The formula
credits = rate_per_second(target resolution) × seconds of source footage- rate_per_second(target resolution)
- a per-model lookup, 2 to 83 credits for the 4K band alone — and not ordered by resolution the way a generator's bands are. On 2 of the 4 models here, HD is the cheapest band, cheaper than "upscaling" down to SD.
- seconds of source footage
- the length of the clip you already have — an input you're improving, not a fresh render you're generating.
Worked example — A 20-second clip, delivered in 4K two different ways
- 1.Direct: generate 20s at 4K on LTX 2.3 Text to Video Fast = 16 × 20 = 320 credits
- 2.Or: generate 20s at SD/HD on the same model = 4 × 20 = 80 credits
- 3....then upscale that 20s to 4K on Topaz Upscale Video = 4 × 20 = 80 credits
= 160 credits generate-then-upscale, against 320 generating the same clip direct at 4K
Why this rate table doesn't climb the way generation's does
One formula on this hub prices the decision to generate new footage at 4K instead of a lower band. This page prices a different decision entirely: footage you already have — a past generation, an old export, a phone recording — enhanced to a higher resolution after the fact, on 4 models built specifically for that job.
The catalogue's own resolution-spread table on that other page deliberately excludes these models, because their SD/HD/4K rates don't rise the way a generator's do. On Topaz Upscale Video itself, SD costs 8 credits a second, HD costs 1, and 4K sits in between at 4 — cheaper than "upscaling" to SD, which is backwards from every intuition a buyer brings from the generation side of the catalogue.
The practical question this answers is generate-cheap-then-upscale versus generate-direct-at-full-resolution, and the worked example above is the whole point: on this catalogue, upscaling afterward can land at less than half the cost of generating natively at 4K.
Every upscaler's bands, and the generate-vs-upscale comparison
Every figure below is computed from Versely's live price matrix — the same matrix the app quotes you from before it charges. These are prices, not verdicts: the buyer's guides are where models get ranked.
Every video upscaling model's rates
Cheapest and priciest band per model, plus the 4K rate specifically — the bands are not ordered the way a generator's are.
| Model | Cheapest band | Priciest band | 4K rate | Published range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ByteDance Upscaler Video | 1/sec | 3/sec | 3/sec | 4 – 346 |
| Runway Upscale V1 | 2/sec | 2/sec | 2/sec | 10 – 240 |
| Video Enhancer Pro | 21/sec | 83/sec | 83/sec | 104 – 2,484 |
| Topaz Upscale Video | 1/sec | 8/sec | 4/sec | 5 – 120 |
2 of 4 models charge more for their SD band than their HD band — an anti-pattern generation billing never shows, because generating at a lower resolution never costs more than generating at a higher one.
Upscale-after versus generate-direct, at three clip lengths
Using LTX 2.3 Text to Video Fast for direct generation and Topaz Upscale Video for the upscale pass — the same two models as the worked example.
| Clip length | Generate direct at 4K | Generate SD/HD + upscale to 4K | Cheaper route |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10s | 160 | 80 | Generate + upscale |
| 20s | 320 | 160 | Generate + upscale |
| 30s | 480 | 240 | Generate + upscale |
Both routes scale linearly with length, so the cheaper route at 10 seconds stays the cheaper route at 30.
The same 20-second clip, upscaled to 4K on every model
Same footage, same target resolution, four different meters.
| Model | 4K rate | 20s cost |
|---|---|---|
| Runway Upscale V1 | 2/sec | 40 |
| ByteDance Upscaler Video | 3/sec | 60 |
| Topaz Upscale Video | 4/sec | 80 |
| Video Enhancer Pro | 83/sec | 1,660 |
What changes an upscale bill
Which upscale model runs the job
42× between the cheapest and priciest 4K rate — the single largest lever on this page.
Target band, checked against the actual rate table
On 2 of these models, assuming 4K costs the most is wrong — HD is cheaper than SD on them.
Generate-then-upscale versus generate-direct
Compare the two totals rather than assuming — the worked example above shows upscaling afterward winning by more than half.
Length of the source footage
Linear on every model here, exactly as on the generation side — twice the footage, twice the upscale charge.
What an upscale charge does not cover
- The original footage's own generation or shoot cost — this formula prices only the enhancement pass.
- Generating new footage directly at 4K, a different job on a different model family, priced on its own page.
- Captions, dubbing or the final editor export, each priced on its own page.
How many upscales a month of credits buys
A Monthly plan's 580 credits covers 7 20-second upscales to 4K on Topaz Upscale Video — or 0 on the priciest model in this family.
Plan sizes and what each grants are on the cost hub.
Models that upscale existing footage
Every model page shows its own price matrix, its published credit range, and the option table this formula reads from.
ByteDance Upscaler Video
resolution_based_per_secondByteDance · 4–346 credits
Runway Upscale V1
per_secondRunway · 10–240 credits
Video Enhancer Pro
resolution_based_per_secondOther · 104–2484 credits
Topaz Upscale Video
resolution_based_per_secondTopaz Labs · 5–120 credits
Sora 2 Image to Video Pro
resolution_based_per_secondOpenAI · 120–1400 credits
Sora 2 Text to Video Pro
resolution_based_per_secondOpenAI · 120–1400 credits
Happy Horse 1.0 Text to Video
resolution_based_per_secondAlibaba · 42–420 credits
Happy Horse 1.1 Text to Video
resolution_based_per_secondAlibaba · 42–270 credits
Happy Horse 1.1 Image to Video
resolution_based_per_secondAlibaba · 42–270 credits
Happy Horse 1.0 Image to Video
resolution_based_per_secondAlibaba · 42–420 credits
Happy Horse 1.0 Reference to Video
resolution_based_per_secondAlibaba · 42–420 credits
Happy Horse 1.0 Video Edit
resolution_based_per_secondAlibaba · 70–3360 credits
Frequently asked questions
Is upscaling to 4K the same price as generating at 4K?+
No — they're different jobs on different models. Generating at 4K runs on the resolution-banded generation formula; this page's 4 models only enhance footage that already exists, at their own rates.
Does upscaling to 4K always cost more than upscaling to HD?+
Not on this catalogue. 2 of the 4 upscale models publish a cheaper HD rate than their SD rate, and 4K sits between the two rather than above both.
Is it cheaper to generate small and upscale, or generate direct at 4K?+
It depends on the two specific models, but on the pairing used here, generating at a lower band and upscaling afterward costs under half of generating direct at 4K. Compare your own two models' rates before assuming either way.
Why does the 4K-generation page exclude these models?+
Because their rates don't rise with resolution the way a generator's do — folding a non-monotonic upscaler into that page's spread table would misstate what a resolution premium is. This page is where they belong.
Does upscaling change the audio or the length of the clip?+
No — this formula prices resolution enhancement only. Length, audio and everything else about the source clip passes through unchanged.
Different job, different arithmetic
These are not variations on the formula above — each one meters something else entirely.
What does exporting in 4K instead of 1080p cost?
credits = rate_per_second(resolution) × secondsIt switches the per-second rate by resolution band, and the premium differs by model.
What does a print-resolution AI image cost?
credits = rate_per_megapixel × (width × height ÷ 1,000,000)It prices the area of the canvas, so doubling both edges quadruples the charge.
What does editing a video cost if I keep changing it?
credits = (0 × preview_renders) + (export_price × final_exports)It charges per finished export, so iteration is free and the count is the whole bill.
Jobs billed this way
Further reading
Upscale the render or generate at full resolution
When a cheap generation plus a dedicated upscaler beats the top tier, and when the upscaler invents detail you did not want. A rule keyed to four shot types.
Topaz Upscale Video: pick the row, not the brand (2cr)
Topaz Upscale Video is one catalog generate. Use it because this job matches this row.
See the price before you spend it
Versely quotes the exact credit cost of every generation before it runs, and the agent will estimate a whole batch on request. The all-in-one AI studio for creators. 60+ models for video, image, voice, music and lipsync in a single app.