What is remove.bg?
remove.bg is an AI background removal service that isolates the subject of a photo and returns a transparent PNG or a new background in seconds. It works on the web, on Windows, Mac, Linux and Android, inside Photoshop and Figma, and through an HTTP API. It is owned by Canva.
Cutting a subject out of a photo by hand in an editor can take minutes per image and requires skill with masks. This tool detects the foreground automatically and removes everything else, so you can make white-background product shots, headshots or transparent logos without manual selection. For volume, bulk processing and an API move the same step into e-commerce and design pipelines, and an AI background generator places the cutout on a new scene without a prompt.
Main Features
- Automatic background removal for people, products, animals, cars and other foreground subjects.
- Transparent PNG output or a white or custom background for e-commerce and headshots.
- AI background generator that creates a new backdrop without writing a prompt.
- Magic Brush for manually refining the edges the automatic cutout missed.
- Bulk editing that processes up to 500 images per minute.
- Integrations with Photoshop, Figma and Zapier, plus desktop apps for Windows, Mac and Linux and an Android app.
- HTTP API that accepts uploads or image URLs and returns results up to 50 megapixels, with sample code in Python, Node.js, PHP, Java and more.
How to Get Started with remove.bg
- Go to remove.bg and upload a photo or paste an image URL.
- Wait a few seconds while the background is removed automatically.
- Refine edges with Magic Brush or swap in a new background if needed.
- Download the free preview, or sign up and use a credit for the full-resolution file.
remove.bg Pricing
Free use on the website gives preview images up to 0.25 megapixels, and a free account adds 50 free API previews per month and one bonus credit. Full-resolution downloads use credits bought through a monthly subscription or pay-as-you-go packs that do not expire.
Who Should Use It?
- Online sellers preparing white-background product photos
- Photographers cutting out portraits and headshots
- Car dealerships cleaning up vehicle listing photos
- Designers making transparent PNGs for logos and presentations
- Developers automating background removal through the API
remove.bg Alternatives
- Photoroom: adds studio shots and product photo templates
- Clipdrop AI: bundles cleanup, relighting and other image tools
- CleanUp Pictures: focused on removing objects rather than backgrounds
Frequently Asked Questions
Is remove.bg free?
Removing a background on the website is free at preview resolution, up to 0.25 megapixels (about 625 by 400 pixels). High-resolution results need credits, which come with a monthly subscription or as pay-as-you-go packs.
Does remove.bg have an API?
Yes. The HTTP API takes a file upload or image URL and returns an image or JSON, up to 50 megapixels, and the first 50 API calls each month are free. Canva says background removal moves to the Leonardo.Ai API from December 1, 2026.
Can remove.bg process many images at once?
Yes. Bulk editing handles up to 500 images per minute, and the desktop apps for Windows, Mac and Linux, the Photoshop extension and the Zapier integration let you run it inside existing workflows.