HitPaw Video Enhancer Review 2025: Features, Pros & Cons, and Alternative
- Last updated on 2025-05-07
Table Of Content
What is HitPaw Video Enhancer
HitPaw Video Enhancer (Rebanded as HitPaw VikPea) is an AI-powered video enhancement tool designed to improve video quality and resolution. By utilizing advanced artificial intelligence algorithms, it effectively removes noise from videos, enhances clarity, boosts color and contrast, and supports upgrading low-resolution videos to higher resolutions.
System Requirements of HitPaw Video Enhancer
| - | For Windows | For Mac |
| Supported OS | For Windows 11/10 64-bit | macOS 10.15 or later |
| Processor (CPU) | Intel i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 equivalent or above | Intel i3 or Apple M1 equivalent or above |
| Disk Space | 2GB or above free space | 2GB or above free space |
| System Memory (RAM) | 8GB or above | 8GB or above |
| Graphics Card (GPU) | NVIDIA GTX 950 or AMD RX 560 equivalent or above | AMD RX 560 or Apple M1 equivalent or above |
| OpenGL | 3.3 or above | 3.3 or above |
| DirectX | Version: 12 | - |
| Display (Monitor) | 1366*768 or above | 1366*768 or above |
Key Features of HitPaw Video Enhancer
Let’s take a look at how HitPaw Video Enhancer leverages advanced AI technology to transform your videos:
- Advanced Video Enhancement: Offers specialized AI models, including Video Repair, Face, Denoise, Animation, Colorize, Frame Rate, Stabilize, and Low-Light Enhancement, tailored for diverse video optimization needs.
- AI Background Removal: Effortlessly removes or blurs video backgrounds, perfect for professional e-commerce and creative projects.
- Video Repair: Repairs corrupted or damaged videos caused by file transfer errors or hardware issues, restoring seamless playback and quality.
New Features of HitPaw Video Enhancer AI
HitPaw Video Enhancer is now rebranded as HitPaw VikPea, introducing major updates to deliver the ultimate video enhancement experience.
- Video Quality Repair Model: Enhances low-quality videos by removing noise, improving clarity, restoring details, and delivering high-definition results.
- Cloud Preview: Allows users with lower-end computers to preview videos quickly and efficiently using cloud processing.
- Optimized Cloud Acceleration: Speeds up cloud processing, supports more enhancement models, and ensures faster performance.
Models of HitPaw Video Enhancer AI
Here is the table summarizing the features of HitPaw Video Enhancer models:
| Category | Model | Description |
| Video Enhancer | General Denoise Model | Removes noise to improve video clarity and quality. |
| Detail Recovery Model | Restores texture and details in blurry low/medium resolution videos. | |
| Face Model | Enhances portrait videos with sharpening, softening, and fast modes for facial features. | |
| Video Quality Repair Model | Eliminates artifacts and noise caused by compression, improving overall video quality. | |
| Animation Model | Upgrades old or blurry anime/cartoon videos to high definition. | |
| AI Color | Colorize Model | Restores natural colors to black-and-white or greyscale footage. |
| SDR to HDR | Upgrades SDR videos to HDR with brighter colors and richer details. | |
| Color Enhancement Model | Boosts color vibrancy for a more visually striking effect. | |
| Low-light Enhancement Model | Enhances brightness and contrast, making dark videos clearer and brighter. | |
| Video Repair | Video Repair | Fixes issues like flickering, unplayable videos, screen loss, lag, and restores video sound. |
| AI Toolbox | Retouch | Removes selected watermarks from videos. |
| BG Rmover | Allows exported videos to retain a transparent or blurred background. | |
| Frame Rate Enhancement Model | Enhances the frame rate by 2x or 4x for smoother motion. | |
| Stabilize Model | Corrects shaky footage for more stable videos. |
Performance & Processing Speed of Hitpaw Video Enhancer
Let's take a look at how HitPaw Video Enhancer AI performs in terms of processing effects and speed across different models.
Test Environment
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700G with Radeon Graphics
Performance of HitPaw AI Video Enhancer
Face Model
HitPaw's face model offers two distinct modes: Sharpen and Soften, each with unique strengths.
As seen in the comparison images, the Sharpen mode significantly boosts texture clarity and enhances facial details by increasing contrast. While this mode can deliver excellent results in specific scenarios, overly emphasized textures may reduce the natural look of the subject. On the other hand, the Soften mode introduces a smoother, airbrushed finish, resulting in less texture and lower contrast.
In version 4.1.0, HitPaw introduced a fully upgraded Soften model. This improved version strikes a better balance between the original Soften and Sharpen modes, delivering clearer, more natural-looking results with enhanced realism.
Animation Model
Pros
Sharper Details: Enhances character and object sharpness.
Vivid Colors: Makes colors more vivid and saturated.
Denoise: Reduces noise and grain for smoother visuals.
Cons
Over-Saturation: Excessive color vibrancy may alter the original look.
Loss of Gradients: Sharpening can reduce subtle gradients and shadows.
Potential Artifacts: Minor artifacts may appear, especially in complex areas.
Colorize Model
Pros
Effective Colorization: Adds vibrant color to black-and-white videos.
Cons
Blurry Details: Character details may remain blurry, reducing HD quality.
Challenges with Complex Scenes: Leads to inconsistent or distorted color processing in certain areas.
Low-light Enhancement Model:
In version 4.1.0, HitPaw also updated its Low-light Enhancement Model. While the visual results remain similar to version 4.0.0, the processing speed has improved significantly.
Pros
Increased Visibility: Brightens dark areas, improving scene clarity.
Cons
Overexposure Risk: May cause loss of detail in bright areas.
Increased Noise: Enhances graininess, especially in dark regions.
SDR to HDR
Source Video
- Duration: 9 min 57 s
- Resolution: 1920×1080
- Frame Rate: 23.976 fps
Performance Results
- HitPaw - DR2 (V4.1.0)
• Conversion Time: 2h 37min 10s
• Processing Speed: 1.52 fps - HitPaw - DR5 (V4.1.0)
• Conversion Time: ~3h
• Processing Speed: 1.33 fps
Visual Quality Observation
As the Dynamic Range (DR) value increases, HitPaw’s output becomes noticeably brighter. While this may enhance overall visibility, it also pushes the brightness and color saturation beyond natural HDR levels. In higher DR settings, the video tends to resemble SDR rather than HDR, which may reduce the realism and quality of the visual experience.
Pros
Higher dynamic range (DR) values enhance overall screen brightness.
Cons
Compared to native HDR, the image may appear excessively bright.
The result resembles Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) more than true HDR.
Processing Speed of HitPaw Video Enhancer AI
Test Environment
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700G with Radeon Graphics
| HitPaw Video Enhancer | Processing Time |
| Face Model | 5 times the length of the original video |
| Animation Model | 5 times (720p to 4k) |
| Colorize Model | 1 times |
| Color Enhancement Model | 2 times |
| Low-Light Enhancement Model | 2 times (720p) 3 times (1080p) 10 times (4k) (The processing time varies depending on the resolution of the original video) |
| SDR to HDR | 18 times (DR5) |
HitPaw Video Enhancer AI can be time-consuming, especially when upscaling videos to high resolutions, as the process may take longer depending on the video size and complexity.
Is HitPaw Video Enhancer Free
HitPaw Video Enhancer is a paid software. With the free trial, only part of the video can be previewed. Free exports are not available. If satisfied, you can then upgrade to a monthly, yearly, or perpetual subscription. （Note: License valid for 1 PC only.）
| Standard Version | For Windows | For Mac |
| 1 Month | $42.99 | $69.99 |
| 1 Year | $99.99 | $109.99 |
| Perpetual | $349.99 | $349.99 |
| Pro Version | For Windows |
| 1 Month | $52.99 |
| 1 Year | $119.99 |
| Perpetual | $399.99 |
Benefits Comparison
| Feature | Benefit | Free Version | Standard Version | Pro Version |
| Video Enhancer | General Denoise Model | × | √ | √ |
| Detail Recovery Model | √ | |||
| Face Model | √ | |||
| Video Quality Repair Model | √ | |||
| Animation Model | √ | |||
| AI Color | SDR to HDR | × | ||
| Colorize Black & White | √ | |||
| Color Enhancement | √ | |||
| Low-light Enhancement | √ | |||
| AI Toolbox | Video Background Replacement/Removal | × | ||
| Video Retouch | × | |||
| Video Stabilization | × | |||
| Frame Interpolation | × | |||
| Video Repair | Video Repair | √ |
How to Use HitPaw AI Video Enhancer
Launch and Upload
After opening the software, you can click the Choose File or just drag & drop the original video to it.
Select An AI Model
Choose an AI model suited to your video type.
Preview & Export
Once the video is uploaded, click the Preview button to process the video. Then, click the Export button to save the enhanced video.
Pros and Cons of HitPaw Video Enhancer
HitPaw Video Enhancer is an excellent tool for enhancing videos, but it does have some weaknesses in certain aspects. You should carefully consider these before making a purchase.
Pros of HitPaw
- Multiple AI models: Addresses various video issues with 7 AI models.
- User-friendly: Intuitive interface suitable for beginners.
- Batch processing: Supports processing multiple videos simultaneously.
- Export formats: Available in MP4, MOV, MKV, M4V, AVI, and GIF.
- GPU acceleration: Enhances videos faster with GPU support.
Cons of HitPaw
- Long processing time: Time-consuming, especially for upscaling videos to high resolution.
- Subpar Model Performance: Some models produce poor results, as seen in the performance above.
- Limited manual output settings: Only allows changes to resolution, bitrate, format, and save folders.
- Relatively High pricing: Alternatives like UniFab offer more features and better results at the same lifetime pricing.
- Free Trial Limitations: Only a portion of the video can be previewed, with no free export options.
- No auto-save: Risk of losing progress due to unexpected shutdowns or power loss.
HitPaw Video Enhancer Review from User
HitPaw is rated 4.2 stars on Trustpilot.
Best HitPaw Video Enhancer Alternative: UniFab Al Video Enhancer
We’ve explored HitPaw’s various models, each designed for specific tasks—such as the Colorize model, which adds color but doesn't enhance video quality.
UniFab All-In-One is a versatile suite that includes video conversion, editing tools, and AI enhancements. While it doesn’t have a Colorize model, it covers all other HitPaw functions and adds features like SDR to HDR10/Dolby Vision conversion, audio upmixing to DTS 7.1 or EAC3 5.1, and comprehensive audio/video editing.
UniFab All-In-One
- 10+ AI tools for video and audio enhancement
- 30-day free trial with full feature access - No Watermark!
Next, discover the top HitPaw alternative——UniFab All-In-One, which delivers faster processing, superior results, and extensive video and audio enhancement features.
Key Features of UniFab All-In-One
Video & Audio Enhancement
✅ Video Upscaler AI: Boosts resolution to 720P, 1080P, 4K, 8K, and up to 16K with enhanced clarity, improving quality for all video types, including low-res TV shows, black-and-white films, homemade videos, and animations.
✅ Face Enhancer AI: Sharpens and restores facial details in videos using advanced AI enhancement.
✅ HDR Upconverter AI: Upgrades SDR to HDR10/Dolby Vision, improving brightness, color range, and overall quality. (Supports both DCI-P3 and Rec.2020 color spaces.)
✅ Denoise AI: Removes video noise from low-light conditions, high ISO settings, and compression artifacts for clean playback.
✅ Colorizer AI: Automatically adds realistic colors throughout your black and white video with precision. It offers 4 color styles.
✅ Deinterlace AI: Converts interlaced to progressive scan signals, eliminating artifacts and improving playback quality.
✅ Smoother AI: AI-driven frame interpolation reduces judder and increases frame rates up to 120 fps for smoother motion.
✅ Stabilizer AI: Intelligently analyze each frame of video content, automatically adjusting and optimizing image stability
✅ Audio Upmix AI: Enhances audio to DTS 7.1 or EAC3 5.1 for immersive surround sound.
Video Converting & Compressing & Editing
With its video converter and compressor, UniFab ensures seamless video playback on any device.
✅ Extensive Format Support: Converts videos to over 1000 formats, ensuring compatibility across devices and platforms.
✅ Lossless Compression: Compresses high-quality video and audio files without losing fidelity, preserving content integrity.
✅ Flexible customization: UniFab allows you to customize the output video with various parameters such as resolution, codec, frame rate, bitrate, etc.
✅ Video Editing: UniFab offers robust editing features, including trim, crop, volume adjustment, and other parameters, to enhance visuals and create compelling narratives.
Free AI Tools Included:
When you download UniFab, you gain free access to two powerful AI tools:
✅ Vocal Remover AI: Easily extract or remove vocals from songs, ideal for karaoke, remixes, or creative projects.
✅ Video Background Remover AI: Leverages advanced AI matting technology for precise cut-outs, capturing even intricate details like hair strands with accuracy.
✅ Subtitle Generator AI (Beta): Quickly generates accurate subtitles from your video audio with AI speech recognition.
HitPaw Video Enhancer vs. UniFab All-In-One
Basic Information Comparison
Here are some comparisons between HitPaw and UniFab in terms of processing effects, speed, pricing, and other aspects.
| Comparison | UniFab All-In-One | HitPaw Video Enhancer |
| Supported OS | Windows 11/10 64-bit / Mac | Windows 11/10 64-bit / macOS 10.15 or later |
| Lifetime Pricing | $299.99
| $349.99
|
| Free Trail Support | 30-day free trial of all features, without watermark. | With the free trial, only part of the video can be previewed, and free exports are not available. |
| Main Features |
|
|
| Free AI Tools |
| - |
| Additional Features |
（Trim; Crop; Audio: volume; remove background noise）
| - |
| Custom Configuration | Resolution; Format; Color Space; Codec; Frame Rate; Encoding Method; Bits/Pixel; Codec; Channel; Sample Rate; Bit Rate; Output Visual Mode | Resolution; Bitrate; Format |
| Processing Results | UniFab precisely restores details, preserving the original quality and maintaining the image’s authenticity and clarity. | HitPaw's excessive optimization results in significant detail loss, noticeable blurring, and some areas that may appear cartoonish or unnatural. |
Performance Comparison
There are significant variations in the quality of enhancement provided by UniFab All-In-One and HitPaw Video Enhancer across different types of videos.
UniFab excels in image clarity, detail restoration, and overall visual effect, making it a better choice for users with high demands for video quality. While HitPaw offers some improvement, it lags behind UniFab in terms of detail handling and sharpness. For those looking to achieve the best image quality, UniFab is undoubtedly the ideal option.
✅ Film and television video
UniFab
- Image Clarity: UniFab successfully upscales the video from 720P to 4K, resulting in clearer details, vibrant colors, and a sharper, more vivid image.
- Detail Restoration: It effectively restores details in clothing textures, facial expressions, and background elements, even in fast-moving scenes, maintaining high clarity.
- Visual Effect: The enhanced image resembles true 4K with distinct outlines and no noticeable artifacts.
HitPaw
- Image Clarity: Compared to UniFab, HitPaw's 4K enhancement improves clarity but lacks detail, with slightly blurry edges and less preserved detail.
- Detail Restoration: Detail restoration is weaker, with some distortion and less sharpness compared to UniFab.
- Visual Effect: The enhanced image still appears somewhat "flat," lacking the desired depth and intricacy.
✅ Animal Video
UniFab Video Upscaler AI: Shows notable detail enhancement, especially in fine textures and edges, resulting in a clearer image with richer color saturation and contrast.
HitPaw Video Enhancer: Improves clarity, but details remain slightly blurred, with less accurate color reproduction and weaker contrast enhancement compared to UniFab.
✅ SDR to HDR Conversion
For Hitpaw, increasing the DR value enhances brightness, but compared to native HDR, it can result in excessive brightness and more vivid color saturation. At higher DR values, the style becomes closer to SDR than HDR, which may impact visual quality.
UniFab, on the other hand, closely matches native HDR in color reproduction, maintaining more accurate and true-to-life colors.
Source Video
- Duration: 9 min 57 s
- Resolution: 1920×1080
- Frame Rate: 23.976 fps
| Parameter | HitPaw – DR5 (v4.1.0) | UniFab – HDR (v3.0.0.2) |
|---|---|---|
| Conversion Time | ~3 hours | 9 min 45 s |
| Processing Speed | 1.33 fps | 24.49 fps |
📝 UniFab completed HDR conversion significantly faster than HitPaw, with over 18x higher processing speed on the same test machine.
For their detailed information about performance, processing speed, and more, check out: HDR Reviews.
✅ Nightscape video
UniFab HDR Upconverter AI: The HDR processing significantly enhances the brightness and contrast of the image, creating a light and shadow contrast that makes the image more three-dimensional. The details, especially in the highlights and shadow areas, are more pronounced.
HitPaw Color Enhancement Model: It improves image contrast, but brightness enhancement is not as significant as UniFab. The overall image appears more realistic but lacks impact, and the detail rendering is somewhat less impressive, making it suitable for applications that require a natural effect.
✅ Colorize Black and White Video
Hitpaw may leave character details blurry, which reduces HD quality and leads to inconsistent or distorted color processing in some areas.
In contrast, UniFab ensures consistent colorization throughout the video, preserving its aesthetic quality. Additionally, UniFab offers four distinct color styles, allowing for greater customization and a polished, professional finish.
Effortlessly Improve Video Quality with UniFab AI
30-day Free Trial with full feature access!
Launch UniFab program on your system (Windows/ Mac), go to "All Features" to select your preferred module. Then, upload the video to initiate the video-enhancing process.
Next, set the output profile perimeters with resolution, formats, codec, etc, to get a personalized video. At the end, select the “Start” option to complete the video-enhancing process of your video.
Conclusion
After reading this HitPaw Video Enhancer review, you'll have a clearer grasp of its capabilities. HitPaw is a powerful software for enhancing video quality. However, its extended processing times can be inconvenient. Compared to alternatives like UniFab, HitPaw offers relatively less value for money. Therefore, I recommend UniFab All-In-One as a superior alternative. This AI Video Enhancer provides a user-friendly interface, a broader range of features, and more customization options, making it ideal for both beginners and advanced users.
FAQs about HitPaw Video Enhancer
Is HitPaw a good video enhancer?
Yes, Hitpaw does an excellent job of enhancing and offering a range of features to elevate your videos. However, for users seeking more advanced processing effects, faster speeds, and multiple features, UniFab is the most cost-effective alternative. UniFab All-In-One offers more comprehensive customization options, enhancing videos up to 16K, and converting SDR to HDR10/Dolby Vision, bringing even more details and clarity to your videos.
Does HitPaw upscale video to 8K?
Yes, HitPaw does support 8K video upscaling. For a comprehensive comparison of 8K upscaling tools, including HitPaw and other top options like UniFab, check out our 8K Video Enhancer article for more details.
Is HitPaw Video Enhancer Safe?
Absolutely, HitPaw Video Enhancer is entirely free of viruses, malware, or spyware that could jeopardize your computer or compromise your information. Moreover, it does not collect or share any personal data or details from your videos.
Should I Download HitPaw Video Enhancer Crack Version?
No, downloading a cracked version of HitPaw Video Enhancer is both illegal and risky. These versions often contain malware that can threaten your system and personal data. For security, it's best to download the official version from the HitPaw website.