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Open source video upscalers are free tools that increase the resolution of videos using publicly available source code. With the rise of AI, many AI video upscaling open source solutions now use neural networks to restore lost details and improve video quality beyond traditional methods Compared to closed-source software, open source upscalers offer customization and transparency, but some users may find setup complex.
There are two main types of open source video upscaling tools:
| Type | Algorithms | Detail | Speed |
| AI-based (e.g. ESRGAN) | Artificial intelligence models | Sharper, clearer | Medium |
| Non-AI (e.g. Anime4K) | Traditional methods | Less detailed | Fast |
Open source AI video upscalers use artificial intelligence models like convolutional neural networks (CNNs) or generative adversarial networks (GANs) to enhance video resolution by reconstructing realistic details based on learned data.
Choosing between AI and non-AI open-source video upscaler depends on your needs: AI solutions offer better detail recovery, while non-AI tools provide speed and simplicity.
Here's a snapshot of the top four open source video upscaler tools, each offering unique features for enhancing video quality. Whether you need AI-driven enhancements, batch processing, or anime-specific optimization, these tools provide robust, customizable solutions for improving low-resolution videos. Check them out below.
Feature Video2X Waifu2X ESRGAN Anime4K AI-Based Yes (Hybrid, AI & Non-AI models) Yes (CNN) Yes (GAN) No (Shader-based) Best For Versatile video & image upscaling Anime & cartoon videos Realistic, high-quality content FFast real-time anime upscaling Platforms Windows, Mac, Linux Windows, Mac, Linux Windows, Linux Windows, Mac, Linux Price free free free free Ease of Use Moderate (setup needed) Easy (web/app interface) Moderate (technical setup) Easy (real-time use) Technology Multi-algorithm, GPU accelerated CNN GAN Shader-based, no AI
Video2X is a free, open-source video upscaler designed to increase video resolution and improve video quality. It works by processing individual frames using AI models like Real-ESRGAN, then reconstructing these frames into a higher-resolution video. Users can download and install Video2X to upscale their videos locally, making it a powerful choice for those seeking customizable, AI-driven video enhancement without cost.
Video2X acts as a frontend for multiple AI upscaling tools like Waifu2X, Real-ESRGAN, and Anime4K. It allows users to choose between AI-driven and traditional upscaling methods, depending on their hardware and needs.
Key Features:
Pros
Free and Open Source: No cost, with customizable source code.
Versatile: Handles both video and image upscaling.
High Compatibility: Supports multiple formats and platforms.
Customizable: Flexible AI model and parameter options.
GPU Acceleration: Faster processing on supported hardware.
Cons
Steep Learning Curve: Difficult setup for non-technical users.
Hardware Dependent: Requires powerful hardware for optimal performance.
Stability Issues: Prone to crashes with improper configurations.
Limited Models: Some models work best with specific content types.
Time-Consuming: Long processing times for high-resolution videos.
User Requirements: Basic familiarity with Python and command line recommended; strong NVIDIA GPU preferred for speed.
Best for: Upscaling GIFs, anime, and various specific video types with flexible model choices.
How it works: Video2X acts as an open-source frontend that employs multiple AI models to enhance resolution, allowing users to pick the optimal algorithm for their content.
User experience: Can be run locally if you have strong hardware or accessed via free cloud services like Google Colab to bypass local GPU limitations, though setup requires some technical knowledge.
How to Use Video2X:
Waifu2X is an open-source anime upscaler designed primarily for enhancing the resolution of anime-style artwork and illustrations. It uses convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to reduce noise and upscale images with minimal loss of quality. Originally created for anime content, Waifu2X has since been adapted to process other types of images, though its performance is best suited for anime and similar styles.
Key Features:
Pros
Anime-Optimized: Excellent for anime-style images.
Simple to Use: Beginner-friendly, especially the web version.
Open Source: Free and customizable.
Effective Noise Reduction: Restores older or noisy images well.
Lightweight: Works on less powerful hardware.
Cons
Limited Scope: Poor performance on realistic photos.
Scaling Limitations: Supports only up to 2x scaling.
Outdated Models: Lacks modern AI advancements.
No Native Video Support: Requires adaptations for videos.
Slow Without GPU: Processing can be time-consuming.
User Requirements: Suitable for users with minimal technical skills; Windows is main supported OS.
Best for: Simple noise reduction and upscaling of anime and cartoon-style videos and images.
How it works: Waifu2X uses convolutional neural networks (CNNs) tailored to handle the unique features of animated content, effectively reducing noise while preserving line clarity and colors.
User experience: Primarily designed for images, so video users often need to extract frames and process them individually, which adds extra steps to the workflow.
How to Use Waifu2X:
ESRGAN is a popular open-source AI upscaler, primarily for images and also applicable to videos (via frame-by-frame processing). It uses generative adversarial networks (GANs) to deliver high-quality, detailed video and image enhancement.
While not a standalone program, ESRGAN (and its improved version Real-ESRGAN) serves as the foundation for many open-source upscaling tools, leveraging deep learning to restore and improve video and image resolution effectively. It improves on its predecessor SRGAN with advanced techniques like Residual-in-Residual Dense Blocks (RRDB), enabling high-resolution, detailed, and realistic image enhancement. ESRGAN is widely used in applications such as gaming textures, photography, and digital art.
Key Features:
Pros
High Quality: Preserves details and textures effectively.
Versatile: Works well with both realistic and stylized images.
Open Source: Free and customizable.
Pre-trained Models: Ready-to-use models for various tasks.
Customizable: Supports model training for specific needs.
Cons
Hardware Demands: Requires powerful GPUs.
Complex Setup: Challenging for beginners.
Slow Processing: Time-intensive for large tasks.
Over-Sharpening: May create overly artificial results.
Limited Video Support: Not designed for video upscaling.
User Requirements: Comfortable with Python, PyTorch, command line, and have high-end GPU (e.g., NVIDIA RTX series).
Best for: Real-world video upscaling and old footage restoring, especially with powerful GPUs and Linux or Windows systems.
How it works: ESRGAN uses deep learning models to reconstruct lost details and reduce compression artifacts, resulting in sharper and more detailed video output.
User experience: Requires installing a precompiled version or setting up Python and PyTorch environments, which may be challenging for beginners but offers high-quality results once configured.
How to Use ESRGAN:
Anime4K is a lightweight, non-AI open-source upscaler that enhances the resolution and quality of anime-style videos. Instead of using AI models, it relies on a specialized, efficient algorithm that runs shaders directly on your GPU, designed specifically for anime and line-art.
This approach allows Anime4K to upscale content in real-time, making it ideal for users with limited hardware resources or those seeking quick results. It is widely used for improving the visual quality of anime videos on media players like MPV and VLC upscaling AI.
Key Features:
Pros
Fast: Real-time upscaling with minimal delay.
Anime-Optimized: Enhances anime-style content effectively.
Lightweight: Low hardware requirements.
Open Source: Free and customizable.
Cross-Platform: Works with major media players.
Cons
Anime-Specific: Ineffective for non-anime content.
No AI Features: Lacks advanced detail reconstruction.
Limited Quality: Results are basic compared to AI models.
Manual Setup: Requires tuning for optimal performance.
Playback Focused: Not designed for video file processing.
User Requirements: Minimal technical skills; primarily used as plugin for VLC, MPV, etc.
Best for: Real-time, low-resource upscaling directly during playback on media players like VLC or MPV.
How it works: Anime4K applies shader-based filters to enhance edge sharpness and resolution on-the-fly, without AI computation, enabling instant video improvement during viewing.
User experience: Users love its ease of integration with popular media players and real-time performance on low-end hardware. Its anime-specific optimizations produce clean, fast enhancements but are not suitable for realistic videos.
How to Use Anime4K:
While open source AI video upscalers offer powerful, customizable tools for improving video quality, they often come with limitations such as slower processing speeds, a steep learning curve, and inconsistent results. Many users on platforms like open source video upscaler Reddit discuss these challenges.
Instead, you can grab your hands on the versatile and reliable UniFab Video Upscaler AI, a solution that combines smooth ease of use with exceptional performance. Let's explore the complete details of this powerful software below.
Compared to the complex and often limited functionality of open-source AI video upscaler, UniFab Video Upscaler AI offers a simpler, faster, and more effective solution for video upscaling.
This AI Video Upscaler improves video quality by intelligently correcting issues such as noise, compression artifacts, blurriness, and jagged edges. With its intuitive interface, it allows both beginners and experts to achieve professional results quickly. The tool offers powerful AI-driven upscaling, enhancing details and clarity, while maintaining ease of use for fast, high-quality video enhancement.
UniFab Video Upscaler AI
✔ One-click AI upscaling to HD, 4K, 8K, or 16K
✔ 30-day free trial, no watermark or restrictions
✔ Intuitive, no-code interface for effortless enhancement
UniFab Video Upscaler AI
Type: AI-powered
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Best for: upscaling videos to 1080p, 4K, 8K, or 16K, enhancing details, and reducing noise with AI-powered precision.
Key Features of UniFab
Comparison of Open Source Video Upscaler and UniFab
| Feature | Open Source Video Upscaler | UniFab Video Upscaler AI |
| Cost | Free | Paid (30-day free trial, no watermark) |
| Platform Support | Windows, Mac, Linux | Windows, Mac |
| Ease of Use | Moderate to Complex | Very Easy (one-click, user-friendly GUI) |
| AI Engine | Various (ESRGAN, Waifu2X, etc.) | Proprietary advanced AI models |
| Output Quality | High (depends on selected model) | Very high (up to 16K) |
| Batch Processing | Yes (depends on tool, often command-line) | Yes |
| Speed | Moderate to slow, hardware-dependent | Very fast with GPU acceleration (up to 50x faster) |
| Best For | Tech-savvy users, custom workflows | Beginners, professionals needing quick and reliable upscale |
| Support & Documentation | Community (forums, GitHub); often scattered | Official support & guides, detailed in-app tutorials |
| Updates & Maintenance | Community-driven, irregular | Frequent, official, automated updates |
Performance of UniFab
How to Upscale Videos with UniFab
30-day Free Trial for full features, without watermark!
Download and open UniFab, go to All Features, and select the Upscaler module. Then, import the video to enlarge.
Pick the video quality, resolution, output format, codec, and more parameters to customize the final results of your loaded video.
Press Start to begin the upscaling process and edit the video file for enlarged results in a few seconds.
Video2X is a free, open-source video upscaler designed to increase video resolution, while related projects like ESRGAN provide a powerful framework for AI-driven upscaling. Additionally, Waifu2X is optimized for anime-style content with effective noise reduction and Anime4K excels at real-time GPU-based upscaling for anime videos.
While local AI video upscaler tools offer customizable and powerful options suitable for advanced users, they often come with a steeper learning curve for beginners. For a user-friendly and fast solution, UniFab Video Upscaler AI offers high-quality results with easy operation.
Open-source upscaler can be effective but may require more technical knowledge to use. Paid software is typically more polished and user-friendly, while open-source tools offer more customization options.
The best open-source AI video enhancer is VapourSynth with the NNEDI3 or Anime4K plugin, offering powerful AI-driven upscaling and video enhancement capabilities.
UniFab Video Upscaler AI offers a 30-day free trial without watermark. For more free options, check out this article on the best free video upscaler.
Open-source upscalers are usually safe, but it's essential to download them from trusted sources like GitHub to avoid security risks.
Most open-source AI video upscalers are cross-platform, meaning they can run on multiple operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux. However, some tools may have limited support or might require specific dependencies or environments, so it's important to check the compatibility of the software before installation.