How to upscale online like Upscayl
- Open: drop images on the tool, tap Choose images, or paste. JPG, PNG, WebP and HEIC work.
- Choose 2×, 4× or 4K (3840 px on the long side).
- Press Upscale image. The 4.9 MB model downloads once, then runs on your device.
- Compare with the slider or Zoom 100%, then Download or Download all (.zip).
Upscayl in the browser: what's the same and what's different
Upscayl is a free, open-source desktop app for Windows, Mac and Linux that runs Real-ESRGAN models on your graphics card. This page runs a Real-ESRGAN model too — general-x4v3, built for real-world photos — but inside the browser, using WebGPU when your device has it and WebAssembly otherwise. So the core promise is the same: free, unlimited, no watermark, and images processed locally rather than on a server. The difference is convenience versus depth. Here there's nothing to install, it works on iPhone and Android, and batches download as a ZIP. Upscayl offers more models (including ones for digital art), custom scales and very large outputs. This page caps output at 4096 px and feeds big originals to the model at up to 1024 px, to keep phones and browsers stable. For quick upscales, wallpapers and web images it's the fastest route; try your picture above.
Facts at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Price | 100% free, unlimited — there is no paid plan, credits or daily cap |
| Sign-up | Not needed — no account, no email |
| Watermark | None, on every download |
| Upload | None — images are processed on your device and never sent to a server |
| AI model | Real-ESRGAN general-x4v3 (BSD-3 licence, 4.9 MB, downloaded once and cached) |
| Runs on | WebGPU in Chrome, Edge and Safari; falls back to WebAssembly (CPU) elsewhere |
| Modes | Enhance (clean + sharpen), Unblur (Light / Medium / Strong), Upscale (2×, 4×, 4K) |
| Output size | 2× or 4×, or 4K = 3840 px on the long side (3840×2160 for 16:9); max 4096 px |
| Large originals | Fed to the model at up to 1024 px (GPU) or 640 px (CPU) on the long side, then enlarged 4× |
| Formats | JPG, PNG, WebP and iPhone HEIC in; JPG, PNG or WebP out (HEIC becomes JPG), PNG transparency kept |
| Batch | Yes — add many images, download one by one or as a ZIP |
| Limits | Speed depends on your device; detail that was never captured can't be recovered, only redrawn |
Upscayl vs this online upscaler
| This page | Upscayl | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, unlimited | Free, open source |
| Install | None — any modern browser, also phones | Desktop app (Windows, Mac, Linux) |
| AI model | Real-ESRGAN general-x4v3 | Several Real-ESRGAN-based models |
| Scale | 2×, 4×, 4K (max 4096 px) | Custom scales, large outputs |
| Phones | Yes | Desktop only |
| Batch | Yes, ZIP download | Yes, folder |
| Privacy | On your device, no upload | On your computer |
Upscayl features are taken from its public website and may change.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an online version of Upscayl?
Upscayl itself is a desktop app. This page gives you the same kind of Real-ESRGAN upscaling in the browser, free, with nothing to install.
Does it use the same AI as Upscayl?
It uses Real-ESRGAN general-x4v3, from the same open Real-ESRGAN family that Upscayl's photo models are built on.
Is it free and unlimited?
Yes. No credits, no sign-up and no watermark, because the model runs on your device.
Can I use it on my phone?
Yes, in Safari or Chrome on iPhone and Android. Newer phones with WebGPU are fastest.
Are my images uploaded?
No. Everything runs in your browser.
Updated · By the imagetojpg.app team