shouldiuse.io

VERDICT

Should I use Upscayl?

The #1 Free and Open Source AI Image Upscaler for Linux, MacOS and Windows. - upscayl.org

Worth it. Buy if you want free, private, local image upscaling — the desktop app costs nothing and hands-on reviewers are enthusiastic. Skip it if you need the absolute best upscale quality, vendor support, or managed cloud batch processing.

Confidence

Medium. Based on 14 public sources: hands-on reviews, Reddit threads, comparison sites, and security scans.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support qualityNo support evidence found
  • Security posture

Pricing

Free

Upscayl Desktop

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes
Upscayl CloudNot disclosed in sources reviewed

Best for

  • Hobbyists restoring old photos
  • Budget-constrained designers
  • Linux users wanting first-class support
  • Print-on-demand and proxy card makers

Not for

  • Pros needing Topaz-grade output quality
  • Teams wanting vendor SLAs and security pages
  • Anyone expecting miracles from very low-res sources
  • Users without a decent GPU — local AI upscaling is heavy

Gotchas - check before you buy

medium

Lookalike domain upscayl-ai[.]org flagged in security news — download only from the official site

low

No published security page on the official site

low

Desktop is free; cloud processing is paid — check limits before upgrading

low

Output quality varies by source image; set expectations accordingly

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Desktop app is 100% free, open source
  • Processes images locally — no cloud uploads
  • Cross-platform: Linux, macOS and Windows
  • Often called the best free image upscaler
  • Users describe it as super easy to use

Cons

  • Some users say better AI models exist elsewhere
  • Does not perform miracles on poor-quality sources
  • Tiny formal review base — only 6 Trustpilot reviews

Sources & method

Analyzed 9/22/2026 - 10 sources - No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

official x3review x5security x2

Key stats

  • Value for money: 5/5

    Rating

  • Free

    Starting price

  • 10

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 5/5. Desktop app is completely free
  • Ease of use: 4/5. Users describe it as super easy
  • Feature depth: 3/5. Better AI models exist elsewhere
  • Support quality. No support evidence found
  • Security posture: 4/5. No open CVEs; no security page
  • $0 Desktop price 100% free, open source
  • Yes Free tier Desktop app; paid cloud optional
  • 3 Platforms Linux, macOS, Windows
  • 6 Trustpilot reviews Very small formal review base

Pricing

Upscayl Desktop

Free

  • Local AI upscaling
  • Open source, no cloud uploads
  • Linux, macOS, Windows

Upscayl Cloud

Not disclosed

  • Online upscaling
  • Described as simple, transparent pricing

Security

No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

Full analysis

Based on 14 public sources: hands-on reviews, Reddit threads, comparison sites, and security scans.

Free, open-source desktop AI upscaler that runs locally. Great first choice; skip the cloud upsell and lookalike download sites.

Methodology

Based on 14 public sources: hands-on reviews, Reddit threads, comparison sites, and security scans.

Sources

  1. Upscayl official siteupscayl.org
    official
  2. Upscayl on GitHubgithub.com
    official
  3. Upscayl pricing pageupscayl.org
    official
  4. Dedoimedo second reviewdedoimedo.com
    review
  5. Upscayl, Between Expectation and Realitymarcrphoto.wordpress.com
    review
  6. Honest opinion on Topaz, Pecra and Upscaylreddit.com
    review
  7. PIXLS discuss thread on Upscayldiscuss.pixls.us
    review
  8. Trustpilot reviews of upscayl.orgtrustpilot.com
    review
  9. Upscayl macOS CVE scanscout.appaloosa.io
    security
  10. GBHackers security news (lookalike domain)gbhackers.com
    security

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