | Free plan | $9/mo | Yes | $9/mo | ai | custom |
| 5 | PixelPanda Image Upscaler | 7.8 | Free plan | $1.99/mo | Yes | — | both | 8x |
| 6 | PicWish Image Upscaler | 7.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | ai | custom |
| 7 | Krea Enhancer | 7.7 | Free plan | $9/mo | Yes | $9/mo | ai | — |
| 8 | SupaRes | 7.7 | Free plan | $9/mo | Yes | $9/mo | ai | custom |
| 9 | Upscale.media | 7.7 | Free plan | $5.83/mo | Yes | $0.90/mo | ai | 8x |
| 10 | UpscaleAI | 7.6 | Free plan | $7.99/mo | Yes | $9.99/mo | — | — |
| 11 | Adima Image Upscaler Pro | 7.6 | Free plan | $4.99/mo | Yes | $7.99/mo | — | — |
| 12 | Upsampler | 7.5 | Free plan | $15/mo | Yes | $15/mo | ai | custom |
| 13 | Topaz Labs API | 7.5 | Free plan | $50/mo | Yes | $50/mo | ai | — |
| 14 | Upscal | 7.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 15 | SuperImage | 7.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | ai | — |
| 16 | Imglarger | 7.3 | Free plan | $9.99/mo | Yes | $9.99/mo | ai | 8x |
| 17 | OpenPixels | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | ai | 8x |
| 18 | Claid | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | — | — | — | — |
| 19 | Super Resolution | 7.2 | Free plan | $4.90/mo | Yes | — | ai | custom |
| 20 | AroraLabs AI Image Upscaler | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | both | custom |
| 21 | Ximilar Image Upscaler | 7.1 | Free plan | $69/mo | Yes | $69/mo | — | — |
| 22 | Upscale Media AI | 7.1 | Free plan | $4/mo | Yes | $4/mo | ai | 4x |
| 23 | Aiseesoft Image Upscaler | 7.1 | Free plan | $14.90/mo | Yes | $14.90/mo | ai | 8x |
| 24 | Cutout.Pro | 7.1 | Free plan | $4.99/mo | Yes | $5/mo | — | — |
| 25 | Bulk Image Upscaler | 7.0 | Free plan | $5/mo | Yes | $5/mo | ai | custom |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which image upscaling software is ranked first on Freedom251?
Real-ESRGAN is ranked #1 of 100 with a score of 8.6. NextGenUp is second and Bigjpg third.
How many of these have a free plan?
24 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, PixelPanda Image Upscaler has the lowest first paid tier we found: $1.99/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.