Topaz Video AI vs DaVinci Resolve: Which Is Better for Upscaling in 2026?
Short answer
Use Topaz Video when the footage itself is the problem: old, low-resolution, noisy, interlaced or compressed video that needs AI restoration and upscaling to 4K and beyond, or AI-generated clips that need sharpening. Use DaVinci Resolve Studio when you have reasonably clean footage and want to upscale (Super Scale) and denoise (AI UltraNR and temporal noise reduction) inside the editor you finish in, for a one-time $295 instead of a subscription.
Topaz Video is $299/yr. DaVinci Resolve Studio is $295 one-time, and the free DaVinci Resolve has no AI upscaling.
Price compared
As of Oct 2026, checked Oct 26, 2026 on topazlabs.com/pricing and blackmagicdesign.com.
| Topaz Video | DaVinci Resolve | |
|---|---|---|
| Free option | No | Yes: DaVinci Resolve (free) edits and finishes up to Ultra HD 60 fps, without Studio's AI tools |
| Main paid option | Topaz Video $299/yr; also $39/mo with an annual commitment, or $59/mo monthly | DaVinci Resolve Studio $295 one-time (Blackmagic was showing a 20% promotion at $236 when we checked) |
| Bundles / pro licences | Topaz Studio (all Topaz apps) $399/yr; Topaz Video Pro (commercial use for organisations over $1M revenue) $699/yr; Studio Pro $799/yr | No subscription tiers |
| Billing type | Subscription | One-time purchase |
| Cloud rendering | Monthly video cloud credits included (25 on Topaz Video monthly) | Local only |
Super Scale and UltraNR vs Topaz's models
DaVinci Resolve Studio includes the DaVinci Neural Engine. Super Scale "uprezzes" HD sources to 4K and 8K. AI UltraNR noise reduction works alongside Resolve's temporal and spatial noise reduction, and the Studio version also handles de-interlacing and Speed Warp retiming. These tools work inside your timeline and colour page, so there is no round trip to another app.
Topaz Video is a dedicated enhancement app built only for this job. It offers specialised AI models (including the Starlight and Nyx families) for upscaling, denoising, sharpening and deinterlacing, plus frame interpolation for slow motion, stabilisation and focus recovery. Topaz positions it for recovering archival and low-resolution footage up to 4K, and for genAI, live-action and animated content.
In practice: for degraded sources such as VHS, DV, old phone video or heavy compression, a dedicated restoration model is usually the stronger tool. For clean HD footage going to a 4K timeline, Resolve's built-in Super Scale is often enough and much faster to work with, because you never leave the editor. Test both on a sample of your own footage before committing.
Speed and hardware
- Topaz Video renders locally with unlimited local rendering, or in the cloud with monthly video cloud credits. That is useful if your GPU is slow, but the cloud uses up your credits. Its heaviest models are demanding, so expect long render times on modest hardware.
- DaVinci Resolve Studio is GPU-accelerated (Metal on Apple silicon, CUDA or OpenCL on Windows and Linux) and supports multiple GPUs. Super Scale and UltraNR run in your normal render.
Using both together
A common workflow is to clean up the worst source clips in Topaz Video first, then edit, grade and finish in DaVinci Resolve. Topaz says Topaz Video can run as a standalone app or as a plugin to video editing software. Check Topaz's documentation for whether your editor and version are supported before relying on the plugin route.
Who should pick which
| You need to… | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Restore old, low-resolution or very noisy footage | Topaz Video |
| Upscale clean HD to 4K inside your edit | DaVinci Resolve Studio |
| Avoid subscriptions | DaVinci Resolve Studio ($295 one-time) |
| Create AI slow motion from regular footage | Topaz Video (frame interpolation), or Resolve's Speed Warp |
| Render without a strong GPU | Topaz Video (cloud credits) |
| Spend nothing | Free DaVinci Resolve (no AI upscaling) |
FAQ
Is Topaz Video better than DaVinci Resolve for upscaling? For badly degraded footage, Topaz's dedicated models are generally the stronger choice. For clean footage, Resolve Studio's Super Scale is usually good enough and keeps everything in one app.
Does the free DaVinci Resolve include Super Scale? No. Super Scale and AI UltraNR noise reduction are DaVinci Resolve Studio features.
Is Topaz Video a one-time purchase? No longer. As of Oct 2026, Topaz Video is a subscription: $299/yr, $39/mo with an annual commitment, or $59/mo monthly.
Is DaVinci Resolve Studio a subscription? No. It is a one-time $295 purchase.
How this comparison was put together
Prices and features come from Topaz Labs' and Blackmagic Design's official pages, checked Oct 26, 2026. We have not included hands-on speed or quality benchmarks. Results depend heavily on your footage and hardware.
DaVinci Resolve vs Topaz Video AI at a glance
| Spec | DaVinci Resolve | Topaz Video AI |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium | Paid |
| Best for | Best free professional editor for color grading | Best for AI upscaling, denoising and frame interpolation |
DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve pros
- The free version is a genuinely complete pro editor
- Best colour grading available at any price
- Fairlight audio and Fusion VFX built in
- No subscription, one-off licence for Studio
DaVinci Resolve cons
- Steep learning curve for beginners
- Demands a capable GPU and plenty of RAM
- Some AI features are Studio-only
- Overkill for simple social clips
Visit DaVinci Resolve · Read the DaVinci Resolve review
Topaz Video AI
Topaz Video AI pros
- Best-in-class upscaling and restoration of old footage
- Effective deinterlacing, denoise and frame interpolation
- One-time purchase rather than a subscription
- Runs locally, so footage never leaves your machine
Topaz Video AI cons
- High upfront cost
- Very slow without a strong GPU
- Single-purpose, it does not edit
- Can introduce artefacts on difficult sources