Upscayl

Upscayl is a 4K upscale tool. Free and open source AI image upscaler for Linux, MacOS and Windows that runs entirely on your own hardware. Upscales images up to 16x with selectable models, batch processing and double upscale passes, plus an optional cloud dashboard for larger jobs and cross-device access.

Upscayl is an AI image upscaler built for people who need more resolution than their source files can give. It takes blurry photos, pixelated screenshots and compressed artwork and reconstructs detail with AI models, pushing resolution up to 16x beyond the original. The project ships as a desktop application for Linux, MacOS and Windows, and the fact that it runs locally is central to its pitch: images never leave the machine, which matters for private photos, client work and unreleased artwork. The workflow is deliberately plain. You point the app at one image or a folder, pick a model from the options provided, choose an output destination and run it. Batch processing lets a whole set of files go through in one pass, and a double upscale mode runs the model twice for a second round of refinement. Different models exist for different material, so portraits, artwork and general photographs can be handled with a setting that suits them, and the app exposes customization for how results are written out. Output quality ranks with paid subscriptions according to its own users, and several of them describe switching from commercial services that charge monthly fees. Upscayl Cloud extends the same idea to a browser dashboard, adding upscaling up to 16x, multiple models, batch editing, AI face enhancement, detail recovery, AI image generation with artistic styles, colour accuracy aimed at print work and unlimited cloud storage across desktop, mobile and tablet. That version exists for people without the hardware to run models locally or who want their files reachable from anywhere. Who it suits: photographers rescuing old or low resolution shots, designers needing print ready assets, digital artists, developers who want a local tool without a subscription, and anyone who prefers a free, auditable program over a metered service. Compared with hosted upscalers, it trades convenience and cloud storage for privacy, cost and offline use.