HitPaw vs Topaz: Full Comparison, Real-World Tests, Pros & Cons + Better Alternative

If you're searching “hitpaw vs topaz”, you're probably choosing between two of the most popular AI video enhancer software: HitPaw VikPea (HitPaw Video Enhancer) and Topaz Video AI. Both can upscale, denoise, and sharpen videos — but they’re built for different users. In this Topaz vs HitPaw comparison, we'll explore their features, performance, ease of use, pricing, and value. Additionally, we'll introduce UniFab All-In-One, a highly cost-effective alternative that offers a wider range of features and matches the performance and speed of both HitPaw and Topaz, all while maintaining an intuitive, user-friendly interface.

HitPaw vs Topaz: Quick Decision Guide

Choose Topaz Video AI if:

• You are a professional or serious video editor who needs granular control over enhancement settings.
• You prioritize maximum detail preservation for complex textures such as skin, film grain, or cinematic footage.
• You are comfortable with a steeper learning curve and higher long-term cost in exchange for professional-grade results.

Choose HitPaw Video Enhancer if:

• You are a beginner or casual user who wants fast, one-click enhancement without technical complexity.
• You need an all-in-one restoration tool, including colorization, repair, and stabilization.
• You often enhance anime or animated content, where HitPaw’s dedicated models tend to perform better.

Key Differences Between HitPaw and Topaz Video AI

In this section, we'll compare the basic information of HitPaw Video Enhancer, Topaz Video AI, and their alternative UniFab All-In-One to help you determine which tool best suits your video enhancement needs. Whether you're a beginner looking for simplicity or a professional in need of detailed control, or someone who needs an all-in-one, powerful solution at a better price, we’ve got you covered.

Overview of HitPaw and Topaz Video AI

What is HitPaw VikPea (Video Enhancer)

HitPaw VikPea is an AI-powered tool designed to improve video quality by enhancing resolution, reducing noise, and sharpening images. It aims to offer a simple and accessible solution for users looking to enhance their videos with minimal effort and technical knowledge.

• User Experience: Very easy to use with a simple, guided interface for beginners.
• Features: Includes a wide set of tools, such as colorizing black-and-white photos and removing scratches from old images.
• Performance: Fast processing with strong sharpening, though the results can sometimes appear too sharp or slightly artificial.
• Best for: New users or anyone who wants a quick all-in-one tool for video restoration, colorization, and basic fixes.

What is Topaz Video AI

Topaz Video AI is a powerful video enhancement tool that uses artificial intelligence to upscale video resolution, reduce noise, and apply frame interpolation. Known for its high-quality results, it is tailored more towards advanced users, offering more control and customization options for detailed video editing and enhancement.

• User Experience: Offers more advanced, professional-level controls, but these take time and practice to understand.
• Features: Strong in fine noise reduction, detail enhancement, and portrait improvements.
• Performance: Delivers more natural-looking results, but may lack some of HitPaw’s extra tools like automatic colorization or built-in scratch repair.
• Best for: Professionals or experienced users who want precise control and prefer subtle, realistic enhancements.

HitPaw vs Topaz: Features Comparison

This section highlights the key features of  HitPaw Video Enhancer vs Topaz Video AI comparing their functionalities to help you understand the strengths and differences of each tool, enabling you to choose the best option for your video enhancement needs.

Key Features of Hitpaw VikPea

• Face Model: Repairs portrait videos clearly with sharpening, softening, and fast modes based on facial features.
• Animation Model: Upgrades old or blurry anime and cartoon videos to high definition.
• Colorize Model: Restores natural colors to black-and-white or greyscale footage for a more vivid viewing experience.
• Color Enhancement Model: Boosts color vibrancy for a striking visual effect.
• Frame Rate Enhancement Model: Enhances the frame rate of the original video file 2 times or 4 times for smoother motion.
• Stabilize Model: Corrects shaky footage for a more stable video.
• Low-light Enhancement Model: Improves brightness and contrast, restoring details in dark areas and making low-light videos clearer and brighter.
• SDR to HDR: Upgrades SDR videos to HDR with brighter colors and richer details.
• BG Rmover: Allows exported videos to retain a transparent or blurred background.
• General Denoise Model: Removes noise to improve video clarity and quality.
• Detail Recovery Model: Restores texture and details in blurry low/medium resolution videos.
• Video Quality Repair Model: Eliminates artifacts and noise caused by compression, improving overall video quality.

Key Features of Topaz Video AI

• Enhancement: Upscales videos to 720P, 1080P, 4K, 8K, 16k with AI models for various footage types.
• Frame Interpolation: Increases frame rate for slow-motion effects by generating additional frames.
• Stabilization: Reduces camera shake and jitter for smoother videos.
• Motion Deblur: Reduces motion blur caused by camera movement.
• Film Grain Addition: Adds configurable film grain to blend pixels and reduce sharpening artifacts.
• Deinterlacing: Improves smoothness and clarity of interlaced footage.
• Noise Reduction: Topaz video denoise helps minimize visual noise for cleaner, more professional footage.
• SDR to HDR Conversion:  Enhances SDR videos by expanding brightness, contrast, and color to HDR.

Topaz vs HitPaw: Performance Tests

In this section, we'll focus on the processing effects of HitPaw Video Enhancer vs Topaz for different types of video enhancement under the same function.

Upscaling Low-Res Videos to 4K

Landscape Video

HitPaw: Slight improvement in clarity, but still appears somewhat unclear.

Topaz: Generally performs well in detail and sharpness.

Film Video

HitPaw: The faces after enhancement do not show a significant increase in texture and clarity, resulting in a softer appearance.

Topaz: The faces after enhancement show a significant increase in texture and clarity.

Animation Video

HitPaw: The detail enhancement is very noticeable, with lines free from artifacts.

Topaz: No significant improvement in clarity, with artifacts still present in the lines after enhancement.

HitPaw vs Topaz for Faces (Portrait Footage)

Restore facial details

HitPaw’s Face Model offers three output modes: Fast, Sharpen, and Soften. You can choose based on your needs. Fast Effect: Similar in style to Sharpen, but with slightly lower overall clarity. The export time is comparable to Sharpen. Sharpen Effect: Features high texture and contrast, with prominent facial details. Soften Effect: Provides a smoother finish compared to Sharpen and Fast modes, resulting in lower texture and contrast in the video.

Topaz offers seven enhancement modes, with Iris specifically designed for facial enhancement. After using Topaz, facial details show minimal texture and clarity improvement, resulting in a smoother, more natural appearance that closely resembles real-life footage.

Comparison of Topaz vs HitPaw  Both software significantly enhance image texture and clarity. Unlike HitPaw's Sharpen and Fast modes, Topaz's results are similar to HitPaw's Soft mode but offer a more realistic effect. Want to see how different tools convert SDR to HDR? Take a look at the reviews of HDR software.

HitPaw vs Topaz: Users Reviews form Reddit

On Reddit, a post titled "Topaz Video AI vs. Nero AI Video Upscaler vs. HitPaw Video Enhance AI?" sparked a lively discussion. As shown in the following picture, most users agreed that Topaz delivers noticeably better results than other video enhancers, including HitPaw. The main downside of Topaz, however, is its high price. It has no lifetime plan, and users can only subscribe monthly or yearly at a high cost.

Another user shared a very fair comparison: Topaz Labs targets pro editors, offering deep controls and many customization choices, though it comes with a harder learning curve. HitPaw is designed to be simple, making it a great pick for newcomers who want solid improvements without extra hassle.

So this leads to a natural question: Is there software that works for both professionals and beginners?
The answer is yes. UniFab is an excellent Topaz alternative with a lifetime option. It delivers professional-level results comparable to Topaz, while also offering a beginner-friendly interface and workflow similar to HitPaw.
On top of that, UniFab provides a lifetime version, and if you follow the UniFab Twitter, you'll notice they regularly release coupons and promotions. With these discounts applied, the price becomes much lower than HitPaw's lifetime plan.

Best HitPaw and Topaz Alternative: UniFab All-In-One

While both HitPaw vs Topaz offer unique strengths, not all users may fit perfectly into the categories these tools target. HitPaw is fantastic for casual use but may lack the advanced features some users need. Topaz is incredibly powerful, but it can be overwhelming for non-professionals—and both come with a high price tag.

For those seeking a balanced solution—something that combines HitPaw’s ease of use with Topaz’s advanced features—UniFab All-In-One stands out as the ideal alternative.

Why Choose UniFab All-In-One

This UniFab All-In-One tool offers the best of both worlds: powerful AI-driven video enhancement with an intuitive, user-friendly interface. It caters to both casual users and professionals, providing a seamless experience for anyone looking to improve video quality. Here's why UniFab stands out:

• Autopilot Model: Automatically detects enhancement needs and creates efficient AI workflows for multitasking.
• AI Technology: UniFab uses cutting-edge AI algorithms to upscale videos, enhance details, reduce noise, and improve color accuracy. While similar to Topaz, it offers easier control.
• User Interface: UniFab features a simple interface like HitPaw, making it easy to use. For those needing more control, it provides customizable settings for fine-tuning, similar to Topaz.
• Performance: UniFab balances speed and quality, delivering professional-grade results without the excessive processing time of Topaz. It's well-suited for users with mid-range hardware.
• Faster Speed: UniFab boasts a 200% increase in processing speed due to a compiled upgrade.
• Affordability: Offering a competitive price, UniFab provides a wider range of features than HitPaw, delivering excellent value for money.

Key Features of UniFab All-In-One

1. Video & Audio Enhancement

• 16K Upscaling: Upscale to 720P, 1080P, 4K, 8K, or even 16K for sharper, clearer visuals.
• Convert SDR to HDR: Upgrade SDR to HDR10/Dolby Vision for enhanced brightness and color.
• Denoise Video: Remove noise and compression artifacts for clearer playback.
• Stabilize Video: Reduce shaky footage and smooth out camera movements for a professional look.
• Colorize B&W Video: Add realistic, AI-powered colorization to black-and-white videos for a vibrant, lifelike result.
• Subtitle Translation: Easily translate subtitles into multiple languages for global reach and accessibility.
• Video Dubbling: Dub any videos in different languages, enhancing localization and audience engagement.
• Enhance Facial Detail: Improve facial features and clarity in videos, making them sharper and more defined.
• Frame Interpolation: Smooth motion and higher frame rates through AI-powered interpolation.
• Deinterlacing: Convert interlaced video to progressive scan for better quality.
• Audio Upmixing: Enhance audio to formats like DTS 7.1 or EAC3 5.1 for immersive sound.

2. Two Free AI Tools

• Vocal Remover: Extract or remove vocals, perfect for karaoke.
• Video Background Remover: AI-powered matting technology for precise background removal.

3. Video Conversion & Editing

• Wide Format Support: Convert to over 1,000 formats for full device compatibility.
• Lossless Compression: Shrink file sizes without losing quality.
• Editing Tools: Trim, crop, adjust volume, and fine-tune settings for optimal results.

How to Use UniFab All-In-One

UniFab vs. HitPaw vs. Topaz: Processing Effects

Add Color to Black and White Video

UniFab vs HitPaw: Compared to HitPaw,  UniFab offers several advantages Consistent Color Mapping: Ensures color consistency throughout the video for a seamless viewing experience. High-Quality Output: Delivers vibrant and lifelike results, preserving the aesthetic quality of the original footage.

Animal Video

UniFab: Provides significant detail improvement, particularly in fine textures and edges, leading to a clearer image with enhanced color saturation and contrast.

HitPaw: Enhances clarity but keeps some details slightly blurred, with less precise color reproduction and weaker contrast compared to UniFab.

Nightscape video

UniFab: The HDR processing greatly boosts brightness and contrast, enhancing light and shadow contrasts to give the image a more three-dimensional appearance. Details, particularly in highlights and shadow regions, become more pronounced.

HitPaw: Improves image contrast, but its brightness enhancement is not as pronounced as UniFab's. The overall image looks more realistic but lacks impact, with less impressive detail rendering, making it suitable for applications where a natural effect is preferred.

Film and television video

UniFab Visual Effect: The enhanced image closely resembles true 4K quality, with crisp outlines and no visible artifacts. Image Clarity: UniFab effectively upscales 720p videos to 4K, delivering sharper details, vibrant colors, and a more vivid overall image. Detail Restoration: It accurately restores textures in clothing, facial expressions, and background elements, even in fast-paced scenes, ensuring high clarity.

HitPaw Visual Effect: The enhanced image appears somewhat "flat," lacking the depth and complexity found in UniFab’s results. Image Clarity: HitPaw’s 4K enhancement improves clarity but falls short on detail, resulting in slightly blurry edges and less preserved detail compared to UniFab. Detail Restoration: Detail restoration is less effective, with some distortion and reduced sharpness relative to UniFab.

SDR to HDR Conversion

Comparison UniFab vs Topaz:  Compared to Topaz, UniFab offers several advantages:  Controlled Color Saturation: Ensures natural tones are preserved while avoiding over-brightness. Precise HDR Conversion: Offers superior video quality with support for native HDR, bringing your content closer to a true HDR experience.

Final Verdict: HitPaw or Topaz?

• Choose HitPaw if you're a beginner who wants a simple, easy-to-navigate interface and appreciates having built-in tools like automatic colorization and scratch removal. It's a good fit for users who want fast results and don't mind that the sharpening can sometimes look a bit stronger or more noticeable.
• Choose Topaz if you're a professional or experienced user who needs deeper control over every detail and is willing to spend time learning the software. With the right settings, Topaz can produce more subtle, natural-looking enhancements, making it ideal for projects where realism and fine texture preservation matter.
• Consider trying a tool like UniFab if you want a balance between strong features and simple operation. UniFab is known for its easy operation, professional video enhancement and low price.

FAQs about HitPaw vs Topaz

Is Topaz better than HitPaw for professional upscaling?

Yes. Topaz Video AI is generally better for professional upscaling, especially when working with complex textures, cinematic footage, or facial details. Its advanced models and fine-tuning options allow for more realistic and natural results, though it requires more experience to use effectively.

Is HitPaw better than Topaz for beginners?

Yes. HitPaw is better for beginners because it offers a simpler interface, faster workflows, and built-in restoration tools. Users can achieve noticeable improvements without adjusting complex parameters.

HitPaw vs Topaz: Which is better for processing animation video and landscape video?

For processing animation videos, HitPaw is recommended. It effectively enhances clarity and maintains the natural look of animated content, making it suitable for preserving the intended style and color accuracy of animations.

For processing landscape videos, Topaz is recommended. It excels in enhancing detail and clarity, providing superior sharpness and texture, which is particularly beneficial for capturing the intricate details and vast scenery of landscape videos.

Is there a software that is suitable for enhancing all types of videos and delivers excellent results?

UniFab is highly recommended for enhancing all types of videos. It offers comprehensive features such as 8K upscaling, SDR to HDR conversion, denoising, smoothing, and detail restoration, making it versatile for various video types. UniFab provides high-quality processing with advanced clarity, color accuracy, and sharpness, ensuring excellent results across different genres and formats.

What are the alternatives to Topaz Video AI?

You can explore Topaz Video Enhance AI alternative in this article, which lists 10 reliable options, each offering unique features to enhance video quality.

Is HitPaw Video Enhancer better than Topaz Video AI?

For quick jobs, HitPaw is better. For advanced edits, Topaz is better.