Overview
Most video enhancement tools apply a single filter to a problem — a general denoiser, a basic sharpener — and leave users to compensate for side effects manually. Topaz Video AI takes a different approach: a library of 19 AI enhancement models, with standard desktop processing available locally and some newer Starlight/cloud workflows depending on the selected model and plan. Instead of a general-purpose filter, users select the model best matched to their footage's specific degradation — archival grain on film scans, compression artifacts on web video, sensor noise on low-light footage.
Most video enhancement tools apply a single filter to a problem — a general denoiser, a basic sharpener — and leave users to compensate for side effects manually. Topaz Video AI takes a different approach: a library of 19 AI enhancement models, with standard desktop processing available locally and some newer Starlight/cloud workflows depending on the selected model and plan. Instead of a general-purpose filter, users select the model best matched to their footage's specific degradation — archival grain on film scans, compression artifacts on web video, sensor noise on low-light footage.
The software sits at the intersection of restoration, upscaling, and frame rate work. A documentary team restoring 8mm footage, a film editor upscaling an SD archival interview to match a 4K production, or a creator converting 24fps footage to smooth 60fps slow motion are all reaching for different models within the same application. Topaz Video AI works as a standalone desktop application on Mac and Windows, and integrates as a plugin for After Effects and DaVinci Resolve Studio for users who want to enhance individual clips from within an existing post-production workflow.
Topaz Labs ended perpetual licenses in October 2025, moving Topaz Video to a subscription model. The Personal plan ($299/year, $25/month billed annually) covers unlimited local rendering and 25 cloud credits per month for non-commercial or limited commercial use. The Pro plan ($699/year, $58/month billed annually) adds seat management, local Starlight Mini and Starlight Sharp models, 100 monthly video cloud credits, and full commercial use, and full commercial rights without revenue restrictions.
For adjacent research, compare AI video generator tools.
Key Features
- 19 AI Enhancement Models — Purpose-built models for specific enhancement tasks rather than a single general filter: Proteus and Iris for general upscaling and sharpening, Nyx for high-resolution denoising, Iris for face and fine-detail recovery in noisy or compressed footage, Rhea/Rhea XL for 4× upscaling of delicate textures and organic detail, Artemis for restoration of damaged or heavily compressed archival material, Gaia for high-fidelity 4K/8K upscaling, and Theia for balanced quality-speed trade-offs. Each model can be selected based on the footage's specific degradation type.
- Frame Interpolation — Three dedicated frame rate models: Apollo for general-purpose interpolation (SD to high frame rate), Chronos for cinematic quality 60fps or higher creation, and Aion for the highest-quality slow-motion generation requiring more processing time. Used to create smooth slow-motion sequences from standard frame rate footage or to bring old 18fps archival footage to modern frame rates without visual artifacts.
- Video Upscaling to 4K and Beyond — Scale SD, 720p, or 1080p footage to 4K or 8K while recovering detail that generic upscalers add as hallucinated texture. Models reconstruct edge information and reduce the aliasing and softness introduced by standard scaling algorithms. Upscaling output can be used for broadcast delivery, streaming masters, or archival preservation at higher resolutions.
- Local and Cloud Rendering — Standard desktop processing can run locally without sending footage to Topaz servers. Cloud rendering is optional for many jobs, but some Starlight workflows require cloud rendering on Personal, and cloud rendering uploads footage for processing for systems with insufficient GPU power, using the included monthly credits (25 credits/month on Personal, 100 on Pro). Included monthly cloud credits reset each month and do not roll over; credit usage varies by input resolution, output resolution, frame rate, video length, and selected model.
- Plugin Integration — Available as a plugin for Adobe After Effects and DaVinci Resolve Studio, allowing users to apply supported Topaz Video models from within editing timelines; currently the plugins are limited to Enhancement and Motion Deblur models, Resolve plugin models run at 1x scale, and DaVinci Resolve Studio is required. This eliminates the export-enhance-reimport workflow for users already inside these applications.
- Stabilization, Deblur, and SDR-to-HDR — Beyond upscaling, the application includes motion stabilization for shaky footage, motion deblur for footage with camera or subject movement artifacts, grain addition (adding cinematic grain to digital footage for aesthetic consistency), and SDR-to-HDR conversion for productions delivering to HDR-capable displays.
How It Compares
| Tool | AI Models | Upscaling Cap | Frame Interpolation | Plugin Support | Starting Price | Commercial Rights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topaz Video Personal | ✅ 19+ models | 8K+ | ✅ Apollo/Chronos/Aion | ✅ AE + DaVinci | $299/yr ($25/mo annual) | ⚠️ Under $1M revenue |
| Topaz Video Pro | ✅ 19+ models | 8K+ | ✅ Full | ✅ AE + DaVinci | $699/yr ($58/mo annual) | ✅ Full commercial |
| DaVinci Resolve Studio | ✅ AI Super Scale + Speed Warp + noise reduction/image-restoration tools | HD→4K/8K via Super Scale | ✅ Speed Warp / Optical Flow retiming | N/A (built-in) | $295 one-time (Studio) | ✅ Full |
| Adobe After Effects | ⚠️ VFX/compositing tools, Detail-preserving Upscale, Timewarp/Pixel Motion | ⚠️ Limited built-in upscaling | ⚠️ Timewarp / Pixel Motion interpolation, not Topaz-style dedicated AI interpolation | N/A (native) | From $22.99/mo annual | ✅ Full (subscription) |
| Upscayl | ⚠️ Image upscaling models | 4K (images; limited video support) | ❌ No | ❌ No | Free (open-source) | ✅ Full |
Topaz Video AI's differentiation is the breadth of purpose-built models — no other single desktop tool offers 19+ specialized enhancement models covering noise reduction, face recovery, archival restoration, and frame interpolation together. DaVinci Resolve Studio includes AI Super Scale, Speed Warp retiming, temporal/spatial noise reduction, and image-restoration tools inside a full NLE. Topaz Video is more specialized for model-by-model video enhancement, restoration, interpolation, and upscaling workflows. After Effects has basic AI tools but is not specialized for video enhancement workflows. Upscayl is free and open-source but focuses on image upscaling and has limited video processing compared to Topaz. For users who need a purpose-built AI video enhancer that handles the full spectrum of video quality problems, Topaz Video is unusually specialized for desktop video enhancement; comparable workflows often require a mix of NLE upscaling, VFX retiming, restoration filters, or separate enhancement tools.
Pricing & Plans
Topaz Video moved to subscription-only pricing in October 2025, discontinuing perpetual licenses. Both tiers include unlimited local rendering; cloud rendering uses metered credits that do not roll over monthly.
| Plan | Annual Price | Monthly Price | Cloud Credits/Month | Commercial Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal | $299/yr ($25/mo, billed annually) | $33/mo (12-month plan) | 25 | Limited commercial use for orgs under $1M annual revenue |
| Pro | $699/yr ($58/mo, billed annually) | $67/mo (12-month plan) | 100 | Full commercial use |
| Topaz Studio (All Apps) | See topazlabs.com for current pricing | See topazlabs.com for current pricing | 300/600 video credits | Personal: orgs under $1M revenue; Pro: full commercial |
The Topaz Studio bundle includes all Topaz apps — Video, Photo AI, Gigapixel, and cloud-based apps — at a bundled price. For users who use both Photo AI and Video, the Studio bundle is typically more cost-effective than subscribing to individual apps. Cloud credits cover cloud rendering; local rendering is unlimited on all plans and does not consume credits.
Best For
- Documentary filmmakers and archivists restoring historical footage — VHS tapes, 8mm film scans, SD broadcast recordings — to 4K resolution for modern theatrical or streaming delivery
- Post-production editors who need to upscale interview or B-roll footage shot at 1080p to match a 4K primary camera package, without introducing visible AI hallucination artifacts
- Creators and sports videographers generating smooth 60fps or higher slow-motion sequences from 24fps or 30fps source footage using the frame interpolation models
- Broadcast and streaming teams with a confidentiality requirement who need local processing rather than cloud-based video enhancement services
- Users already working in After Effects or DaVinci Resolve Studio who want AI enhancement as a plugin step in an existing workflow rather than a separate application for every clip
FAQ
Is Topaz Video AI still available with a perpetual license?
No. Topaz Labs ended perpetual licensing for all its products in October 2025. Topaz Video is now subscription-only: Personal at $299/year ($25/month billed annually) and Pro at $699/year ($58/month billed annually). Users who purchased perpetual licenses before October 2025 retain access to their purchased version but do not receive updates or new AI models without a subscription.
What is the difference between Topaz Video Personal and Pro?
The main differences are cloud credits (25/month on Personal vs 100/month on Pro), commercial use rights (Personal requires organizations to have under $1M annual revenue; Pro includes full commercial use without restrictions), and Pro-only seat management plus local Starlight Mini and Starlight Sharp models. Both tiers include unlimited local rendering and the standard Topaz Video model set; Pro adds selected local Starlight models.
Does Topaz Video AI upload my footage to the cloud?
No, for local rendering. All AI model processing runs locally on the user's GPU without transmitting footage to Topaz Labs servers. Cloud rendering is an optional alternative that does transmit footage for cloud-based processing, using the monthly cloud credits included in each plan. Users can choose to use local rendering exclusively.
What AI models does Topaz Video AI include?
Topaz Video includes 19+ purpose-built models: Proteus, Iris, Nyx, Rhea, Artemis, Gaia, and Theia for enhancement and upscaling; Apollo, Chronos, and Aion for frame interpolation; plus stabilization, motion deblur, grain, and SDR-to-HDR tools. Each model is optimized for a specific type of footage degradation or output requirement. See the AI video enhancer category for a broader comparison of video enhancement tools.
Can Topaz Video AI be used as an After Effects plugin?
Yes. Topaz Video AI is available as a plugin for Adobe After Effects, accessible from the Effects & Presets panel after installation. It is also available as a plugin for DaVinci Resolve Studio. These integrations allow users to apply Topaz's AI models to specific clips directly within their editing timeline without exporting footage to a separate application.
How does Topaz Video AI compare to DaVinci Resolve's SuperScale?
DaVinci Resolve Studio's SuperScale is an AI upscaling feature included in the $295 one-time Studio license, covering resolution upscaling from 4K source to 8K output. Topaz Video AI covers a broader range of enhancement tasks including noise reduction, face recovery, archival restoration, frame interpolation, and deblur — in addition to upscaling. For upscaling-only workflows, SuperScale in DaVinci Resolve Studio is a cost-effective option included with the editor license. For productions requiring noise reduction, archival restoration, or frame rate conversion alongside upscaling, Topaz Video AI provides dedicated models that DaVinci Resolve does not include. See the AI video editor guide for a broader comparison.
What resolution and format output does Topaz Video AI support?
Topaz Video AI can upscale footage to 4K, 8K, and higher resolutions depending on the source and model selected. It supports common input formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, and camera raw formats, and outputs to common delivery formats. Batch processing allows multiple videos to be queued and processed sequentially without manual supervision.
