Apps with Upscaling
10 apps
Top Upscaling apps ranked by the community
Midjourney is a text-to-image service from the independent research lab of the same name, used through its web app or a Discord bot. It produces detailed, stylized images and offers variations, upscaling, an editor for repainting or extending images, and style and character references to keep a consistent look. It can also animate images into short videos. Access requires a paid subscription.
12 Midjourney alternativesPros
- Distinctive, polished artistic style with strong aesthetics
- Style and character references keep a consistent look
- Editor repaints or extends images, which can also be animated
Cons
- No free plan: a paid subscription is required
- Images are public by default, and private mode needs a higher tier
Cost / LicensePaidProprietaryCategoriesPlatformsStable Diffusion is a family of text-to-image models released by Stability AI with downloadable weights. Because they run locally on a capable GPU, a large ecosystem has grown around them: interfaces such as ComfyUI and AUTOMATIC1111, fine-tuned community models, LoRAs and ControlNet. Recent versions use the Stability AI Community License, and Stability also sells hosted API access.
9 Stable Diffusion alternativesPros
- Downloadable weights run locally, offline and in private
- Huge ecosystem of interfaces, community models, LoRAs and ControlNet
- Deeply customizable, from fine-tuning to precise pose control
Cons
- Needs a capable GPU and some technical setup
- Raw results take more prompt work than polished hosted services
- Recent versions use a license that restricts larger commercial users
Cost / LicenseFreemiumSource availableCategoriesPlatformsLeonardo.Ai is an AI image generation platform, owned by Canva since 2024, that offers its own models alongside third-party ones. It covers prompt-based generation with style and character references, a canvas editor for inpainting and outpainting, upscaling, custom model training and short video generation. Free tokens are granted daily, and paid plans add more tokens, private generations and API access.
10 Leonardo.Ai alternativesPros
- Daily free tokens make it easy to try without paying
- Canvas editor handles inpainting and outpainting
- Custom model training for consistent styles or characters
Cons
- Token costs vary by model and settings, which can be confusing
- Private generations and API access require a paid plan
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesIdeogram is an AI image generator designed to render readable text inside images, which makes it useful for posters, logos, packaging, thumbnails and social graphics. Besides text-to-image with style presets and style references, it offers Magic Prompt to expand short ideas, a canvas for editing and extending images, upscaling and an API. A limited free tier is available.
11 Ideogram alternativesPros
- Renders legible, well-placed text inside generated images
- Magic Prompt turns a short idea into a detailed prompt
- Canvas for editing, extending and upscaling images
Cons
- Free tier is tight, and private generations need a paid plan
- Editing tools are lighter than those of full design suites
- No Android app, only the web and iPhone
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesKrea is a web app for generating and editing images and video with AI. Its real-time mode updates an image as you draw or type, an enhancer upscales and adds detail, and you can train custom styles or characters from your own images. Krea also gives access to many third-party models, such as FLUX and several video models, in one interface. A free plan with limited usage is available.
8 Krea alternativesPros
- Real-time mode updates the image as you draw or type
- Enhancer upscales images and adds fine detail
- Many third-party image and video models in a single interface
Cons
- Free plan has tight usage limits
- Costs vary by model, which makes usage hard to predict
- The number of models and tools can feel overwhelming at first
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesPlatformsNightCafe is an AI art generator that brings several image models, including Stable Diffusion and FLUX, together in one place. Beyond creating and upscaling images, it puts emphasis on community, with public galleries, likes, comments and daily art challenges. Free credits are topped up every day, and more can be bought or included in a subscription. It works on the web and in mobile apps.
7 NightCafe alternativesPros
- Several image models, including Stable Diffusion and FLUX, in one app
- Daily free credits let you keep creating without paying
- Active community with public galleries and daily challenges
Cons
- Premium models and high resolutions burn through credits quickly
- Editing tools are basic compared with dedicated image editors
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesRecraft is an AI design tool that generates both raster images and editable vector graphics (SVG), which suits icons, illustrations, logos and marketing assets. You can create custom styles from reference images so a whole set stays on brand, and its canvas includes background removal, upscaling, inpainting and mockups. It targets designers and marketers, with a free plan and an API for developers.
11 Recraft alternativesPros
- Generates editable SVG vector graphics, not just raster images
- Custom styles from reference images keep asset sets on brand
- Canvas includes background removal, upscaling and mockups
Cons
- Complex vector output can still need manual cleanup
- Higher limits and advanced features are reserved for paid plans
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesPlatformsRemini, owned by Bending Spoons, is a mobile and web app that uses AI to enhance photos and videos: it sharpens blurry or low-resolution images, restores old pictures and improves faces. It can also generate AI portraits of you in different styles from a few selfies, including professional headshots. The app can be used for free with limits, and a subscription unlocks more processing and features.
8 Remini alternativesPros
- Sharpens blurry or low-resolution photos in a tap
- Restores old pictures and enhances faces
- Available on iOS, Android and the web
Cons
- Free version is limited, with frequent prompts to subscribe
- Face enhancement can look artificial or alter features
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesPixelmator Pro is an image editor designed for macOS that brings photo editing, retouching, illustration and graphic design into one app. It offers non-destructive layer-based editing, RAW processing and machine learning tools for upscaling, denoising, background removal and automatic enhancement. Pixelmator was acquired by Apple in 2024, and the app is sold on the Mac App Store.
9 Pixelmator Pro alternativesPros
- Native Mac design with a clean interface
- Machine learning tools for upscaling, denoising and background removal
- Combines photo editing, painting and vector design
Cons
- No version for Windows or Linux
- Fewer plugins and pro integrations than Photoshop
Cost / LicensePaidProprietaryCategoriesPlatformsLuminar Neo is a photo editor from Skylum that relies on AI tools to simplify complex edits such as sky replacement, portrait retouching, relighting and object removal. It works as a standalone app on Windows and macOS or as a plugin for Lightroom Classic and Photoshop, with extensions for upscaling, background removal and noise reduction. It targets photographers who prefer fast results to manual masking.
7 Luminar Neo alternativesPros
- AI tools make sky replacement and relighting quick
- Works standalone or as a plugin for Lightroom Classic and Photoshop
- Portrait retouching and object removal with little manual work
Cons
- Some tools come as extensions on top of the base app
- Can feel slow with large photo libraries
- AI results can look artificial without careful tuning
Cost / LicenseFree trialProprietaryCategories
