AI Image Upscaling Tools Compared: I Tested 7
I had a 400x300 pixel photo I needed to blow up for print. Old family photo. Only version that exists.
Instead of just picking a tool, I tested seven of them on the same image. Here’s what actually happened.
The Test Setup
Source image: 400x300 pixels, moderate quality, indoor photo with faces Target: 4x upscale (1600x1200) What I evaluated: Detail, artifacts, faces, processing time, price
I’m not going to post the actual images (privacy), but I’ll describe the results honestly.
The Tools I Tested
- Topaz Gigapixel AI - $99 one-time
- Let’s Enhance - $9/month
- Upscayl - Free, open source
- Bigjpg - Free tier available
- Waifu2x - Free
- Adobe Photoshop Neural Filters - Requires CC subscription
- IMG2GO - Free tier available
The Results
1. Topaz Gigapixel AI - The Winner
Price: $99 one-time purchase Quality: Best overall Processing: Slow (about 30 seconds per image)
This is the benchmark. Faces looked natural. Details were sharp without being oversharpened. Fabric texture was preserved. Minor artifacts in complex areas but nothing distracting.
If you upscale images regularly, this is the answer. The one-time price pays for itself quickly.
The catch: Requires a decent GPU. Processing on CPU is painfully slow.
2. Let’s Enhance - Best Online Option
Price: $9/month for 100 images Quality: Very good Processing: Medium (15-20 seconds)
Surprisingly close to Topaz. Faces were handled well. Some areas were slightly oversharpened compared to Topaz, but still very usable.
Good option if you don’t want to install software or process images occasionally.
The catch: Subscription model. 100 images/month might not be enough for heavy users.
3. Upscayl - Best Free Option
Price: Free, open source Quality: Good Processing: Medium
I was impressed. For free software, Upscayl holds its own. Results were maybe 80% as good as Topaz. Some slight mushiness in fine details, but faces looked decent.
If you don’t want to pay anything, start here.
The catch: Interface is basic. Some technical knowledge helps.
4. Bigjpg - Decent Free Tier
Price: Free tier available, paid plans from $9/month Quality: Good for anime/illustrations, okay for photos Processing: Slow on free tier
Originally designed for anime-style images, and it shows. Works well for illustrations. Photos are acceptable but not as natural as the top options.
Best for: Anime and illustrated content specifically.
5. Waifu2x - The OG
Price: Free Quality: Okay Processing: Fast
The original AI upscaler that started the trend. Still works, but newer tools have surpassed it. Photos come out slightly soft. Fine for web use, not great for print.
Best for: Quick and dirty upscaling when quality isn’t critical.
6. Adobe Photoshop Neural Filters
Price: Requires Creative Cloud ($23+/month) Quality: Disappointing Processing: Fast
I expected more from Adobe. The results were okay but noticeably worse than Topaz or even Upscayl. Faces had weird smoothing. Details were artificial-looking.
Unless you’re already paying for CC, not worth it for upscaling.
7. IMG2GO
Price: Free tier with limits Quality: Basic Processing: Fast
Entry-level online tool. Results are better than Photoshop’s basic bicubic upscaling but worse than dedicated AI tools. Fine for web thumbnails, not for anything serious.
The Ranking
For quality (best to worst):
- Topaz Gigapixel AI
- Let’s Enhance
- Upscayl
- Bigjpg
- Waifu2x
- Adobe Neural Filters
- IMG2GO
For value:
- Upscayl (free, good quality)
- Topaz Gigapixel AI (one-time $99, best quality)
- Let’s Enhance (reasonable subscription)
- Everything else
What I Actually Use Now
For important photos: Topaz Gigapixel AI. Worth the $99.
For quick jobs: Upscayl. Free and good enough.
For batch processing: Topaz with its batch feature.
I cancelled Let’s Enhance after buying Topaz. One-time purchase beats ongoing subscription for my volume.
Real-World Considerations
When AI upscaling works best:
- Faces (these tools are trained heavily on faces)
- Natural textures (fabric, grass, skin)
- General photography
- Moderate upscaling (2x-4x)
When it struggles:
- Text and lettering (often gets blurry or weird)
- Extreme upscaling (8x+)
- Very low quality sources (pixelated, compressed)
- Complex patterns (plaid, small repetitive details)
The honest truth:
AI upscaling is impressive but not magic. A 50x50 pixel image won’t become a sharp poster. You’re enhancing detail that exists, not creating it from nothing.
Best results come from images that already have some quality - the AI enhances and clarifies rather than inventing.
My Recommendation
If you upscale regularly: Buy Topaz Gigapixel AI. $99 one-time is cheaper than subscriptions long-term, and quality is best.
If you rarely upscale: Use Upscayl or Let’s Enhance as needed. Free/cheap options work fine for occasional use.
If you do anime/illustrations: Bigjpg or Waifu2x are specialized for this.
Skip: Adobe Neural Filters (unless you already have CC and just need quick results).
The technology has genuinely improved. What wasn’t possible five years ago now works well. But pick the right tool for your needs and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Topaz Gigapixel AI is the best for quality but costs $99 one-time. For free options, Upscayl is the best. Online options like Let's Enhance are decent for occasional use. Best depends on your volume and budget.
Yes, modern AI upscalers genuinely add detail that wasn't in the original image. Results vary by image type - faces and textures upscale better than text or complex patterns. They're not magic but they're significantly better than traditional upscaling.
You can improve them, but there are limits. A 100x100 pixel image won't become a sharp 4K photo. AI upscalers work best on images that have some quality to begin with - they enhance, they don't create detail from nothing.