NextGenUp vs Refocused

NextGenUp is a free tool for enlarging images and video, available as desktop software for macOS, Windows 10/11 and Linux, or as a self-hosted web app. Processing runs on the user's hardware: its models, FFmpeg and server run locally, and files are not sent to cloud processing. Images can be enlarged to 8K using Quick, Quality, Enhance or Ultra modes; video upscaling reaches 4K through basic and professional AI modes. Enhance reduces noise and blur without enlarging the image, while GFPGAN v1.4 detects faces and restores detail. Real-ESRGAN handles super-resolution. Processing uses the CPU by default and accelerates with a GPU when available. The browser app can use WebGPU on Chrome or Edge 113 and later. The software is MIT licensed and needs no subscription, watermark or account. There is no trial limit. Web files are limited to 2 GB, and older processed files are automatically removed after 24 hours. PNG is the listed output format.

Refocused is desktop software for enhancing and restoring video with AI models that process footage on the user's machine. Its seven model families cover super-resolution, diffusion restoration, interpolation, denoising, depth estimation, and segmentation. The Refocus model provides motion-aware 4× super-resolution, and a flagship workflow chains it with Regenerate-Q. In the Refine workspace, users can apply tracked object masks, select by depth threshold, reprocess specific regions, and create synthetic depth-of-field focus. Compare offers synchronized A/B playback and up to 8× zoom for inspecting frames. Output can reach 8K and includes 10-bit ProRes, HDR, and image sequences; listed formats include H.265/H.264, ProRes, VP9, AV1, PNG, JPEG, and TIFF. Processing works offline after installation and activation, though license validation and model updates periodically need internet access. A free trial includes full processing and all models, with watermarked output. The Full license is $64.99 as a one-time purchase and includes unlimited local processing, up to five devices, and one year of updates.