P
PAI photo, video and design editor with generation models for creators and teams
Free, from $15/mo
Luminar Neo vs Upscayl
Pricing, features, platforms and who each one suits — side by side.
L
Choose Luminar Neo if…
- you work on iOS
- you're in its core audience: hobbyist photographers, professional photographers
U
Choose Upscayl if…
- you want a free plan to start with
- you want open source you can self-host or audit
- you work on Web, Linux
- you're in its core audience: photographers, graphic designers
Side by side
Feature Luminar Neo Upscayl
Pricing modelPaidFreemium
Starting price—$24.99/mo
Free plan
Free trial
API
Open source
Cost per processed image—$0.083
Trains AI on your content—No
Data retentionFacial images stored only temporarily as needed to return resultsInputs up to 1 day; generated outputs 180 days or until deleted
Security and complianceGDPR—
Background removal—
AI upscaling—
Generative fill/erase—
Relighting—
Batch processing
RAW file support—
Photoshop/Lightroom plugin—
PlatformsmacOS, Windows, iOSWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux
CategoryPhoto EditingUpscalers & Enhancers
Rank in its category#5 of 5—
CompanyShinyfields LimitedUpscayl. AI Corp
Based inCyprus—
Founded2008—
Part of——
What you'd pay
The cheapest plan that fits, per month, billed yearly where the plan offers it.
| Team size | Luminar Neo | Upscayl |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | no published plan | $24.99 Pro |
| 5 people | no published plan | $24.99 Pro |
| 20 people | no published plan | $24.99 Pro |
What the free plans include
Luminar Neo
No free plan.
Upscayl
- Free Trial: 10 credits included
Key features
L Luminar Neo
- One-slider AI enhancement with EnhanceAI
- AI sky replacement
- Portrait retouching with SkinAI and FaceAI
- Generative erase, swap and expand
- Upscaling, noise reduction and sharpening
- HDR merge, focus stacking and panorama stitching
- Raw support including CR3, NEF and RAF
- Plugin for Lightroom Classic and Photoshop
U Upscayl
- AI image upscaling up to 16x
- Multiple selectable upscaling models
- Batch upscaling of many images
- Double upscaling for extra enlargement
- AI face enhancement and detail recovery
- Color accuracy preservation for printing
- Text-to-image generation in several styles
- Cloud processing up to 256MP or 512MP
Plans and prices
From each vendor's site. Prices change — confirm before buying.
Luminar Neo
Desktop Only£89.00 (sale, was £377.00)
All Platforms£139.00 (sale, was £405.00)
Max£159.00 (sale, was £464.00)
Luminar Engine (business)Custom
Upscayl
DesktopFree
Cloud Free Trial$0
Pro$24.99
BusinessNot listed
CustomCustom
Strengths and limitations
Luminar Neo
- One-time purchase with no required subscription for the desktop app
- Desktop license covers 2 devices on macOS and Windows
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Works as a plugin for Lightroom Classic and Photoshop
- AI tools are included for only 1 year on perpetual plans
- Web version not yet available (listed as coming Fall 2026)
- Pricing page shows prices in GBP, with no USD prices listed
Upscayl
- Desktop app is free and open source
- Runs on Linux, macOS and Windows
- Cloud credits roll over on Pro
- Free trial with 10 cloud credits
- Cloud usage is credit-based
- Credits are lost and history is deleted after cancelling
- Business and annual prices not listed on pricing page
- No API mentioned
More comparisons
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TT
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T
AI image upscaling up to 16x for photographers and creative professionals
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RR
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R
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Facts from each vendor's public pages, prices checked Oct 26, 2026. Editorial policy