The best AI image upscalers in 2025: The sharpest results

Whether you’re impoving the quality of images, improving digital artwork, or making compressed images usable again, AI upscaling tools can make a huge difference. But not all of them are equal—some enhance details impressively, while others leave you with an artificial, blurry mess.

If you're wondering how to upscale an image, or what the best image upscaler really is then this list will tell you what you need to know.

1. Magnific

Magnific AI stands out as a high-quality upscaling tool built with AI-generated art in mind. While many AI image upscalers struggle with painterly textures, soft gradients, or intricate patterns, Magnific AI excels at preserving the unique aesthetic of AI-generated visuals.

If you work with AI-generated portraits, digital paintings, or concept art, this tool ensures your work looks stunning at high-resolution images without losing artistic integrity.

Pros:

• Designed specifically for AI-generated and digital artwork
• Enhances fine details without introducing artifacts
• Preserves textures, colors, and lighting accurately

Cons:

• Not ideal for traditional photography
• Requires a subscription for full-resolution exports

2. Upscayl

Upscayl is one of the best free AI image upscalers for anyone who prefers working offline. Unlike cloud-based upscalers, it processes everything on your computer, meaning your images stay private. It’s completely free and open-source, which is always a pleasant surprise.

The software offers multiple AI models, allowing you to optimize upscaling for different types of images. Whether you’re enhancing a digital painting or an old photograph, there’s likely a model suited for the task.

It’s currently unavailable for macOS users, and the interface is a bit basic compared to premium tools.

Pros:

• Free and open-source
• Works offline (no need to upload images)
• Supports batch processing

Cons:

• Limited customization options compared to paid tools

3. Topaz Gigapixel AI

This tool excels at upscaling photos, illustrations, and even scanned artwork. Unlike many free upscalers, Gigapixel AI prevents the over-sharpened, artificial look that sometimes comes with AI processing. It’s particularly useful for photographers who need to enlarge images for printing without losing quality.

The biggest downside is the price. At $99.99, it’s not cheap, but it’s a one-time purchase rather than a subscription. If you frequently work with low-resolution images and need the highest-quality results, it’s worth the investment. Just keep in mind that AI upscaling requires a decent GPU—older computers may struggle with processing times.

Pros:

• Industry-leading upscaling quality
• Recovers lost details instead of just enlarging images
• Works on both Windows and Mac

Cons:

• Expensive ($99.99 one-time purchase)
• Requires a powerful computer for best performance

4. Lummi

Powered by Imgix, Ultra upscales with Lummi AI images can take your designs to a new level of precision all while looking completely natural. With high-quality upscaling, you can enhance images to super high-res formats, ensuring every detail is crisp and print-ready.

Unlike standard AI upscalers that sometimes add weird artifacts or soften textures, Lummi’s enhancing image technology keeps things looking natural. You can upscale images up to 8,600px, which easily makes it one of the best AI upscalers—perfect for large presentations, social media, or professional design work where detail matters.

Pros:

• Upscales images up to 8,600px for extreme clarity
• Ideal for print, presentations, and high-res digital work
• Keeps details sharp without looking artificial

Cons:

• Only available within Lummi’s ecosystem
• Requires an Ultra download for max resolution

5. HitPaw upscaler

The simplicity of HitPaw photo upscaler makes it perfect for casual users who need quick results without a learning curve. It works well for portraits, landscapes, and product images. However, more experienced users might find the lack of manual adjustments frustrating.

HitPaw photo enhancer is one of the most beginner-friendly AI image upscalers on the market. Unlike more complex software that requires tweaking settings, this tool offers a one-click solution. Just upload an image, choose an AI model, and let the software do the work.

Pros:

• Simple and user-friendly
• One-click upscaling process
• Works on both Windows and Mac

Cons:

• Limited customization options
• Free trial is restricted

6. Let’s Enhance

LetsEnhance image upscaler is a cloud-based AI image upscaler where you can get improved image quality entirely online. This makes it a great option for users who don’t want to install software or need an upscaler that works on any device.

One of its standout features is its ability to upscale images up to 16x their original size, which is higher than many competitors. It also has AI-powered enhancements that improve lighting, sharpness, and colors, making it particularly useful for product images and e-commerce photography.

Pros:

• Cloud-based (no software installation needed)
• Can upscale images up to 16x
• Includes AI enhancements for color and lighting

Cons:

• Free version has restrictions
• Slower than desktop-based upscalers

7. Upscale.media

Upscale.media is one of the best free AI image upscalers available online. It’s a web-based tool that allows you to drag and drop an image, apply AI upscaling, and download the result.

For casual users, this is one of the easiest ways to upscale an image without installing software. It works well for minor enhancements (2x to 4x enlargements) and does a decent job preserving image details.

However, it struggles with extreme enlargements beyond 4x, and the quality isn’t on the same level as premium tools. It’s great for quick fixes but not ideal for professional use where high-end upscaling is needed.

Pros:

• Free for basic use
• No software download required
• Simple drag-and-drop interface

Cons:

• Limited to 4x upscaling
• Not ideal for professional work

8. Upscalepics

Upscalepics is another online AI image upscaler that focuses on web and social media content. It not only enlarges images but also includes noise reduction and sharpening to improve clarity.

This makes it a great choice for digital marketers, social media managers, and anyone working with online visuals. The interface is simple, and the AI processing is relatively fast.

However, the free version adds watermarks to upscaled images, which might be a dealbreaker for some users.

Pros:

• Browser-based, no downloads needed
• Includes noise reduction and sharpening tools
• Affordable pricing plans

Cons:

• Free version includes watermarks
• Less advanced than Gigapixel AI

Why creatives love upscalers

Whether working with old assets, low-res logos, or compressed images, these tools make enhancing image quality effortless.

Instead of redrawing or manually sharpening a blurry image, the best image upscaler will do the heavy lifting, producing high-resolution images in seconds.

Clients often provide small, pixelated assets that aren’t print-ready. With high-quality upscaling, designers can quickly transform low-res files into usable artwork without sacrificing detail. This saves time and ensures projects meet professional standards with quality images at a higher resolution.

AI-powered upscaling also enhances image quality without introducing artifacts or distortions, making it an essential tool for everything from web graphics to large-format prints. In a field where visual clarity matters, upscalers help designers work smarter, not harder.