Top 10 AI Video Upscaling Tools Compared

What to look for in AI video upscaling tools

Not all upscaling is created equal. Traditional upscaling just stretches pixels, producing blurry results. AI upscaling uses neural networks trained on millions of images to predict and generate new detail that was not in the original footage. Here is what matters when choosing an AI upscaler.

• Output quality — The tool should add convincing detail, not just sharpen edges or introduce artifacts
• Processing speed — Some tools take hours per minute of footage; others process in near real-time
• Maximum resolution — Support for 4K, 8K, or custom output resolutions
• Artifact handling — Ability to reduce compression artifacts, noise, and interlacing during upscaling
• Batch processing — Process multiple files without manual intervention
• Format support — Handles your source formats and exports to production-ready codecs

Upscaling is typically one of the later steps in post-production. Before you enhance resolution, you need to select which footage is worth upscaling. For teams managing large media libraries, AI-powered media search helps you find the right clips first.

The 10 best AI video upscaling tools

1. Topaz Video AI

Topaz Video AI is the benchmark for AI video upscaling quality. It uses proprietary neural network models trained specifically for video enhancement, offering separate models optimized for different content types: faces, animation, archival footage, and general video. It handles upscaling, deinterlacing, frame interpolation, and stabilization in a single pipeline.

Best for: Professional and archival upscaling where quality is the top priority.
Pricing: ~$199 one-time (perpetual license).

2. DaVinci Resolve Super Scale

DaVinci Resolve's Super Scale uses the Neural Engine to upscale footage with AI-enhanced detail. Integrated directly into the timeline, it processes during playback or export without round-tripping to external software. Available in the paid Studio version, it supports 2x, 3x, and 4x scaling with sharpening and noise reduction controls. See our CapCut vs DaVinci Resolve comparison for broader context.

Best for: DaVinci Resolve Studio users who want integrated upscaling in their grading workflow.
Pricing: Included with DaVinci Resolve Studio, ~$295 one-time.

3. CapCut AI Upscaler

CapCut offers a built-in AI video enhancer that upscales resolution and improves clarity. It processes quickly through cloud infrastructure and is accessible to anyone with a CapCut account. Quality does not match dedicated desktop tools, but for social media content where speed matters more than pixel-level perfection, it handles the job well.

Best for: Social media creators who need fast, free upscaling without leaving their editor.
Pricing: Free; Pro features from ~$8/mo.

4. Runway ML Upscale

Runway ML includes video upscaling as part of its creative AI suite. Upload footage and Runway enhances resolution using generative models. The quality is solid for web content and the cloud-based approach means no local hardware requirements. It integrates with Runway's other tools for a unified creative workflow. See our Luma AI vs Runway ML comparison for more context.

Best for: Creative teams already using Runway's AI generation tools.
Pricing: Free tier; paid from ~$12/mo.

5. AVCLabs Video Enhancer AI

AVCLabs focuses specifically on AI video enhancement, offering upscaling to 4K and 8K with face detection and enhancement, color correction, and denoising. Its multi-frame processing analyzes temporal information across frames for more consistent results. The interface is straightforward and designed for batch processing.

Best for: Users who want a dedicated upscaling application with batch processing.
Pricing: From ~$40/mo or ~$190/yr.

6. HitPaw Video Enhancer

HitPaw Video Enhancer uses AI models optimized for different content types: general denoise, animation, and face recovery. The face model is particularly effective at restoring blurry faces in low-resolution footage. It supports batch processing and offers a clean interface for straightforward enhance-and-export workflows.

Best for: Restoring faces and details in old or low-quality footage.
Pricing: From ~$46/mo or ~$110/yr.

7. Veed.io Enhance

Veed.io includes video enhancement in its browser-based editor. Upload footage and apply AI enhancement to improve clarity and resolution. It is not competitive with desktop tools for pure upscaling quality, but the convenience of browser-based processing without software installation makes it useful for quick improvements to web content. See our Veed vs Kapwing comparison.

Best for: Quick browser-based enhancement for web and social content.
Pricing: Free tier; paid from ~$18/mo.

8. Aimages Video Upscaler

Aimages is a cloud-based AI upscaling service that processes video through a simple upload interface. It offers upscaling to 4K with artifact removal and color enhancement. The cloud processing means it works on any device, though upload and processing times depend on file size and server load.

Best for: One-off upscaling jobs without installing software.
Pricing: Pay-per-minute processing; plans from ~$10/mo.

9. Final Cut Pro AI Enhancement

Final Cut Pro includes built-in machine learning for video analysis and enhancement. While not a dedicated upscaler, its stabilization, noise reduction, and color balance AI features improve overall footage quality. Combined with third-party upscaling plugins, it provides an integrated Apple ecosystem solution.

Best for: Final Cut Pro editors who want integrated enhancement tools.
Pricing: ~$300 one-time or ~$5/mo subscription.

10. waifu2x (open source)

Originally designed for anime and illustration upscaling, waifu2x has expanded to handle video through community implementations. It uses convolutional neural networks and is completely free and open source. Quality varies by content type—it excels with animation and clean source material. Requires technical setup but costs nothing.

Best for: Animation upscaling and technically inclined users who want a free solution.
Pricing: Free, open source.

Comparison table

Recommendations by use case

For archival and restoration

Topaz Video AI is the clear winner. Its specialized models for old footage, face recovery, and artifact removal produce the best results for archival restoration work. HitPaw is a budget alternative for face-focused restoration.

For professional post-production

DaVinci Resolve Super Scale integrates upscaling into your existing grading and editing workflow without round-tripping. For teams that need to search and assemble footage before enhancement, Wideframe handles AI-powered media analysis and Premiere Pro sequence assembly upstream of the upscaling step.

For social media and web content

CapCut or Veed.io provide quick, accessible upscaling without installing software. Quality is acceptable for social platforms where compression reduces the benefit of pixel-perfect upscaling anyway.

For animation

waifu2x remains the best free option for anime and illustration-style content. Topaz Video AI's animation model is the premium alternative with more consistent results across varied content types.

Frequently asked questions