5 AI Video Upscalers to Enhance Video Quality in 2026
An AI video enhancer can upscale resolution, sharpen details, reduce noise, and correct colors in just a few steps. This makes raw footage look more professional and ready for sharing.
Effective AI video enhancers combine AI upscaling with features such as detail restoration, noise reduction, and color enhancement to improve video quality. This guide compares 5 AI video enhancers across Windows, Mac, and mobile platforms to help you evaluate different options.
Tools like Topaz Video AI specialize in upscaling, while Adobe Premiere Pro offers advanced editing. PowerDirector provides a balanced solution for beginners and professionals.
*Editorial Disclosure: PowerDirector is developed by CyberLink. The products included in this comparison were selected based on publicly available information, hands-on testing, feature availability, usability, and overall performance. Evaluations reflect the editorial team's assessment at the time of writing.
- Video Quality Upscaling Tools Comparison Chart
- 5 AI Video Enhancers & Upscalers in 2026
- How to Choose an AI Video Enhancer
- AI Video Enhancer FAQ
How did we test these tools?
We tested each AI video enhancer on the same Windows 11 PC and an iPhone Pro Max running iOS 26.5, using a range of video clips to assess how effectively the tools could improve video quality.
We evaluated the quality and clarity of the enhanced footage, the effectiveness of AI-powered improvements, the preservation of important details and natural-looking textures, processing speed, and ease of use for beginners. We also checked whether a watermark was added to the final video.
Tests were conducted in August 2026 by CyberLink Editorial Team.
AI Video Enhancer Comparison Chart
| App Name | Recommended Use | Notable Feature | Price | Download Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PowerDirector | Video editing and enhancements for any skill level | Reduce movement of shaky video, intuitive auto color correction, denoise tool | Free; Premium: $4.58/month | Download |
| HitPaw VikPea | Casual users | Advanced stabilization, batch processing, AI-powered video enhancement | Free trial; Full features: $8.33/month | Download |
| Topaz Video AI | Slow motion | Slow down videos by 2,000% without stutter and upscale to 16K losslessly | $299 | Download |
| AVCLabs Video Enhancer AI | Facial recognition | Deblurs and precisely enhances moving faces with motion-tracking | $299.90 or $39.95/month, $119.95/year | Download |
| Adobe Premiere Pro | Professional video editors | The Lumetri Color Tool provides advanced color manipulation | $22.99/month | Download |
5 AI Video Enhancers & Upscalers in 2026
- PowerDirector
- HitPaw VikPea (Android/iOS)
- Topaz Video AI (Windows/Mac)
- AVCLabs Video Enhancer AI (Windows/Mac)
- Adobe Premiere Pro (Windows/Mac)
1. PowerDirector
Pros
- Filled with advanced features for professionals
- Intuitive interface that is easy to learn for beginners
- Wide format support including 360-degree and 3D video
Cons
- Many AI tools using paid AI credits
- Can be slower on bigger projects
Key Features:
- Fix action cam footage with video stabilization and lens corrections
- Produce crystal-clear speech with AI Audio Enhancements
- Remove unwanted grain and background noise with video/audio denoise
- Enhance colors with the Split Toning tool for a dramatic look
- Automatically correct the color of your video to enhance its quality
- Use frame interpolation to make your video smoother
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
PCMag Rating: 4.8/5
Video Enhancement Tools: 4.5/5
Price: Free
*Premium version available for a 30-day free trial, then $4.58/month
Recommended Use: Video editing and enhancements for any skill level
PowerDirector is one of the AI video enhancer included in this comparison and offers a wide range of enhancement and restoration tools. Users can improve video clarity, reduce noise, enhance colors, and refine overall footage quality within a single editing workflow.
Enhance Video Quality with AI-Powered Tools
PowerDirector offers everything you need to fix and polish your videos. You can improve lighting, reduce noise, and adjust white balance with just a few clicks. The Color Match feature automatically harmonizes colors between shots, while HDR Effect helps you highlight fine details for a more dynamic look.
If your footage was shot handheld or during action scenes, PowerDirector's video stabilization and lens correction will instantly smooth out shaky clips and remove common distortions.
2. HitPaw VikPea
Pros
- All-in-one solution: quality enhancement, grading and color correction
- AI-powered automation saves time
- Supports 4K HDR and batch processing
- Repairs low-quality or damaged footage
Cons
- Full features require paid version
- Limited manual fine-tuning for advanced professionals
Key Features:
- Advanced Stabilization: Smooth shaky handheld and underwater footage
- AI Enhancement: Improve clarity, sharpness, and colors automatically
- 8K Upscaling: Enlarge videos to stunning 8K resolution
- Batch Processing: Handle multiple videos simultaneously
- Custom Export: Control resolution, bitrate, and format
- Real-time Preview: See results instantly before exporting
Compatibility: Windows / Mac / Web-based
Video Enhancement Tools: 4.5/5
Price: Free Trial; Full features: $8.33/month (1 Year License)
Recommended Use: Beginners, content creators, casual users seeking simplicity and affordability
Say goodbye to shaky clips and hello to cinematic-quality content. HitPaw VikPea leverages advanced AI to effortlessly stabilize and enhance your videos, delivering professional results for every creator.
3. Topaz Video AI
Pros
- Powerful video restoration with no artifacts up to 16K
- Seamlessly slow down video by 2,000%
Cons
- More expensive than other tools
- Takes a while to process videos
Key Features:
- Use Gaia CG or Theia to enhance graphics and upscale cartoons/CGI
- Deinterlace footage with powerful AI tools
- Fill in details from multiple frames for smoother panning
Compatibility: Windows / Mac
Shotkit Rating: 4.7/5
Video Enhancement Tools: 4/5
Price: $299
Recommended Use: Slow-motion
Video AI from Topaz Labs is one of the AI video enhancers for slow-motion effects. While traditional time interpolation causes stuttering, the technicians at Topaz Labs seamlessly generate new frames that are indistinguishable from frames captured in-camera.
Upscale video from SD to HD, and HD to 4K, 8K, or even 16K without sacrificing quality. This video upscaler can remove noise and grain and convert different frame rates while bringing out crisp detail in your shots with minimal flickering.
Topaz Video AI is very similar to AVCLabs Video Enhancer AI. However, since our last round of testing, AVClabs has stayed pretty much the same while Topaz Video AI has made many improvements. First and foremost is the ability to upscale video to 16K - making it the first AI video enhancer we've seen to achieve this goal. Second, it has added powerful facial recognition technology, on par with that of AVCLabs and PowerDirector. Finally, it has made UI and performance improvements, including faster processing time. However, it still takes much longer to process videos than most of the AI video enhancers on our list.
4. AVCLabs Video Enhancer AI
Image from avclabs.
Pros
- Easy to navigate, and all tools are 100% automatic
- Fast processing thanks to ONNX Runtime
Cons
- UI a bit outdated
- No video editing tools
Key Features:
- Automatically reduce grain with AI Video Denoise
- Use facial recognition to blur faces for privacy
- Colorize black and white videos naturally
Compatibility: Windows / Mac
Trustpilot Rating: 4.6/5
Video Enhancement Tools: 4/5
Price: $39.95/month, $119.95/year, or $299.90 for a perpetual license
Recommended Use: Facial recognition
AVCLabs Video Enhancer AI is one of the AI video enhancers for its facial recognition features. AVCLabs uses a combination of facial recognition and motion tracking to deblur and enhance facial details on one face in a shot or multiple faces, whether moving or standing still.
The automated multi-frame super-resolution will upscale video from SD to HD, and from HD to UHD 4K or 8K. Processed videos remain uncompressed, while unwanted video parts are eliminated for a smoother, crisper, more natural look.
AVCLabs Video Enhancer AI has automatic tools for beginners to upscale video resolution without any quality loss. It's #4 on our list of AI video enhancers because it does not have video editing tools, and its price is too high for most people to afford both this software and a video editor.
5. Adobe Premiere Pro
Pros
- Pro-level color correction with automatic and manual color adjustments
- GPU acceleration, fast rendering, and improved performance on M1/M2 Macs
Cons
- A complex interface could be overwhelming for new users
- A high monthly fee that gets higher if you need After Effects for more upscaling tools
Key Features:
- Use AI audio tools such as Sound Match to equalize your mix
- Quickly create custom animated titles with motion graphics templates
- Smooth shaky footage with the Warp Stabilize feature
Compatibility: Windows / Mac
PCMag Rating: 4.5/5
Video Enhancement Tools: 4.5/5
Price: $22.99/month or $59.99/month as part of Creative Cloud
Recommended Use: Professional video editors
Adobe Premiere Pro is an AI video enhancer for professionals that supports almost all video formats, and it is suitable for editing any video content. Filmmakers and editors have used this software to make various popular movies and TV shows, including Mindhunter, Gone Girl, and Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Premiere Pro features a nonlinear editing platform with Lumetri Color Tool, providing unlimited color manipulation. Using this tool, you can adjust your clip's exposure, contrast, shadows, and white balance, and you can trigger them at any point in the clip using keyframes.It also comes with audio editing tools to enhance dialogue and remove background noise.
Premiere Pro has a steep learning curve and isn't the AI video enhancer for beginners. Although Premiere Pro and PowerDirector are both powerful video quality enhancers and video editors rolled into one, beginner-friendliness and affordability put PowerDirector on top.
How to Choose an AI Video Enhancer
- Determine Your Needs – Decide whether you want to enhance videos for casual social media posts, professional projects, or restoration of old footage.
- Check AI Features – Look for features like AI upscaling, noise removal, color correction, stabilization, and audio enhancement.
- Platform Compatibility – Make sure the software supports your operating system: Windows, Mac, or mobile devices.
- Video Format Support – Ensure the enhancer handles the video formats you usually work with (MP4, MOV, AVI, etc.).
- Performance & Speed – Check system requirements and how quickly the AI processes large or high-resolution videos.
- Export Options – Look for flexibility in resolution, bitrate, frame rate, and support for 4K or ultra HD exports.
- User-Friendliness – Evaluate the interface and ease of use, especially if you are a beginner.
- Price & Licensing – Compare free vs. premium plans and whether commercial use is allowed.
- Customer Support & Updates – Consider the availability of tutorials, updates, and support for troubleshooting.
PowerDirector isdeveloped by CyberLink, the publisher of this blog.
Video Quality Upscaling FAQ
Video editing software, such as PowerDirector, offers multiple methods to improve video quality. Adjust brightness, color balance, or use color correction tools for dark or imbalanced clips. Reduce grain or pixelation with a video denoiser. Stabilize shaky action cam footage and correct lens distortions for a polished look.
The right video quality enhancer depends on your editing needs, device compatibility, budget, and the enhancement features you require. Common features include video upscaling, stabilization, denoising, color correction, and frame interpolation.
PowerDirector is one option that combines video enhancement and editing tools in a single workflow, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced users.
With PowerDirector Essential, you can enhance videos for free. Premium features in PowerDirector 365 are free for 30 days, and you can continue using the free version afterward.
Video stabilization tools can help reduce motion blur and shakiness in footage. Additional enhancements such as sharpening and noise reduction may also improve perceived clarity. PowerDirector includes a Video Stabilizer tool with adjustable controls that can help improve video clarity.
Many video editing and enhancement tools can improve the appearance of low-resolution footage through upscaling and enhancement technologies. PowerDirector includes AI-powered enhancement features that can help improve video quality and export videos in HD formats.
Yes. AI-powered video enhancement tools can improve the appearance of low-quality footage by increasing resolution, reducing noise, improving color accuracy, and restoring detail. PowerDirector is one example of a tool that provides these enhancement features.
Yes. Many video enhancement tools support exporting videos in 4K resolution, depending on the original footage quality and available enhancement features. In PowerDirector's, users can export videos in 4K by selecting the appropriate resolution settings during export.
Yes. Several video upscaling and enhancement tools offer free plans, trial versions, or limited free features. PowerDirector Essential is one option that includes free AI-powered video enhancement capabilities.
Several video enhancement tools offer free 4K upscaling features, although available functions may vary depending on the platform and licensing model.
PowerDirector provides access to AI-powered video enhancement and upscaling tools through its free version and trial options, allowing users to explore 4K upscaling features before deciding whether additional premium features are needed.
The CyberLink Editorial Team is composed of product testing specialists and content creation experts with over 20 years of hands-on experience and rigorous research in the multimedia editing industry. As the official voice of CyberLink, the team consistently delivers practical, easy-to-follow tutorials across video, photo, and audio editing, while highlighting AI innovations, product insights, and emerging industry trends. Their work empowers millions of creators worldwide each year to elevate their content. Beyond the blog, the team actively shares editing tips and product updates across YouTube, Facebook, Linkedin and Pinterest.
😎 Outside of their work, they enjoy capturing travel moments and meticulously editing photos and videos for their social channels.
