Topaz Video alternative: free, private, in-browser image upscaling
Topaz Video is built for frequent, professional video enhancement. ClearPix is for the opposite job: a short clip or image you want to improve now, without installing software, creating an account or buying a subscription. Both process media locally; the difference is setup, cost and intended workload.
Topaz Video vs ClearPix, at a glance
| Topaz Video | ClearPix | |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy | Desktop application — media processing stays on your machine | Also local — no upload and no installation |
| Cost | $299/year, or $33/month billed to $399/year | Free, no sign-up, no credits |
| Setup | Desktop install; documented OS, memory and model requirements | Runs in a modern browser with WebGPU or WASM fallback |
| Best fit | Frequent professional video enhancement and longer projects | Occasional short clips and images with no setup |
Frequently asked questions
Does Topaz Video upload my images?
Desktop application — media processing stays on your machine. ClearPix works differently: Also local — no upload and no installation.
When is Topaz Video the better choice?
You enhance video frequently and want a dedicated desktop application rather than a browser tab.
Is ClearPix really free?
Yes. ClearPix runs the AI models on your own device, so there is no server cost to pass on to you — no credits, no sign-up, no resolution lock, and no watermark on your export.
Try both tools — free, in your browser
Upscale Image
Enlarge low-res images 2× or 4× with tiled Real-ESRGAN processing. Old photos, screenshots and thumbnails welcome.
Remove Watermark
Auto-detect finds text and logo watermarks; brush to fine-tune, AI rebuilds the background texture region by region. PNG, JPG, WebP.
More honest comparisons: watermarkremover.io alternative · cleanup.pictures alternative · remove.bg alternative · Upscayl alternative
Try the difference right now. No sign-up, no upload — the tool below runs entirely on this page, on your own device.
Drop your image here, or click to browse
PNG / JPG / WebP — longest side up to 2048px for in-browser processing · You can also paste an image (⌘V)
What is AI super-resolution?
Real-ESRGAN is a neural network trained on real-world image degradation. Unlike a simple resize, it reconstructs plausible high-frequency detail — sharper edges, recovered texture, cleaned-up compression artifacts. ClearPix runs the model in overlapping tiles on your own GPU (WebGPU) or CPU (WebAssembly), so even large images process safely without any server.
When to use 2× vs 4×
- 4×— small thumbnails, compressed social-media saves, AI-art drafts.
- 2×— moderate enlargements where you want a natural, less sharpened look.
- For very large sources, downsize first and let the model rebuild the detail.
Only process images you own or have explicit permission to modify.
When Topaz Video is the better choice
We would rather earn your trust than your click. Choose Topaz Video — or another dedicated tool — when:
- You enhance video frequently and want a dedicated desktop application rather than a browser tab.
- Your projects need longer timelines or a professional editing workflow instead of short-clip, on-demand processing.
- You have supported hardware and prefer Topaz’s dedicated models and controls over a simpler 2×/4× tool.
Facts & sources
Every claim about Topaz Video on this page comes from public sources, re-verified on the date shown. If something has changed, the source link is the authority.
| Claim | Source | Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Topaz Video costs $299/year prepaid, or $33/month ($399 total for the year). | docs.topazlabs.com | 2026-10-25 |
| Topaz Video is a desktop application with documented operating-system, memory, storage and model requirements. | docs.topazlabs.com | 2026-10-25 |
| The app needs internet access for activation, model downloads, updates and cloud rendering, even though media processing can stay local. | docs.topazlabs.com | 2026-10-25 |