No more pen tool. Remove backgrounds from your photographs automatically with “zero clicks” in five seconds using this free tool, all with incredible accuracy and powered by artificial intelligence.
Introduction
Removebg is an artificial intelligence-powered online tool that allows you to upload a photograph and automatically remove backgrounds. It’s perfect for the casual creative who wants to create simple, clean photos where the main subject is the sole focus, or for those that want to use an automatic background removal tool to prep their images before use. It can save time for anyone who doesn’t want to cut out subjects manually in their native image editing software, and for the sake of a short upload, backgrounds can be accurately and reliably removed without issue. The best part is, it’s free! But there is a catch, see below.
Usability
The website is incredibly simple to use. On the main page, there’s an example GIF next to an upload button that gets you started straight away with the process. After a simple image selection, the photo is uploaded to the Removebg servers for processing. Shortly after (depending on your internet speed) the background is automatically removed ready for preview.
The whole process is smooth and pain-free, with minimal input from the user. From beginning to end the entire background removal takes mere seconds and is ready for download immediately from the same page — no waiting for emailed links or other odd privacy-encroaching methods.
The tool is 100% automatic and free. Although as I mentioned earlier, there is a catch. The service is free, but only on images up to 600 x 400 pixels. For anything larger (up to 25 MP) you’ll need one credit (for one image) your first one is free though. Have a look at the pricing tab on the site and you can get up to 50 free previews per month but if you want to take things any further (or you’re doing it for a gig or job with multiple images) then you’ll have to start paying. Luckily, even then the price is minimal with even the cheapest option (the worst value for money) only averaging out at 20 pence GBP per image (roughly 27 cents USD) with a monthly cost of £8 GBP (approx $11 USD) for 40 credits. Credits do roll over to the next month if you don’t use them though, and if you need more then one of the bigger packages will make it even cheaper per image overall where it’s possible to push the per image price down to 12 pence GBP (16 cents USD) per image.
Alternatively, if you don’t fancy a monthly subscription you can pay as you go but the price jumps up a little bit more here as well with single credit cost ranging from £1.79 GBP ($2.46 USD) to 36 pence GBP (49 cents USD) depending on how many you buy in one go.
Features
There’s a lot to like about Removebg. Whether it’s the automatic background removal, free first use, or simplicity of the site you like it’s worth having a go even if you already have image editing software that allows you to cut out backgrounds already. In fact, the quality and accuracy of the background removal are so good I found that it actually out-competed my paid-for competitor software that I use on a regular basis. Impressive stuff!
It copes well with any kind of subject you can imagine, cutting out backgrounds in portraits, products, photos of animals, cars and vehicles, and even graphics. Because of its ability to remove backgrounds, Removebg also has the option of adding in new backgrounds, making greeting cards, adding customized designs, and more. In my test of the tool, I’ve yet to find an image that stumps it, or at least one where my paid-for software alternative can outperform Removebg.
Usage and Image Examples
I used a variety of different photos to show you exactly how it performed on a range of subjects, some busier and more complex, others simple and plain. It’s done a great job at removing the background of all of them. It even adds blur and the ability to edit the selection by restoring or erasing the mask.
Summary
I love that Removebg is so accurate with its background removal (I mean, if it wasn’t it might be a bit spurious setting up a business where the tool’s only job wasn’t actually that good). It’s good enough to compete with other regular image editing software and AI-powered software, too.
The whole process is entirely automatic, and it offers multiple options to replace the background with other backdrops, including other functions such as generating greeting cards and more. It’s great that the service is free, but a shame the main page is a little misleading with its “free” claim, as once you dive a little deeper on the site you see that it is actually a paid-for service if you want more than one image credit. However, that’s a totally legitimate stance to take because they’re a business and need to keep the lights on, like any other company.
There’s not a lot a service like this could be improved, considering it’s responsible for a single purpose – to remove backgrounds, it performs well and is pretty straightforward via the site. It might be nice to see a more complex option to refine the selection with either brush feathering or the ability to use a pen-like tool for more precise edge manipulation, but I understand that this service is meant to be AI-led and automatic.
What I Liked:
- Simplicity of site
- Free image credit
- Accuracy of background removal
What Could Be Improved:
- Should be more upfront on the main page about in-built costs
- More mask refining tools
Final Closing Thoughts
For users in a rush who want backgrounds removed automatically with AI-powered processing, Removebg is a fantastic resource. It would suit users or businesses that sell products via e-commerce and don’t want to fork out the extra costs for a retoucher or other image editor/creative to cut out products, and instead could be used by almost any worker regardless of creative expertise.
Alternatively, it’s also useful for the casual user who wants to cut out that one image they need the background removed on, or create a greeting card for a friend or family member. For power users that would like to take advantage of this creative tool, it’s also fantastic because of its accuracy at removing backgrounds.