The three architectures
Cloud upscalers (Higgsfield Upscale, Upscale.media, Pixelcut, Let's Enhance and most "online" tools) send the image to their servers. That is what allows batch queues and very large outputs, and also why they meter free use with credits, ask for an account for full resolution, and sometimes watermark free downloads.
Desktop apps run on your machine. Upscayl is free and open source, supports 2× to 16×, batch folders and several models, and needs a GPU with Vulkan support. Topaz Gigapixel is paid, adds face recovery and video, and is the reference for large prints.
Browser-local tools, including this one, run the model in the page with WebGPU or WebAssembly. Nothing is uploaded and nothing is installed; the limits are your device's memory and, without an account, one image at a time.
| Cloud upscaler | Desktop app | This tool | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your image goes | To their servers | Stays on your computer | Stays in the tab |
| Install | None | Required | None |
| Cost | Free tier, then credits or plans | Free (Upscayl) or paid (Gigapixel) | Free, unlimited |
| Account | Usually for full size | No | Never |
| Watermark on free tier | Sometimes | No | No |
| Scale factors | 2× to 8×, varies | 2× to 16× | 2× or 4× |
| Batch folders | Paid plans | Yes | Batches of 50 with Pro |
| Face restoration | Some | Gigapixel: yes | No |
| Works offline | No | Yes | Yes, after first online on-device upscale |
Browser-local upscalers side by side (October 2026)
Six free tools now run the model in the browser, and their own pages make the same core claims: no upload, no account, no watermark. Here is what each one says it does beyond that, as read on 13 October 2026.
Where a cell says not stated, the tool's page did not say either way on that date; it may well do it. Check the current pages before deciding.
| This tool | SlicerFlow | OpenPixels | Emerald | Crisp Photos | FreeUpscaler | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scale factors | 2× or 4× | 2× or 4× | 2×, 4× or 8× | Exact output size | 4× | 2× or 4× |
| Models | Real-ESRGAN | Swin2SR, Real-ESRGAN | Nine, with face restoration | Not named | Not named | Not named |
| Input formats | PNG, JPEG, WebP, GIF, BMP, AVIF, HEIC, TIFF | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | JPG, PNG, WebP up to 20 MB |
| Output formats | PNG, JPEG or WebP | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Several at once | Batches of 50 with Pro | Not stated | Batch | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Video | No | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Yes, up to 150 MB |
| Works offline | Yes, after first online on-device upscale | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Open source | No | Yes (MIT) | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
When to use which
Use this tool when the image is private, when you are on a locked-down machine, or when you want one clean 4× result with zero friction. Use Upscayl when you have many files or want 8× and beyond without paying. Use Topaz Gigapixel when faces or video matter and you print large. Use a cloud service such as Higgsfield Upscale when your device is too weak to run the model, when you want 16× or a face enhancer without installing anything, and you do not mind the upload.
Details on other products are as observed on 2026-10-13 and change often; check their current pages before deciding.
Questions, answered
Is this better than Upscale.media or Pixelcut?
It is different. Those are cloud services that upload your image and meter free use; this runs in your browser with no upload, no account and no watermark, at 2× or 4×. If privacy or zero-signup matters, this is the better fit; if you need batch queues, they are.
Is this the same as Upscayl?
Both run Real-ESRGAN locally. Upscayl is a desktop app with more models, 2× to 16× and batch processing; this is a web page with no install, 2× or 4×, one image at a time, with batches in Pro.
Why 4× (and 2×), not 8×?
The realesr-general-x4v3 model outputs exactly 4× and it is small (about 5 MB), which is what makes an in-browser tool practical. A 2× download is made from that result at export time. For 8× and beyond, use a desktop app such as Upscayl, or a cloud upscaler such as Cloud HD, this site's optional mode for accounts, which goes to 8× (the image is uploaded for that job).
Curious what "AI upscaling" actually does? Read the plain-English guide, or go back to the upscaler.