5 Best Open-Source AI Video Upscalers in 2026

Part 1. What is Open-Source Video Upscaler?

An open-source video upscaler is a software project whose source code is publicly available and can be used, modified, or integrated into custom workflows. Depending on the project, it may use AI models, neural networks, or GPU shaders to increase video resolution and improve perceived detail.

Unlike cloud-based video enhancers, many open-source upscalers can process files locally. This gives users greater control over their videos and allows advanced users to customize models, processing settings, and workflows.

However, open-source does not always mean easy to use. Some projects require command-line tools, GPU drivers, model files, or additional software to extract and rebuild video frames. The best option depends on your technical experience, video type, hardware, and desired output quality.

Part 2. 5 Best Open Source Video Upscalers for Windows/Mac/Linux

The following tools are selected for different use cases, including general AI video upscaling, restoration, anime enhancement, real-time playback, and Windows-based local processing.

Quick Comparison of Open-Source AI Video Upscalers

1. Video2X

Best for: Automated, multi-engine AI upscaling pipelines

Video2X is an open source pipeline that orchestrates frame extraction, AI upscaling, and video reassembly. It supports multiple backends and engines and can be used with GUI or CLI. Video2X is aimed at users who want high quality per frame results using different AI models and is actively developed with documentation and release builds.

• 1.Download and install the latest Video2X upscale software from SourceForge or GitHub.

• 2.Select whether you want a light version or a full version.

• 3.The full version has all the dependencies and drivers, and the light version requires you to install them separately.

• 4.Once you download and extract the ZIP file, run `video2x_gui.exe` to launch the GUI or `video2x.exe` to run the CLI.

  

• 5.Configure the program settings and start the upscaling process.

2. User-Friendly Open-Source AI Video Upscaler - Waifu2x Extension GUI

Best for: Best user-friendly open-source GUI for anime and 2D illustrations

Waifu2x Extension GUI packages several upscalers into a convenient Windows application. It supports models like waifu2x-ncnn-vulkan and Real-ESRGAN engines and automates frame handling and reassembly. Although originally anime oriented, it works with photographic content when configured carefully and supports Vulkan GPUs to accelerate processing.

• 1.Go to the project's GitHub or release page and download the latest installer (for example, Waifu2x-Extension-GUI-v...-Installer.exe).

• 2.Run the installer. Open the application from the desktop shortcut or Start Menu.

• 3.Drag and drop your video file into the program, or click Add Files and select your input.

• 4.Choose upscaling settings: pick AI model (for example, Real-ESRGAN, waifu2x-ncnn-vulkan, or Anime4KCPP) and set an output multiplier like 2× or 4×. Optionally enable denoising or artifact reduction.

• 5.Click Start. The app will extract frames, upscale them, rebuild the video, and sync audio automatically.

  

• 6.Find the upscaled video in the output folder when processing finishes.

3. Free Open-Source Video Upscaler - Real-ESRGAN

Best for: Best open-source AI upscaler for photographic & real-world content

Real-ESRGAN is an open-source image restoration project designed to recover realistic details from low-quality images. It is widely used in video enhancement workflows by processing video frames individually before the enhanced frames are assembled back into a video.

Real-ESRGAN is particularly attractive to advanced users because it can be integrated into custom scripts and video pipelines. However, it is not a complete, beginner-friendly video editor or video upscaler by itself. A typical workflow requires a separate tool such as FFmpeg to extract frames, process them, and reconstruct the final video.

• 1.Download the Real-ESRGAN precompiled version for your OS from the Real-ESRGAN GitHub Releases page.

• 2.Extract the files to a working folder.

• 3.Prepare your video file in MP4 or MKV format for processing. Real-ESRGAN upscales frames individually.

• 4.Open Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Terminal.

• 5.Run the appropriate command, for example:

  • Windows: `realesrgan-ncnn-vulkan.exe -i path_to_input_video.mp4 -o path_to_output_video.mp4 -s 2`
  • macOS/Linux: `./realesrgan-ncnn-vulkan -i path_to_input_video.mp4 -o path_to_output_video.mp4 -s 2`

• 6.Wait for the processing to complete, then check the output folder.

4. Lightweight Open-Source Video Upscaler - Anime4K

Best for: Real-time anime and line-art upscaling during playback

Anime4K is a real time shader upscaler targeted at animation and anime content. It uses GPU shaders in players like MPV to apply upscaling at playback time instead of offline per-frame processing. For animation with clear lines and flat color areas, Anime4K delivers smooth results with minimal latency.

• 1.Install MPV Player for your platform. On Linux or macOS use your package manager; on Windows download the installer.

• 2.Download Anime4K GLSL shaders from the Anime4K GitHub repository.

• 3.Set up MPV's shaders directory and place the .glsl files there.

  On Windows the path is typically `C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Roaming\mpv\shaders\`.

  On Linux/macOS use `~/.config/mpv/shaders/`.

  

• 4.Configure `mpv.conf` to include the `glsl-shaders` line pointing to the shader files and select a preset based on your GPU.

  

• 5.Open anime in MPV. Anime4K applies shader based upscaling in real time during playback.

5. QualityScaler

Best for: Best lightweight desktop GUI for single-click AI upscaling

QualityScaler is an open-source Windows application designed to enhance, upscale, and denoise images and videos with AI. It provides a graphical interface rather than requiring users to build a video-processing pipeline entirely from the command line.

The project supports local processing, meaning videos can be enhanced directly on the user's computer without requiring an internet connection. Its feature set includes video upscaling, multiple GPU support, automatic image tiling, video processing pause and resume, and hardware-accelerated video encoding. The project currently targets Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems with a DirectX 12-compatible GPU and at least 4GB of VRAM.

• 1.Download the standalone QualityScaler package from GitHub.

• 2.Launch the application and select your processing device (GPU).

• 3.Load your target video file into the application window.

• 4.Choose an AI model suited for your content type (Photo or Anime).

• 5.Click Upscale to process and save your enhanced file.

Part 3. One-Click Alternative: AI Video Upscaler for Quick 4K/8K Enhancement

While open-source tools offer transparency and local processing, they often demand technical setup, command-line usage, and manual driver troubleshooting. If you prefer a seamless commercial solution that bypasses technical complexity, HitPaw VikPea provides an all-in-one AI enhancement suite with dedicated models for face restoration, general video noise reduction, and colorization.

Key Features of HitPaw VikPea

• Tailored models for portrait repair, general denoising, anime enhancement, and color restoration.
• One-click upscale to 4K or 8K resolution without complex script commands.
• Real-time visual comparison of original vs. enhanced frames before exporting.
• Built in artifact removal for highly compressed source videos.
• One click export and preset driven options for new users.

• Step 1.Download and launch HitPaw VikPea on your computer. Open the Video Enhancer module and import your video or drag it into the Video Enhancer workspace.

  

• Step 2.Select an AI model such as General Model, Sharpen Model, Portrait Model, or Video Quality Repair Model based on your content needs.

  

• Step 3.Under Export Settings choose the desired output resolution and format. Use the preview to compare results.

  

• Step 4.Click Export to produce the enhanced video and save the output file to your computer.

  

FAQs on AI Video Upscaling Open-Source Software

Conclusion

Open-source video upscalers give users more control over models, processing, and local workflows. Video2X is a strong all-around option, while Real-ESRGAN is better for customizable AI restoration. For anime, Waifu2x Extension GUI and Anime4K offer more specialized solutions, while QualityScaler provides a convenient Windows-based GUI for local AI enhancement.

The main trade-off is ease of use. If you prefer a ready-to-use workflow without managing models, dependencies, or frame processing, a dedicated AI video enhancer such as HitPaw VikPea can be a simpler alternative.