Upscayl
Free desktop app that upscales images with AI.
- Stars
- 50.6K
- Forks
- 2.6K
- Open issues
- 49
- Last commit
- 2026-10-05
Live from the GitHub API · updated 2026-10-15
What is Upscayl?
Upscayl is a cross-platform desktop app for AI image upscaling. It bundles Real-ESRGAN–based models running on Vulkan, so it works on most modern GPUs from NVIDIA, AMD and Intel, with batch processing and custom model support.
Key features
- Upscale 2×–4× (and more with double upscaling)
- Batch folder processing
- Multiple bundled models for photos and digital art
- Custom NCNN model import
System requirements
- Platforms
- Windows · macOS · Linux
- GPU
- Any Vulkan-compatible GPU (most from 2015 onward)
- Notes
- CPU-only and iGPU systems may not work.
How to install Upscayl
Summarized from the project’s README. Projects change quickly — check the GitHub page for the latest instructions.
Desktop installers
- 1Download the installer for your OS from the website or GitHub Releases (.exe, .dmg, AppImage, .deb or Flatpak).
- 2macOS users can also use Homebrew.
brew install --cask upscayl - 3Linux users can install from Flathub.
flatpak install flathub org.upscayl.Upscayl
Strengths
- No setup or Python required
- Works on AMD and Intel GPUs
Limitations
- Needs Vulkan; no CPU fallback
- Limited to upscaling
Upscayl alternatives compared
| Software | Stars | License | Platforms | VRAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upscayl Free desktop app that upscales images with AI. | 50.6K | AGPL-3.0 | — | |
| Real-ESRGAN Practical image and video super-resolution models. | 37.1K | BSD-3-Clause | — | |
| chaiNNer Node-based image processing GUI for upscaling and batch pipelines. | 6.1K | GPL-3.0 | — | |
| IOPaint Erase objects, watermarks and people with AI inpainting (formerly Lama Cleaner). | 23.3K | Apache-2.0 | — | |
| GFPGAN Blind face restoration for old and low-quality photos. | 37.7K | Apache-2.0 | — | |
| CodeFormer Robust face restoration with an adjustable fidelity–quality trade-off. | 18.2K | S-Lab License 1.0 (non-commercial) | — |
FAQ
Is Upscayl free?
Yes — Upscayl is open-source software released under the AGPL-3.0 license. Check the license (and any model weight licenses) before commercial use.
Does Upscayl run on Windows, Mac and Linux?
Upscayl supports: Windows, macOS, Linux.
What hardware do I need for Upscayl?
Any Vulkan-compatible GPU (most from 2015 onward)
How do I install Upscayl?
1. Download the installer for your OS from the website or GitHub Releases (.exe, .dmg, AppImage, .deb or Flatpak). 2. macOS users can also use Homebrew. 3. Linux users can install from Flathub.
What are the best Upscayl alternatives?
Popular alternatives include Real-ESRGAN, chaiNNer, IOPaint, GFPGAN. See the comparison table on this page.
Can I use Upscayl online without installing it?
If you just want results, AiLoft runs top image models such as GPT Image 2.5 and Nano Banana Pro in the browser — no GPU or setup required.
Skip the install — generate images in your browser
No GPU, drivers or Python needed. Use GPT Image 2.5 and Nano Banana Pro online and compare them side by side.