Best AI Image Upscaler: 5 Tools to Enhance Photos to 4K (2026)
The best AI image upscaler in 2026 doesn't just make photos bigger — it genuinely adds detail that wasn't there before. Modern AI upscaling uses neural networks trained on millions of images to intelligently predict and reconstruct fine details like hair strands, fabric textures, and skin pores. The result: a 480p photo can look convincingly like it was shot at 4K.
This matters for photographers restoring old photos, e-commerce sellers who need crisp product images, designers working with low-res client assets, and anyone who's ever zoomed into a photo and wished it weren't blurry. We tested the 5 best AI upscalers to find which ones deliver genuine quality improvements versus which ones just stretch pixels and call it "AI."
The 5 Best AI Image Upscalers Compared
#1 — Topaz Gigapixel AI (Score: 9.4/10)
Topaz Gigapixel AI remains the gold standard for AI upscaling. It runs locally on your machine (no cloud upload needed), processes images up to 6x resolution, and preserves detail better than any other tool. The face recovery feature is particularly impressive — it reconstructs facial features from tiny, blurry thumbnails into sharp, recognizable portraits.
Pros: Best overall quality, local processing (privacy), face recovery, batch mode
Cons: Requires decent GPU, subscription model is new
#2 — Soloa AI Upscaler (Score: 8.8/10)
Soloa's built-in AI upscaler delivers quality close to Topaz through a simple web interface — no software installation needed. Upload a photo, select 2x or 4x upscaling, and download the enhanced result. The key advantage: it's bundled with 50+ other AI tools (image generation, video, voice), so you don't pay for a separate upscaling subscription.
Pros: No installation, bundled with 50+ AI tools, easy interface, fast
Cons: Cloud-based (requires upload), max 4x vs. Topaz's 6x
#3 — Adobe Photoshop Super Resolution (Score: 8.5/10)
If you're already paying for Adobe Creative Cloud, Photoshop's Super Resolution feature is excellent and free. It uses Adobe's Enhance Detail AI to upscale images by 2x (4x the total pixels). Integrated directly into Camera Raw and Lightroom, it fits seamlessly into existing photography workflows.
Pros: Seamless Photoshop/Lightroom integration, excellent RAW support
Cons: Only 2x per pass, requires CC subscription, slower
#4 — Upscayl (Score: 8.0/10)
Upscayl is the best free AI image upscaler. It's open-source, runs locally on your machine, and supports multiple AI models (Real-ESRGAN, ESRGAN, etc.). Quality is impressive for a free tool — not quite Topaz-level on challenging images, but more than sufficient for most use cases.
Pros: Completely free, open-source, local processing, multiple AI models
Cons: Requires GPU, less refined than paid options on difficult images
#5 — Let's Enhance (Score: 7.6/10)
Let's Enhance is the simplest cloud-based upscaler. Upload, process, download. No software needed, no GPU required. The AI handles upscaling, noise reduction, and color correction in one pass. Great for quick, occasional use — especially on mobile where desktop tools aren't an option.
Pros: No installation, mobile-friendly, noise reduction included
Cons: Free tier is limited, quality trails Topaz and Soloa
Comparison Table
Best value pick: If you only need upscaling, Upscayl is free and excellent. If you need upscaling alongside image generation, video, voice, and other AI tools, Soloa includes upscaling in its all-in-one subscription — making it the most cost-effective option for creators.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best AI image upscaler in 2026?
Topaz Gigapixel AI leads for raw quality with a 9.4/10 score. For the best value, Soloa bundles AI upscaling with 50+ other AI tools. Upscayl is the best completely free option. Adobe Photoshop Super Resolution is ideal if you already have Creative Cloud.
Can AI really add detail to low-resolution images?
Yes. Modern AI upscalers use neural networks trained on millions of images to predict and reconstruct details that weren't visible in the original. They add realistic textures, sharpen edges, and recover facial features. The results are genuinely impressive, though they work better on some image types (faces, landscapes) than others (text, fine patterns).
Is there a free AI image upscaler that works well?
Upscayl is completely free, open-source, and produces quality close to paid tools. It runs locally on your computer and supports up to 4x upscaling. Soloa also offers free credits that include AI upscaling alongside 50+ other tools.
How much can AI upscale an image?
Most tools support 2x to 4x upscaling in a single pass. Topaz supports up to 6x. You can stack multiple passes for higher ratios, but quality degrades with each pass. In practice, 4x is the sweet spot — a 1080p image upscaled to 4K looks excellent, while pushing further introduces artifacts.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free AI image upscaler in 2026?
Upscayl is the leading free, open-source AI image upscaler, running entirely on your local machine with no watermarks or usage limits. Online, Iloveimg.com and Picwish offer free AI upscaling up to 4x with decent quality for casual use. For professional-grade results, Topaz Gigapixel AI and Adobe Super Resolution remain the industry benchmarks, available on paid plans.
Can AI upscale images without losing quality?
AI upscaling does not recover information that was never in the original image, but modern super-resolution models (Real-ESRGAN, Topaz Gigapixel, Adobe Super Resolution) can synthesise convincing detail that is visually superior to bicubic interpolation. In independent tests, AI upscalers score 20–35% higher on perceptual quality metrics (LPIPS, SSIM) compared to traditional methods. The improvement is most dramatic on photos; illustrations and text may require specialised models.
How much can AI upscale an image — 2x, 4x, or more?
Most AI upscalers support 2x, 4x, and 8x magnification; some professional tools like Topaz Gigapixel AI offer up to 16x upscaling. A standard 12-megapixel smartphone photo upscaled 4x results in a ~192-megapixel image suitable for large-format printing. Quality degrades progressively at very high multipliers (8x–16x) because the model must synthesise increasingly speculative detail.
Is AI upscaling better than Photoshop's native upscaling in 2026?
Yes — Adobe's own Super Resolution (Preserve Details 2.0 and the Camera Raw 'Enhance' feature) is an AI upscaler and itself outperforms the older bicubic method. Third-party AI tools like Topaz Gigapixel AI and Magnific AI still outperform Adobe's built-in AI for highly detailed photos, skin texture recovery, and fine architectural detail. For most users, Adobe Super Resolution offers the best balance of quality and convenience.
Can AI upscale old or low-resolution photos effectively?
Yes — AI upscaling is particularly effective for old, low-resolution, or scanned photographs. Specialised restoration models (GFPGAN for faces, Real-ESRGAN for general content) can turn a blurry 100×100px thumbnail into a sharp 800×800px image with plausible detail. Many users successfully restore family photos from the 1950s–1980s using free tools like Remini or the open-source CodeFormer, achieving results that were impossible with traditional methods.
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