video2x

Video upscaler and frame interpolator using Real-ESRGAN, Real-CUGAN, RIFE and Anime4K

Live demo ↗ Documentation ↗ Repository on GitHub ↗

Stars: 22.1k
License: AGPL-3.0
Last commit: Mar 2026
Last release: Jan 2025
Language: C++

Missed the latest GitHub check; these facts may be older.

Overview

Video2X is a C/C++ tool that upscales video and interpolates frames using Anime4K v4, Real-ESRGAN, Real-CUGAN and RIFE, running through ncnn and Vulkan. It ships a Qt6 GUI and installer for Windows, plus AUR packages and an AppImage for Linux. The README states it needs no extra disk space during processing beyond the final output.

Who it is for: Users upscaling or smoothing anime and other video on a local Vulkan GPU

Strengths

Runs on any Vulkan GPU from NVIDIA, AMD or Intel, not just CUDA cards
Supports upscaling and frame interpolation, plus custom MPV-compatible GLSL shaders
Windows GUI installer, Linux AppImage and AUR packages, and a container image
Temporary files are not written during processing, per the README

Weaknesses

Precompiled binaries require a CPU with AVX2 support
Last tagged release is 2025-01-24, older than recent commits
AGPL-3.0 license may constrain use in hosted services
Bundled demo videos are marked outdated in the README

What it needs

GPU required
Needs Vulkan, FFmpeg, ncnn
Models: Real-ESRGAN, Real-CUGAN, RIFE, Anime4K v4, MPV GLSL shaders

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How to choose

A GPU with enough VRAM is the hard requirement; check the minimum the project states.
Node-based UIs are flexible but have a learning curve; form-based UIs are quicker to use.
Check the model licensing separately from the app licensing.

Health

Releases: Not checked
Top contributor: Not checked
Security advisories: Not checked
Package advisories: Not checked
OpenSSF Scorecard: Not checked

Not read for this project yet: each refresh reads the facts of a few projects. Bots and coding-agent accounts are left out of the commit counts. Not part of the score: how we check.

License in plain words

AGPL-3.0 Copyleft

Use it at work: Yes
Change it and rebrand it: Yes
Sell it or host it for others: Yes, with source

Your part: Like GPL-3.0, and if users reach a changed version over a network, offer them its source under AGPL-3.0.

A plain summary, not legal advice. Read the license on GitHub ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Where to run it

Vast.ai ↗ (opens in a new tab)Rent a GPU by the hour from a marketplace of hosts.

Referral links: if you sign up through one, we get a commission. They never change a rank.

#12 of 13 in Image and video on Archestack, as of 15 Oct 2026.

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