What is Topaz Video AI?
Topaz Video AI is a desktop app that uses AI models to upscale, denoise, sharpen, stabilise and interpolate video. Topaz Labs renamed it Topaz Video when it launched the Topaz Studio bundle in autumn 2025, so the current product carries the shorter name. It processes footage locally on your GPU, with optional cloud rendering, and works as a standalone app or a plugin.
The licence model changed at the same time. Topaz Labs sold perpetual licences of Video AI until 3 October 2025, and version 7.1.5 was the last perpetual release. Topaz Video is subscription-only and needs an active plan to open any version. Topaz says more than 1 million photographers and filmmakers use its tools, and it names Netflix, Nike and NVIDIA among the companies that trust them.
Key Features
- AI upscaling to 4K: Topaz Video upscales low-resolution and archival footage to 4K using its enhancement models. Topaz pitches this at old home videos and stock footage, and model choice decides whether results look natural or over-sharpened.
- Starlight models: Starlight Precise and Starlight Mini are Topaz’s generative restoration models for heavily degraded video. Version 1.6.0 brought Starlight Precise 2.5, tuned for realistic faces and skin, to AMD and Mac users with output up to 4K.
- Over 20 enhancement models: Topaz lists more than 20 models, including Proteus, Iris, Nyx, Rhea, Artemis, Gaia, Theia and Themis. Each targets a different problem, such as faces, noise or compressed footage, so you can match the model to the source.
- Frame interpolation and slow motion: Apollo, Chronos and Aion generate new in-between frames to raise frame rates or create smooth slow motion. This helps convert jerky low-frame-rate clips or stretch action shots without the stutter of simple frame duplication.
- Stabilisation: The stabilisation tool steadies shaky camera footage after it was shot. It suits handheld phone clips and action footage that would otherwise need a gimbal or manual tracking work in an editor.
- SDR to HDR conversion: Hyperion 2 converts 8-bit standard dynamic range video into high bit-depth HDR. Topaz aims it at archival and AI-generated clips that need to fit into professional finishing pipelines.
- Denoise, sharpen and focus recovery: Topaz Video removes grain and compression noise, sharpens detail and restores soft focus. These tools let you rescue low-light or slightly missed shots instead of reshooting.
- Cloud rendering credits: Subscriptions include monthly cloud video credits, from 25 on Topaz Video to 600 on Studio Pro. Cloud rendering offloads heavy jobs from your computer, but unused credits expire each month.
- Editor plugins: Topaz Video runs as a plugin inside After Effects, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Final Cut Pro and Nuke. The Nuke plugin arrived in version 1.6.0 in May 2026 and offers enhance, interpolation, interlaced and motion deblur options.
Pros
- Wide model choice for restoration: Topaz offers more than 20 specialised models covering upscaling, denoising, interpolation and HDR. You can pick the right model per clip, which gives better results than a single one-size-fits-all filter.
- Strong results on old footage: Reviewers rate it highly for restoring low-quality and archival video. Detail enhancement looks natural on many sources, and motion stays smooth rather than flickering between frames.
- Unlimited local rendering: Every desktop plan includes unlimited local rendering, so long projects do not use up credits. This matters for users with capable GPUs who process hours of footage.
- Fits professional workflows: Plugins for After Effects, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Final Cut Pro and Nuke let editors enhance clips without leaving their timeline. Hyperion 2 also outputs high bit-depth HDR for finishing work.
- Studio bundle adds value: Topaz Studio costs $399 a year and adds Topaz Photo, Gigapixel and web apps, plus 300 monthly video credits. For users who also edit stills, the bundle beats paying for apps separately.
- Free trial with no time limit: Topaz’s help documentation describes a free trial with no time limit. Video exports carry a watermark, but you can test models on your own footage before paying.
Cons
- Subscription only, no perpetual licence: Topaz stopped selling perpetual licences on 3 October 2025, and Topaz Video needs an active subscription to run. Former Video AI owners who preferred a one-off $299 purchase now face recurring costs.
- Demanding hardware: The minimum spec is 16 GB of RAM, a 6 GB VRAM GPU and 45 GB of storage, with 32 GB RAM and an RTX 30 series card recommended. Intel Macs are not supported at all.
- Slow processing: Renders are slow on mid-range machines, and one 2026 review says a long 4K upscale can take overnight. Starlight models need even more power, such as 12 GB VRAM on AMD cards.
- Over-enhancement and trial and error: Models can over-sharpen or produce waxy textures if settings are pushed too far. Reviewers say getting the best result takes testing several models and tweaking parameters per clip.
- Limited commercial use on standard tiers: Topaz Video and standard Studio plans restrict commercial use to organisations earning under $1 million a year. Larger businesses need Studio Pro at $799 a year for full commercial rights.
- Plugin gaps: The documented plugins exclude Premiere Pro, and the Resolve plugin needs the paid Studio edition. Premiere users must export clips, process them in the app and re-import them.
Who is Using Topaz Video AI?
- Video editors and post-production teams: upscale, clean and stabilise footage inside After Effects, Resolve Studio, Final Cut Pro or Nuke.
- Archivists and family historians: restore old VHS, film and home video to sharper, cleaner 4K files.
- Content creators: convert frame rates, add slow motion and steady handheld clips for social and YouTube.
- AI video artists: upscale and convert generated clips to HDR for professional delivery.
Pricing
Topaz Video now costs $59 a month on its own, or comes inside Topaz Studio from $399 a year (official prices, October 2026).
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free trial | $0 | No time limit; video exports are watermarked and cloud rendering is unavailable |
| Topaz Video | $59/month | Topaz Video desktop app and plugins, all video models, unlimited local rendering, 25 cloud video credits a month, commercial use for organisations under $1M revenue |
| Topaz Studio | $69/month or $399/year | All Topaz apps including Video, Photo and Gigapixel, unlimited local rendering, unlimited cloud image rendering, 300 cloud video credits a month, limited commercial use |
| Topaz Studio Pro | $75/month (12-month commitment) or $799/year | Pro licences for all apps, Pro-only models, 600 cloud video credits a month, full commercial use and seat management |
Older directory pages still quote the $299 perpetual Video AI licence, which Topaz no longer sells, and one 2026 review lists $399 a year without separating the Studio bundle from the standalone app. Topaz also runs separate browser-based video plans and frequent promotions, so confirm the live price on its pricing page before subscribing.
What Makes Topaz Video AI Unique?
Topaz Video combines a large library of specialised restoration models with full local processing on your own GPU. Most rival upscalers are browser tools that rely on uploads and cloud queues, while Topaz runs unlimited local renders and adds plugins for After Effects, Resolve Studio, Final Cut Pro and Nuke. The Starlight family adds generative restoration for very damaged footage, and Hyperion 2 brings SDR to HDR conversion into the same app.
Compatibilities and Integrations
- Operating systems: Windows 10 or 11 with a 6 GB VRAM NVIDIA, AMD or Intel GPU, and macOS 13 or later on M-series chips only.
- Editor plugins: Adobe After Effects, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Final Cut Pro and Nuke.
- Cloud rendering: Monthly cloud video credits on every paid plan, with no rollover.
- Topaz ecosystem: Topaz Studio bundles Video with Topaz Photo, Gigapixel, mobile and web apps.
Topaz Video AI Tutorials
The Topaz documentation and community forum explain each model; this short workflow gets a first clip done.
- Install Topaz Video from Topaz Labs and sign in with your account or trial.
- Import a clip and choose a preset or an enhancement model such as Proteus or Iris.
- Set the output resolution, frame rate and any stabilisation or HDR options.
- Preview a short section and compare models before committing to a full render.
- Export locally, or send heavy jobs to cloud rendering using your monthly credits.
How We Rated It
| Criterion | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy and Reliability | 4.4 | Strong restoration across models |
| Ease of Use | 3.6 | Model choice needs testing |
| Functionality and Features | 4.7 | Upscale, interpolate, stabilise, HDR |
| Performance and Speed | 3.2 | Slow on mid-range GPUs |
| Customization and Flexibility | 4.5 | Many models, fine controls |
| Data Privacy and Security | 4.3 | Local processing keeps files private |
| Support and Resources | 4.0 | Docs and active forum |
| Cost-Efficiency | 3.3 | Subscription only, costly tiers |
| Integration Capabilities | 4.0 | AE, Resolve, FCP, Nuke |
| Overall Score | 4.0 | Average of the nine criteria |
Summary
Topaz Video AI, now Topaz Video, suits editors, archivists and creators who need high-quality upscaling and restoration on their own hardware. The main limitation is cost and hardware: it is subscription-only and slow without a strong GPU. We rate its output among the best in desktop video enhancement. Run the free trial on your hardest clip first to check speed and quality on your machine.
Reviews
Write a Review