How to install Upscayl on Linux without using the store?

Download the AppImage from the releases page, make it executable, and run it directly. For other formats, use DEB or RPM packages depending on your distribution, as detailed in the installation guide.

Upscayl vs Topaz Gigapixel AI: which is better for professional photo editing?

Upscayl is free and open-source with good results, but Topaz Gigapixel AI offers more advanced features and support, though at a subscription cost. Upscayl excels for budget-conscious users who value customization and offline use.

Does Upscayl work offline or require an internet connection?

It works entirely offline once installed, as all AI models are local. This ensures privacy and speed, but you need to download models and updates manually.

How to fix Upscayl not detecting my GPU on Windows?

Ensure your GPU supports Vulkan and update drivers. The FAQ mentions a workaround in issue #390 for forcing GPU usage, and check the compatibility list for known working hardware.

Can I use Upscayl to upscale videos or animated GIFs?

No, Upscayl is designed only for static images. For video upscaling, you would need separate tools, as it processes individual frames through batch mode but not natively.

Upscayl

AGPL-3.0TypeScriptv2.15.0

A free and open-source desktop application that upscales and enhances low-resolution images using AI models like Real-ESRGAN.

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44.8k stars2.2k forks0 contributors

What is Upscayl?

Upscayl is a free and open-source desktop application that uses AI models like Real-ESRGAN to upscale and enhance low-resolution images. It solves the problem of pixelation and quality loss when enlarging images by intelligently guessing and reconstructing details. The tool supports batch processing and works across Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Target Audience

Photographers, digital artists, designers, and anyone needing to enhance low-resolution images for personal or professional use without expensive software.

Value Proposition

Developers choose Upscayl because it's completely free, open-source, and offers high-quality upscaling comparable to commercial tools. Its support for custom models and batch processing provides flexibility not always available in proprietary alternatives.

Overview

🆙 Upscayl - #1 Free and Open Source AI Image Upscaler for Linux, MacOS and Windows.

Use Cases

Best For

Enhancing old or low-resolution photos for archival or printing
Upscaling game textures or digital artwork without quality loss

Related Projects

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Batch processing multiple images for e-commerce product listings

Preparing images for presentations or publications where resolution matters

Experimenting with different AI models for specialized upscaling tasks

Users who want commercial-grade upscaling without subscription fees

Not Ideal For

Users without a Vulkan-compatible GPU, such as those with most integrated graphics or older hardware
Projects requiring de-blurring or focus correction on out-of-focus images
Developers needing a web API or server-side integration for automated workflows
Teams requiring real-time upscaling in applications or live video processing

Pros & Cons

Pros

Free and Open-Source

Completely free with no subscriptions or paywalls, adhering to its philosophy of making high-quality upscaling accessible to everyone, unlike many commercial alternatives.

Cross-Platform Support

Available natively for Linux, macOS, and Windows with multiple installation options like Flatpak, AppImage, and DMG, ensuring broad accessibility.

Batch Processing Capability

Allows upscaling multiple images simultaneously, saving time for tasks like enhancing e-commerce product listings or archives.

Custom Model Flexibility

Supports importing custom AI models from repositories like custom-models, enabling specialized upscaling for different image types.

Cons

Hardware Dependency

Requires a Vulkan-compatible GPU and does not work with most integrated graphics or CPUs, limiting usability for users without dedicated hardware.

No De-blurring Functionality

Explicitly cannot handle out-of-focus or totally blurred images, as admitted in the FAQ, restricting its use to only pixelated or low-resolution inputs.

Desktop-Only Limitation

Lacks a web or cloud version, making it unsuitable for server-side deployments or integration into automated pipelines without additional setup.

Open Source Alternative To

Upscayl is an open-source alternative to the following products:

T

Topaz Gigapixel AI

Topaz Gigapixel AI is a desktop application that uses artificial intelligence to upscale and enhance image resolution while preserving details.

A

Adobe Photoshop Enhance

A feature within Adobe Photoshop that uses AI-powered tools to improve image quality, remove noise, enhance details, and upscale images while preserving quality.

O

ON1 Resize

A photo editing software plugin and standalone application for resizing and enlarging images with high quality.

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