# waifu2x vs Image Utils

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | waifu2x | Image Utils |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (934 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/waifu2x/id1286485858/reviews)** | [4.2 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/image-utils-image-editor/id1522725190/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **934** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | **85.7% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 222 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [宜 谢](https://appshunter.io/developer/1263778688) | [Arthur Eduardo Skaetta Alvarez Desenvolvimento de Software LTDA.](https://appshunter.io/developer/867175889) |

## What reviewers say

### waifu2x

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/waifu2x/id1286485858)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Two tips | $1.99 | one-time |
| Three tips | $2.99 | one-time |
| Additional Models | $6.99 | one-time |
| Additional Models for Mac | $6.99 | one-time |
| Custom Models | $8.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fantastic app
- 🚀 Quick upscaling
- 💡 Convenient one-time purchase
- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
- 👍 Excellent quality results

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Paid models required for best results
- ⏱️ Slow processing speed for some users
- 🐛 Occasional crashes or issues with newer devices
- 💰 Perceived as 'greedy' by some users for paid features

**Reported bugs**

- Difficulty downloading or accessing paid models
- Inconsistent performance on certain devices

**Requested features**

- Add more upscaling models
- Improve processing speed and efficiency
- Provide more customization options
- Add support for video upscaling


### Image Utils

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/image-utils-image-editor/id1522725190)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Image Utils Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| ImgUtils Premium | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*