Best AI Video Upscaling Tools in 2026: 8 Tools Compared

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By the Ainotely Editorial Team.
Updated November 2026. 8 min read. Prices and features researched from each vendor's official pages and app store listings at time of writing.
Best AI Video Upscaling Tools
Quick picks
  1. 1Topaz Video logo
    Topaz VideoBest overall quality
    Visit
  2. 2HitPaw VikPea logo
    HitPaw VikPeaSimple all-round enhancer
    Visit
  3. 3AVCLabs Video Enhancer AI logo
    AVCLabs Video Enhancer AIOld footage restoration
    Visit
  4. 4UniFab logo
    UniFabAll-in-one enhancement
    Visit
  5. 5DVDFab Video Enhancer AI logo
    DVDFab Video Enhancer AIDisc and video toolkit
    Visit
Short version:
In this guide Quick comparisonThe best AI video upscaling toolsHow we picked theseHow to test an upscaling tool before you buyFrequently asked questionsSources

Quick comparison

ProductIdeal forPrice fromFree version
Topaz VideoBest overall qualitySee websiteFree trialVisit
HitPaw VikPeaSimple all-round enhancerSee websiteFree trialVisit
AVCLabs Video Enhancer AIOld footage restorationSee websiteFree trialVisit
UniFabAll-in-one enhancementSee websiteFree trialVisit
DVDFab Video Enhancer AIDisc and video toolkitSee websiteFree trialVisit
VideoProc Converter AIGPU-accelerated toolkitSee websiteFree trialVisit
TensorPixOnline upscalingSee websiteYesVisit
Video2XFree open sourceFreeYesVisit

The best AI video upscaling tools

AI upscaling analyzes each frame and rebuilds detail, sharpness, and clarity at a higher resolution, which can rescue old footage and improve low-quality clips. We compared official feature pages, pricing pages, and public reviews for the tools below, looking at model choice, output quality, speed, hardware needs, and price. Results vary by footage, so the honest test is always your own clip, not a vendor demo.

Topaz Video logo
#1

Topaz Video

Ideal for: Best overall quality

Topaz Video website
topazlabs.com homepage

Topaz Video is our pick for the best overall quality. It offers a wide set of models tuned for faces, old film, animation, and general footage, plus frame interpolation for smoother motion and stabilization for shaky clips. You can process locally on your own GPU or use cloud credits when your machine is not powerful enough.

The trade-off is hardware and price complexity. Local processing on a weak GPU will be slow, and the subscription options cover several products, so read the plan details carefully. For creators who upscale often and care about quality, Topaz Video sets the standard.

The good and the bad
  • Many AI models for different footage
  • Local and cloud processing
  • Frame interpolation and stabilization
  • Needs a strong GPU for local work
  • Pricing tiers take study to compare
HitPaw VikPea logo
#2

HitPaw VikPea

Ideal for: Simple all-round enhancer

HitPaw VikPea website
hitpaw.com homepage

HitPaw VikPea, part of the HitPaw family, targets creators who want enhancement without a technical manual. It upscales video, reduces noise, improves color, and can repair damaged footage, with a preview that lets you compare before and after. The interface is friendly enough for a first-time user.

It does not offer as many specialist models as Topaz, so unusual footage may respond better elsewhere. For everyday creator clips, old home movies, and social content, VikPea delivers good results with little friction.

The good and the bad
  • Easy interface
  • Denoise, color, and repair in one app
  • Works on Windows and Mac
  • Model choice is narrower than Topaz
  • Heavy jobs still need decent hardware
AVCLabs Video Enhancer AI logo
#3

AVCLabs Video Enhancer AI

Ideal for: Old footage restoration

AVCLabs Video Enhancer AI website
avclabs.com homepage

AVCLabs Video Enhancer AI focuses on restoring footage that looks its age: blurry home movies, noisy clips, and faded colors. Its models recover facial detail and reduce noise while upscaling to higher resolutions, and the company also offers online tools for quick jobs. Users with old family footage often praise its restoration results.

Speed depends heavily on your GPU, and the interface prioritizes function over beauty. If your main job is rescuing old videos, AVCLabs deserves a trial on your worst clip first.

The good and the bad
  • Strong for old home movies
  • Face and detail recovery
  • Online tools as well as desktop
  • Processing can be slow on older machines
  • Interface is functional rather than polished
UniFab logo
#4

UniFab

Ideal for: All-in-one enhancement

UniFab bundles upscaling with a wide toolkit: HDR conversion, frame rate increases, colorizing black-and-white video, audio upmixing, and conversion across more than a thousand formats. That breadth suits users who want one app for enhancement, conversion, and editing rather than several separate tools.

The size of the toolkit means the interface carries many options, and newcomers may need time to find the upscaling workflow. For video enthusiasts who handle many formats and tasks, UniFab's all-in-one design is a real convenience.

The good and the bad
  • Upscaling plus HDR, frame rate, and audio tools
  • Supports many formats
  • Conversion included
  • Large toolkit can feel busy
  • Best features need a paid plan
DVDFab Video Enhancer AI logo
#5

DVDFab Video Enhancer AI

Ideal for: Disc and video toolkit

DVDFab Video Enhancer AI sits inside the DVDFab suite, which also covers disc backup, conversion, and downloading tools. That context suits users who already work with discs and video libraries and want enhancement in the same ecosystem. Upscaling, deinterlacing, and SDR-to-HDR conversion are included.

If you only need upscaling, a focused tool may offer better value, since suite pricing covers features you may never use. For collectors with large video libraries, the combined toolkit makes sense.

The good and the bad
  • Part of a broad multimedia suite
  • AI upscaling alongside disc tools
  • Good format support
  • Upscaling is one feature among many
  • Suite pricing may exceed a single-tool budget
VideoProc Converter AI logo
#6

VideoProc Converter AI

Ideal for: GPU-accelerated toolkit

VideoProc Converter AI combines AI super resolution with a full converter, editor, and compressor, all accelerated by your GPU. It handles 4K footage smoothly, stabilizes and denoises clips, and converts between hundreds of formats. Creators who already convert and compress video will appreciate having upscaling in the same app.

The AI model selection is narrower than specialist tools, so extreme restoration cases may fare better in Topaz or AVCLabs. For fast, everyday enhancement inside a versatile toolkit, VideoProc is a strong choice.

The good and the bad
  • Fast GPU-accelerated processing
  • AI super resolution plus editing and conversion
  • Handles 4K well
  • AI features sit inside a larger converter
  • Model options are fewer than Topaz
TensorPix logo
#7

TensorPix

Ideal for: Online upscaling

TensorPix is the best option when your computer cannot handle local AI processing. You upload a video in the browser, choose enhancement, and download the result, with no software install and no GPU requirement. Credits are shared across its video and image tools, and a free tier lets you test the service.

Large files mean long uploads, and you give up the fine model control of desktop tools. For occasional upscaling, quick jobs, or a weak laptop, TensorPix removes the hardware barrier entirely.

The good and the bad
  • Fully online, no GPU needed
  • Simple upload workflow
  • Credits shared across tools
  • Uploading large videos takes time
  • Quality depends on the cloud model for your footage
Video2X logo
#8

Video2X

Ideal for: Free open source

Video2X is the best free upscaling tool for technical users. This open source framework uses well-known models for super resolution and frame interpolation, supports Windows and Linux, and has improved steadily through recent versions. Anime fans in particular value its Anime4K support.

Setup is the catch. You need a compatible GPU, some comfort with installing software, and patience for tuning settings. If you enjoy open source tools and want professional-grade upscaling at no cost, Video2X rewards the effort.

The good and the bad
  • Free and open source
  • Respected models such as Real-ESRGAN and Anime4K
  • Active development
  • Setup needs technical comfort
  • GPU with Vulkan support required for best speed

How we picked these

We compared official feature pages, pricing pages, and public reviews for each tool, checking model choice, output quality, speed, hardware needs, and price. We favored tools that are actively maintained in October 2026 and offer a trial or free tier so you can test before paying. Where pricing depends on plan or credits, we list it as See website rather than quoting a figure that may not match your usage.

How to test an upscaling tool before you buy

Start with your worst footage, not your best. Pick a short clip with noise, blur, or compression artifacts, and run the same clip through two or three tools on trial. Compare faces, text, and fine textures at full screen, since small previews hide problems. Watch for waxy skin, shimmering edges, or invented details that look wrong.

Next, time the job. Note how long a one-minute clip takes on your hardware or upload connection, and multiply by your real workload. A tool that looks great but takes all night may not fit your schedule. Finally, check export options: resolution, frame rate, codec, and file size all affect where the result can be published. The best tool is the one that handles your footage, your hardware, and your deadline together.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best AI video upscaling tool?

Topaz Video is our pick for overall quality, thanks to its many models and local plus cloud processing. HitPaw VikPea is simpler for everyday creators, TensorPix is best online, and Video2X is the best free option for technical users.

Can AI upscaling really turn 480p into 4K?

It can output a 4K file from 480p footage, and the result usually looks much better than simple resizing. It cannot recover detail that was never recorded, so faces and textures may look smoothed or invented on very low-quality sources. Always test with your own footage.

Do I need a powerful GPU for AI upscaling?

For desktop tools such as Topaz Video, AVCLabs, and Video2X, a strong GPU speeds work greatly. If your computer is weak, use an online tool such as TensorPix or a cloud option, which moves processing to remote servers.

Are there free AI video upscaling tools?

Yes. Video2X is free and open source, and TensorPix offers a free tier. Most paid tools also offer trials, though trial exports may carry limits. Check each tool's trial terms before starting a large project.

Does upscaling work for old home movies?

Yes, and that is one of the best uses. Tools such as AVCLabs and Topaz Video reduce noise, sharpen detail, and stabilize old footage. Results vary with the source quality, so test a short clip from your collection first.

Sources

  1. https://www.topazlabs.com
  2. https://www.hitpaw.com
  3. https://www.avclabs.com
  4. https://unifab.ai
  5. https://www.dvdfab.cn
  6. https://www.videoproc.com
  7. https://tensorpix.com
  8. https://video2x.org