Table Of Content
HitPaw Video Enhancer (Rebanded as HitPaw VikPea) is an AI video enhancer that leverages advanced artificial intelligence to significantly improve your video quality. Whether you need noise reduction, color enhancement, or 4K upscaling, HitPaw AI Video Enhancer delivers powerful tools tailored for diverse video enhancement needs.
| - | For Windows | For Mac |
| Supported OS | For Windows 11/10 64-bit | macOS 10.15 or later |
| Processor (CPU) | Intel i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 equivalent or above | Intel i3 or Apple M1 equivalent or above |
| Disk Space | 2GB or above free space | 2GB or above free space |
| System Memory (RAM) | 8GB or above | 8GB or above |
| Graphics Card (GPU) | NVIDIA GTX 950 or AMD RX 560 equivalent or above | AMD RX 560 or Apple M1 equivalent or above |
| OpenGL | 3.3 or above | 3.3 or above |
| DirectX | Version: 12 | - |
| Display (Monitor) | 1366*768 or above | 1366*768 or above |
Here is the table summarizing the features of HitPaw Video Enhancer models:
| Category | Model | Description |
| Video Enhancer | General Denoise Model | Removes noise to improve video clarity and quality. |
| Detail Recovery Model | Restores texture and details in blurry low/medium resolution videos. | |
| Face Model | Enhances portrait videos with sharpening, softening, and fast modes for facial features. | |
| Video Quality Repair Model | Eliminates artifacts and noise caused by compression, improving overall video quality. | |
| Animation Model | Upgrades old or blurry anime/cartoon videos to high definition. | |
| AI Color | Colorize Model | Restores natural colors to black-and-white or greyscale footage. |
| SDR to HDR | Upgrades SDR videos to HDR with brighter colors and richer details. | |
| Color Enhancement Model | Boosts color vibrancy for a more visually striking effect. | |
| Low-light Enhancement Model | Enhances brightness and contrast, making dark videos clearer and brighter. | |
| Video Repair | Video Repair | Fixes issues like flickering, unplayable videos, screen loss, lag, and restores video sound. |
| AI Toolbox | Retouch | Removes selected watermarks from videos. |
| BG Rmover | Allows exported videos to retain a transparent or blurred background. | |
| Frame Rate Enhancement Model | Enhances the frame rate by 2x or 4x for smoother motion. | |
| Stabilize Model | Corrects shaky footage for more stable videos. |
In this section, we evaluate the real-world performance and processing speed of HitPaw Video Enhancer AI across various enhancement models. Our tests aim to provide you with an objective view of how efficiently the software handles different video enhancement tasks.
Test Environment
The following results reflect actual processing times and quality improvements observed during our testing on this hardware setup.
HitPaw's face model offers two distinct modes: Sharpen and Soften, each with unique strengths.
As seen in the comparison images, the Sharpen mode significantly boosts texture clarity and enhances facial details by increasing contrast. While this mode can deliver excellent results in specific scenarios, overly emphasized textures may reduce the natural look of the subject. On the other hand, the Soften mode introduces a smoother, airbrushed finish, resulting in less texture and lower contrast.
In version 4.1.0, HitPaw introduced a fully upgraded Soften model. This improved version strikes a better balance between the original Soften and Sharpen modes, delivering clearer, more natural-looking results with enhanced realism.
Pros
Sharper Details: Enhances character and object sharpness.
Vivid Colors: Makes colors more vivid and saturated.
Denoise: Reduces noise and grain for smoother visuals.
Cons
Over-Saturation: Excessive color vibrancy may alter the original look.
Loss of Gradients: Sharpening can reduce subtle gradients and shadows.
Potential Artifacts: Minor artifacts may appear, especially in complex areas.
Pros
Effective Colorization: Adds vibrant color to black-and-white videos.
Cons
Blurry Details: Character details may remain blurry, reducing HD quality.
Challenges with Complex Scenes: Leads to inconsistent or distorted color processing in certain areas.
In version 4.1.0, HitPaw also updated its Low-light Enhancement Model. While the visual results remain similar to version 4.0.0, the processing speed has improved significantly.
Pros
Increased Visibility: Brightens dark areas, improving scene clarity.
Cons
Overexposure Risk: May cause loss of detail in bright areas.
Increased Noise: Enhances graininess, especially in dark regions.
As the Dynamic Range (DR) value increases, HitPaw’s output becomes noticeably brighter. While this may enhance overall visibility, it also pushes the brightness and color saturation beyond natural HDR levels. In higher DR settings, the video tends to resemble SDR rather than HDR, which may reduce the realism and quality of the visual experience.
Processing Speed
Source Video | -- | Performance Results | -- |
|---|---|---|---|
Duration | 9 min 57 s | HitPaw - DR2 (V4.1.0) | -- |
Resolution | 1920×1080 | Conversion Time | 2h 37min 10s |
Frame Rate | 23.976 fps | Processing Speed | 1.52 fps |
| -- | -- | HitPaw - DR5 (V4.1.0) | -- |
| -- | -- | Conversion Time | ~3h |
| -- | -- | Processing Speed | 1.33 fps |
Pros
Higher dynamic range (DR) values enhance overall screen brightness.
Cons
Compared to native HDR, the image may appear excessively bright.
The result resembles Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) more than true HDR.
Test Environment
| HitPaw Video Enhancer | Processing Time |
| Face Model | 5 times the length of the original video |
| Animation Model | 5 times (720p to 4k) |
| Colorize Model | 1 times |
| Color Enhancement Model | 2 times |
| Low-Light Enhancement Model | 2 times (720p) 3 times (1080p) 10 times (4k) (The processing time varies depending on the resolution of the original video) |
| SDR to HDR | 18 times (DR5) |
HitPaw Video Enhancer AI can be time-consuming, especially when upscaling videos to high resolutions, as the process may take longer depending on the video size and complexity.
HitPaw Video Enhancer is paid software offering a free trial that allows partial video preview without free exports. To access full features and export videos, you need to upgrade. （Note: License valid for 1 PC only.）
Version | Platform | 1 Month Price | 1 Year Price | Perpetual Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Standard | Windows | $42.99 | $99.99 | $349.99 |
Standard | Mac | $69.99 | $109.99 | $349.99 |
Pro | Windows | $52.99 | $119.99 | $399.99 |
The free version lacks major AI enhancements. Standard and Pro versions include key tools like denoise, detail recovery, face enhancement, video repair, and color adjustments. Advanced features like SDR to HDR conversion, background removal, retouching, stabilization, and frame interpolation are available only in the Pro version.
Launch and Upload
After opening the software, you can click the Choose File or just drag & drop the original video to it.
Select An AI Model
Choose an AI model suited to your video type.
Preview & Export
Once the video is uploaded, click the Preview button to process the video. Then, click the Export button to save the enhanced video.
HitPaw Video Enhancer is an excellent tool for enhancing videos, but it does have some weaknesses in certain aspects. You should carefully consider these before making a purchase.
Pros of HitPaw Video Enhancer
Multiple AI models covering diverse video issues.
Supports batch processing for multiple videos.
Wide export format options.
Cons of HitPaw Video Enhancer
Features may overwhelm beginners.
Long processing times, especially for high-res upscaling.
Some AI models yield inconsistent results.
Limited manual output settings.
Relatively expensive for casual users.
No auto-save feature, risking data loss on crashes.
Free trial restricts previews and disables exports.
HitPaw offers various AI models but suffers from slow processing, inconsistent quality, and high cost. UniFab is a superior alternative with faster speed, more stable results, advanced features like SDR to HDR and audio enhancement, plus a full-feature free trial without watermarks—ideal for all users.
UniFab All-In-One
Video & Audio Enhancement
✅ Video Upscaler AI: Boosts resolution to 720P, 1080P, 4K, 8K, and up to 16K with enhanced clarity, improving quality for all video types, including low-res TV shows, black-and-white films, homemade videos, and animations.
✅ Face Enhancer AI: Sharpens and restores facial details in videos using advanced AI enhancement.
✅ HDR Upconverter AI: Upgrades SDR to HDR10/Dolby Vision, improving brightness, color range, and overall quality. (Supports both DCI-P3 and Rec.2020 color spaces.)
✅ Denoise AI: Removes video noise from low-light conditions, high ISO settings, and compression artifacts for clean playback.
✅ Colorizer AI: Automatically adds realistic colors throughout your black and white video with precision. It offers 4 color styles.
✅ Deinterlace AI: Converts interlaced video to smooth progressive scan.
✅ Smoother AI: Increases frame rate up to 120 fps for fluid motion.
✅ Stabilizer AI: Automatically steadies shaky footage.
✅ Audio Upmix AI: Upgrades audio to immersive DTS 7.1 or EAC3 5.1 surround sound.
Other Useful Tools
✅ Video Converter: Supports 1000+ formats for broad device compatibility.
✅ Subtitle Generator AI: Creates accurate subtitles in 30+ languages.
✅ TV Show Converter: Auto-convert, generate metadata & .nfo files for easy media server recognition
Free AI Tools Included:
✅ Vocal Remover AI: Easily remove vocals for karaoke or remixes.
✅ Video Background Remover AI: Precise background removal with detailed AI matting.
Here are some comparisons between HitPaw and UniFab in terms of processing effects, speed, pricing, and other aspects.
| Comparison | UniFab All-In-One | HitPaw Video Enhancer |
| Supported OS | Windows 11/10 64-bit / Mac | Windows 11/10 64-bit / macOS 10.15 or later |
| Lifetime Pricing | $299.99
| $349.99
|
| Free Trail Support | 30-day free trial of all features, without watermark. | With the free trial, only part of the video can be previewed, and free exports are not available. |
| Main Features |
|
|
| Free AI Tools |
| - |
| Additional Features |
（Trim; Crop; Audio: volume; remove background noise）
| - |
| Custom Configuration | Resolution; Format; Color Space; Codec; Frame Rate; Encoding Method; Bits/Pixel; Codec; Channel; Sample Rate; Bit Rate; Output Visual Mode | Resolution; Bitrate; Format |
| Processing Results | UniFab precisely restores details, preserving the original quality and maintaining the image’s authenticity and clarity. | HitPaw's excessive optimization results in significant detail loss, noticeable blurring, and some areas that may appear cartoonish or unnatural. |
There are significant variations in the quality of enhancement provided by UniFab All-In-One and HitPaw Video Enhancer across different types of videos.
UniFab excels in image clarity, detail restoration, and overall visual effect, making it a better choice for users with high demands for video quality. While HitPaw offers some improvement, it lags behind UniFab in terms of detail handling and sharpness. For those looking to achieve the best image quality, UniFab is undoubtedly the ideal option.
UniFab
HitPaw
✅ Animal Video
UniFab Video Upscaler AI: Shows notable detail enhancement, especially in fine textures and edges, resulting in a clearer image with richer color saturation and contrast.
HitPaw Video Enhancer: Improves clarity, but details remain slightly blurred, with less accurate color reproduction and weaker contrast enhancement compared to UniFab.
For Hitpaw, increasing the DR value enhances brightness, but compared to native HDR, it can result in excessive brightness and more vivid color saturation. At higher DR values, the style becomes closer to SDR than HDR, which may impact visual quality.
UniFab, on the other hand, closely matches native HDR in color reproduction, maintaining more accurate and true-to-life colors.
Source Video
| Parameter | HitPaw – DR5 (v4.1.0) | UniFab – HDR (v3.0.0.2) |
|---|---|---|
| Conversion Time | ~3 hours | 9 min 45 s |
| Processing Speed | 1.33 fps | 24.49 fps |
📝 UniFab completed HDR conversion significantly faster than HitPaw, with over 18x higher processing speed on the same test machine.
For their detailed information about performance, processing speed, and more, check out: HDR Reviews.
✅ Nightscape video
UniFab HDR Upconverter AI: The HDR processing significantly enhances the brightness and contrast of the image, creating a light and shadow contrast that makes the image more three-dimensional. The details, especially in the highlights and shadow areas, are more pronounced.
HitPaw Color Enhancement Model: It improves image contrast, but brightness enhancement is not as significant as UniFab. The overall image appears more realistic but lacks impact, and the detail rendering is somewhat less impressive, making it suitable for applications that require a natural effect.
Hitpaw may leave character details blurry, which reduces HD quality and leads to inconsistent or distorted color processing in some areas.
In contrast, UniFab ensures consistent colorization throughout the video, preserving its aesthetic quality. Additionally, UniFab offers four distinct color styles, allowing for greater customization and a polished, professional finish.
30-day Free Trial with full feature access!
Launch UniFab program on your system (Windows/ Mac), go to "All Features" to select your preferred module. Then, upload the video to initiate the video-enhancing process.
Next, set the output profile perimeters with resolution, formats, codec, etc, to get a personalized video. At the end, select the “Start” option to complete the video-enhancing process of your video.
After reading this HitPaw Video Enhancer review, you'll have a clearer grasp of its capabilities. HitPaw is a powerful software for enhancing video quality. However, its extended processing times can be inconvenient. Compared to alternatives like UniFab, HitPaw offers relatively less value for money. Therefore, I recommend UniFab All-In-One as a superior alternative. This AI Video Enhancer provides a user-friendly interface, a broader range of features, and more customization options, making it ideal for both beginners and advanced users.
Yes, Hitpaw does an excellent job of enhancing and offering a range of features to elevate your videos. However, for users seeking more advanced processing effects, faster speeds, and multiple features, UniFab is the most cost-effective alternative. UniFab All-In-One offers more comprehensive customization options, enhancing videos up to 16K, and converting SDR to HDR10/Dolby Vision, bringing even more details and clarity to your videos.
Yes, HitPaw does support 8K video upscaling. For a comprehensive comparison of 8K upscaling tools, including HitPaw and other top options like UniFab, check out our 8K Video Enhancer article for more details.
Absolutely, HitPaw Video Enhancer is entirely free of viruses, malware, or spyware that could jeopardize your computer or compromise your information. Moreover, it does not collect or share any personal data or details from your videos.
No, downloading a cracked version of HitPaw Video Enhancer is both illegal and risky. These versions often contain malware that can threaten your system and personal data. For security, it's best to download the official version from the HitPaw website.