Topaz Gigapixel and Upscayl both cover Image & Design. Topaz Gigapixel: Topaz Labs' desktop AI image upscaler, with unlimited local and cloud rendering on its plans (Paid). Upscayl: Free, open-source AI image upscaler for Windows, macOS and Linux, plus a paid cloud version (Freemium). This page compares published facts only; we have not run a head-to-head test.
Topaz Gigapixel vs Upscayl at a glance
| Topaz Gigapixel | Upscayl | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Topaz Labs | Upscayl |
| What it is | Topaz Gigapixel (formerly Gigapixel AI) is a professional desktop app from Topaz Labs that enlarges low-resolution photos and images into high-resolution assets; its site says it suits large prints and can upscale almost any image 6x. It offers several models (Wonder, Standard, High Fidelity, Low Res, Text & Shapes, Art & CG, Recover, Redefine, Face Recovery); the Wonder model upscales, sharpens and denoises in one click. Plans include unlimited local rendering and unlimited cloud image rendering. | Upscayl is a free, open-source (AGPLv3) desktop AI image upscaler built on Real-ESRGAN and Vulkan that runs on your own computer: Windows 10 and later, macOS 12 and later, and Linux. It offers several upscaling models, batch processing and a 'double upscayl' pass, and its site says it upscales up to 16x while preserving colour detail for printing. A paid web version, Upscayl Cloud, is billed in credits. |
| Good for | Enlarge photos for large prints Upscale illustrations, CG and graphics with text Recover very low-resolution images Upscale images locally on your own computer | Upscale images in batches for free on your own computer Enlarge images for printing Process private images locally without uploading them Upscale AI-generated images |
| Use cases | Image & Design | Image & Design |
| Pricing model | Paid | Freemium |
| Pricing details | From the Gigapixel page (2026-11-10, USD): Personal $149 billed yearly ($12/month), $19/month on an annual plan billed monthly, or $29/month monthly; Pro $499 billed yearly ($42/month) or $54/month on an annual plan billed monthly, adding pro models, seat management and full commercial use. Personal allows commercial use for people and organisations under $1M annual revenue. All include unlimited local rendering and cloud image rendering; one desktop seat runs on one computer at a time. Full refund within 2 days of purchase. | The desktop app is free and open source (AGPLv3); just download it. Upscayl Cloud pricing page (2026-11-10, USD): Free Trial $0 with 10 credits (log in and fill out a trial application); Pro Plan $24.99 for 300 credits a month (the page's default view), unused credits roll over, upscales up to 256 megapixels; one-time credit purchases and custom business plans are also offered. |
| Sources | topazlabs.com | github.com |
| Last verified |
FAQ
Is Topaz Gigapixel or Upscayl cheaper?
Topaz Gigapixel: From the Gigapixel page (2026-11-10, USD): Personal $149 billed yearly ($12/month), $19/month on an annual plan billed monthly, or $29/month monthly; Pro $499 billed yearly ($42/month) or $54/month on an annual plan billed monthly, adding pro models, seat management and full commercial use. Personal allows commercial use for people and organisations under $1M annual revenue. All include unlimited local rendering and cloud image rendering; one desktop seat runs on one computer at a time. Full refund within 2 days of purchase. Upscayl: The desktop app is free and open source (AGPLv3); just download it. Upscayl Cloud pricing page (2026-11-10, USD): Free Trial $0 with 10 credits (log in and fill out a trial application); Pro Plan $24.99 for 300 credits a month (the page's default view), unused credits roll over, upscales up to 256 megapixels; one-time credit purchases and custom business plans are also offered. Prices change; check the official sites before paying.
Should I choose Topaz Gigapixel or Upscayl?
Choose Topaz Gigapixel if you mainly need: Enlarge photos for large prints; Upscale illustrations, CG and graphics with text; Recover very low-resolution images; Upscale images locally on your own computer. Choose Upscayl if you mainly need: Upscale images in batches for free on your own computer; Enlarge images for printing; Process private images locally without uploading them; Upscale AI-generated images.
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