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January 27, 2026 9 min read

AI Video Upscaling: Best Tools 2026

Find the best AI video upscaler tools for enhancing resolution and quality. Compare upscaling AI for improving your video content.

AI video upscaling enhances resolution and quality of existing footage, making it essential for improving AI-generated video or restoring older content. This guide compares the best AI video upscaler tools available in 2026.

Quick Comparison

Tool	Quality	Speed	Price	Best For
Topaz Video AI	Excellent	Moderate	$299 one-time	Professional upscaling
Runway Upscale	Very Good	Fast	Included	Runway users
CapCut	Good	Fast	Free-$10/mo	Casual use
DaVinci Resolve	Good	Moderate	Free-$295	Video editors
HitPaw	Good	Fast	$50-100/mo	Easy workflow

Related - Multic Features: AI Images, AI Video, Comics/Webtoons, Visual Novels, Branching Stories, Real-time Collab, Publishing - create quality content from the start.

Why AI Video Upscaling Matters

For AI-Generated Video

AI video generators often output at limited resolutions. Upscaling enables:

4K delivery from lower resolution sources
Sharper details in faces and textures
Professional quality from consumer tools
Better results on large screens

For Older Content

Restore and enhance:

Archive footage
Family videos
Historical content
Low-resolution sources

For Professional Delivery

Meet requirements for:

Broadcast standards
Streaming platforms
Cinema quality
Client expectations

Best AI Video Upscalers

Topaz Video AI - Best Overall

Industry-leading upscaling with multiple AI models.

Strengths:

Multiple enhancement models
Excellent face enhancement
Frame interpolation
Noise reduction
Artifact removal

Features:

2x to 4x upscaling
Stabilization
Grain matching
Batch processing

Limitations:

Expensive one-time purchase
Resource intensive
Learning curve

Best for: Professional video work requiring maximum quality.

Runway Upscale

Built-in upscaling for Runway-generated content.

Strengths:

Seamless with Runway workflow
Good quality boost
No additional cost for subscribers
Fast processing

Limitations:

Only for Runway content
Less powerful than dedicated tools
Limited options

Best for: Runway users wanting quick quality boost.

CapCut AI Upscale

Free and accessible video enhancement.

Strengths:

Free basic version
Easy to use
Cloud processing
Mobile and desktop

Limitations:

Quality below professional tools
Processing limits on free tier
Less control over results

Best for: Casual creators and quick enhancements.

DaVinci Resolve

Professional editing suite with AI upscaling features.

Strengths:

Free version available
Professional color tools
Complete editing workflow
Super Scale feature

Limitations:

Complex software
Significant learning curve
GPU requirements

Best for: Video editors already in the Resolve ecosystem.

HitPaw Video Enhancer

Dedicated AI video enhancement tool.

Strengths:

Simple interface
Multiple AI models
Batch processing
Face enhancement

Limitations:

Subscription based
Results vary
Less refined than Topaz

Best for: Easy workflow with decent results.

Upscaling Workflow

Step 1: Assess Your Source

Evaluate:

Current resolution
Quality issues (noise, artifacts, blur)
Content type (faces, action, static)
Final output needs

Step 2: Choose Appropriate Tool

Maximum quality: Topaz Video AI
Runway content: Use built-in upscale
Quick and free: CapCut
Already editing: DaVinci Resolve
Easy batch work: HitPaw

Step 3: Select Right Settings

Consider:

Target resolution
Enhancement model
Processing time
Quality vs. speed balance

Step 4: Process and Review

Process test clips first
Review carefully for artifacts
Adjust settings if needed
Batch process when satisfied

Upscaling AI-Generated Video

Common Scenario

AI video tools often output at 720p or 1080p. Upscaling to 4K improves:

Detail clarity
Face quality
Professional appearance
Large screen viewing

Best Practices

Generate at highest available quality first
Upscale conservatively (2x typically better than 4x)
Use face enhancement for character content
Test on representative clips before batch
Maintain aspect ratio

Tool Recommendations by Source

From Runway:

Use built-in upscale for quick boost
Use Topaz for maximum quality

From Kling:

Topaz for best results
CapCut for quick processing

From Pika/Luma:

Upscaling helps significantly
Topaz recommended

Limitations of Upscaling

What Upscaling Can’t Do

Add missing detail that never existed
Fix fundamentally broken content
Make 240p look like native 4K
Solve AI generation artifacts
Create information from nothing

Realistic Expectations

2x upscale: Generally excellent
4x upscale: Noticeable enhancement
Beyond 4x: Diminishing returns

Creating Quality From the Start

Upscaling improves existing content. Creating quality from the start is better.

Why Multic Takes a Different Approach

Rather than generating low-quality clips that need upscaling, Multic focuses on:

Quality AI Images: High-resolution character and scene creation
Narrative Focus: Story quality over technical resolution
Complete Platform: Publishing without format conversions
Consistent Output: Quality maintained across project

When Upscaling Makes Sense

Working with existing AI-generated content
Restoring older footage
Meeting specific delivery requirements
Maximizing source material quality

When to Focus Elsewhere

Creating new content (prioritize quality tools)
Building stories (focus on narrative)
Limited time (quality sources over post-processing)

Best Practices Summary

Start with best possible source: Higher quality in = better upscale out
Use appropriate tools: Match tool to quality needs and budget
Test before batch processing: Verify settings work for your content
Be realistic: Upscaling enhances, doesn’t transform
Consider the full workflow: Sometimes better tools beat better post-processing
Factor time costs: Processing time matters for large projects

Verdict

For AI video upscaling, Topaz Video AI leads in quality for professional needs. Runway’s built-in upscale serves its users well. CapCut provides free accessibility. DaVinci Resolve integrates upscaling into complete editing workflows.

For creators building new content, consider whether effort spent on upscaling could be better spent on quality creation tools. Multic’s approach focuses on building quality stories from the start rather than enhancing clips after the fact.

Ready to create quality content from the start? Start on Multic and build complete narratives without the upscaling step.