A free remove.bg alternative
remove.bg has announced that its standalone website and self-serve API will close on 1 December 2026, when background removal moves into Canva. If you used remove.bg to cut out photos, Background Killer does the same job for free, in your browser.
What stays the same
You add a photo, the subject is cut out, and you download a PNG with a transparent background. You can also put the subject on white, black or any color before you download.
What is different
- Full size is free. remove.bg's help page says free use covers images up to 0.25 megapixels, with higher resolution on paid plans. Background Killer downloads your cutout at the same pixel size as your original photo.
- No account and no credits. There is nothing to sign up for and nothing to run out of.
- Your photo stays on your device. The cutout model runs in your browser, so the image is never uploaded.
- Batches. Add a stack of photos, then download them one by one or as a single zip.
- A brush for edges. Erase leftovers, or restore parts the model cut by mistake.
What to know before you switch
- Background Killer is a website. It is not an API or a plugin, so it does not replace remove.bg's API or its Photoshop plugin.
- Speed depends on your computer, because the work happens on your device. Expect some seconds per photo, and longer on an old phone.
- The first visit downloads a 46 MB model. After that it is saved in your browser.
- Results are good on most photos but not perfect. Very fine hair, glass and see-through objects can need a touch-up with the brush.
How to switch in four steps
- Open backgroundkiller.com and click Upload image, or drop a photo on the page.
- Wait for the cutout. The first time takes longer because the model downloads once.
- Tidy the edges with Erase and Restore if you need to.
- Pick a background and press Download full size.