Keen vs Topaz Gigapixel: Which AI Upscaler Is Better in 2026?
Compare Keen and Topaz Gigapixel AI — pricing, quality, API access, and AI agent support. See which image upscaler fits your workflow.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Keen | Topaz Gigapixel |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free / $9/mo / $29/mo | $200/year |
| Platform | Web (any device) | Desktop only (Windows/Mac) |
| API | ✅ REST API | ❌ No API |
| MCP Server | ✅ Claude, Cursor | ❌ None |
| AI Agent Payments | ✅ x402 (USDC) | ❌ None |
| Max Upscale | 4x | 6x |
| Model | SeedVR2 | Proprietary |
| Batch Processing | ✅ (Ultra plan) | ✅ |
| Processing Time | ~10 seconds | 30-120 seconds |
| Offline Use | ❌ | ✅ |
Pricing Breakdown
Topaz Gigapixel charges $199.99/year for unlimited desktop processing. There's no free tier and no monthly option. You also need a capable GPU — the software runs locally.
Keen starts free with 5 images to try. Pro at $9/month gives you 100 images with 4x upscaling. Ultra at $29/month includes 800 images, API access, and batch uploads. For high-volume users, enterprise pricing is $0.05 per image.
For someone processing under 100 images a month, Keen Pro at $9/month costs $108/year — roughly half the price of Topaz.
Quality
Both produce excellent results. Topaz uses a proprietary model with multiple AI modes (Standard, High Fidelity, Art & CG). Keen uses SeedVR2, a state-of-the-art super-resolution model that recovers detail and texture without over-sharpening.
Topaz supports up to 6x upscaling. Keen supports up to 4x, which covers the vast majority of use cases — a 1024×1024 image becomes 4096×4096 at 4x.
The API and Agent Gap
This is where Keen pulls ahead for developers and AI workflows. Topaz is a desktop app with no API — you can't integrate it into automated pipelines, apps, or agent workflows.
Keen offers:
- REST API for programmatic upscaling
- MCP server (
npx @keenimg/mcp) for Claude, Cursor, and other MCP-compatible tools - x402 payments so AI agents can pay per-image with USDC on Base — no account needed
If you're building an app that needs image upscaling, or using AI agents that process images, Keen is the only option between the two.
When to Choose Topaz
- You need 6x upscaling (rare, but some workflows need it)
- You process thousands of images per month and want unlimited local processing
- You need offline capability
- You already own it and have a powerful GPU
When to Choose Keen
- You want a web-based tool that works on any device
- You need API access for your app or pipeline
- You're integrating with AI agents (MCP, x402)
- You process under 800 images/month
- You don't want to pay $200 upfront
- You need to upscale images from a phone or tablet
Bottom Line
Topaz Gigapixel is a solid desktop tool for photographers who process high volumes locally. Keen is built for the modern workflow — web-based, API-first, and designed for both humans and AI agents. If you need to upscale an image from anywhere, integrate upscaling into code, or let an AI agent handle it, Keen is the better choice.