Last updated 08-11-2026
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Waifu2x
Waifu2x upscales a single anime-style illustration or photo in your browser using deep convolutional neural networks trained for super-resolution. Upload a file or drag one in, pick artwork or photo mode, set noise reduction, and export at up to 2x scale on the free tier.
Generic photo enlargers smooth details into mush on line art, while heavy denoisers blur clean scans that never needed cleanup. Waifu2x separates artwork, scan, and photo styles, warns you to skip noise reduction on clean images, and caps dimensions so the public server stays responsive for everyone.
Anime artists, manga scan editors, and photographers use Waifu2x when they need a quick upscale without installing local CUDA builds. The hosted tool limits files to 5MB with 3000 by 3000 pixel noise reduction and 1500 by 1500 upscaling caps, and Patreon supporters unlock higher limits like 4x scaling.
Processes single images up to 5MB with separate artwork, scan, and photo style modes
Noise reduction supports up to 3000 by 3000 pixels with five intensity levels
Free upscaling caps at 1500 by 1500 pixels with 1.6x and 2x scale options
Exports PNG or WebP after processing in the browser interface
Open source waifu2x models live in the nagadomi/nunif GitHub repository
Patreon or Fantia.jp support unlocks higher limits including 4x upscaling
Site available in more than 15 languages from the homepage language switcher
Specialized artwork and scan modes preserve anime line art better than general upscalers
No account required for basic 1.6x and 2x upscales in the browser
Open source codebase lets you self-host the same models locally
PNG and WebP export options after processing
Public server caps upscaling at 1500 by 1500 pixels unless you use Patreon unlimited access
Single-image workflow only with no batch folder processing on the web UI
Stored listing URL still points at waifu2x.udp.jp even though the live site redirects to waifu2x.net
What does Waifu2x do to images?
Waifu2x performs single-image super-resolution on anime-style art and regular photos using deep convolutional neural networks. Waifu2x can reduce JPEG noise and upscale images while preserving line art edges better than generic photo enlargers.
Is Waifu2x free to use?
Yes. Waifu2x runs as a free browser tool on waifu2x.net with published size and resolution limits. Waifu2x accepts optional Patreon or Fantia.jp support for higher limits such as 4x upscaling on the unlimited tier.
What file limits does Waifu2x enforce?
Waifu2x limits uploads to 5MB files. Waifu2x allows noise reduction on images up to 3000 by 3000 pixels and upscaling on images up to 1500 by 1500 pixels on the public server.
Should I use noise reduction in Waifu2x?
Use Waifu2x noise reduction only when the source image actually has noise or JPEG artifacts. Waifu2x warns that applying noise reduction to clean artwork can blur details and produce the opposite effect.
What upscale factors does Waifu2x support?
Waifu2x offers None, 1.6x, and 2x upscaling on the standard web interface. Waifu2x lists a 4x upscaling option tied to the unlimited Patreon tier linked from the upscaling menu.
Can I run Waifu2x offline?
Yes. Waifu2x is open source under the nagadomi/nunif project on GitHub, so developers can run the models locally. The waifu2x.net site is the hosted browser version for users who do not want to install dependencies.