REAL Video Enhancer
Open-source desktop app for AI frame interpolation and upscaling of videos.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Linux, Windows, macOS
Is REAL Video Enhancer free?
Yes, free and open source
- License:
- AGPL-3.0
Checked on REAL Video Enhancer's site Oct 29, 2026
Switch from REAL Video Enhancer to
All 4
Video2XOpen source
Topaz VideoBundle price: $399/year (Topaz Studio)
UpscaylOpen source
- Verified facts
- 5 of 5
- Alternatives ranked
- 4
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 1
About REAL Video Enhancer
REAL Video Enhancer is a free, open-source desktop app that runs AI models over your videos to raise their frame rate or resolution. It wraps interpolation models such as RIFE and upscalers such as Real-ESRGAN and Real-CUGAN behind a single graphical interface, so you don't have to chain command-line tools together. It started as a Linux project meant to fill the gap left by Windows-only tools like Flowframes, and now also runs on Windows and macOS. Useful touches include scene-change detection so cuts stay sharp instead of morphing, a live preview of the latest rendered frame, and the option to pull a video straight from a YouTube link or URL. It can run models through NCNN/Vulkan on most modern GPUs, or through CUDA on NVIDIA cards. The app is distributed as a Flatpak and AppImage on Linux. It's aimed at hobbyists, anime fans and people restoring old footage who want local processing without a subscription. Results and speed depend heavily on your GPU.
Best for: Linux users who want free, local AI frame interpolation and upscaling in one GUI.
Pros and cons
What works
- Free and open source under AGPL-3.0
- Runs on Linux, Windows and macOS
- Scene-change detection keeps cuts clean
- Can enhance a video directly from a YouTube or video URL
Why people leave
- Needs a capable GPU for usable speeds
- Fewer model and export options than paid tools like Topaz Video
- Small project with documentation mostly in the README
REAL Video Enhancer vs Video2X, Topaz Video and Upscayl
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | REAL Video Enhancer | Video2X | Topaz Video | Upscayl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Open source | Open source | Paid | Open source |
| Verified price | — | — | $399/year (Topaz Studio) | — |
| Free plan | Free app | Free app | No | Free app |
| Open source | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | Linux, Windows, macOS | Windows, Linux | macOS, Windows, Web | Windows, macOS, Linux |
Top REAL Video Enhancer alternatives
See all 4- 1Video2X68.8
Also free and open source, with a Windows GUI and Linux packages covering both upscaling and RIFE interpolation.
- 2Topaz Video61.8
Paid option with more polished models for upscaling, slow motion and SDR to HDR, on Mac and Windows.
- 3Upscayl51.2
Free open-source AI upscaler for still images, handy when you only need to enlarge frames or photos.
- 4
DaVinci Resolve50.0Resolve Studio's Super Scale and Speed Warp cover upscaling and slow-motion inside an editor you may already use.
Why people left REAL Video Enhancer
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Reviews
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REAL Video Enhancer: common questions
What is REAL Video Enhancer?
REAL Video Enhancer: Open-source desktop app for AI frame interpolation and upscaling of videos. Best for linux users who want free, local AI frame interpolation and upscaling in one GUI. Available for Linux, Windows and macOS.
Is REAL Video Enhancer free?
Yes. REAL Video Enhancer is free, open-source software.
Is REAL Video Enhancer open source?
Yes. The source code is on GitHub at TNTwise/REAL-Video-Enhancer.
What platforms does REAL Video Enhancer run on?
REAL Video Enhancer is available for Linux, Windows and macOS.
What are the best alternatives to REAL Video Enhancer?
The highest-ranked REAL Video Enhancer alternatives right now are Video2X, Topaz Video and Upscayl. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
REAL Video Enhancer vs Video2X: what's the difference?
Both REAL Video Enhancer and Video2X are free and open source. Only REAL Video Enhancer runs on macOS.