I recently switched from Windows, where I regularly used Topaz Video AI and was happy with the results. Unfortunately, it isn't available for Linux, and I'd rather not boot into Windows just to run an upscale—especially since I usually let these jobs run in the background while doing other work.
I initially thought waifu2x-extended might be a good alternative because it is open source, hosted publicly, and supports several models, including NVIDIA VSR. However, it turns out to be Windows-only. Video2x is another possibility, but the Linux package appears to be focused on Debian, and its AppImage is command-line only. I'm looking for something with a practical graphical interface where I can select input and output video files without having to construct commands manually for every job.
Are there any reasonably modern, Linux-compatible video AI upscalers with a GUI? Ideally, I'm looking for software that has been actively maintained within the last several years and supports contemporary models or GPU acceleration.
2 Answers
Video2x is command-line based on Linux, including the AppImage, so the package format doesn’t change that. It can still be made much easier to use by setting up a script with your preferred options and passing only the input filename. You can also drag a file into a terminal to insert its path, which makes one-off runs less cumbersome.
NekoPlay reportedly includes built-in real-time upscaling, so it may be worth checking if its quality and supported hardware fit what you need. Beyond that, Linux options with a polished GUI and modern video-focused AI models seem considerably more limited than the Windows tools.
That makes sense for a fixed workflow. My main hesitation is having to handle the input and output paths manually for every separate file, but I may set up a folder-based script or batch workflow.