[Completely Free] Top 3 Free Video Enhancer Software for Mac in 2025

In recent years, the rise of AI technology has revolutionized how we handle low-resolution video, making it easier than ever to automatically upscale and enhance footage. However, for many Mac users, the barrier to entry is high: most high-performance upscaling software is expensive.

While industry leaders like Topaz Video offer incredible results (up to 16K resolution and advanced frame interpolation), not everyone is ready to invest in a premium subscription.

If you are looking for cost-effective ways to enhance your videos on macOS without spending a dime, this guide is for you. Below, we have selected the top 3 “truly free” video enhancer software options available for Mac in 2025.

What Qualifies as “Free” Video Enhancer Software?

Before we dive into the list, it is important to distinguish between “Free Trial” and “Freeware/Open Source.”

Many products advertised as “free” are actually limited trial versions designed to upsell you to a paid plan. They often come with restrictions such as:

• Watermarks or logos on the output video.

• Limits on video length or usage time.

• Restricted access to advanced AI models.

In contrast, the software listed below is Open Source. These tools are developed by communities, process data locally (ensuring privacy), and are completely free to use without watermarks. However, be aware that they may require a bit more technical know-how than paid commercial software.

The 3 Best Free Video Enhancers for Mac

1. REAL-Video-Enhancer

Developer: TNTwise

Best For: Users seeking a balance of power and ease of use.

REAL-Video-Enhancer is an open-source tool based on the “Rife ESRGAN App,” re-engineered to support macOS, Windows, and Linux. It uses AI to upscale video resolution and improve quality.

Key Features:

• User-Friendly: Compared to other open-source command-line tools, it is relatively easy to install and navigate.

• Versatile Models: Includes specific AI models optimized for both anime and realistic live-action footage.

• Batch Processing: Capable of enhancing multiple videos at once to save time.

• Frame Interpolation: Beyond just upscaling, it can smooth out motion (frame generation) and reduce noise.

• Privacy: All processing is done locally on your Mac; nothing is uploaded to the cloud.

Note: While powerful, the frame interpolation features can be resource-intensive and may take time depending on your Mac’s specs.

2. ComfyUI-SeedVR2_VideoUpscaler

Developer: numz

Best For: Advanced users who want 4K upscaling on standard hardware.

This is an extension for the popular workflow management tool ComfyUI. It is designed to upscale videos and images to high definition using lightweight techniques.

Key Features:

• 4K Capability: Can upscale footage to 4K resolution.

• Efficiency: Utilizes optimization technologies (like GGUF and BlockSwap), allowing it to run on machines with around 8GB of VRAM.

• ComfyUI Integration: If you are already comfortable with ComfyUI nodes, this integrates seamlessly.

Note:

• Stability: While great for AI-generated video reconstruction, it can sometimes be unstable with older, real-world footage.

• Workflow: For the best results, it is recommended to upscale in steps (e.g., 480p → 720p → 1080p → 4K) rather than jumping straight to 4K to prevent artifacts.

3. Real-ESRGAN-ncnn-vulkan

Best For: Speed and portability (Command Line Interface).

This is a portable implementation of the famous Real-ESRGAN upscaler, optimized with ncnn and Vulkan for high-speed GPU inference.

Key Features:

• High Speed: The ncnn-Vulkan implementation allows for faster processing than standard Python-based versions.

• Portable: No complex Python environment setup is required; it runs as a portable executable.

• Restoration: Excellent for restoring details in old videos, anime, and noisy low-res clips.

Note:

• No Updates: The project has not seen major updates since roughly April 2022.

• CLI Only: It does not have a graphical user interface (GUI). You must operate it via the command line (Terminal), which makes it difficult for beginners.

• Audio Sync: Long videos may occasionally suffer from audio sync issues or dropped frames.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there other free options?

You may have heard of Video2X or Waifu2x-Extension-GUI. These are excellent free tools, but they are Windows-only and do not work on macOS.

Another tool, Upscayl, works on Mac but is designed strictly for images. While you could break a video into thousands of frames and upscale them individually with Upscayl, the process is incredibly tedious and not recommended for video.

Can I use iMovie to upscale video?

No. iMovie, the standard video editor on Mac, does not possess AI upscaling capabilities. It can adjust color, brightness, and contrast to make a video look “better,” but it cannot increase resolution or reconstruct details using AI.

It is unlikely Apple will add this to iMovie soon, as advanced AI features are usually reserved for their professional paid software, Final Cut Pro, to differentiate the products.

Summary

If you are on a Mac and looking for free ways to improve your video quality in 2025, your best bets are:

1. REAL-Video-Enhancer (Best all-rounder)

2. ComfyUI-SeedVR2 (Best for 4K upscaling if you have technical skill)

3. Real-ESRGAN-ncnn-vulkan (Fastest, if you can use the Command Line)

While these free tools are powerful, they lack the polish and speed of paid alternatives. If you find them too difficult to use or the results aren’t meeting your professional standards, you might eventually consider investing in premium software like Topaz Video AI.