Last updated: 2026-08-19
remove.bg is an AI-powered background removal tool used by 32 million people monthly to process over 150 million images through automatic deep-learning subject detection. It outputs transparent PNGs, solid-color swaps, or custom AI-generated backdrops, with native plugins for Photoshop, Figma, and Shopify.
About remove.bg
remove.bg was founded in 2018 in Vienna as Kaleido AI, using deep learning to automatically detect and separate foreground subjects from backgrounds. The tool processes over 150 million images monthly for 32+ million active users, including 240+ enterprise clients. Canva acquired Kaleido in 2021, folding remove.bg into its design ecosystem while keeping it as a standalone product.
The platform runs on a credit-based system: users can remove backgrounds entirely, swap them for solid colors, or export transparent PNGs. It serves e-commerce sellers, graphic designers, and marketing teams who need fast product photography, headshots, or ad visuals without manual masking in Photoshop.
Pricing
Prices are in US dollars on remove.bg's own pricing page (read 28 October 2026). Subscription from $9/month for 40 credits (1 credit = 1 high-resolution download), with larger credit sizes selectable on the page; pay-as-you-go from $3 for 3 credits as a one-off purchase; Enterprise from 100,000 images a year on request. A free account gets low-resolution previews and 1 trial credit.
API pricing now sits with Leonardo.ai. remove.bg is moving into Canva: the standalone website closes on 1 December 2026 at 9:00 CET, and purchased credits expire at that moment.
| Tier | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Credit-based; 1 credit = 1 high-resolution download. Free: low-resolution previews, plus 1 trial credit |
| Subscription | $9/mo | From $9/month for 40 credits; larger credit sizes are chosen on the pricing page; includes max-quality exports, API and integrations, bulk editing |
| Pay-as-you-go | $3 for 3 credits (one-time) | One-off credit purchase from $3 for 3 credits; credits expire 1 December 2026, 9:00 CET, when the standalone site closes |
| Enterprise | Custom | From 100,000 images a year: flexible API, credits and rate limit, premium support; quoted on request |
Key Features
- 100% Automatic Background Removal: AI instantly identifies and removes image backgrounds with precision, requiring zero manual selection or layering
- AI Background Generator: Creates custom backdrop environments automatically without needing written prompts or design skills
- Bulk Processing: Batch-processes large volumes of images at once through the desktop app or API, built for high-volume catalogs and agencies
- Broad Integrations: Native plugins for Photoshop, Figma, Sketch, GIMP, and PowerPoint, plus 2,000+ app integrations via Zapier and Make, and direct Shopify support
- Magic Brush & Manual Refinement: Fine-tune automatic results with an AI-powered brush for precise edge control and detailed corrections
- Multi-Platform Access: Available on web browser, Windows and Mac desktop apps, Android app, editor plugins, and a developer API
Pros
- Handles tricky edges like hair and fur more cleanly than most rival background removers, according to user reports
- Fastest option in the category for one-off edits, with results in a couple of seconds and zero manual selection
- Deep integrations with design tools already in most workflows, so it rarely becomes an extra step
- API documentation is clear enough that developers can wire it into a pipeline without support tickets
- Free tier previews are genuinely unlimited, not a crippled one-time trial
Cons
- Credit rollover caps at 5x the monthly allowance, which creates friction for businesses with seasonal spikes in volume
- Free tier only allows low-resolution preview downloads; any real, full-resolution export needs a paid credit
- Very complex backgrounds (fine transparency, overlapping translucent objects) sometimes need manual touch-up with the Magic Brush
- Unused credits expire on cancellation or downgrade, so idle subscriptions lose value fast
- No offline mode: every removal requires an internet connection
- Static images only; video background removal needs Unscreen, a separate Canva-owned tool, and there is no built-in color or exposure correction
Data Handling
- Compliance
- SSL/TLS encryption; privacy-first (images deleted within 1 hour via web · immediately via API)
Frequently Asked Questions
What does remove.bg actually cost?
remove.bg prices in US dollars: a subscription starts at $9 a month for 40 credits, where one credit is one high-resolution download, and bigger credit sizes are picked on the pricing page. One-off credits start at $3 for 3, and Enterprise starts at 100,000 images a year on a quote. Plan for the move to Canva: the standalone site closes on 1 December 2026, and unused credits expire then.
Can you use remove.bg without paying?
Yes, within limits: unlimited low-resolution previews at 0.25 MP, 50 free API previews a month, and 1 free high-resolution credit each month. Any full-resolution download past that needs a paid credit or a subscription.
What should you use instead of remove.bg?
Photoroom pairs background removal with 1,000+ ready-made e-commerce templates, a better fit if you also need product-photo layouts, not just cutouts. Canva bundles a background remover inside its all-in-one design suite, useful if you would rather not juggle a separate app. Neither matches remove.bg's bulk API throughput for developers automating removal at scale.
remove.bg or Photoroom: which should you pick?
Photoroom leans toward product photography with built-in scene templates and batch editing for catalogs. remove.bg concentrates on the cutout itself, with higher accuracy on complex edges and a broader integration list of 2,000+ apps through Zapier and Make. Decide on what you need after the cutout: nothing more, or the finished product shot built in the same tool.
What does it take to start using remove.bg?
Go to remove.bg's website or open the desktop app and drop in an image; the background removal runs automatically in seconds with no account required for a preview download. A full-resolution download needs a free account and at least one credit. Developers can skip the UI entirely and call the API directly using a key from remove.bg's own documentation.
Top Alternatives
- Photoroom: Photoroom adds e-commerce templates and product-photo layouts on top of background removal, while remove.bg stays a lean, high-accuracy cutout tool with the deepest integration list.
- Canva: remove.bg is the accuracy-and-API choice; Canva is the all-in-one design app where background removal is one tool among many.
Hokai guides that mention remove.bg
- Best AI Product Photography Tools in 2026, Including AI Models for Fashion and Jewelry: Photoroom, Pixelcut, AI Jewelry Model, Picsart and Freepik compared on price per image, on-model shots and batch limits, plus what to do as remove.bg closes.
- Adobe Firefly or Gencraft: A 2026 Pricing and Feature Comparison: Adobe Firefly runs $9.99-$199.99/month with IP indemnification; Gencraft tops out at $19.99/month for hobbyists. A verified 2026 cost and feature breakdown.