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Test scope & comparison notes
These are recorded facts, not a unified ranking. Tested tiers and scope are not consistently recorded. Read pricing with its date and timing with its conditions. Privacy observations reflect visible flows and statements, not a security audit.
Cross-task capability coverage across selected products
Each product is scored independently per task edge; switch tasks below while keeping shared products selected| Task edge | iLoveIMG | ImgUpscaler | Switch / compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Background removal | 83/100 2048 × 2048 · PNG | Not tested in topic | Compare in task topic → |
| Image compression | 92/100 2048 × 2048 · PNG | Not tested in topic | Compare in task topic → |
| Image upscaling | 96/100 2048×2048 (PNG · 4.0x Full Resolution) · Historical description; output not attached | 85/100 2048×2048 (PNG · 400% / 4.0x AI Upscale) · Historical description; output not attached | Active task |
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Browse this task →| Criterion | iLoveIMG (AI Image Upscaler) Image upscaling 96/100 Seven-aspect task score Free login-free 4× output has no promotional download blocks and good detail; it uses cloud upload and took about 7.6 seconds end to end. Tested export 2048×2048 (PNG · 4.0x Full Resolution) · Historical description; output not attached Historical test · 2026-10-16 | ImgUpscaler (AI Image Upscaler) Image upscaling 85/100 Seven-aspect task score Free login-free 4× output retains detail well; a fullscreen ad can interrupt initial use, and this run took about 22 seconds. Tested export 2048×2048 (PNG · 400% / 4.0x AI Upscale) · Historical description; output not attached Historical test · 2026-10-16 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & rules | ||
| Pricing plans | Web single-user free, monthly, annual and enterprise quote; USD · 2026-10-20 Plan · source date Monthly / one-time Annual bill / period Quota & limits Basic2026-10-20 ↗ Free Free Free Basic tools and limited processing; AI background-removal allowance unspecified Premium2026-10-20 ↗ USD 9/month USD 60/year Annual 2,000 AI credits listed; refresh cycle not stated on the card All tools, priority support and no ads; 1–25 users selectable Monthly 2,000 AI credits; reset period not stated on the card 4 plan / billing-period records, all listed; — means that period is not recorded. Pricing, FAQ and removal entry were rechecked. Premium lists 2,000 AI credits, but these pages do not specify removal cost, free image count or credit refresh cycle. Unlimited document processing does not establish unlimited AI removal. FAQ says file-count/size limits block processing; prices include VAT, with region-dependent reverse-charge invoicing. Verification has gaps; unknown prices and quotas are not inferred. Cancellation, sources & verification recordUpgrade, downgrade or cancel in account settings; refund terms not separately verified. Official plans and usage terms ↗ · 2026-10-20 Capture 1 ↗ · Capture 2 ↗ Current pricing and AI credits ↗ · 2026-10-20 Capture 1 ↗ Official handling of usage limits ↗ · 2026-10-20 Capture 1 ↗ Background removal entry recheck ↗ · 2026-10-20 Capture 1 ↗ | ImgUpscaler personal and business plans (Free / Premium / Business); USD · 2026-10-21 Plan · source date Monthly / one-time Annual bill / period Quota & limits Free2026-10-21 ↗ Free Free Free 50 credits/month; single-image AI upscaling, enhancement, and Reimagine (includes ads; guest single-image 4x upscaling available). Premium Monthly2026-10-21 ↗ USD 9.9/month — Monthly 500 credits/month; includes batch processing, Reimagine AI access, ad-free workspace, and email support. Premium Yearly2026-10-21 ↗ — USD 49/year Annual Billed yearly at USD 49/year (USD 4.08/month equivalent); 500 credits/month, batch processing, ad-free workspace, and email support. Business Monthly2026-10-21 ↗ USD 19.9/month — Monthly No credits limit; single and batch processing, Reimagine AI access, ad-free workspace, and commercial production workflows. Business Yearly2026-10-21 ↗ — USD 69/year Annual Billed yearly at USD 69/year (USD 5.75/month equivalent); no credits limit, batch processing, and ad-free workspace. 5 plan / billing-period records, all listed; — means that period is not recorded. The official pricing page lists Free (USD 0, 50 credits/month, single-image processing, includes ads), Premium (USD 9.90/month or USD 49/year, equivalent to USD 4.08/month, with 500 credits/month, batch processing, and no ads), and Business (USD 19.90/month or USD 69/year, equivalent to USD 5.75/month, with no credit limit, batch processing, and no ads). Cancellation, sources & verification recordCancel or change plans anytime from the account billing page; both free and paid results may be used for personal or commercial projects subject to source-image rights. ImgUpscaler official monthly/yearly pricing and FAQ ↗ · 2026-10-21 Capture 1 ↗ · Capture 2 ↗ |
| Free & trial allowance on the test date | Free 4x (2048×2048) upscaling and download without login for any input under 6MP | Free single-image 200% (2x) and 400% (4x) unwatermarked upscaling without login; batch upload requires a paid plan |
| Cancellation & refunds | Upgrade, downgrade or cancel in account settings; refund terms not separately verified. | Cancel or change plans anytime from the account billing page; both free and paid results may be used for personal or commercial projects subject to source-image rights. |
| Disclosure of costs & limits | Direct 2x / 4x toggle in workspace with zero hidden paywall traps | No paywall traps; supported by standard and vignette Google AdSense ads |
| Task quality | ||
| Measured fixture results | Tested scale: 4× | Tested scale: 4× |
| Fixture findings | Signs and fine lines were clear in this 4× output; other images need separate tests. | This guest run produced a watermark-free 4× image with structure retained; findings cover this fixture only. |
| Original historical observation | PSNR=27.42dB · SSIM=0.8918 (evaluated on full 2048×2048 ground-truth grid); Edge gradient correlation edge_corr=0.6718 (#1 overall, +10.62% over Bicubic 0.5656); high-frequency recovery hf_ratio=0.5348 (#1 overall); Calibration plate PSNR=16.12dB (#1 overall): razor-sharp wood sign 'REALTEST 2026' and 'REALTEST 2048px GT' header, cleanly resolving 3px and 6px line-pair gratings. | PSNR=27.50dB · SSIM=0.8900 (4x 2048×2048 unwatermarked PNG); edge_corr=0.6685, hf_ratio=0.4995, plate_psnr=16.22dB—one of the very few tools offering genuine 400% watermark-free exports to anonymous guests. |
| Suitable uses · historical assessment | Top overall choice for no-login, true 4x (2048×2048) unwatermarked PNG export with the highest edge sharpness recovery | Users who want true 4x (2048×2048) watermark-free faithful super-resolution without creating an account |
| Result & output evidence | No native output obtained; the preview does not establish final export quality. | No native output obtained; the preview does not establish final export quality. |
| Delivery capabilities | ||
| Recorded export specifications | 2048×2048 (PNG · 4.0x Full Resolution) · Historical description; output not attached · Check watermark record No native output is attached; check the evidence for specification and watermark claims. | 2048×2048 (PNG · 400% / 4.0x AI Upscale) · Historical description; output not attached · Check watermark record No native output is attached; check the evidence for specification and watermark claims. |
| Historical specification note · not an official maximum | 2048×2048 (PNG · 4.0x Full Resolution) | 2048×2048 (4.0x / 400% · Free without login) |
| Watermark observation | No watermark | 100% Watermark-Free |
| Batch & API | Free tier supports up to 3 images per batch; developer REST API available | Batch web upload on paid plans; offline batch processing via desktop app Upscal.app |
| Recorded free-tier dimensions | Not verified | Not verified |
| Attached file dimensions | Not verified | Not verified |
| Speed & reliability | ||
| Timing observation | Network-observed server wait: 5.26s · End-to-end reference: 7.61s | Network-observed server wait: 20.68s · End-to-end reference: 22.22s |
| Date & fixture | 2026-10-16 · anchor_upscale_v1 · US-West (California, AS2914) | 2026-10-16 · anchor_upscale_v1 · US-West (California, AS2914) |
| Repeated tests & reliability | No standardized repetition count, success rate or variability range is recorded. | No standardized repetition count, success rate or variability range is recorded. |
| Interaction experience | ||
| Account requirements | No login in this test | No login in this test |
| Sign-in methods | Direct 2x and 4x upscaling & export with no login required; optional Google/Email login | No login required; optional email/Google login for paid plans |
| Manual adjustment | Not verified | Not verified |
| Interaction observations | Zero signup popups or deceptive upsell overlays; clicking 'Upscale' navigates straight to the clean download page (03_download.png). | Zero login walls or bait-and-switch paywalls, though the free web page runs Google AdSense including a full-screen interstitial vignette (`#google_vignette`, Screenshot ④) that may require dismissing. |
| Background & reputation | ||
| Service lifecycle notice | Not verified | Not verified |
| Operator | iLovePDF / Marco Grossi (Barcelona, Spain) | ImgUpscaler / Upscal.app Team |
| Recorded origin | Barcelona, Spain | Independent Cross-Platform Utility Team (Web + macOS/Windows App Store) |
| Domain history record | 2016–Present | 2020–Present |
| Background & reputation assessment | Operated by the Barcelona-based iLovePDF team, serving tens of millions of monthly users with top-tier provenance. | Operated by the independent team behind Upscal.app (available on the Mac App Store and Microsoft Store). |
| External reputation record | Not verified | Not verified |
| Engineering & privacy | ||
| Processing location | Uploaded for cloud processing | Uploaded for cloud processing |
| Third-party tracking record | Not verified | Not verified |
| Engineering & privacy assessment | Upload took 2.35s and pure server 4x super-resolution inference took 5.26s, backed by a strict 2-hour auto-deletion policy. | Uses `/api/legacy/upload` and `/api/legacy/status` async polling; FAQ #10 explicitly states all uploaded and processed images are permanently deleted within 24 hours. |
| Retention statement | Claims deletion within 2 hours; deletion not independently verified | Claims deletion within 24 hours; deletion not independently verified |
| Evaluation basis | ||
| Pricing transparency | 34 / 35 Most generous and transparent free policy in the category: allows no-login upload of our 512×512 anchor (01_landing.png) and lets guests freely switch from 2x (1024×1024) to full 4x (2048×2048) in the workspace (02_workspace.png) with direct unwatermarked PNG export. | 32 / 35 Anonymous guests can select `400%` (4x) or `200%` (2x) directly on the home page, click 'Upload & Start', and download a 100% watermark-free 2048×2048 (4x) PNG without signing up or entering a card (Screenshots ②③). |
| Interaction restraint | 28 / 30 Zero signup popups or deceptive upsell overlays; clicking 'Upscale' navigates straight to the clean download page (03_download.png). | 21 / 30 Zero login walls or bait-and-switch paywalls, though the free web page runs Google AdSense including a full-screen interstitial vignette (`#google_vignette`, Screenshot ④) that may require dismissing. |
| Background & reputation | 19 / 20 Operated by the Barcelona-based iLovePDF team, serving tens of millions of monthly users with top-tier provenance. | 15 / 20 Operated by the independent team behind Upscal.app (available on the Mac App Store and Microsoft Store). |
| Engineering & privacy | 14 / 15 Upload took 2.35s and pure server 4x super-resolution inference took 5.26s, backed by a strict 2-hour auto-deletion policy. | 12 / 15 Uses `/api/legacy/upload` and `/api/legacy/status` async polling; FAQ #10 explicitly states all uploaded and processed images are permanently deleted within 24 hours. |
| Task quality | 62.5 / 65 PSNR vs 2048px GT: 27.42 dB · SSIM: 0.8918 · Edge Gradient Correlation: 0.6718 · High-Freq Sharpness Ratio: 0.5348 · Calibration Plate PSNR: 16.12 dB | 58.5 / 65 PSNR vs 2048px GT: 27.5 dB · SSIM: 0.89 · Edge Gradient Correlation: 0.6685 · High-Freq Sharpness Ratio: 0.4995 · Calibration Plate PSNR: 16.22 dB |
| Deliverable specifications | 20 / 20 Clean unwatermarked export (8/8); Free scale factor: 4x (2048×2048 (PNG · 4.0x Full Resolution)) | 20 / 20 No free unwatermarked export (0/8); Free scale factor: 4x (2048×2048 (4.0x / 400% · Free without login)) |
| Processing speed | 14 / 15 Network-observed server wait: 5.26s (API mode: sync_post; end-to-end 7.61s shown for reference only, never penalized) | 8 / 15 Network-observed server wait: 20.68s (API mode: async_poll; end-to-end 22.22s shown for reference only, never penalized) |

