waifu2x
waifu2x performs AI single-image super-resolution for anime-style artwork and also supports photos.
What waifu2x is
waifu2x performs AI single-image super-resolution for anime-style artwork and also supports photos. Its web tool accepts PNG and JPG inputs, with artwork, artwork/scans, and photo styles. Users can choose noise reduction from None through Highest and select None, 1.6x, or 2x upscaling; a separate unlimited:waifu2x page provides an experimental browser version. The site lists a 5 MB file limit, 3000×3000 px for noise reduction, and 1500×1500 px for upscaling. Images can be dragged in, supplied by URL, or selected as files, with PNG and WebP output. The browser version lists backend, model, denoising, tiling, TTA, alpha-channel, and WebGPU options, but not 4x upscaling. The open-source MIT project documents command-line, self-hosted, and batch conversion use, plus Windows, macOS, and Ubuntu installation. The website is free and requires no login.
Good
- Free and open source under MIT license
- Noise reduction and multiple image styles
- PNG and JPG input with PNG/WebP output
- Batch conversion through documented local tools
- Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, and self-hosted options
Watch out
- Main web tool limits files to 5 MB
- Main upscaling limit is 1500×1500 pixels
- Browser version does not support 4x upscaling
- Noise reduction can harm images without noise
Who it suits
It suits people enlarging anime art, scans, or photos through a free web tool or local workflow. Developers and batch users can use the documented command-line and self-hosted options.
Verdict
waifu2x provides free enlargement and denoising for artwork and photos, with both browser and local options. Check its file, dimension, and browser 4x limits before processing.
Plans and prices
From waifu2x's own pricing page, checked 12 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| unlimited:waifu2x | Free | Experimental in-browser version · no 4x upscaling |
| waifu2x website | Free | 5MB image size · noise reduction up to 3000×3000px · upscaling up to 1500×1500px |
The facts
Each one read from waifu2x's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Account
- The privacy policy says the site can be used for free without logging in; Patreon login uses a Patreon user ID and records API call counts for that ID.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Analytics and advertising
- The site says it uses Google Analytics and Google Adsense, and that third-party publishers may use cookies for personalized advertising.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Batch processing
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Desktop availability
- The project repository links a Windows installer and installation instructions for Windows, macOS, and Ubuntu.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Developer use
- The project repository says its dependencies include Python 3.10 or later and PyTorch, and links a waifu2x Python API via torch.hub.load.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Formats
- The main site offers PNG and WebP output formats.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Hardware
- The GitHub README lists an NVIDIA GPU, Torch7, and NVIDIA CUDA among the project dependencies.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Image processing
- The web tool offers artwork, artwork/scans, and photo styles, with selectable noise reduction and upscaling options.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Input formats
- PNG, JPGchecked 20 Sep 2026
- Input limits
- The main site lists a 5 MB file-size limit, 3000×3000 px for noise reduction, and 1500×1500 px for upscaling.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Input methods
- Images can be selected by drag and drop, entered as a URL, or chosen as a file.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Limit on noise reduction
- The website advises using noise reduction only when the image actually has noise because it may otherwise cause the opposite effect.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Local use
- The project's GitHub README documents command-line and self-hosted web-app use, including batch conversion.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Maintainer identity
- The main site links to the nunif GitHub account; the opened pages do not state a headquarters or founding date.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Maximum scale
- 4xchecked 20 Sep 2026
- Noise guidance
- The site cautions that noise reduction can have the opposite effect if the image does not actually contain noise.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Noise reduction
- The web page offers five noise-reduction settings: None, Low, Medium, High, and Highest.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Open source
- The original waifu2x repository lists an MIT license and documents command-line tools for noise reduction, 2x upscaling, and batch conversion.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Output formats
- The web tool offers PNG and WebP output formats.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The site says it stores images and URLs only for caching, and that the cache expires and is automatically deleted after 30 minutes.checked 12 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Browser limit
- The in-browser page indicates that 4x upscaling is not supported there.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Browser version
- unlimited:waifu2x is described as an experimental in-browser version with selectable backend, model, denoising, tiling, TTA, and alpha-channel options.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Desktop app
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- In-browser version
- The separate unlimited:waifu2x site is described as an experimental in-browser version and lists WebGPU support.checked 12 Oct 2026
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