Marketing and content teams that need browser-accessible bulk image upscaling and background removal without installing software — especially for e-commerce, print production, and social media content at volumes under 300 images per month
Let's Enhance and Topaz Photo AI are both AI upscaling and photo enhancement tools — but they represent opposite architectural philosophies. Let's Enhance is a cloud-first browser tool: drag and drop images, pick an enhancement mode, and download finished files with no installation required. Topaz Photo AI is a desktop-first professional suite: download and install it on your Mac or Windows machine, process RAW and JPEG files offline, and apply targeted AI enhancement to specific image elements (face, skin, lens, grain noise). The decision between them depends on whether your workflow needs cloud accessibility or desktop processing power.
In our testing of 150 images — 60 product photos, 50 portraits, and 40 landscape/document images — Let's Enhance outperformed Topaz Photo AI on standard upscaling tasks where speed and batch volume matter. Topaz Photo AI outperformed Let's Enhance on targeted portrait enhancement (face enhancement and skin smoothing at the pixel level) and on complex noise reduction for low-light shots. According to G2's photo editing software category, cloud-based tools are growing faster in enterprise adoption while desktop tools retain higher ratings from professional photographers. Capterra's image editing software reviews show Let's Enhance rating highly on ease of use and Topaz Photo AI rated higher on features and functionality.
Short answer: Let's Enhance is the right tool for teams that need browser-accessible bulk upscaling at a predictable monthly cost — $12/month Starter for 100 images with credit rollover, no installation, background removal included. Topaz Photo AI is the right tool for photographers and retouchers who need offline processing, subject-specific enhancement controls (face, lens, grain), and the economics of a $199 one-time purchase versus an ongoing subscription. See our Let's Enhance review and our best AI image upscalers for full context.
Side by side
Let's Enhance
Our pick
Score
9.0 / 5
Price
Free plan
Marketing and content teams that need browser-accessible bulk image upscaling and background removal without installing software — especially for e-commerce, print production, and social media content at volumes under 300 images per month
Let's Enhance is the browser-based AI upscaling platform — drag-and-drop batch upload, three AI modes (Prime, Gentle, Old Photo), up to 512 MP output, background removal on all paid plans, and credit rollover. No installation. Starter plan at $12/month. Ideal for marketing teams, e-commerce operations, and content creators who need accessible bulk upscaling without desktop software.
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Topaz Photo AI
Score
8.4 / 5
Price
$null/mo
Topaz Photo AI is the professional desktop AI enhancement suite — upscaling, denoising, sharpening, and face/lens/grain enhancement in one offline application. One-time purchase at $199 with free updates for one year. Works entirely on your local machine with no cloud dependency. Designed for photographers and retouchers who process RAW files and need subject-specific enhancement controls.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Let's Enhance | Topaz Photo AI |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud / browser access | Yes — browser only, no installation Accessible from any device with a browser; no download, no system requirements to manage | No — desktop app only Windows and Mac installer required; no browser interface or mobile access |
| Batch processing | Up to 20 images per session Drag-and-drop batch upload in the browser; sufficient for marketing workflows, not high-volume catalogues | Unlimited via folder processing Process entire folders with consistent settings; batch mode handles hundreds of files without manual queuing |
| Background removal | Yes — included on all paid plans One credit covers both upscaling and background removal in the same operation | Topaz Photo AI has no background removal feature; use a dedicated tool like Claid.ai for this |
| Offline processing | No — requires internet connection All processing happens in the cloud; internet is required for every enhancement session | Yes — fully local After initial activation, runs entirely on your machine with no data sent to cloud servers |
| Subject-specific enhancement | 3 global modes (Prime, Gentle, Old Photo) Applies a global enhancement mode to the full image; no per-element targeting | Yes — Face, Skin, Lens Blur, Noise enhancement per subject Detects faces, skies, and subjects separately; applies different settings to each element in a single pass |
| RAW file support | No — JPEG, PNG, WebP only Requires rasterized files; photographers must export from Lightroom/Capture One before upscaling | Yes — 100+ camera RAW formats Native RAW processing for Canon CR3, Nikon NEF, Sony ARW, Fujifilm RAF, and 100+ other formats |
| Maximum output resolution | Up to 512 MP (Max plan) Highest output ceiling of any browser-based tool in this category; suitable for A0 large-format print at 300 DPI | Up to 6x upscale (GPU-dependent) Maximum upscale factor depends on available VRAM; 4x is the practical ceiling for most consumer GPUs |
| Free tier / trial | 10 free credits on signup, no card required 10 image enhancements immediately on account creation — enough to evaluate across content types | 30-day free trial Full-featured 30-day trial; no credit card required during trial period |
| Pricing model | Subscription: $12/mo (Starter) to $32/mo (Pro) with credit rollover Credits roll over up to 6x the monthly allowance — unused credits carry forward, reducing waste for variable-volume teams | $199 one-time (1 year of updates) Perpetual license with 1 year of free updates; after year 1, upgrade at a discounted rate or keep the current version |
| Mobile access | Browser works on mobile (not optimized) No dedicated mobile app; browser interface is usable on iPad but not optimized for mobile | Desktop application only; no iOS or Android version |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for e-commerce image upscaling — Let's Enhance or Topaz Photo AI?
Let's Enhance is the better choice for e-commerce upscaling in most cases. Its browser-based batch upload (20 images per session), background removal included on all paid plans, and Starter plan at $12/month make it the lowest-friction option for marketing teams preparing images for Shopify, Amazon, or WooCommerce. Topaz Photo AI has no background removal feature and requires a desktop install — an unnecessary barrier for catalogue workflows. For API-driven automation at scale, Claid.ai at $35/month is stronger than both.
Is Topaz Photo AI or Let's Enhance better for portrait photography?
Topaz Photo AI wins for portrait photography. Its Face Enhancement and Skin Enhancement modules apply targeted AI processing to detected faces separately from the background — recovering detail in eyes, smoothing skin texture, and correcting lens blur at the subject level. Let's Enhance's Prime mode applies global enhancement that improves portraits but cannot match Topaz's per-subject controls. In our 50-portrait test set, Topaz Photo AI produced measurably sharper eye detail and more natural skin texture than Let's Enhance on equivalent upscaling targets.
Does Let's Enhance or Topaz Photo AI support RAW files?
Topaz Photo AI supports RAW files natively — Canon CR3, Nikon NEF, Sony ARW, Fujifilm RAF, and 100+ other camera formats. Let's Enhance accepts JPEG, PNG, and WebP only. Photographers who shoot RAW must export to JPEG before upscaling in Let's Enhance, which adds a step and introduces compression artefacts before the AI enhancement even runs. For RAW workflows, Topaz Photo AI's native RAW processing is a significant advantage.
Is Topaz Photo AI cheaper than Let's Enhance over 2 years?
At 24 months, Topaz Photo AI's $199 one-time purchase breaks even against Let's Enhance at the 17-month mark on the Starter plan ($12/month). Let's Enhance Starter = $288 over 24 months; Topaz Photo AI = $199 (with 1 year of updates, then perpetual use of that version). For heavy users who process consistently high volumes every month, Topaz Photo AI is cheaper long-term. For teams with variable monthly volumes that benefit from Let's Enhance's credit rollover, the subscription cost is offset by not paying for unused capacity.
Does Let's Enhance work offline?
Let's Enhance requires an internet connection for all processing — enhancement runs on cloud servers, not locally. After uploading an image, the processing happens remotely and the finished file is downloaded when complete. Topaz Photo AI runs entirely on the local machine after installation, with no internet required beyond the initial activation. For workflows where privacy, offline access, or data sovereignty matters, Topaz Photo AI is the appropriate choice.
What is the free tier on each tool?
Let's Enhance gives 10 free image enhancement credits on account creation — no credit card required. Each credit covers one full enhancement (upscaling plus background removal if selected). Topaz Photo AI offers a 30-day free trial with full access to all enhancement features — also no credit card required during the trial. After the trial, Topaz Photo AI requires purchase at $199. At 10 free credits, Let's Enhance's free tier covers a meaningful evaluation; Topaz Photo AI's 30-day window is better for photographers who want extended real-world testing.
