The video upscaler offers five models, and they are not five names for the same thing. They differ in provider cost, processing time, and the kind of detail work they are built for. This guide lays out the differences using the published rate table, so you can pick a model without running five paid tests.
All rates below are the current per-second credit prices; the live preflight in the video upscaler recalculates the real cost for your actual clip and remains the source of truth.
The five models at a glance
| Model | Underlying pipeline | Processing per source second |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | wavespeed-ai/video-upscaler | about 10 seconds |
| FlashVSR | wavespeed-ai/flashvsr | about 20 seconds |
| SeedVR2 | wavespeed-ai/seedvr2/video | about 30 seconds |
| Pro | wavespeed-ai/video-upscaler-pro | about 30 seconds |
| Ultimate | wavespeed-ai/ultimate-video-upscaler | about 30 seconds |
The processing column is planning math: a 5-second clip can take roughly 50 to 150 seconds to render depending on the model, and higher resolutions add a further multiplier (about 1.25x for 2K and 1.5x for 4K). The estimated time shown before submission is the number to plan around.
Per-second credit rates
Every model bills per second of source footage with a 5-second minimum and a 10-minute maximum:
| Model | 720p | 1080p | 2K | 4K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 9 | 9 | 17 | 33 |
| FlashVSR | 20 | 30 | 40 | 53 |
| SeedVR2 | 33 | 49 | 66 | 82 |
| Pro | 33 | 49 | 66 | 82 |
| Ultimate | 33 | 49 | 82 | 131 |
Two patterns stand out. First, 720p and 1080p cost the same on the standard model, so there is rarely a reason to pick 720p when your source is 1080p. Second, the premium between models widens at 4K: standard costs 33 credits per second at 4K while ultimate costs 131 — roughly 4x for the highest-end pipeline.
How the models are positioned
Standard is the entry point: cheapest per second, fastest to render, and the right default for everyday clips, compressed footage, and first tests. It is also the model the free first-video trial runs on (720p, up to 5 seconds, verified email).
FlashVSR is the middle tier. It costs roughly 2.2x standard at 720p and renders in about twice the time. Choose it when standard output looks thin but you do not want to pay flagship rates.
SeedVR2 is the flagship pipeline the site is named for — the strongest detail work, at 33 to 82 credits per second depending on resolution.
Pro shares SeedVR2's exact rate table and processing time. It is the pro variant of the general upscaler pipeline; if you are comparing them, test on the same 5-second clip and judge by output rather than the name.
Ultimate is the top tier, with the highest 4K rate of any model (131 credits per second). It exists for jobs where maximum 4K detail justifies the price — not for casual clips.
Example jobs, priced
| Job | Cost |
|---|---|
| 10 seconds at 720p, Standard | 90 credits |
| 10 seconds at 1080p, Standard | 90 credits |
| 10 seconds at 4K, Standard | 330 credits |
| 10 seconds at 4K, SeedVR2 | 820 credits |
| 10 seconds at 4K, Ultimate | 1,310 credits |
A 30-second clip multiplies every number by three. This is why 4K batches are worth estimating with the upscale cost calculator before uploading.
How to choose without wasting credits
- Start with Standard on a 5-second test clip
- If edges look soft or textures smear, try FlashVSR next
- If you need maximum detail and the budget allows, move to SeedVR2 or Pro
- Reserve Ultimate for 4K work where quality is the only constraint
- Confirm the final cost in the preflight every time — different models, different numbers
Summary
Standard for speed and price, FlashVSR for the middle ground, SeedVR2 and Pro for flagship detail at the same rate, Ultimate for top-tier 4K. The rate table makes the tradeoffs visible before you spend anything — and the video upscaler shows your exact cost before submission. Pack prices are on the pricing page. If you are still deciding which product to use at all, the best AI video upscaler roundup puts these rates next to a desktop suite, a free browser tool and an open-source pipeline, each with the date its price was checked.