Let's be honest—dark, grainy footage is a viewership killer. Poor lighting doesn't just scream amateur hour—it sends people clicking away within seconds. Whether you're filming in a dimly lit room or trying to rescue footage that turned out way too dark, these brightness tools can save your videos—and your viewership stats.

Key takeaways

• Lighting enhancement tools dramatically improve viewer retention by making content more professional and watchable

• Most creators struggle with dim or grainy footage at some point, especially when shooting in variable lighting conditions

• Descript offers an intuitive, AI-powered approach to video brightness enhancement that integrates seamlessly with its text-based editing workflow

Top video brightness editor tools in 2025

1. Descript

Descript flips the script on video editing with its text-based approach—you edit your transcript while AI works behind the scenes to fix your lighting issues. No more fiddling with complicated color wheels and sliders. Descript's straightforward controls let you fix lighting while you edit your script—it's actually that simple. This means you can fix lighting issues and refine your message simultaneously.

Best For:

Content creators who want to fix lighting issues while simultaneously editing their video content through an intuitive text-based interface.

Key Features:

• AI-powered Color Adjustments with simple sliders that fix exposure, contrast, and color issues in seconds—no color theory degree required

• Studio Sound automatically cleans up audio while you enhance visuals, creating a complete sensory upgrade

• Text-based editing lets you cut content and fix lighting issues in a single, intuitive workflow

Pros:

• Remarkably user-friendly interface makes lighting adjustments accessible to complete beginners

• AI tools work behind the scenes to enhance quality without requiring technical expertise

• Collaborative features let teams work together on brightness adjustments and content edits simultaneously

Cons:

• Not as many specialized color grading tools as dedicated high-end coloring applications

• Some AI features work best with a stable internet connection

• Free plan includes limited exports without watermarks

Pricing:

• Free: $0/month - Basic color adjustments, 720p exports, 5 uses of AI tools including brightness enhancement

• Hobbyist: $16/person/month (annual) - Watermark-free 1080p exports, 20 monthly uses of brightness tools

• Creator: $24/person/month (annual) - Unlimited AI brightness tools, 4K exports, advanced color features

• Business: $50/person/month (annual) - Priority support, team collaboration, unlimited AI enhancement tools

Try Descript's video brightness tools

2. UniFab AI Video Enhancer

UniFab uses smart AI to spot and fix lighting problems automatically—you barely have to lift a finger. It scans every frame of your video, finds the dark spots, and brightens them up without destroying details or making everything look washed out—an essential step in how to enhance video quality. Perfect for when you need to fix lighting ASAP and don't have time to become a color grading expert overnight.

Best For:

Creators who need quick, automated brightness fixes without diving into manual adjustments or complex settings.

Key Features:

• AI engine automatically detects and corrects lighting problems with minimal user input

• Batch processing capabilities let you enhance multiple clips simultaneously

• Cloud-based interface means you can access and process videos from anywhere

Pros:

• Delivers remarkably fast results for poorly lit footage without technical knowledge

• No software installation required - just upload and enhance

• Intuitive interface requires almost no learning curve

Cons:

• Internet dependency means you can't work offline on brightness enhancements

• Limited manual control options for creators who want precise adjustments

• Processing speed depends on your connection and server load

Pricing:

• Free Trial: $0/30 days - Full access to all brightness enhancement features with no watermark

• Video Upscaler AI (Lifetime): $69.99 (one-time) - Permanent access to AI brightness tools and upscaling

• All-In-One (Lifetime): $193.99 (one-time) - Complete suite including HDR enhancement and advanced lighting tools

Check out UniFab AI Video Enhancer

3. AVCLabs AI Video Enhancer

AVCLabs combines powerful AI upscaling with comprehensive brightness enhancement capabilities. The software excels at restoring details in dark areas while simultaneously improving resolution. This dual approach makes it particularly effective for older footage or videos shot in challenging lighting conditions.

Best For:

Users looking to simultaneously enhance brightness and upscale video quality in a single processing pass.

Key Features:

• Advanced upscaling technology that improves both resolution and brightness in one process

• Automatic noise reduction that cleans up dark areas as they're brightened

• GPU acceleration support that speeds up processing of brightness adjustments

Pros:

• Powerful engine handles both brightness issues and resolution improvements simultaneously

• Effectively reduces graininess that often appears when brightening dark footage

• Particularly good at rescuing old or low-quality footage with lighting problems

Cons:

• Requires decent hardware specs to get optimal performance with brightness enhancements

• Trial version limits how many videos you can process with full brightness correction

• Interface has a steeper learning curve than some alternatives

Pricing:

• Free Trial: Limited to first 3 videos - Includes basic brightness enhancement with watermark

• 1-Month Plan: $39.95/month - Full access to all brightness and enhancement tools

• 1-Year Plan: $95.96/year - Same features at a discounted rate for annual commitment

• Perpetual Plan: $299.90 (one-time) - Lifetime access to all current brightness enhancement features

Explore AVCLabs AI Video Enhancer

4. HitPaw VikPea (Video Enhancer)

HitPaw VikPea specializes in one-click brightness improvements through its dedicated low-light enhancement model. The software focuses on simplicity, offering preset brightness adjustments that work well for most common lighting problems. Its straightforward approach makes it accessible even to complete beginners, making it a helpful tool if you're looking to fix the quality of your blurry videos.

Best For:

Creators seeking instant brightness fixes with minimal technical knowledge or time investment.

Key Features:

• One-click brightness presets that instantly transform dark footage

• Basic color correction sliders for fine-tuning after automatic enhancement

• Quick export options in multiple formats for sharing brightened videos

Pros:

• Extremely intuitive interface makes brightness adjustments accessible to anyone

• Minimal learning curve with clearly labeled brightness controls

• Good format support for importing and exporting brightened videos

Cons:

• Limited advanced editing capabilities beyond basic brightness adjustments

• Free version only allows previewing brightness enhancements without exporting

• Rendering can occasionally slow down with longer videos

Pricing:

• Free Version: $0 - Preview only, no export capabilities for brightness-enhanced videos

• 1 Month Plan: $43.19/month - Full access to low-light enhancement and all brightness tools

• 1 Year Plan: $99.99/year - Same features at a discounted annual rate

• Perpetual Plan: $350.39 (one-time) - Lifetime access to current version with all brightness features

Try HitPaw VikPea Video Enhancer

5. TopazLabs Video AI

TopazLabs Video AI takes a sophisticated approach to video enhancement, using advanced AI models to intelligently boost brightness while preserving natural-looking results. The software excels at recovering details in shadows and dark areas that other tools might miss. It's particularly popular among filmmakers and professional content creators who often pair it with the best video editing software for final editing.

Best For:

Professional creators who need cinema-quality brightness enhancement and detail recovery in poorly lit footage.

Key Features:

• AI-driven detail enhancement that intelligently brightens dark scenes while preserving natural appearance

• Combined denoising and sharpening that cleans up footage as it brightens

• Motion-adaptive processing that maintains consistent brightness across moving scenes

Pros:

• Produces exceptionally high-quality results, especially for cinematic content

• Works seamlessly with other Topaz products for comprehensive video enhancement

• Preserves natural skin tones and textures when brightening human subjects

Cons:

• Higher price point than many competitors in the brightness enhancement category

• Processing can take longer, especially when enhancing brightness in 4K footage

• Steeper learning curve to master all the brightness adjustment options

Pricing:

• Video AI: $249 (one-time purchase, regularly $299) - Includes all brightness enhancement features, AI upscaling, stabilization, and one year of updates

Discover TopazLabs Video AI

6. Vmake Video Quality Enhancer

Vmake offers a browser-based solution for quick brightness adjustments and video enhancements. The platform focuses on accessibility and speed, letting you upload, enhance, and download improved videos without installing software. This cloud-based approach makes it ideal for quick fixes on the go, especially if you're also looking for the best video editor for TikTok.

Best For:

On-the-go creators who need browser-based brightness adjustments without downloading software.

Key Features:

• Simple exposure sliders that let you quickly adjust brightness levels

• Online collaboration tools that enable team feedback on brightness adjustments

• Built-in templates with preset brightness levels for different video styles

Pros:

• Works in any browser, making brightness adjustments possible from any device

• Great for collaborative projects where multiple people need to review lighting

• Offers creative templates with optimized brightness settings for quick editing

Cons:

• Results depend heavily on your internet speed for uploads and downloads

• Limited advanced color grading options compared to desktop applications

• Free tier typically includes usage restrictions or watermarks

Pricing:

• Free Tier: $0 - Basic brightness enhancement tools with potential limitations

• Paid Plans: Various subscription options with unlimited exports and advanced brightness editing (specific pricing not provided)

Try Vmake Video Quality Enhancer

Your next step

So which tool should you actually use? It depends on what you're trying to accomplish. For quick, automated fixes, UniFab and HitPaw offer one-click solutions. If you need professional-grade enhancements, TopazLabs delivers exceptional quality. For web-based convenience, Vmake works from any browser. If you're specifically focusing on YouTube, check out the best video editing software for YouTube.

These AI tools turn what used to be hours of painstaking frame-by-frame tweaking into a few clicks—giving you back your evenings and weekends. But for the best combination of intuitive brightness controls and comprehensive editing features, Descript stands out. It uniquely integrates lighting enhancement with text-based editing, letting you fix both your visuals and content in one seamless workflow.

Get started today

Tired of cringing at your dark, grainy videos? It's time to fix that lighting problem for good. Try Descript free and see how its intuitive interface and AI-powered tools make video enhancement surprisingly simple. Even if you can't tell an RGB curve from a hole in the ground, you'll get professional-looking results while focusing on what really matters—your content.

Take Descript for a spin today

Pro tips for getting the most out of video lighting enhancement tools

• Tip #1: Combine brightness adjustments with subtle contrast tweaks. This prevents the washed-out look that often happens when you only increase exposure, maintaining depth and dimension in your image.

• Tip #2: Use AI tools to scan longer videos for problematic dark sections. This saves hours of manual review and lets you target just the segments that need fixing.

• Tip #3: When perfect brightness correction isn't possible, get creative with b-roll or graphic overlays. These can mask persistently dark areas while adding visual interest to your content, or you can remove them entirely with free video trimming software.

Frequently asked questions about video lighting enhancement tools

How do I choose the right tool for my needs?

Consider your technical comfort level, budget constraints, and turnaround time requirements. Beginners should prioritize user-friendly interfaces like Descript or HitPaw, while professionals might prefer the advanced capabilities of TopazLabs. Also factor in whether you need additional editing features beyond brightness correction.

Is video lighting enhancement worth the investment?

100% worth it. Clear, well-lit videos keep people watching—it's as simple as that. Viewers decide if your video is worth watching in about three seconds flat. Dark, muddy footage? They're gone before your intro ends. Even modest brightness improvements can transform amateur-looking content into professional-grade videos.

Can I switch between these tools easily?

Generally yes. Most tools let you export standard video formats like MP4 that you can then import into another application. This flexibility lets you use different tools for specific strengths—perhaps Descript for initial editing and brightness adjustments, then TopazLabs for final polishing if needed. If you're still in the recording phase, you might benefit from video capture software.