Table Of Content
Before we dive into the details of Topaz Video AI and its various models, let’s first take a quick look at how it compares to UniFab Smoother AI. The table below offers a snapshot of their key differences in performance, speed, and quality, giving you a clearer sense of what to expect from each tool.
| Dimension | UniFab All-In-One | Topaz Video AI |
| Pricing / Subscription | $319.99 lifetime (one-time purchase for lifetime use, including free updates and unlimited access) | $299.00 / year (requires annual renewal) |
| Free Trial | 30-day trial for full features, no watermark | 30-day trial |
| Output Quality | For 95% of use cases, both tools will impress—and only the most demanding users or cinephiles will reliably notice the micro-differences. | |
| Processing Speed | About 0.88 fps/s, generally faster. | About 0.67 fps/s, generally slower. |
| Feature Coverage | Smoother AI; Video Upscaler AI; Denoise AI; HDR Upconverter AI; RTX RapidHDR AI; Video Colorizer AI; Video Converter; Subtitle Generator AI… Up to 17 video & audio enhancement/editing tools, covering a full workflow. | Frame Interpolation; Enhancement; SDR to HDR; Stabilization; Motion deblur. (Focused mainly on video upscaling/enhancement) |
| Learning Curve | Lower learning curve; feature-driven workflow makes it easy to get started. | Steeper learning curve; model-driven workflow requires more time for selection and tuning. |
| Best for | Users who want comparable quality with a lower budget and easy, guided operation. | Users who want high quality and have higher budgets, and are comfortable with a steeper learning curve for deeper control. |
Best Topaz Alternative: UniFab All-In-One
UniFab All-In-One
The following video is about UniFab vs Topaz on frame interpolation, which allows you to more clearly and intuitively see how the processing effect is:
When video creators seek the most robust AI for making footage smoother, Topaz Video AI often makes the shortlist. But what truly sets it apart in the crowded field of frame interpolation tools? Let’s break down its core offerings and real-world applications—beyond just flashy demos.
Topaz Video AI packs an impressive suite of frame interpolation models, each tailored for different footage challenges. The main models—Apollo, Chronos, and Aion—address everything from everyday scene enhancement to high-end cinematic workflows.
So, which Topaz Video AI model is best? That depends entirely on your footage and your goals. Each model—Apollo, Chronos, and Aion—has its own personality, strengths, and surprising quirks. Here’s how they stack up in real-life editing situations.
Apollo is designed for nonlinear motion and slightly blurred or shaky footage, producing up to 8 interpolated frames per run and delivering especially smooth results for sports, dancing, or handheld camera work. It handles motion blur and jerkiness better than most, making it a favorite for slow-motion replays where detail matters.
Chronos is your all-purpose workhorse. Its linear speed scaling means it keeps up whether you’re interpolating just a couple frames or creating extreme slow-motion sequences, with less risk of overfitting or artifact buildup. It’s especially handy for gaming footage, animated scenes, and converting standard videos to slow motion, maintaining both sharpness and visual coherence.
If you’re dealing with 4K+ footage, or want ultra-slow-motion (up to 16x), Aion steps up. It preserves more edge detail and reduces “stitched” artifact lines even in ultra-high-resolution sports or wildlife clips. That said, it’s by far the slowest option—Aion’s processing time can feel glacial, especially on older GPUs. For flagship projects or critical archival restoration, though, nothing matches its quality.
| Model | Core Use Case | Typical Input | Output Frames / Run | Best For | Not Ideal For |
| Apollo | Nonlinear, blurry, or shaky motion | Sports, Action, Jitter | 8 | Complex slow-mo, dynamic movement | Static, simple scenes |
| Apollo - Fast | Smooth, low-texture, low-motion footage | Calm pans, Interviews | 4 | Speed with simple content | Busy, blurry, or complex motion |
| Chronos | All-purpose interpolation | Mixed, Gaming, Slow-Mo | Variable | Balanced results, versatility | Large frame leaps, pure speed |
| Chronos - Fast | Fast action, big movement | Sports, Racing, Fast Cuts | Variable | Handling split-second/massive action | Slow/simple/static content |
| Aion | High-res, extreme motion & Slo-Mo | 4K+, Sports Highlights | Up to 16 | UHD, minimal artifacts, 16x slow motion | Low end GPUs, fast output |
Testing machine
| Model | Test Input (Duration / FPS) | Output (FPS) | Conversion Time | Processing Speed (fps/sec) | Comment | Strengths |
| Apollo | 5s / 25fps | 120FPS | 2m 4s | 1.01 | Fast with complex motion | Handles blur, tricky movement; smooth lines |
| Apollo - Fast | 15s / 30fps | 120FPS | 4m 26s | 1.69 | Fastest, for easy scenes | Quick, minimal artifacts in easy content |
| Chronos | 10s / 30fps | 120FPS | 8m 17s | 0.60 | Good all-rounder | Consistent, balanced, reliable output |
| Chronos - Fast | 30s / 25fps | 120FPS | 18m 35s | 0.67 | Not always "faster" | Better on extreme motion, rapid changes |
| Aion | 15s / 30fps | 120FPS | 14m 35s | 0.51 | Highest quality, slowest | Top detail, fewest stitched/ghost artifacts |
*Tested on RTX 4070; results will vary.
While Topaz often dominates the discussion, it’s far from your only choice. UniFab Smoother AI has quickly become a serious Topaz Video AI Alternative, especially for creators seeking speed, simplicity, and strong results—without getting locked into a subscription. But what actually sets it apart?
UniFab Smoother AI offers fast, high-quality frame interpolation with an intuitive workflow and a buy-it-once lifetime license, making it ideal for users who value speed, affordability, and all-in-one functionality. It’s designed to reduce visible artifacts, with special attention to preserving natural motion—particularly in everyday and action-heavy videos.
Main advantages:
Best Topaz Alternative: UniFab All-In-One
UniFab All-In-One
Specs and feature lists are one thing—but how do Topaz and UniFab actually perform in real projects? It’s time to leave the marketing slides behind and get into real-world benchmarks: processing speed, frame smoothness, and how they handle the unpredictable messiness of actual footage.
In head-to-head tests on an RTX 4070 system, UniFab Smoother AI ran up to 30% faster than Topaz’s flagship models, while maintaining comparable visual fidelity, especially on motion-intensive clips. For example, converting a 30-second 25fps video to 120fps:
| Model | Test Input (Duration / FPS) | Output (FPS) | Conversion Time | Processing Speed (fps/sec) |
| Apollo | 5s / 25fps | 120FPS | 2m 4s | 1.01fps/s |
| Apollo - Fast | 15s / 30fps | 120FPS | 4m 26s | 1.69fps/s |
| Chronos | 10s / 30fps | 120FPS | 8m 17s | 0.60fps/s |
| Chronos - Fast | 30s / 25fps | 120FPS | 18m 35s | 0.67fps/s |
| Aion | 15s / 30fps | 120FPS | 14m 35s | 0.51fps/s |
| UniFab Smoother AI | 30s / 25fps | 120FPS | 14m 12s | 0.88fps/s |
*Numbers based on controlled desktop tests; real-world speeds may differ by hardware and project complexity.
One of the biggest fears with AI interpolation is artifacts: ghosting, edge doubling, strange morphs on fast scenes. In our direct tests, both Topaz and UniFab excel at suppressing common flaws, with only subtle differences:
| Product | License | Price (USD) | Included Tools | Free Trial |
| UniFab Smoother AI | Lifetime (ONE-TIME) | $89.99 | Smoother AI | 30 days, no watermark |
| UniFab All-In-One | Lifetime (ONE-TIME) | $319.99 | 17+ (including UniFab Smoother AI) | 30 days, no watermark |
| Topaz Video AI | Subscription | $299/year | ≈5 | 30 days, watermark |
So, after all the numbers and real-world tests, which frame interpolation tool actually takes the crown for 2024? The answer, as usual with creative software, depends on your priorities—but some patterns stand out.
Key Takeaways:
If you want plug-and-play reliability, speed, and a future-proof deal, UniFab Smoother AI is a “no regrets” choice. If your projects demand absolute perfection, and you accept the time and learning curve, Topaz Video AI still rules the high-end.
Frame interpolation in Topaz refers to the AI-powered process of generating new, intermediate frames between existing video frames to create smoother motion or higher frame rates. Using advanced models like Apollo, Chronos, and Aion, Topaz Video AI can transform ordinary footage into slow-motion or boost fluidity for standard or high-resolution videos, while minimizing motion artifacts and preserving visual detail.
Chronos is Topaz Video AI’s general-purpose frame interpolation model, designed for versatility and reliable results with most footage, especially gaming, casual scenes, or standard slow motion. Apollo, on the other hand, excels in handling complex, nonlinear motion and slightly blurry or shaky footage—making it ideal for sports, action, or dynamic handheld videos. Apollo typically runs faster with complex action, while Chronos offers more balanced performance for a wide range of input.
For general video projects, start with the Chronos model. Chronos offers reliable, artifact-free results for most everyday content, from gaming and vlogs to event footage. If your video includes unpredictable or high-speed motion (like sports or dance), try Apollo, but for most users and standard scenarios, Chronos is the safest and most versatile choice.