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Ever tried making an image bigger than its original size while printing or showing it on a big screen, but it looked all blurry and pixelated? This happens because the image gets stretched, and it can't grow new pixels on its own. Instead, the pixels get bigger, which makes the image look unclear.

The traditional way of image upscaling was about interpolating pixels without restructuring details. These methods stretch pixels, which results in jagged edges. On the other hand, AI image upscalers use deep learning methods to predict missing details in an image and then add pixels accordingly.

In this blog, you will explore the 8 best ways to make an image bigger without losing quality. Dive in to know more.

Why do images lose quality when they are enlarged?

When you enlarge an image, especially a raster one like one that is in JPG or PNG format, you’re stretching its pixels over a larger space. These stretched pixels create blur and jagged lines.

This happens because raster images are made with a few pixels. On the other hand, vector images scale infinitely. Raster images degrade the moment you push them beyond their native resolution.

What happens while enlarging an image?

When you resize an image upwards:

Pixels are stretched to fill more space.
This creates blurry edges and loss of details, especially in face images or illustrations.
Raster images (JPG, PNG) are pixel-based, and that's why their quality degrades when they are enlarged.
Vector images (SVG, EPS) are math-based, and they don't lose quality once they are enlarged. But vectors are typically for logos, icons, and illustrations, not photos.

Testing methodology

To see which image upscalers actually work and which ones just say they work, I ran a simple test using the same low-quality image across all platforms. The photo I picked was small, a bit blurry, and not something you'd want to print or zoom in on. But that’s exactly the kind of image we usually need to fix by upscaling it.

Here’s what I did:

I used a low-resolution photo that didn’t have much detail. It’s the kind of image that would usually fall apart if you tried to make it bigger.
I uploaded that same photo to every upscaling tool I tested. That way, it was a fair comparison.
Wherever possible, I increased the size by 4x at least or more, depending on what the tool allowed.
Then I looked at how well each tool handled the upscaling:
- Did the image become clearer or stay blurry?
- Were there any over-edited portions?
- Was the tool easy to use, or did it take long to enlarge the image?
- Did I need to download anything, or could I just use it on the web?
- Is it a beginner-friendly tool or not?

How to make an image bigger without losing quality using the best traditional methods?

To perform image upscaling, traditional methods are loved by many, especially if you prefer image upscaling through manual control. Let’s look at the two most handy traditional image upscaling tools: Photoshop and Paint.

1. Adobe Photoshop

What I liked about the tool: The professional-level control and finish that Photoshop offers is incomparable. It allows for manual sharpening, noise reduction, and easy upscaling. I used a low-quality image. After applying noise reduction and using Preserve Details 2.0 (as I have the AI plugin) for upscaling, the result was much clearer, and all the blurry spots were removed.

Steps to make an image bigger without losing quality in Photoshop:

Step 1: Open your image in Adobe Photoshop and then select File, and then Open.

Step 2: After adding the image, go to Image and then Image Size.

Step 3: Add the width and height proportions, and then tick the Resample checkbox.

Step 4: Preview the image upscaling.

Step 5: Export the image in PNG format.

2. Microsoft Paint

What I liked about the tool: It’s free and extremely easy for quick edits. It's one of the best tools to enlarge an image without much effort.

Steps to make an image bigger without losing quality in Paint:

Step 1: Open the image in Paint.

Step 2: Click on Resize.

Step 3: Choose Pixels and uncheck “Maintain aspect ratio” if needed.

Step 4: Enter the desired dimensions of how big you want to make your image.

Step 5: Save as PNG for better output.

3. GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

What I liked: GIMP is free for basic features until you need the powerful features. Its interface is a bit like Photoshop and a bit complex for beginners. Once you get used to the interface, it's super handy for resizing images.

Steps to upscale image resolution in GIMP:

Step 1: Launch GIMP and open the image you want to upscale by going t File and then Open.

Step 2: Go to Image and then select the Scale Image dialog.

Step 3: In the scale image, you can modify the width and height to any desired size by choosing the ratios.

Step 4: Choose the cubic interpolation method.

Step 5: Click on the scale button to apply the changes.

Step 6: After the final results, go to file and export as, choose a file name, and click on export, and your upscaled image will get saved.

How to make an image bigger without losing quality using the best AI tools?

Traditional methods work, but they’re time-consuming, and results may vary. That’s where professional AI image upscaling tools are the best. AI upscalers use machine learning patterns to intelligently fill in missing details, along with the following benefits;

Fewer visible artifacts
Preserves facial details and texture
Smart noise reduction
Great for photos, illustrations, and low-res images
No need for design expertise

Rating the below-mentioned AI image enlargers wasn’t easy. These are great for keeping image quality sharp after upscaling, but results vary a lot depending on the photo. For example, I noticed that some tools made the images look overly smooth, but kept the edges beautifully crisp. I had to skip or tweak settings on a few when testing human subjects. Hence, there’s no one-size-fits-all tool, but I’ve found a few that deliver great results. Keep reading to find the right tool for your type of image.

1. Pixelbin

After playing around with a lot of tools, I decided to give Pixelbin’s AI Image Upscaler a shot. It’s still super simple to use, but the interface is noticeably more focused and feels like it was built for people who want quick results without distractions.

I uploaded a low-resolution dog photo, which has blurry fur, a flat background, and not a lot of detail, and within seconds, I had a much sharper, cleaner version. The tool lets you choose your upscale level (2x, 4x, and 8x), and there’s a nice toggle called “enhance” if you want some extra clarity, saturation, brightness, and hue for your image. You can also remove or change the background and add new templates for free once you sign up.

What I liked about the tool?

Free 4x and 8x upscaling credits on sign-up.
Quick processing speed, results delivered under 10 seconds.
Maintains a clear and sharp image, with a feature named texture-preserving image details.
Clean and easy-to-understand interface, just upload the image and the algorithms will upscale it automatically.
It's one of the best for website images, product photos, and social media graphics.

How much it costs?

Free Plan: 3 free credits/month after signing up you will get 10 credits/month
Pay As You Go Plan: 50 credits onwards Rs. 773.72 billed once
- Plan Benefits
  - Full access to all AI tools
  - Batch processing
  - 2 GB storage
Lite Plan: 1800credits/ year 515.81/month or Rs.6,189.77 billed yearly
- Plan Benefits
  - Full access to all AI tools
  - Batch processing
  - 10 GB storage
Pro Plan: 6000 credits/year 1,805.35/month or 21,664.19 billed yearly
- Plan Benefits
  - Full access to all AI tools
  - Batch processing
  - 50 GB storage

What are the test results?

I tested with a blurry dog image and pushed it to 2x,4x, and 8x sizes. At 4x, the improvement was clear—fur texture was sharper, and the image just looked cleaner overall. At 8x, I expected some artifacts, but honestly, the results held up.

The "enhance" feature really helped pull out extra detail, especially around the eyes and edges. The best part was that the image after upscaling actually looked real.

Size increase: 8x
Quality improvement: UHD result
Processing time: Around 10 seconds
AI artifacts: None

How to make an image bigger in Pixelbin?

Step 1: Go to the AI image upscaler by Pixelbin.

Step 2: Upload your image by selecting it from your device or simply pasting the image URL.

Step 3: As batch processing is a feature, you can add up to 10 images in one go.

Step 4: Choose your image upscale size—2x, 4x, or 8x.

Step 5: You can adjust saturation, brightness, and hue under the “Enhance” tab. You can also remove or change the background, add new templates, and remove the watermark after you sign up.

Step 6: Preview the image and select 'Download' to save it in SD or HD resolution.

2. Upscale.media

After I opened the tool and tested it with low low-resolution image, I was impressed by seeing how fast Upscale.media works. And the best part? You can upscale images up to 8x without even signing up. The UI is clean, fast, and beginner-friendly. No complicated menus, no clutter—just drag, drop, and go.

When I ran a small and blurry image through it, the clarity and colors were definitely enhanced. It removed all the blurry spots. There was a bit of texture softness in some spots, but for a free tool, the results were impressive. Plus, you can upscale images on iOS and Android, if you like editing on the go.