Best AI Image Upscalers in 2026, Ranked by Job

The best AI image upscaler depends on what the picture is. For photos you want to print large, Topaz Wonder 3.5 is the strongest pick on VdoBloom, from 4 credits a run and up to 100 megapixels out. For AI art and product shots that need rebuilt detail, Riverflow 2.0 Pro (18 credits) adds texture that a plain upscale cannot invent. If you only need a quick sharper copy, KIE Image Upscale does 2K for 1 credit and 4K for 2.

Quick facts

• Upscalers on the VdoBloom Image Upscaler: Topaz Wonder 3.5, Riverflow 2.0 Pro, Riverflow 2.0 Fast and KIE Image Upscale.
• KIE Image Upscale: priced by output size, 1 credit up to 2K, 2 up to 4K, 5 up to 8K.
• Topaz Wonder 3.5: priced by output size, 4 credits up to 8 MP, 7 up to 16 MP, 14 up to 32 MP, 45 up to 100 MP.
• Riverflow 2.0 Pro: 18 credits at 1K or 2K, 27 credits at 4K. Riverflow 2.0 Fast: 10 credits, 2K.
• The exact cost shows before you run. Failed jobs are refunded.
• No subscription needed: one-time credit packs never expire, and new accounts get 10 credits on sign-up.

Upscale a photo

How we ranked them

We judged every upscaler on five things. Each one matters for a different kind of image, so read the ranking with your own picture in mind.

1. Faithfulness. Does the result still look like the original? Faces, logos and text should not change.
2. Detail. Does it add believable texture, or does it only smooth and sharpen?
3. Output size. How large can the final file be?
4. Cost per image. What one run costs, in credits.
5. Ease. Can you do it in a browser in under a minute?

There is a real trade-off between the first two. An upscaler that invents more detail also drifts further from the source. A faithful one keeps the photo honest but cannot add pores to a blurry face. Pick the side that suits the job.

The upscalers, ranked

1. Our pick: Topaz Wonder 3.5 on VdoBloom, best for real photos and print

Topaz Wonder 3.5 is our first pick for photographs. It keeps faces and edges true to the source and cleans noise and compression blocks while it enlarges. It is the right tool for old family photos, phone shots you want on a wall, and product photos where the label must stay exactly as printed.

You choose the scale factor, and the price follows the size of the output, not the input. A 1,000 x 1,000 photo at 2x is 4 MP out, which lands in the cheapest tier at 4 credits. The same photo at 8x is 64 MP and costs 28 credits. The ceiling is 100 MP. If a factor would pass that, the tool tells you the largest factor that fits before anything is charged.

• Best for: photos, print, product labels, restoration.
• Tip: 2x or 4x covers most prints; pick the factor for where the image will hang.

2. Riverflow 2.0 Pro: best for AI art and rebuilt detail

Riverflow 2.0 Pro takes the other approach. It redraws the image at higher resolution and adds texture: fabric weave, skin, leaves, brushed metal. That makes it the better pick for AI-generated art, concept images and soft renders that look flat when they are simply enlarged.

It costs 18 credits at 1K or 2K and 27 credits at 4K, flat per image. Because it redraws, check small text and fine logos after the run. For most art that is not a problem. For a brand mark it can be.

• Best for: AI art, illustrations, renders, social images that need punch.
• Tip: for brand marks and fine text, use Topaz Wonder 3.5 instead.

3. Riverflow 2.0 Fast: best quick 2K copy

Riverflow 2.0 Fast is the lighter version. It outputs 2K for 10 credits and is the fastest of the three. Use it when you need a sharper copy for a post or a slide and do not plan to print. It is also a sensible test run: try Fast first, and move to Pro only if the detail is not there.

4. KIE Image Upscale: cheapest quick enlargement

KIE Image Upscale is the lowest-cost route on the Image Upscaler. It is priced by the size of the output: 1 credit for a result up to 2K, 2 credits up to 4K and 5 credits up to 8K. Use it for screen copies, slides, thumbnails and batches of social images where you want a cleaner, larger file without paying for a redraw.

5. Upscayl: best if you want to run it on your own computer

If you would rather keep files on your own machine, Upscayl is a popular open-source desktop upscaler. As of November 2026 its GitHub page lists Windows, macOS and Linux builds, uses Real-ESRGAN models, and is licensed under AGPL-3.0. It needs a Vulkan-capable graphics card, and the project notes that many integrated GPUs do not work. It is a good choice for batch jobs on a strong desktop. The trade-off is setup and hardware, and the models are older than the cloud options above.

Side-by-side comparison

Which upscaler for which picture

• An old scanned photo: Topaz Wonder 3.5 at 2x or 4x. Restore first with the photo restoration tool if it is torn or faded.
• A product photo for a store listing: Topaz Wonder 3.5, so the label stays as printed. Then remove the background with the background remover.
• An AI image you made at 1K: Riverflow 2.0 Pro to 2K or 4K.
• A poster for print: design at 2K with the AI poster maker, then Topaz Wonder 3.5 so the text stays crisp.
• A frame you plan to animate: upscale before you turn it into video. A sharper start frame gives a sharper clip on image to video.

Common upscaling mistakes

Most bad upscales come from the input, not the model. These are the problems we see most often.

• Upscaling a screenshot. A screenshot of a photo has already lost detail and added screen blur. Find the original file, even a small one. It almost always beats a larger screenshot.
• Chaining runs. Running 2x and then 2x again stacks artefacts. One 4x run on Topaz Wonder 3.5 looks cleaner and usually costs less.
• Picking a redraw model for a logo. Riverflow adds detail by redrawing. That is good for art and bad for exact brand marks. Use Topaz Wonder 3.5 for anything with fine text.
• Going bigger than you need. A 100 MP file is useful for a billboard, not for Instagram. Pick the size for where the image will live. A 2K copy is plenty for most screens, and 4K covers a sharp A3 print.
• Judging on a phone. Small screens hide both the gains and the flaws. Compare the before and after at 100% zoom on a larger display.

If you are not sure which model suits a picture, run the cheapest suitable option first. On a photo that means Topaz Wonder 3.5 at 2x for 4 credits. On AI art, try Riverflow 2.0 Fast at 10 credits. Move up only if the result falls short. Both runs stay in My Creations, so you can compare them side by side.

How to upscale an image on VdoBloom

1. Open the Image Upscaler and upload a JPG, PNG or WEBP.
2. Pick the model: Topaz Wonder 3.5, Riverflow 2.0 Pro, Riverflow 2.0 Fast or KIE Image Upscale.
3. For Topaz Wonder, choose the scale factor. For Riverflow Pro, choose 1K, 2K or 4K.
4. Check the credit cost shown on the button, then run it.
5. Download the result. It is also saved in My Creations.

Open the Image Upscaler

Tips: start from the best copy of the file you have, not a screenshot of it. Do not upscale twice in a row; one bigger step looks cleaner than two small ones. Compare at 100% zoom, not on a phone screen.

Restore an old photo before you upscale it

FAQ

What is the best AI image upscaler for photos?

Topaz Wonder 3.5. It keeps faces, edges and text faithful to the original and goes up to 100 megapixels, from 4 credits a run on VdoBloom.

Which upscaler adds the most detail?

Riverflow 2.0 Pro. It redraws the image and adds texture, which suits AI art and renders. Check small text afterwards, since redrawing can shift it.

How much does it cost to upscale one image?

From 1 credit on KIE Image Upscale for a 2K result, 4 credits on Topaz Wonder 3.5 for outputs up to 8 MP, 10 credits on Riverflow 2.0 Fast, and 18 credits on Riverflow 2.0 Pro. The tool shows the exact figure before you run.

Can AI upscaling fix a very blurry photo?

Partly. It removes noise and blocks and sharpens edges, but it cannot recover a face that was only a few pixels wide. A redraw model will add detail there, though it may not match the real person.

Do I need a subscription?

No. You can buy a one-time credit pack that never expires and pay only for what you upscale. New accounts get 10 credits on sign-up.

Related reading: Best AI image models in 2026, AI video upscaling guide, Best AI product photo generators.