Table Of Content
A 4K video refers to video content with a horizontal resolution of approximately 4,000 pixels — most commonly 3840 x 2160 pixels. That’s 4 times the resolution of Full HD (1080p), offering sharper details, better color depth, and higher clarity.
Because it delivers stunning detail and clarity, 4K video is heavily used in industries such as film, streaming, and gaming.
4K video is catching on fast, especially in the entertainment industry, which is leading the push. The film and TV industry is set to see the highest growth, reaching a CAGR of 19.2% during 2021–2026. High-resolution 4K video plays a major role in how streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ attract new subscribers. Other key use cases include digital advertising, gaming, broadcasting, and cinematography.
With people craving sharper, more immersive visuals, 4K video is finding its way into areas like e-learning, real estate, sports, and VR.
As interest in 4K content accelerates, 4K video upscalers are increasingly being adopted to upscale video to 4k, improving visual quality across various platforms. Content creators, filmmakers, and streamers are increasingly adopting upscaling tools to meet UHD standards.
Key Market Insights:
No wonder AI-based 4K video upscalersare in high demand now.
For those looking for a quick update on our test findings, this table can be a good guide. Here. We have compared all the online and desktop-based 4K video upscalers on common grounds to bring out their respective differences.
4K Video Upscalers | Interface / User Experience | Upload and Processing Speed | Effectiveness (Output Quality) | Free Version Limitations | Preview and Download Options |
UniFab Video Upscaler AI | Professional-grade interface, detailed and well-organized | Upload and Process: ~5 sec + ~15–20 sec processing | High-quality, visually sharp 4K output | Free trial with full access (including full video download without watermark) | Full-length preview and download available No watermark |
Remaker.AI | User-friendly, minimal UI | Upload: 2–4 sec Process: ~3.5 mins for 10s clip | Excellent; 4K upscaled output (3840 × 2162) | 30 free credits 15 credits used for 5-sec preview Full video needs Pro upgrade | Allows preview and download of short clips only Auto-deletes in 30 days |
Media.io | Simple and clean interface, but disappointing results | Upload and Process: >1 min | Poor; barely any visible enhancement, same resolution (426 × 240) | 5 free credits 6 credits needed for 1 sec No proper output without payment | Generates <1 sec preview with no quality change No clear download options |
YouCam | Smooth, easy navigation, but limited trial usability | Upload and Process: 22-25 secs | Moderate; visible enhancement to 852 × 480, not HD | Only 5 credits Need 9 credits to download the preview Short preview only | Side-by-side comparison No preview download is possible in the free version |
Picwand | Simple, user-friendly, with flexible settings | Upload: 5–7 sec Process: ~30 sec for 3s preview ~2 mins for full 17s clip | Moderate; displayed 1704 × 960 despite 4X setting Limited visible enhancement | 8 free credits 5 credits used for 1 full video Processing longer videos needs credits | 3-sec preview + full video download (watermark-free) Auto-deletes in 7 days |
Clipfly | Clean interface, lacks output transparency during testing | Upload: ~2 sec Process: ~25 sec | Slightly better than original; not HD | 15 free credits 5 credits per 1-minute clip Limited to 3 short videos in the free version | No preview Full download consumes credits |
Trustpilot Ratings - 4.1/5
Supported OS - Windows 7,8,8.1,10,11 and macOS 13.0+
UniFab Video Upscaler AI is a professional 4K video upscaler capable of enhancing videos up to 4K, 8K, and 16K resolutions. It utilizes four AI models to deliver outstanding results while preserving details and maintaining speed. Whether you need to fine-tune details, sharpen frames, or restore vibrant colors, UniFab delivers crisp results without prior technical experience. Equipped with batch processing and versatile customization features, it serves as a strong solution for Windows and Mac users.
Upscale Video to 4K in One Click
To begin, we uploaded a 17-second video clip of 426 x 240 quality in MP4 format, approximately 717 KB. UniFab took barely over 5 seconds to upload and process the video.
As a professional-grade 4K video upscaler,UniFab offered us customization parameters. We selected the Texture Enhanced AI model. And within 15-20 seconds, UniFab delivered high-quality, visually appealing results. The difference was clearly visible in the preview itself.
We were pretty hopeful with UniFab after going through their product page. The software appeared convincing and promising, which led us to try it. And fortunately, we were not regretful. Despite being a desktop-based tool, this 4K upscaler videotool had a smooth navigation. It was more of an all-inclusive tool with each function listed neatly on the interface. AI models made the job pretty easy. Even, it gave us manual controls to tailor the output parameters. So, we could adjust the other crucial factors. The free trial version gave us a glimpse into the software’s offerings already. We actually loved that it let us preview and download the full-length video clip without any watermarks.
Pros
Enhances video resolution up to 16K.
Delivers sharp, clear, and high-quality visuals.
Four AI models for different video types and needs.
Restores the lost details while preserving the original quality.
50x GPU-accelerated hardware technology for rapid video processing.
Cons
Not an online 4k video upscaler, but UniFab claims it will soon release an online service.
A video upscaler 4K tool is your best bet to breathe new life into old or low-quality footage. Here, we have also tried and tested the 5 best4K video upscaler free tools. But can they significantly boost resolution and clarity to make your content stand out? Let’s explore them one by one.
Users Ratings - Trustpilot - 2.6/5
Supported OS - 4K Video Upscaler Online
Remaker.AI is a 4K video upscaler online freeto convert low-quality videos to 4K resolution automatically. With its video cutting function, you can choose to cut and keep the necessary sections of the video clip you want to enhance losslessly. With bare minimum options, Remaker.AI has a clutter-free interface. Its AI model processes HD videos to optimize clarity with just one click.
Following test with UniFab 4K video upscaler, we ran the same video through Remaker to review the outcome. The uploading speed was super quick, taking only 2 - 4 seconds to upload. However, the processing took over 3 minutes and 30 seconds to enhance a 10-second video clip.
It enhanced the video to 4K quality (3840 × 2160 resolution); however, issues include over-smoothing that creates unnatural skin and surface textures, occasional artificial artifacts, and loss of natural blur and lighting nuances during enhancement.
Starting was a delight! Remaker.AI actually surpassed our expectations. Upon signing up, we received 30 credits for free. Depending upon the video duration to process, credits would be consumed likewise. It uses up 15 credits for processing just a 5-second preview video. With the 30 free credits we received, we were only able to enhance a 10-second video clip. We just set the start and end time and clicked the Enhance Video Quality button to proceed. This 4K video upscaler allowed us to preview and download the video to our local storage. The user-friendly interface and easily navigable options contributed equally to making our experience delightful.
Pros
Enhances the video up to 4K automatically without manual intervention for free.
Offers a play and pause button to preview the original video.
Enables playing the original and enhanced videos side by side for a detailed comparison.
Cons
Over-smoothing, artificial artifacts, and loss of natural blur and lighting during enhancement.
Very long processing time (approximately 4 minutes for a 10-second clip).
Does not upload a video exceeding 30 minutes in duration.
Allows uploading up to a maximum of 500 MB.
No batch video enhancement.
Users Ratings - Trustpilot - 3.5/5
Supported OS - Online/web-based (browser) tool
Media.io is another video upscaler 4K tool available online to enhance your low-quality video clips. With a drag-and-drop functionality, it lets you directly upload the video into the platform and speed up the process. It leverages AI to enhance your clips with no manual controls or intervention. You can upload a video in MKV, MOV, or MP4 format, but ensure the duration is less than 5 minutes for a hassle-free experience.
Similar to Remaker AI, we uploaded the same 17-second video clip to Media.io. The video took over a minute to upload and process. Sadly, there were barely any signs of enhancement. The end video result generated (for free) was less than a second and had the exact video resolution as the original one, i.e., 426 x 240.
Our experience at Media.io was truly not less than a disappointment. The interface was simple and intuitive, and the drag-and-drop functionality further eased the enhancement process. However, the overall video processing and enhancement didn’t live up to our expectations. Not only did it take a bit too long to upload and process the video clip, but it also processed a clip less than a second. Jokingly, the preview video showed no quality improvement. While the site claims increased speed in the subscription model, we do not guarantee speed or quality.
Pros
Works well with MP4, MOV, and MKV formats.
Automatically deletes the enhanced video results after 7 days.
Does not require prior technical know-how to operate the platform.
Cons
The maximum video duration allowed is 5 minutes.
Expensive price plans (credits and membership); 6 credits = 1 second of AI video.
Very restricted and limited free version, no traces of video processing or enhancement.
Users Ratings - Trustpilot - 1.9/5
Supported OS - Online/web-based (browser) tool
YouCam is a widely-renowned 4K video upscaler online. It is a free tool to enhance your video clips to 4K quality without losing the details with just a few taps. Using powerful AI, YouCam can clear up blurry videos and bring back lost details in every frame. It processes each frame to recover lost details, resulting in sharper, clearer, and more defined videos. Compatible with MP4, MKV, and MOV formats, it enables efficient handling and produces high-quality results.
After a sheer disappointment from Media.io, we tried YouCam with the same 17-second video clip. Considering speed, the entire uploading and enhancement process took no more than 22 to 25 seconds, which was the best until now, compared to the two tools above. Talking about the performance and effectiveness, YouCam, undoubtedly, did a decent job. There was a visible enhancement with 852 x 480 px upscaled results.
With YouCam, we had kind of a mixed experience. The interface was easy to use and navigate. Even the video uploading and processing speed was phenomenal. However, as a free user, we couldn’t derive much from this video 4K upscaler. The free version lacked proper functionality to assess the tool’s features. While it did enhance the video visibly, the generated results weren’t in HD quality.
From our 17-second video clip, the preview was generated only for the first 3 to 5 seconds. We were asked to log in to get free credits for video downloads. But they were too few (just 5 credits). We required at least 9 credits to download the ‘preview’ video clip. So even if a short part of our video was enhanced, we never got the opportunity to download it.
We can only wonder what the premium version holds in store, as the Trustpilot ratings speak volumes for the global usage.
Pros
High-speed video upload and enhancement.
Side-by-side comparison of original and enhanced video clips.
Features ease of use, even for new users or those with less technical knowledge.
User-friendly interface with navigable options on the homepage itself.
Cons
The free version offers only 5 free credits.
Displays only a short video clip for a preview of the upscaled result (3 to 5 seconds).
Requires upgrading to the premium version to unlock batch editing and watermark-free features with full-length video download.
Requires logging in to the platform to get free credits and download the enhanced video clip.
Users Ratings - Trustpilot - 4.5/5
Supported OS - Online/web-based (browser) tool
Picwand is a much-loved 4K video upscaleronline. Despite offering AI capability, it’s an all-inclusive, free tool offering customization options. It gives users options to control and tailor the output to match their preferences. You can set video model and output settings with customization of up to 8K resolution. The free version not only lets you generate a 3-second preview but also enables you to download the full video without a watermark.
Picwand was quick enough, taking only 5 to 7 seconds to upload the 17-second video clip of 426 x 240 quality in MP4 format. However, the processing time took approximately 30 seconds to generate a 3-second enhanced preview clip.
The free 4K video upscaleroffered several output quality parameters, such as 1x, 2x, and 4x for customized results. We opted for 4X to proceed. But the displayed (enhanced) result showed 1704 x 960 dimensions. Still, the results didn’t seem visibly enhanced.
Picwand was a breeze to use. This video 4K upscaler had every option a free user could ask for. To say, the drag-and-drop functionality, along with the friendly UI, was pretty easy to work with. Then, it offered several customization options from video genre (general or anime) to output parameters. By logging in, we received 8 free credits, and 5 were consumed in downloading the full enhanced video.
While everything seemed perfect, the downloaded video didn’t appear visibly enhanced. The customization menu lets VIP users set video quality from 720p to 8K. So, we assume, the free version likely limits quality to 360p or 480p. Plus, it took over 2 minutes to enhance the full-length video clip of 17 seconds. You can only imagine the amount of time it’ll take to process a lengthy video footage.
Pros
Automatically deleted files after 7 days.
reviews and compares the enhanced result side by side.
The downloaded (enhanced) video in the free version did not have any watermark.
Saves the history of all the processed tasks for quick revision.
Cons
Requires a stable network connection to work with this 4K upscaler video online.
Slow speed, lengthy video processing time.
Requires creating an account to avail free credits and download videos.
Offers only 8 free credits; must purchase more credits to process lengthy videos.
Users Ratings - Trustpilot - 2.5/5
Supported OS - Online/web-based (browser) tool
Lastly, we have Clipify, a free 4K video upscaler.Clipify utilizes artificial intelligence to improve the visual quality of your low-quality videos through an online platform. With a simple interface, it does not have many options to confuse users. Simply upload your video and press Generate to obtain immediate enhancements. Besides featuring ease of use for all skill levels, the platform does not even have any ads or pop-ups.
Finally, we concluded our tests with Clipify. For comparison, we took the same video clip here as well. While the upload speed was quick, taking barely a couple of seconds, the processing took approximately 25 seconds.
Coming to the test’s effectiveness and the software’s performance, the results displayed a slight enhancement. The quality was somewhat enhanced compared to the original clip, yet it was clearly not HD.
We tested Clipify with the same video clip to compare the results. This 4K video upscaler has a minimalistic UI with barely any unnecessary options. While the speed seemed decent, the upscaling and enhancement results didn’t seem convincing. On logging in, we got 15 free credits. However, there was no preview of the output. So, we had to use our free credits to download and compare the results directly.
You must note that Clipify treats videos under 1 minute as 1 minute only. So anyway, regardless of your video’s length (short ones), you can’t enhance more than 3 videos in the free version. As the video enhanced in the free version didn’t show any highly noticeable enhancement, we can’t vouch for its effectiveness for the premium subscription as well.
Pros
Facilitates direct upload and drag and drop functionality.
The free version offers 15 credits to generate a 3-minute video (5 credits per minute).
The free version enables downloading the full video clip without watermarks.
No ads or popups on the homepage for a seamless.
Cons
Gets only 15 credits after logging in.
No preview of the enhanced video clip.
Requires upgrading to the premium subscription to enhance a lengthy video clip.
Online 4K video upscalersare usually convenient and accessible. But they are far from perfect. While reading what other users had to say about these tools, ratings, and reviews on popular sites like G2 and Trustpilot guided us enough. However, we still tested the popular online tools ourselves to see whether the claims are actually true or false narratives are being spread to generalize all the web-based tools.
Here are some realistic drawbacks we faced along the way:
Considering these flaws, we decided to use a trusted desktop software. With high user ratings and some rigorous research, we landed on UniFab Video Upscaler AI. Read on to know how our test findings revealed its true potential. Check whether it offers more control than most online tools.
30-day Free Trial with full feature access! No watermark!
Install UniFab’s newest version from the official website. Navigate to the Upscaler module in the left sidebar. And tap Add Video to import the low-resolution video clip to upscale to 4K.
Adjust the output parameters by setting the video resolution to 4K. Depending on the video clip, pick an AI model, such as the Texture Enhanced model, which we selected for fine details and realistic visuals. Tailor other parameters like codec, audio, format, etc., to match your requirements.
Finally, tap Start. The 4K upscaling process will be initiated automatically by UniFab. And beautifully upscale nd enhance your video footage.
With the right free 4K video upscaler, enhancing your videos no longer requires expensive software or technical skills. We have tested 5 of the popular web-based and a desktop tool already. They make it easy to upscale content in just a few clicks. So why settle for blurry footage? Try one today and give your videos the sharpness they truly deserve!
Yes. Compared to the traditional enhancement process, AI models deliver crisp, sharp, and high-quality results. They have reduced manual time and effort while increasing the output quality at a considerable rate.
Depends. Upscaling may not necessarily address the blurs and pixelated frames. It can increase the resolution, but the details may still be absent from the target place. So always use a trusted and reliable 4K video upscaler. Also, ensure the source material is of good quality.
Low-quality videos may result from many factors. Some of the factors that can decrease your video quality at the source include: