Quick answer: Remini uploads your photo, enhances it in the cloud, and is sold as a weekly or monthly subscription. Local Photo Upscaler enhances on your device and costs $9.99 once. Remini is stronger on badly blurred faces and offers AI generation and video; Local Photo Upscaler is simpler, private, and cheaper over time.
| Local Photo Upscaler | Remini | |
|---|---|---|
| Where processing happens | On your device; works offline | Cloud; photos are uploaded |
| Retention | Nothing leaves the device | Uploaded and enhanced images deleted after one day for standard enhancement, per its privacy policy |
| U.S. price | $9.99 once; no in-app purchases | Free download; in-app purchases include Remini Pro Weekly $9.99, Remini Lite Weekly $4.99 to $7.99, and 1 Month $9.99 |
| Tools | Upscale, Denoise, Sharpen, Faces | Face and photo enhancement, AI photo generation, video enhancement, and more |
| Platforms | iPhone, iPad, Apple silicon Mac | iPhone, iPad, Android, web |
Checked September 25, 2026. Sources: Remini on the U.S. App Store; Remini privacy policy (Bending Spoons); Local Photo Upscaler on the U.S. App Store.
Privacy: upload versus on device
Remini is open about uploading: its policy says photos are processed on its servers and standard enhancements are deleted after a day, with longer retention for AI generation features. For many photos that is fine. For photos of children, IDs, documents, or anything you would not email to a stranger, Local Photo Upscaler avoids the question: there is no server involved.
Results: where each one is stronger
Remini’s generative face models are its core product. On a face that is badly blurred or tiny, Remini will usually produce a sharper-looking result, though it may look less like the real person. Local Photo Upscaler’s Faces mode is meant for faces that are soft but visible, and its Upscale, Denoise, and Sharpen modes aim to improve the photo without reinventing it.
Price over a year
A weekly plan adds up quickly if you forget to cancel. Local Photo Upscaler costs $9.99 once, with no in-app purchases, and supports Family Sharing.
Choose Remini if…
- You need to rescue a badly blurred face and uploading is acceptable.
- You want AI portraits, video enhancement, or Android support.
Choose Local Photo Upscaler if…
- The photo is private and you want it to stay on your device.
- You want to pay once and never manage a subscription.
- Your photos are small, grainy, or slightly soft rather than badly blurred.
For more alternatives, including Topaz, Pixelmator Pro, and Upscale.media, see the full comparison.