Best AI Video Upscalers in 2026: Browser vs Desktop

For most clips the best AI video upscaler is the plain, low-cost one: VdoBloom's Video Upscaler takes a clip to 1080p, 2K or 4K from 0.6 credits a second in the browser and keeps the frame rate and sound. P-Video Upscale on the same tab gives a second look at the same clip. For long files on a strong local machine, Topaz Video is the established desktop app.

Quick facts

Engines on the VdoBloom Video Upscaler tab: Video Upscaler and P-Video Upscale.
Video Upscaler: 0.6 credits a second to 1080p, 1.2 to 2K, 2.4 to 4K. Clips up to 60 seconds and 50 MB.
P-Video Upscale: 1.6 / 3.2 / 6.4 credits a second for 1080p / 2K / 4K at up to 30 fps; double above 30 fps. Clips up to 60 seconds.
Both keep the source frame rate. The Video Upscaler also keeps the audio and aspect ratio.
Cost is worked out from your real clip and shown before you start. Failed jobs are refunded.
Pay per clip, no subscription. Credits never expire; 10 credits on sign-up.

Upload a clip and upscale it to 4K

How we compared them

A video upscaler has to do more than an image one. It must stay steady from frame to frame, or the result shimmers. We looked at each option on:

Stability. No flicker or crawling texture between frames.
What it keeps. Frame rate, audio and aspect ratio.
Targets. Which output sizes you can pick.
Limits. Longest clip and largest file.
Cost per second. In credits, for a typical 10-second clip.

The options, in the order we'd try them

1. VdoBloom Video Upscaler: our pick for most clips

This is where we'd start. The Video Upscaler is the lowest-cost engine per second on the tab. It upscales to a 1080p, 2K or 4K box, keeps the aspect ratio, the frame rate and the audio, and accepts any frame rate. A 10-second clip costs 6 credits to 1080p, 12 to 2K and 24 to 4K. A full 60-second clip to 1080p is 36 credits.

It fits footage that is clean but too small: AI clips made at 720p, screen recordings, phone video headed for a bigger screen, and short ads that need a 4K master for a client. Because the price does not change with frame rate, it is also the easy choice for 60 fps gaming and sports clips.

Upscale a 10-second clip to 1080p for 6 credits

2. VdoBloom P-Video Upscale: a second look on the same tab

P-Video Upscale is a quick upscale to 1080p, 2K or 4K that keeps the source frame rate. It costs 1.6 credits a second to 1080p for clips up to 30 fps, so 16 credits for 10 seconds, and the rate doubles above 30 fps. Run it on the same clip as the Video Upscaler when you want to compare two results side by side and keep the one you like.

3. Topaz Video (desktop)

If you edit long projects locally, Topaz Video is the well-known desktop app. As of November 2026, Topaz Labs lists it for Mac and Windows on a monthly or annual subscription, with upscaling, denoise, stabilisation and frame interpolation, and it can run as a plugin in video editors. It suits feature-length files and heavy GPU machines. Restoration of grainy or damaged footage is a core part of what Topaz Labs describes on that page.

Both VdoBloom engines run in the same tab, so you can try two on one clip and keep the better result. Both outputs stay in My Creations.

Comparison table

Option	Targets	Keeps	Longest clip	Runs in
Video Upscaler (on VdoBloom)	1080p, 2K, 4K	Frame rate, audio, aspect ratio	60 s, 50 MB	Browser
P-Video Upscale (on VdoBloom)	1080p, 2K, 4K	Frame rate	60 s	Browser
Topaz Video	Up to 4K	Per export settings	Your hardware	Mac or Windows app

Which option for which clip

An AI clip made at 720p: Video Upscaler to 1080p or 4K. Clean source, low cost.
A 60 fps gaming or sports clip: Video Upscaler, since its price does not change with frame rate.
A YouTube upload for big screens: Video Upscaler or P-Video Upscale at 2K.
A feature-length file you edit locally: a desktop app such as Topaz Video.
Old family video: see our guide to fixing old video for prep steps before you upscale.

What a typical job costs

Pricing per second makes quoting simple. Here are common jobs on the Video Upscaler:

A 10-second AI clip to 1080p: 6 credits.
A 15-second vertical ad to 4K: 36 credits.
A 30-second product video to 2K: 36 credits.
A full 60-second clip to 4K: 144 credits.

On P-Video Upscale, the same 10-second clip to 1080p is 16 credits at up to 30 fps. The tab always shows the exact number from your real file before you press start.

1080p, 2K and 4K: which size do you need?

Pick the target from where the video will be watched, not from the biggest number on the menu. A larger file takes longer to upload and costs more credits, and most phones show no difference past 1080p.

1080p (1920 x 1080, or 1080 x 1920 vertical): the standard for Reels, TikTok, Shorts and most social feeds. Start here for anything watched on a phone.
2K (2560 x 1440): a good middle step for YouTube uploads watched on laptops and desktop monitors. It gives the platform more detail to compress.
4K (3840 x 2160): for TV screens, client masters, and footage you plan to crop or zoom into during the edit.

Both VdoBloom engines fit the clip inside the target box and keep its shape, so a vertical clip stays vertical. If you need a different shape, such as a square or a 4:5 feed version, crop or reframe the clip first and upscale the result.

One more tip: if a clip will be cropped in the edit, upscale before cropping. A 4K source gives you room to punch in on a face or a product and still deliver a sharp 1080p frame.

Getting the best result

Upscaling makes a clip sharper and larger. Start from the original file rather than a re-download, since every re-compression removes detail. Trim dead time before you upload so you only pay for the seconds you keep. Upscale once to the final size rather than in steps. If you plan to edit the clip, upscale the finished cut, not every source clip, so you are not paying for footage you later delete.

For AI-made clips, a good habit is to generate at 720p, pick the take you like, and only then upscale it to 1080p or 4K. That keeps the cost of drafts low and spends credits only on the final shot.

How to upscale a video on VdoBloom

Open the Video Upscaler and upload your clip (up to 60 seconds).
Pick the engine: Video Upscaler first, P-Video Upscale for a second look.
Choose the target: 1080p, 2K or 4K.
Read the credit cost, worked out from your clip's real length, and start.
Download the MP4 from the result or from My Creations.

Longer than 60 seconds? Cut it into parts with the AI video editor first, then upscale each part.

Open the Video Upscaler

FAQ

What is the cheapest way to upscale video to 4K?

On VdoBloom, the Video Upscaler at 2.4 credits a second, so 24 credits for a 10-second clip. There is no subscription; credit packs never expire.

Does upscaling keep the sound?

The Video Upscaler keeps the audio, frame rate and aspect ratio.

How long can the clip be?

Up to 60 seconds per job on both VdoBloom engines. The Video Upscaler also has a 50 MB file limit.

Should I upscale before or after editing?

After. Upscale the finished cut so you only pay for the seconds that stay in the video.

Can I try it before buying credits?

Yes. New accounts get 10 credits on sign-up, enough for a 10-second 1080p job on the Video Upscaler.