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Upscayl

Upscayl Review: AI Image Upscaling with DPI Confirmation Tested (2026)

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Tested Hands-OnAI Image UpscalingDPI ConfirmationMultiple Models

Testing History

April 2026Enhance and Upscale Images from Low-Resolution Inputs#3

Our take

In-Depth Review

Our detailed analysis of Upscayl — features, performance, and real-world testing.

Athulya Jaikish

AI Demos Team

Verified Review

Feature-by-Feature Breakdown

We tested each feature individually. Click any card to see inputs, outputs, and our observations.

DPI and Print Size Confirmation

8/10

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Test Summary

Feature tested: DPI and Print Size Confirmation

Result: Passed (8/10)

Displays the output resolution, megapixel count, and print size at 300 DPI directly in the result panel before download — a feature not found in any other tested tool.

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Output artifact for "DPI and Print Size Confirmation" test, Screenshot 2026-04-23 151523.png

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Input artifact for "DPI and Print Size Confirmation" test, Input 2 - Historic_photo-2.png

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Output artifact for "DPI and Print Size Confirmation" test, Screenshot 2026-04-23 151719.png

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Output artifact for "DPI and Print Size Confirmation" test, Screenshot 2026-04-23 151805.png

Bottom Line

Standout feature for editorial workflows. Removes the need to manually calculate print readiness after download. Only tool tested that delivers this transparency.

Upscayl Standard Model

7.5/10

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Test Summary

Feature tested: Upscayl Standard Model

Result: Passed (7.5/10)

Works well for most images with balanced enhancement of detail and sharpness.

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Input artifact for "Upscayl Standard Model" test, Screenshot (235).png

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Output artifact for "Upscayl Standard Model" test, Input%201_upscayl_4x.jpg

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Input artifact for "Upscayl Standard Model" test, Screenshot 2026-04-23 151741.png

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Output artifact for "Upscayl Standard Model" test, Input%202_upscayl_4x.jpg

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Input artifact for "Upscayl Standard Model" test, Screenshot 2026-04-23 151831.png

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Output artifact for "Upscayl Standard Model" test, Input%203_upscayl_4x.jpg

Bottom Line

Standard model reliable for clean portrait and product inputs. Real Resolution is a good alternative when softer output is preferred.

Model Library (6 Models)

7.5/10

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Test Summary

Feature tested: Model Library (6 Models)

Result: Passed (7.5/10)

Offers Upscayl Standard, Real Resolution, Quick Clear, Nature Boost, Pure Boost, and Texture Boost — the widest model library of all tools tested.

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Three different types of low resolution images

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Output artifact for "Model Library (6 Models)" test, Screenshot (234).png

Bottom Line

Model variety is a genuine strength. Nature Boost, Texture Boost, and Pure Boost give editors subject-specific options that other tools lack.

Scale Factor (Up to 8x)

7/10

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Test Summary

Feature tested: Scale Factor (Up to 8x)

Result: Passed (7/10)

Offers multiple scaling options like 2x, 4x, and 8x.

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Scale factor options to enhance images of low resolution

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Output artifact for "Scale Factor (Up to 8x)" test, Screenshot (233).png

Bottom Line

4x is the practical maximum on free tier. 8x available on paid plan for very large format print outputs.

Use Case Track Record

Enhance and Upscale Images from Low-Resolution Inputs

Pricing & Access

TESTED

Free Trial

$ 0

Try out Upscayl for free! Just login, fill out the trial application and that's it!

Pro Plan

$24.99 /month

Save unused credits each month (rollover), Priority support, 6 months unlimited storage, Upscayl up to 256MP, Generate AI Images, Free access to new features and models

Business

Save unused credits each month (rollover), Priority support, 6 months unlimited storage, Upscayl up to 512MP images, Generate AI Images, Free access to new features and models

Custom

Contact for pricing

Custom amount of credits, Priority email & chat support, Generate AI Images, Unlimited storage, Free access to new features and models

* Pricing as of April 2026. We re-check quarterly.

Is This Right For You?

A side-by-side guide based on our hands-on testing.

✓ Use This If

●You need explicit DPI and print size confirmation before download

●You want the widest model selection to match different image subject types

●You need the highest resolution outputs — 4x giving 4615x3461px on a portrait input

●You are comfortable submitting a brief application for free trial access

●You plan to upgrade for Face Refinement and Detail Recovery on portrait workflows

✕ Skip This If

●You need immediate frictionless access without an application step

●You need Face Refinement on the free tier — it is locked to paid plan

●You work primarily with archival content and need a dedicated Old photo model

●You need confirmed TIFF input support

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — Upscayl is the only tool tested that explicitly shows print size at 300 DPI in the result panel before download. For example, a 1448x1086px portrait upscaled 4x showed a print size of 15.08 x 11.31 inches at 300 DPI.

The free trial provides 10 credits via an application submission process. Each upscale operation uses 1 credit. The free tier output is capped at 16 MP.

No. Face Refinement and Detail Recovery are both locked to the paid plan. The features are visible in the interface but unavailable on the free tier.

Upscayl Standard works well for most images. Real Resolution gives a softer, more natural look. Quick Clear is a fast low-cost option. Nature Boost is optimised for nature images. Pure Boost is a standard upscale for generic photos. Texture Boost enhances textures and patterns.

TIFF support was not confirmed during testing. The upload interface accepted JPG and PNG inputs. Editors working with TIFF source files should verify compatibility before committing to the workflow.