Photo & Video Upscaling/Restoration
We tested and ranked 39 Photo & Video Upscaling/Restoration apps for Mac — updated August 2026.
Every app here was run on our own Apple-silicon Macs and scored on the published rubric — capability, craft, privacy, value. We watch the network while we test. How we rank →
You have a blurry old family portrait, a low-res video clip worth saving, or a black-and-white photo you wish were in color — and you would rather not upload any of it to someone else's server. These 39 Mac apps use super-resolution models, denoisers, frame interpolators, and colorization networks to sharpen, enlarge, restore, and revive images and video right on your machine. Some run well-known open models like Real-ESRGAN and waifu2x; others wrap Apple's own Neural Engine upscalers. A few handle video as well as stills — upscaling footage to 4K or 8K, generating slow-motion frames, or stabilizing shaky clips. We scored each app on capability, craft, privacy, and value, then ranked the field. Here are the standouts.
The ranking — all 39
waifu2x
宜 谢The most complete image upscaler on the Mac: it ships Real-ESRGAN, Real-CUGAN, and its namesake waifu2x models, runs them all on-device, and even lets you import your own Core ML models with scales up to 128x. Open-source core, free to try, and a 4.8-star reputation across 934 ratings.
” scale and/or denoise images using various advanced on-device AI algorithms; Your files will never leave your device to be processed; Supports custom Core ML models; Real-ESRGAN models — test note
Spatial Media Toolkit
Strange Mesa LLCA niche pick that stands apart from traditional upscalers: it converts ordinary 2D photos and videos into 3D spatial media for Vision Pro and Quest using on-device AI depth estimation, with batch folder processing and adjustable depth.
” Using our cutting-edge AI; Convert on the go (on-device depth conversion, batch convert entire folders); no upload mentioned — test note
ImageX - AI Photo Enhancer
嘉豪 吕A solid offline upscaler that bundles Real-ESRGAN, waifu2x, Real-CUGAN, and the RIFE frame-interpolation model, all GPU-accelerated and processed without any uploads. Transparent about its open-model lineage and supports animated formats like GIF, APNG, and WebP.
” "Local offline processing, no upload required"; "All images are processed offline locally on the device"; named open models — test note
Video Upscaler 8K: AI Enhancer
Sergii KovalPairs premium upscaling models (BSRGAN, Real-ESRGAN) with Apple's native SuperRes and MetalFX for on-device video upscaling up to 16K. Everything stays on your Mac with no cloud dependency, and the free tier allows unlimited local conversions.
” private on-device AI processing. Your videos stay on your device; No cloud upload. No remote processing; Apple SuperRes & MetalFX Fast native on-device models — test note
TrueFrame AI: Video Enhancer
Alexsander KhitevA free, fully on-device video enhancer that handles upscaling, denoising, and stabilization in one pipeline, with HDR and 120 fps support and real-time comparison. Its explicit no-upload guarantee makes it one of the strongest privacy picks for video work.
” 100% ON-DEVICE PRIVACY - No servers. No uploads. Your videos never leave your device — test note
Emulsio 5 › Video Enhancer
Creaceed SRLA mature, award-winning video tool whose AI frame generation and HD-to-4K upscaling run on-device through Core ML and the Neural Engine. Stabilization is its legacy strength — a Macworld Best of Show winner — with AI enhancement capabilities layered on top.
” Upscale lower-res video with on-device AI processing; on-device CoreML processing optimized for Apple Neural Engine; on-device AI-powered frame generation — test note
AI Enlarger – Image Upscaler
通 张A polished all-in-one image enhancer with offline GPU-accelerated 2x, 4x, and 8x upscaling, a 48-filter studio, and deep face-retouch tools. Well reviewed at 4.6 stars across 1,402 ratings — but it is a hybrid app offering both online and offline AI models.
” offline 2x/4x/8x scaling; choose between Online AI models or Offline GPU-accelerated models; stability improvements for offline upscaling — test note
ihancer - AI image enhancer
Ihor PrysiazhniukThe simplest entry in this category: one tap enhances blurry, pixelated, or low-light photos with a focus on face restoration. Extremely popular at 4.7 stars across 1,598 ratings, with real-time before/after comparison built in.
” enhance image quality automatically just with one tap using machine learning technology — test note
Fix Old Photos - Remend AI
Jonathan Estuardo Benavides VallejoA focused restoration app for bringing damaged prints back to life: it removes scratches, sharpens faded detail, and colorizes black-and-white shots in one tap. Rated 4.75 across 16 ratings and free to use.
” advanced AI repair removes scratches and damage; Colorize black and white photos (on-device photo restoration) — test note
Upscal - Enhance Video & Image
通 张A privacy-first upscaler built on Apple's own Metal, Metal Performance Shaders, and Core ML frameworks, with no uploads and no watermarks on image output. Exports up to 8K and offers free unlimited video upscaling.
” private, offline AI processing; uses Apple Metal, Metal Performance Shaders, and Core ML to process media locally; files not uploaded — test note
How to choose Photo & Video Upscaling/Restoration for Mac
Start with the media you need to fix. If you mostly upscale still images, look for apps that name their models — Real-ESRGAN, waifu2x, Real-CUGAN — because those have published benchmarks you can verify. If you need video upscaling, check whether the app processes footage natively or just exports frame sequences; native video pipelines save hours of reassembly. Resolution ceiling matters: some tools cap free output at 1280 px, while others export up to 8K or 16K without a watermark. For old-photo restoration, prioritize apps that bundle scratch removal and colorization alongside upscaling, so you handle the whole job in one pass. Privacy posture varies more than you might expect. The top-ranked apps process everything on-device and say so explicitly; others offer both online and offline AI models, which means some operations may leave your Mac. Check whether the app's upscaling models run on the GPU, the Neural Engine, or both — Apple Silicon Macs get a significant speed advantage from Neural Engine–optimized Core ML models. Finally, compare pricing: several capable upscalers are genuinely free, while others gate their best models behind a subscription that can run $7 a month or more.
Questions people ask
Can AI restore old photos on a Mac without uploading them?
Yes. Several apps in this category run their restoration models entirely on your Mac. waifu2x, for example, states that files never leave your device, and TrueFrame AI advertises 100% on-device processing with no servers or uploads. Apps that offer both online and offline models, like AI Enlarger, let you choose — just stick to the offline GPU option if keeping photos local matters to you.
What is the difference between upscaling and restoration?
Upscaling increases an image's pixel count — turning a 720p frame into 4K, for instance — using a neural network to fill in detail the original never had. Restoration fixes existing damage: scratches, noise, fading, or missing color in black-and-white prints. Many apps here do both, but some specialize — Fix Old Photos focuses on scratch removal and colorization, while Video Upscaler 8K targets resolution scaling for footage.
Do I need an Apple Silicon Mac to upscale images with AI?
Most apps run on Intel Macs too, but Apple Silicon makes a real difference. Apps like Emulsio 5 and Upscal leverage the Neural Engine through Core ML, which is exclusive to M-series chips and dramatically faster for AI workloads. On an Intel Mac, processing falls back to the GPU or CPU and takes longer — especially with video, where a single clip can mean thousands of frames.