Topaz Photo review

Topaz Photo is an enhancement tool rather than a full editor, and it is the strongest option here for rescuing soft or noisy images. Topaz Labs lists 11 AI-powered tools, covering Denoise, Sharpen, Recover Faces, Lighting, Color, Upscale and a Remove tool, with Autopilot to suggest a starting point. You can render locally so files never leave your computer, or use unlimited cloud rendering for speed. It runs as a standalone app or as a plugin to Photoshop, Lightroom Classic, Capture One and Apple Photos, which makes it a finishing step rather than a replacement for your editor. Topaz pitches it for wildlife, sports, events and archival images, including dust and scratch removal. Topaz Photo for Mac and PC is $199 per year, with a first-year sale price of $169 shown as of November 2026. It does not remove or replace backgrounds or expand images, so most sellers and casual users will not need it.

Who it is for

Photographers who need to upscale and sharpen difficult shots

Price

$199 per year for Mac and PC ($169 for the first year during a sale as of November 2026).

Topaz Photo Mac and PC $199/yr
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 12, 2026.

Key features

• 11 AI-powered tools including Denoise, Sharpen, Recover Faces and Upscale
• Autopilot suggests settings to start from
• Private local rendering keeps files on your computer
• Unlimited cloud rendering for faster processing
• Plugin for Photoshop, Lightroom Classic, Capture One and Apple Photos

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Works standalone or inside the editors photographers already use
• Strength: Local rendering option for confidential files
• Strength: Remove tool and dust and scratch removal for archival images
• Weakness: Highest verified price on this list at $199 per year
• Weakness: No background replacement or image expansion
• Weakness: No free plan

Key facts

• AI tools: 11
• Platforms: Mac, Windows
• Plugin hosts: Photoshop, Lightroom Classic, Capture One, Apple Photos

Where it ranks

Topaz Photo is No. 9 in our Best AI Photo Editors verdict.