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Lumen isn’t trying to replace a full desktop editor. Here’s where it fits next to generic online tools and pro software — so you can pick the right one.
| Lumen | Online upscalers | Desktop editors | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free + $9 Pro | Free–freemium | Paid / subscription |
| No install | Yes | Yes | No |
| Images never stored | Yes | Varies | Yes |
| Works in the browser | Yes | Yes | No |
| Batch processing | Yes | Sometimes | Yes |
| REST API | Yes | Sometimes | No |
| Output formats | 6 formats | A few | Many |
| Time to first result | Seconds | Seconds | Manual setup |
| Full pro editing control | Focused tools | Focused tools | Yes |
| Works fully offline | No | No | Yes |
You want a fast, private result without installing anything — upscaling, converting, compressing, or quick edits, with an API when you need to automate.
You need a one-off edit and don’t mind uploading to a service that may keep your files. Check the privacy policy before sending anything sensitive.
You need full creative control, layers, retouching, and offline work — the depth of Photoshop, Affinity, or GIMP is worth the setup and the learning curve.