kitio.aiReal-ESRGAN vs Krita AI Diffusion
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Real-ESRGAN starts at Free and Krita AI Diffusion starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Photo upscaling models
- Anime upscaling models
- Portable executables
- Python API
- Artifact removal
- Selection inpainting
- Live painting mode
- Control layers
- Upscaling
- Regional prompts
| Feature | Real-ESRGAN | Krita AI Diffusion |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Open-source AI model for upscaling and restoring real-world images | Free plugin that adds AI generation and inpainting to Krita |
| Category | Image | Image |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | Yes, fully free |
| Made by | Xintao Wang | Acly |
| Based in | – | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Real-ESRGAN starts at Free and Krita AI Diffusion starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Real-ESRGAN
- Free and widely used
- Runs on most GPUs
- Good on compressed images
- Command-line for most uses
- Can look over-smooth
- Not actively developed
Krita AI Diffusion
- Fits a painter's workflow
- Free and open source
- Automatic backend setup
- Needs Krita and a GPU
- Large model downloads
- Fewer options than raw ComfyUI
Which one should you choose?
Choose Real-ESRGAN if you want:
- Free and widely used
- Runs on most GPUs
- Good on compressed images
Watch out: command-line for most uses.
Choose Krita AI Diffusion if you want:
- Fits a painter's workflow
- Free and open source
- Automatic backend setup
Watch out: needs krita and a gpu.
Real-ESRGAN vs Krita AI Diffusion FAQ
What is the difference between Real-ESRGAN and Krita AI Diffusion?
Real-ESRGAN: Open-source AI model for upscaling and restoring real-world images. Krita AI Diffusion: Free plugin that adds AI generation and inpainting to Krita. Both are image tools.
Is Real-ESRGAN or Krita AI Diffusion cheaper?
Real-ESRGAN starts at Free and Krita AI Diffusion starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Real-ESRGAN and Krita AI Diffusion have free plans?
Real-ESRGAN: Yes, fully free. Krita AI Diffusion: Yes, fully free.
Who makes Real-ESRGAN?
Real-ESRGAN is made by Xintao Wang.
Who makes Krita AI Diffusion?
Krita AI Diffusion is made by Acly.
Which should I choose, Real-ESRGAN or Krita AI Diffusion?
Choose Real-ESRGAN if you value free and widely used and runs on most gpus. Choose Krita AI Diffusion if you value fits a painter's workflow and free and open source.