What is Upscayl used for?

Upscayl is a free, open-source desktop app that enlarges and enhances low-resolution images with AI upscaling models on Linux, macOS and Windows. It is a good fit for enlarging low-resolution photos, restoring old or small images and preparing images for print or display.

Is Upscayl open source?

Yes. Upscayl is open source under the AGPL-3.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at upscayl/upscayl and is written mainly in TypeScript.

Yes. Upscayl is open source, so the software itself is free to use. Paid plans are also available, starting at $24.99 per month.

Can I self-host Upscayl?

Yes. Upscayl can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure; there is no official hosted version.

What is Upscayl an alternative to?

Upscayl is an open-source alternative to Topaz Labs, Magnific, Krea and Freepik AI Suite. Other open-source alternatives to Krea include ComfyUI, InvokeAI and Fooocus.

Is Upscayl actively maintained?

Yes. The most recent commit to Upscayl was on 28 September 2026, and the latest release is v2.15.0, published on 25 December 2024. The project has 50k stars on GitHub.

Upscayl: open-source alternative to Topaz Labs, Magnific

About Upscayl

Upscayl is an AI-powered image upscaler that is free, open source and available on Linux, macOS and Windows. It can scale up small, low-resolution pictures and improve their detail with AI models, aiming to avoid the usual loss in quality. It is built with TypeScript and Electron and released under the AGPL-3.0 license.

The README provides installation instructions for each operating system, plus tutorials and guides, before-and-after demo results, a roadmap and an FAQ. A Vulkan-compatible graphics card is required for upscaling, and the project notes that many integrated GPUs do not work. Topics reference ESRGAN-based upscaling models.

The app runs locally on your own computer, so images are not sent to an online service. It suits photographers, designers, game modders and anyone restoring old or small pictures who wants a free alternative to paid upscaling software.

Key features

AI image upscaling and enhancement
Runs locally on Linux, macOS and Windows
Desktop app built with Electron
ESRGAN-based upscaling models
Tutorials, guides and demo results
Requires a Vulkan-compatible GPU

Good fit for

→Enlarging low-resolution photos
→Restoring old or small images
→Preparing images for print or display

Built with: TypeScript; Electron
Tags: image-upscaling; ai; esrgan; electron; desktop-app; image-processing; typescript

Upscayl: questions and answers

What is Upscayl used for?: Upscayl is a free, open-source desktop app that enlarges and enhances low-resolution images with AI upscaling models on Linux, macOS and Windows. It is a good fit for enlarging low-resolution photos, restoring old or small images and preparing images for print or display.
Is Upscayl open source?: Yes. Upscayl is open source under the AGPL-3.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at upscayl/upscayl and is written mainly in TypeScript.
Is Upscayl free?: Yes. Upscayl is open source, so the software itself is free to use. Paid plans are also available, starting at $24.99 per month.
Can I self-host Upscayl?: Yes. Upscayl can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure; there is no official hosted version.
What is Upscayl an alternative to?: Upscayl is an open-source alternative to Topaz Labs, Magnific, Krea and Freepik AI Suite. Other open-source alternatives to Krea include ComfyUI, InvokeAI and Fooocus.
Is Upscayl actively maintained?: Yes. The most recent commit to Upscayl was on 28 September 2026, and the latest release is v2.15.0, published on 25 December 2024. The project has 50k stars on GitHub.