How to Upscale Video: Best AI, Online & Free Tools (2026)

Brenda Peng  Updated on  January 23, 2026

Approved by Abby Poole  

You can download Aiarty Video Enhancer for free to test its AI upscaling capabilities and see if it’s the right fit for your 4K workflow.

Ever tried watching an old video clip from the 2000s or a VHS rip and thought, "This would look so much better if the resolution were higher"? You're definitely not alone.

On Reddit and other forums, people often ask how to upscale old videos — whether it's home movies, low-quality YouTube uploads from the 2010s, vintage documentaries, or digitized DVD or VHS footage. A lot of users want to bring these videos back to life by upscaling them to 1080p, 2K, or even 4K so they look crisp on today’s screens.

Video upscaling isn’t just for old footage, though. Gamers often want to upscale gameplay recordings to higher resolutions, while social media creators may need to improve smartphone or action-cam videos. Whatever the type of footage, the goal is the same: clearer, sharper, and more professional-looking results.

These days, there are tons of video upscaler tools available. In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at some popular options, ranging from one-click AI enhancers and browser-based online tools to pro-level editing software and free open-source pipelines.

Alright, let’s get started.

What Is Video Upscaling?

Video upscaling is the process of converting a video from a lower resolution, such as 480p or 720p, to a higher resolution like 1080p or 4K. Instead of simply stretching the image, good upscaling methods analyze every frame and try to create additional detail, so the result looks sharper and more natural on modern high-resolution screens.

Think of it this way: when you watch an old DVD on a 4K TV, the video often appears soft or even pixelated because the number of pixels in the source video is far lower than what your screen can display. Traditional upscaling methods used by TVs or players usually just "stretch" the pixels, which can make the picture look blurry.

Modern AI upscaling tools—especially those powered by advanced algorithms—work differently. They examine the textures, edges, and patterns in the original video to guess what extra detail should be there. This approach helps to reduce noise, sharpen edges, and give the video a more realistic look.

Upscaling won’t magically turn a poor-quality clip into a perfect 4K masterpiece, but with the right tool, it can make older or low-resolution videos look far better on today’s big screens.

How to Upscale Video with AI?

If you’re ready to improve the resolution of your footage, there are several ways to get started. From professional desktop software to quick online solutions, the right method depends on your video quality, the level of detail you need, and your budget. Below, we’ll explore a few practical approaches, beginning with Aiarty Video Enhancer — a powerful yet beginner-friendly option.

Option 1: Upscale Video with AI-Powered Aiarty Video Enhancer

Aiarty Video Enhancer is a powerful desktop tool powered by state-of-the-art AI models. It lets you upscale videos by 2×, 4×, or to a custom resolution like 720p, 1080p, 2K, or 4K—while intelligently removing blur, reducing noise, and restoring fine details. Whether your footage is old, low-res, or AI-generated, Aiarty delivers exceptional clarity, natural texture, and impressive processing speed.

Step 1. Download and install

Download and install Aiarty Video Enhancer by clicking the download button below.

Open the software and click the + button to import your video. You can also drag and drop multiple files for batch processing.

Step 2. Choose an AI model

Aiarty offers several models optimized for different scenes:

• moDetail-HQ v3: Combines Diffusion and GAN for high-precision deblurring and denoising. It’s ideal for hair, plants, and daylight nature scenes. Supports 1×, 2×, and 4× upscaling.
• Smooth-HQ v3: Uses Diffusion for smooth and natural results. Best for indoor lighting, faces, and general footage with moderate flaws.
• superVideo vHQ: Designed for extremely dark footage like night skies and cityscapes. Offers top-level denoising and quality (2× only).

Pick the model that best suits your source material. You can always switch later if needed.

Step 3. Set your upscale resolution

Click the Upscale menu and select 2× or 4×. You can also select a target resolution (e.g. 3840×2160 for 4K).

Step 4. Preview the result

Once settings are configured, click the Preview button. Aiarty will load the model and display Waiting for inference—this usually takes only a few seconds thanks to fast model loading and optimized inference speed. After processing, a real-time preview will be shown. If you're satisfied, move on; if not, here're some tips for you.

Step 5. Add task and export

Once satisfied, click Add Task to queue the video. Double-check the output settings. When ready:

• Click Export Current for a single video
• Click Batch Export to process multiple files at once

Aiarty’s models are deeply optimized for GPU acceleration—GPU usage can reach up to 95%, enabling much faster processing than similar tools. In tests using the latest RTX 5090 GPU and moDetail-HQ, upscaling from 1920×1080 to 3840×2160 (4K) reached 21.7 FPS, and with Turbo Mode enabled, it jumped to 31.3 FPS. In contrast, similar software only achieved around 7 FPS.

Comparing Video Quality: Before and After AI Upscaling

The image below presents a cropped comparison of the original video and the 4K upscaled video, both reduced to 50% of their size. From this comparison, we can observe that the video quality was not lost after upscaling; instead, it became even clearer.

If you prefer a video tutorial and want to check more test examples, check out this YouTube guide.

Option 2: Upscale Video with Topaz Video AI

Topaz Video AI is one of the most well-known names in the AI upscaling world — especially popular among video editors and restoration hobbyists. It uses advanced machine learning models to sharpen, denoise, and upscale footage with impressive precision. That said, it's not the most beginner-friendly tool out there, and it definitely demands a powerful GPU setup to run smoothly.

Step 1. Download and install the software

You can grab the installer from the official Topaz website. Just make sure to check the system requirements — a high-performance GPU is strongly recommended, or you might run into slowdowns.

Step 2. Launch the App

Open Topaz Video AI and sign in to your account.

Step 3. Import Your Video

Create a new project and drag your video into the workspace. Then, select a preset, such as "Upscale to 4K".

Step 4. Adjust Settings

On the right-hand panel, you can specify:

• Output Resolution: Choose a scale factor (e.g., 2X or 4X Upscale), a predefined resolution like 4K, or manually enter a custom resolution.
• Video Type: Select Progressive, Interlaced, or Interlaced Prog.
• AI Model: For general video enhancement, the Proteus model is recommended.
• Parameters: Enable and fine-tune parameters according to your specific needs.

Step 5. Preview the Result

Click Render to generate a preview. You can choose how much of the video to render (e.g., 5 frames, 1s, 2s, or 5s).

Keep in mind, this step can be time-consuming — for example, rendering a 5-second video took approximately 11 minutes and 21 seconds during testing.

Step 6. Export the Upscaled Video

Once you’re happy with the preview, click Export as or Quick export to finalize and save your video.

Comparing Video Quality: Before and After AI Upscaling

For this particular example, I used Topaz Video AI with the Proteus model and default settings. While the clarity of the upscaled result is somewhat less impressive compared to what I've seen from Aiarty Video Enhancer and VideoProc, it's still quite acceptable. Crucially, when compared to the original video, there's no noticeable loss in quality.

Option 3: Upscale Video with VideoProc Converter AI

If you just want something that works — no complicated setup, no heavy system requirements — VideoProc Converter AI is one of the easiest ways to upscale your videos using AI.

This is the tool I usually go to when I’m dealing with old clips from my phone, or grainy footage from a 2008 digital camera. It does video upscaling and enhancing really well.

Step 1. Download and install

Hit the download below to go to VideoProc Converter AI product page and get the setup file.

If you’re unsure whether your computer can handle it, check the tech specs — but compared to most AI video upscalers, this one isn’t too demanding. It runs fine even on average laptops.

For example, I was able to use it on a machine with an Intel® Core™ i5-4460 CPU @ 3.20GHz and 16 GB of RAM without any issues.

Step 2. Launch the app and go to Super Resolution

After opening VideoProc converter AI, select the Super Resolution module — this is where the AI video upscaling happens.

Step 3. Import your video

Drag and drop the file, or click the Add Media button. You can load one video or several if you're batch-processing.

Step 4. Choose an AI model

The developers have fine-tuned four AI models for different video types — like low-res clips, anime-style content, or videos with heavy noise. Just pick the one that matches your source best. You don’t need to guess — the names and tips are pretty clear.

Step 5. Tweak the model settings

You can scale the video by 2X, 3X, or 4X — or simply pick a target resolution from the dropdown (e.g. 1080p, 2K, 4K). Go with what fits your screen or project needs.

Step 6. Preview the result

This is one of my favorite parts: the preview window on the left shows how your video will look after upscaling.

Step 7. Adjust export settings and hit RUN

You can tweak bitrate, format, and other export options if needed. Then just click RUN and let the AI do its thing.

Comparing Video Quality: Before and After AI Upscaling

We can see that Videoproc doesn’t just stretch the video — the AI actually tries to recover details and sharpen things up.

Which AI Video Upscaler Should You Use?

Not sure which tool to pick for your video upscaling needs? Here’s a quick side-by-side comparison of three popular options — Aiarty Video Enhancer, VideoProc Converter AI, and Topaz Video AI. We’ve looked at their pros and cons, pricing, supported platforms, speed, quality, and more, so you can easily decide which one fits your workflow and budget.

Upscale Video with Online/Mobile Tools

If you don't want to install heavy software, online video upscalers and mobile apps offer a convenient way to enhance footage on the go.

These tools are perfect for social media creators (TikTok, Reels, Shorts) who need a quick resolution boost. While they often have file size limits or subscription requirements, they provide decent results for casual use.

Option 1: Upscale Video on Mobile with CapCut

If you want to upscale a video directly on your phone, CapCut offers a built-in AI Super Resolution feature that works surprisingly well for quick mobile edits.

Keep in mind that this feature is not available on all devices or regions, and processing time may vary depending on your phone’s performance.

Step 1. Create a new project and import your video

Open CapCut, tap New project, select your video, check HD, and then tap Add.

Step 2. Find the Enhance Quality option

Scroll the bottom toolbar to the right, find and tap Filters, then select Enhance quality.

Step 3. Enable Super Resolution and choose 2K or 4K

Tap Super Resolution, drag the slider to the 2K or 4K position, and wait while CapCut applies the enhancement. Once it’s done, tap the ✓ icon to confirm.

Step 4. Export the upscaled video

Tap Export to save the enhanced video to your device.

Tips: If you don’t use the Super Resolution feature, you can still manually choose a higher output resolution by tapping the resolution option next to Export.

Option 2: Upscale Video Online with Canva

If you want to upscale a video online without installing any software, Canva Video Upscaler offers a clean and beginner-friendly interface. It supports multiple output resolutions and different enhancement styles for various types of content.

However, Canva’s video upscaling requires credits to generate the final result, so it’s better suited for occasional use rather than frequent or long videos.

Step 1. Open Canva Video Upscaler

Go to the Canva Video Upscaler page and log in to your Canva account.

Step 2. Open the Video Upscaler tool

Under the Video Upscaler tool, click the Open button to access the workspace.

Step 3. Upload your video

Click Choose file to import the video you want to upscale.

Step 4. Select output quality

Under Select quality, choose your target resolution: 480p, 720p, 1080p, or 4K.

Step 5. Choose an enhancement style

Under Enhancement style, select General, Anime, or Portrait based on your video content.

Step 6. Generate the upscaled video

Click Sign in to generate. When prompted, allow Canva Video Upscaler to connect to your account by clicking Connect. Once connected, click Generate to start processing.

Step 7. Wait for generation (credits required)

Video generation consumes credits. In our test, upscaling a video required 33 credits. The required credits may vary depending on video length and selected resolution.

Option 3: Upscale Video Online with Vmake

If you're looking for a quick, no-install way to upscale a video, Vmake Video Upscaler is one of the few online tools that actually work. It's super simple to use — just upload your clip, pick a target resolution (1080p, 2K, or 4K), and let the AI do the magic.

That said, there’s a catch: in the free version, you can only export 5 seconds of video. So it’s more of a preview tool unless you're okay with short clips or plan to upgrade.

Step 1. Go to the official Vmake Video Upscaler page

No download needed — it runs entirely in your browser.

Step 2. Upload your video

Drag and drop your file, or click to browse. It supports common formats including MP4, MOV, AVI, M4V and 3GP.

Step 3. Choose your upscale target

You’ll see options for 1080p, 2K, or 4K. Just pick one depending on your needs.

Step 4. Wait for processing

The AI takes a moment to analyze and enhance the video. You’ll see a preview once it’s done.

Step 5. Download the result (up to 5 seconds)

With the free plan, you can export a short 5-second clip to check the quality. For full-length exports, a subscription is required.

Comparing Video Quality: Before and After AI Upscaling

As you can see, the quality isn’t as sharp as what we got from Aiarty Video Enhancer, VideoProc and Topaz — the image still looks quite blurry in comparison. However, if you want to upscale video online, you can give it a try.

Upscale Video with Professional Editing Software

If you are already using professional video editors like Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve, you might want to upscale your footage directly within your project. While these tools aren't "dedicated" AI enhancers like Aiarty, they offer high-quality scaling algorithms that are far superior to standard "drag-to-fit" methods.

Option 1: Upscale Video in Adobe Premiere Pro

Premiere Pro doesn't have a single "AI Upscale" button, but it uses an advanced sampling method called "Bicubic" or "Frame Sampling." For even better results, many editors use the "Detail-preserving Upscale" effect in After Effects, which links directly to Premiere.

Step 1. Import your footage into a high-res sequence

Create a new sequence set to your target resolution (e.g., 4K/3840x2160). Drag your low-res clip (e.g., 1080p) onto the timeline.

Step 2. Scale the clip to frame size

Right-click the clip on the timeline and select "Set to Frame Size." This expands the video to fill the 4K canvas.

Step 3. Apply the "Sharpen" or "Unsharp Mask"

Go to the Effects panel, find "Unsharp Mask," and apply it to the clip. Set the Amount to around 50-70 to recover some edge detail lost during the scaling process.

Verdict: Good for quick projects, but it can’t actually "create" missing pixels. If your source is very blurry, the result will still look soft.

Option 2: Upscale Video in DaVinci Resolve (Super Scale)

DaVinci Resolve is widely considered the king of video quality among editors. Its "Super Scale" feature is a powerful AI-assisted tool that significantly outperforms standard scaling.

Step 1. Access Clip Attributes

Import your video, right-click it in the Media Pool or Timeline, and select "Clip Attributes."

Step 2. Enable Super Scale

At the bottom of the Video tab, find the "Super Scale" dropdown. You can choose 2x, 3x, or 4x scaling.

Step 3. Adjust Sharpness and Noise Reduction

Change the "Sharpness" and "Noise Reduction" settings within the Super Scale menu to "Medium" or "High" to refine the AI output.

Verdict: "Super Scale" is impressive, but it is extremely GPU-intensive. You may experience significant lag or long export times unless you have a high-end workstation.

Option 3: Upscale Video in Final Cut Pro (FCP)

For Mac users, Final Cut Pro offers a straightforward way to handle resolution changes, though it relies more on Apple’s hardware optimization than deep-learning pixel generation.

Step 1. Create a 4K Project

Create a new project (Cmd+N) and set the Video Properties to 4K (3840x2160).

Step 2. Change Spatial Conform

Select your clip in the timeline. In the Inspector window, go to "Spatial Conform" and change the Type to "Fill." This automatically scales the video to fit the 4K frame.

Step 3. Use the "Sharpen" Filter

Add the "Sharpen" effect from the Effects browser. Adjust the slider to minimize the blurriness caused by the resolution jump.

Verdict: Fast and stable on Mac, but the quality is noticeably lower than dedicated AI tools like Aiarty or Topaz, as it lacks true neural network enhancement.

How to Upscale Video for Free (Open Source & Desktop)

If you are looking for a 100% free solution without any watermarks or hidden costs, open-source AI upscalers are the way to go. These tools are powered by community-driven models like Real-ESRGAN and Waifu2x. However, they typically require a decent GPU and a bit of technical setup.

Option 1: Video2X – Best All-in-One Local Pipeline

Video2X is a powerful, actively maintained tool that acts as a comprehensive frontend for multiple AI engines. It automates the entire workflow: extracting frames from your video, upscaling each one, and reassembling them into a high-res output.

• Best for: General-purpose, high-quality, local upscaling on Windows and Linux.
• Pros: Supports multiple engines, batch processing, and both NVIDIA/AMD GPU acceleration.
• Cons: Can have a steeper learning curve for beginners.
• How to use: Check out our full Video2X setup guide here →

Option 2: Waifu2x-Extension-GUI – Best User-Friendly Interface

While the original Waifu2x was built for anime, this Extension-GUI version is a powerhouse for all types of content. It provides a full graphical user interface, making it much more accessible than command-line tools.

• Best for: Users who want a GUI to manage upscaling, denoising, and frame interpolation without coding.
• Pros: Very easy to use, supports many engines (Real-CUGAN, Real-ESRGAN), and includes built-in video player previews.
• Cons: Primarily designed for Windows users.
• How to use: Read how to use Waifu2x-Extension-GUI to upscale video →

Option 3: Real-ESRGAN – Best for Realistic & Complex Content

Real-ESRGAN is widely considered the gold standard for restoring real-world footage. It is a deep-learning model designed to restore fine details and remove artifacts from highly compressed videos. Many paid software (including some mentioned above) actually use this as their core engine.

• Best for: Restoring old family footage, improving compressed YouTube videos, and enhancing real-life scenes.
• Pros: Industry-leading detail retention and artifact removal.
• Cons: Primarily a Command Line Interface (CLI) tool; requires some technical knowledge to set up.
• How to use: Read how to use Real-ESRGAN to upscale video →

Why Does Video Upscaling Take So Long?

If you’ve ever tried AI video upscaling, you’ve probably noticed that the process can take hours, especially for longer clips. This is because upscaling isn’t just about stretching pixels. Modern AI tools analyze every single frame, predict missing details, and rebuild textures to make the video look sharper and more natural.

Several factors affect how long it takes:

Video Length and Resolution

A 10-second 720p clip might upscale to 4K in minutes, but a 30-minute video could take hours because every frame must be processed individually.

AI Model Complexity

AI-powered enhancers use deep learning models that require heavy computation. More advanced models—those designed to reduce noise, sharpen faces, or restore details—naturally require more time.

Hardware Limitations

Your computer’s CPU and GPU have a huge impact. A high-end graphics card (e.g., NVIDIA RTX series) can speed up upscaling dramatically, while older hardware may struggle.

Additional Filters or Effects

If you apply extra enhancements like stabilization, color correction, or de-noising during upscaling, the processing time will increase.

Output Resolution and Bitrate

Upscaling from 720p to 1080p requires far less computation than pushing the same video to 4K or beyond. Higher bitrates and complex codecs also add to the rendering time.

To avoid excessive waiting times, consider using a powerful GPU, closing unnecessary apps, or splitting long videos into smaller segments. Choosing lighter AI models or skipping unneeded filters can also help.

What to Avoid When Upscaling Video

While upscaling can breathe new life into older or low-resolution footage, there are a few common pitfalls to steer clear of:

Pushing the resolution too far

Upscaling a 480p clip directly to 8K often introduces artifacts or overly smooth textures. Instead, aim for a reasonable jump (e.g., 1080p to 4K) to maintain a natural look.

Ignoring the source quality

Upscaling can’t fix extremely compressed or heavily pixelated videos. If the base quality is too poor, the final output may still look bad despite higher resolution.

Skipping preview checks

Always review a short preview segment before processing the entire video. This saves time and ensures you’re happy with the chosen settings.

Why Aspect Ratio is Critical for Video Upscaling

When upscaling video, aspect ratio (the proportional relationship between width and height, e.g., 16:9, 4:3, 9:16) is just as important as resolution. Ignoring it is the #1 cause of distorted (stretched or squashed) videos or unwanted black bars (letterboxing/pillarboxing) after upscaling.

Common Aspect Ratios:

• 16:9: Standard for HD (1280×720), Full HD (1920×1080), 4K UHD (3840×2160) — TVs, YouTube, modern video.
• 4:3: Standard Definition (SD), old TV shows, vintage camcorders (e.g., 640×480).
• 9:16: Vertical video for smartphones (e.g., 1080×1920).
• 21:9: Ultra-widescreen cinematic format.
• 1:1: Square format, common for social media previews.

So, if you’re working with a video whose aspect ratio doesn’t match your target resolution (for example, upscaling a 4:3 DVD to 16:9 HD), the upscaler has to decide how to handle it. Default settings often lead to stretched images or excessive black bars.

Modern AI upscaling tools usually offer two ways to handle mismatched ratios:

• Maintain Original Aspect Ratio — Safest option; black bars are added to preserve the original composition without distortion.
• Crop — Fills the frame by trimming edges; may remove important parts of the video.

Avoid using "stretch" or "fit to frame" options, as these distort the image. Always check your upscaler’s aspect ratio settings before processing.

FAQs

1. How to upscale video to 4K?

To upscale a video to 4K, you'll need a tool that supports resolution enhancement. All the video upscalers we recommended here let you select 4K as the target resolution directly. Just import your video, choose 4K in the resolution settings, and export. The better the original quality, the better the 4K result.

2. Can I upscale a video for free?

Yes. If you are tech-savvy, you can use open-source tools like Video2X or Waifu2x-Extension-GUI, which are 100% free with no time limits or watermarks. However, they require a high-end GPU and complex setup.

3. How to upscale video online?

The easiest way to upscale video online is to use browser-based AI tools like Vmake and Canva. Typically, you just need to upload your file, select a target resolution (1080p, 2K, or 4K), and wait for the AI to process it. These are great for short social media clips or quick edits on the go.

However, online upscalers have drawbacks that many users on Reddit often complain about: privacy risks (uploading personal files to a cloud server), slow speeds for large files, and file size limits. If you are handling private footage or large 4K files, using a desktop tool like Aiarty Video Enhancer or Topaz is much safer and faster since all processing happens locally on your own computer.

4. How to upscale video without losing quality?

Upscaling without losing quality is all about using the right tool. Traditional methods (like simply stretching resolution in an editor) can make your video look soft or pixelated. AI-powered tools are much better at preserving — or even improving — detail during upscaling.

For example, apps like Aiarty Video Enhancer and Topaz Video AI use trained AI models to intelligently enhance sharpness, reduce noise, and recover textures while increasing resolution. These tools don’t just blow up the image — they analyze frame-by-frame content to make the output look more natural on 1080p, 2K, or 4K displays. So, if you're aiming for the best quality, go with AI-based upscalers rather than manual resizing.

5. How to upscale video in After Effects?

In After Effects, import your video and create a composition with 4K settings. Scale up the footage, then apply effects like "Detail-preserving Upscale" or use third-party plugins like Red Giant or Topaz Video Enhance AI via Dynamic Link for more refined results.

Check detailed guide on how to upscale video in After Effects >>