Comparison

waifu2x vs Image Utils

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

waifu2x

Enhance image and video quality using on-device AI algorithms for scaling and denoising. This app prioritizes privacy by processing files locally and offers various advanced models and custom options for detailed control over your media.

Highlights
  • AI-powered scaling and denoising
  • Supports multiple AI models (SRCNN, CUnet, Real-ESRGAN, Real-CUGAN, Anime4K)
  • Customizable AI models and scale modes
  • Unlimited image imports
  • Multiple import and output formats
  • On-device processing for privacy
Features
Read full description

This app can scale and/or denoise images using various advanced on-device AI algorithms. Note that this app is not affiliated with the original waifu2x project. Privacy is one of the top priorities of this app. Your files will never leave your device to be processed. Additionally, we don't collect any personal information because there are no ADs even if you only use free models. Therefore, if you encounter any problems, please send us a feedback email or create a GitHub issue so that we can work together to fix them. Try additional models and custom models on your own images for free before you purchase! Highlight features: 1. Unlimited number of imported images. 2. Supports both SRCNN and CUnet models from the original waifu2x project. 3. Supports Real-ESRGAN models for both illustrations and photos. 4. Supports Real-CUGAN models for anime illustrations. Also supports customizable intensity. 5. Supports Anime4K models for anime videos. 6. Supports custom Core ML models. Import any model to process images for your specific needs. 7. Custom scale modes. You have options to scale images up to 128x, 1.5x, fixed size and more. 8. Supports multiple ways of importing images: the album, files, folders, drag and drop, other apps, Shortcuts. 9. Supports images with alpha channel. 10. Multiple output formats: PNG, JPEG, HEIF, WebP. 11. Multiple processing backends. You can choose between highest quality or highest speed. 12. Write output images directly to an external path (including network drives like SMB). 13. End-to-end support for 16-bit color and color spaces. Color accuracy will not be compromised after processing. 14. Highly optimized RAM usage. You can easily produce images that don't even fit inside your device RAM. 15. Supports deleting or replacing original images if they come from the album. 16. Supports downscaling images before processing, which is useful while processing some photos. Source code of core function is available on GitHub: https://github.com/imxieyi/waifu2x-ios Usage of images in screenshots is granted by the original author Kurumi: https://twitter.com/0115_kurumi The primary app icon is illustrated by Kapuru: https://twitter.com/KaPuRu_0410

About

Image Utils

Enhance and stylize your photos with a variety of pro filters and editing tools. Resize, rotate, and flip images, then export them in popular formats like JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, and PDF. Explore over 30 filters across five collections to perfect your pictures.

Highlights
  • Image resizing and rotation
  • Multiple pro filter collections
  • Over 30 unique filters
  • Export to JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, PDF
  • Stylize and enhance images
  • Rotate and flip functionality
Features
Read full description

Edit, stylize and enhance your photos and images with ease! Image Utils is a collection of tools and pro filters that allows you to unleash your creativity and create the perfect version of any picture! Resize your images properly, rotate, flip and apply pro filters to tweak your images and make they look awesome without effort. Export your images to popular formats such as JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP and PDF! There are 5 collections of filters: - Photo Filters - Halftone Effects - Stylize Filters - Blur Filters - Sharpen Filters Totalizing an amount of more than 30 filters to create the perfect image! Image Utils is now available for all iOS Devices! ------ Terms of Use: https://imageutils-cb5ef.firebaseapp.com/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://imageutils-cb5ef.firebaseapp.com/privacy.html

Screenshots

waifu2x4 screens
Image Utils3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: waifu2x at 4.8 against Image Utils's 4.2. waifu2x also leads on review sentiment (86% vs 50%) and ratings volume (934 vs 10). Image Utils's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. waifu2x sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Image Utils sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

waifu2x holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: waifu2x has 934 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of waifu2x's written reviews are positive against 50% of Image Utils's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

waifu2x ships an update every 3 weeks, Image Utils weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
waifu2x versus Image Utils: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameterwaifu2xImage Utils
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (934 ratings) — better4.2 (10 ratings)
Positive reviews85.7% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings934 — better10
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS26.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size222 MB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer宜 谢Arthur Eduardo Skaetta Alvarez Desenvolvimento de Software LTDA.

Customer experience

waifu2x

All ratings933 ratings
Positive95.1%
Neutral1.9%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews230 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral6.5%
Negative7.8%

Image Utils

All ratings10 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

waifu2x

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Difficulty downloading or accessing paid models
  • Inconsistent performance on certain devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add more upscaling models
  • Improve processing speed and efficiency
  • Provide more customization options
  • Add support for video upscaling

Image Utils

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

6 purchases

waifu2x

One-time6
  • Tip$0.99
  • Two tips$1.99
  • Three tips$2.99
Show 3 more
  • Additional Models$6.99
  • Additional Models for Mac$6.99
  • Custom Models$8.99
2 purchases

Image Utils

Subscriptions1
  • Image Utils Monthly7 Days trial$0.991 Month
One-time1
  • ImgUtils Premium$2.99

Questions

Is waifu2x free?
waifu2x is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Image Utils free?
Image Utils is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, waifu2x or Image Utils?
waifu2x is rated higher. waifu2x averages 4.8 out of 5 from 934 ratings, while Image Utils averages 4.2 from 10 ratings.
Do waifu2x or Image Utils have ads?
Neither waifu2x nor Image Utils shows ads.
Which is updated more often, waifu2x or Image Utils?
waifu2x ships an update every 3 weeks, and Image Utils weekly. Most recently, waifu2x was updated on October 29, 2026 and Image Utils on October 17, 2026.

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