Remove.bg

Instant automatic background removal for images

Hand-reviewed by the Toolglade team·Updated Aug 2026

image#background removal#transparent png#api#ecommerce

Free plan API Mobile app

Toolglade’s take

Remove.bg does one thing extremely well: fast, clean automatic background removal, with strong edge handling and a solid API for automation. Note that it is owned by Canva (via the 2021 Kaleido acquisition) but still operates as a standalone, separately branded product, so it is not defunct. The main friction is the credit model: free previews are low-resolution, and full-res or high-volume use requires a subscription or per-image credits.

About Remove.bg

Remove.bg is a specialized AI tool that automatically removes image backgrounds and outputs transparent PNGs in seconds, with strong handling of edges like hair. It offers a web app, desktop and design-software plugins, and a developer API for batch and automated workflows. Owned by Canva through the 2021 Kaleido acquisition, it still operates as a standalone, separately branded product on a freemium, credit-based model.

Remove.bg is a focused utility that uses AI to detect the subject of an image and strip out the background automatically, producing a transparent PNG in seconds. It handles tricky edges like hair and fur reasonably well and is popular for product photos, portraits, and profile pictures. Beyond the web app, it offers desktop tools, plugins for design software, and a developer API for batch and automated workflows. The company behind Remove.bg (Kaleido) was acquired by Canva in 2021. Importantly, Remove.bg continues to operate as its own separately branded product; the acquisition folded the legal entity into Canva but did not shut the service down. It remains widely used, reportedly processing well over a hundred million images per month. Remove.bg uses a freemium, credit-based model. You can preview results and download low-resolution images for free, while full-resolution downloads and API use consume credits from subscription or pay-per-image plans. Its narrow focus is its strength: it does one job quickly and integrates cleanly into other tools rather than trying to be a full editor.

TL;DR

Remove.bg is a specialized AI tool that automatically removes image backgrounds and outputs transparent PNGs, with strong edge handling and a developer API. It is owned by Canva (via the 2021 Kaleido acquisition) but still operates as a standalone product. It uses a freemium, credit-based model, with free low-res previews and paid full-res downloads. It suits e-commerce, designers, and developers automating cutouts. It is not defunct.

Company overview

Remove.bg was built by Kaleido, which Canva acquired in 2021. The legal entity was folded into Canva (renamed Canva Austria GmbH), but Remove.bg continues to operate under its own brand.

The service is widely used and reportedly processes well over a hundred million images per month, serving individual creators, businesses, and enterprise clients.

Product features

Remove.bg automatically detects a subject and removes the background, producing a transparent PNG in seconds, with good handling of hair and complex edges. It is available via web app, desktop tools, and plugins for design software.

A developer API supports batch and automated background removal. Pricing is credit-based, with free low-resolution previews and paid full-resolution downloads.

Target market

Remove.bg targets e-commerce sellers, designers, marketers, and developers who need fast, reliable background removal, either interactively or automated through its API.

Buyer personas

End users

Designers, e-commerce operators, and marketers removing backgrounds from images day to day.

Buyers

Individuals subscribing for credits and businesses purchasing API or higher-volume plans.

Key influencers

Design leads and developers who standardize on tools for image pipelines.

Ideal customer profile

E-commerce and design teams that need fast, high-quality background removal at scale, ideally integrated via API into existing workflows.

Funding & performance

Remove.bg's parent, Kaleido, was acquired by Canva in 2021; specific acquisition terms were not publicly disclosed. No separate ongoing funding is publicly disclosed beyond the Canva ownership.

Pros & cons

Pros

Very fast, one-click background removal
Strong handling of hair and complex edges
Robust developer API for automation
Plugins for design tools like Photoshop and Figma
Free low-resolution previews
Backed by Canva's resources

Cons

Full-resolution downloads require credits
Free previews are low resolution
Credit-based pricing can add up at volume
Single-purpose tool, not a full editor
No manual editing depth for edge cases
Subscription needed for consistent high-res output

Pricing plans

Free

Low-resolution previews
Basic web app access
Limited free downloads

Subscription

$9 / month

About 40 credits/month
Full-resolution downloads
API access
Plugins for design tools

Pay As You Go

Per image

Credit packs with no subscription
Full-resolution downloads
API access
Volume discounts on larger packs

Key features

API

Mobile app

Multi-language

Integrations

Web app, Photoshop plugin, Figma, API, Canva ecosystem

Input types

image

Output types

image

Best For

removing image backgrounds, creating transparent PNGs, ecommerce product photos, automated background removal via API

Compare key features

View all alternatives →

Feature

Remove.bg

Canva AI

DALL·E

Pricing

Freemium

Free plan

Yes

Free trial

API

Yes

Team support

Yes

Frequently asked questions

Is Remove.bg still operating after the Canva acquisition?+

Yes. Kaleido, the company behind Remove.bg, was acquired by Canva in 2021, but Remove.bg continues to operate as its own separately branded standalone product. It is not defunct.

Is Remove.bg free?+

You can preview and download low-resolution images for free. Full-resolution downloads and API use consume credits from subscription or pay-per-image plans.

Does Remove.bg have an API?+

Yes. Remove.bg offers a developer API for batch and automated background removal, along with plugins for design software like Photoshop and Figma.

How well does Remove.bg handle hair and fine edges?+

Remove.bg is known for handling tricky edges such as hair and fur reasonably well, which is a common weakness of simpler tools.

What is Remove.bg best used for?+

It excels at fast, clean background removal for product photos, portraits, and profile pictures, and at automating that task via its API rather than serving as a full editor.