Free Background Removers
Which background removers and AI photo editors a startup can cut out product and profile photos with for free today, how many images and at what resolution the free plan allows, whether a card is needed and what the first paid plan costs, read from each provider's own page.
Free allowances read on each provider's own pages, all checked on or after . Background removers change their free plans from time to time: confirm the terms on the provider's page before you rely on it.
Background removers a startup can use for free today include Pixelcut (Limited background removal, no watermark), Clipdrop (Free plan to start), Fotor (Free to use, no sign-up needed), Photoroom (Free to start, remove backgrounds), and remove.bg (1 free credit, free previews). Each of the 10 free plans below links to the provider's page that states it, with its main limit, the free download resolution, whether a card is needed and what the first paid plan costs.
Product photos on white, team headshots and marketplace listings all start with removing a background. AI background removers do it in seconds, and most let you try free in the browser or on your phone.
The headline rarely tells you how far it goes. Many free downloads are previews at about 0.25 megapixels, high-resolution exports cost credits, and some free plans cap removals a day. Each tool below shows what is free, its main limit, the free download resolution, whether a card is needed and what the first paid plan costs, quoted from the provider's own page with the date we read it.
Which tools we picked and the order they appear in are our editorial choices; the terms are the providers'. Some of these providers pay us a referral commission when someone signs up through our link: those links are labeled, and they play no part in which tools are listed or where.
Background removers with a free plan
Cut out photos in the browser or on your phone, free to start.
- 1
Pixelcut
Free background removal and upscaling, no watermark
Pixelcut's free plan has limited background removal and upscaling, and its exports carry no watermark. Pro costs $10 a month, or $8 billed yearly.
- First paid plan
- Pro: $10 a month, $8 billed yearly (source: pixelcut.ai)
Start free at PixelcutReferral linkTerms read on pixelcut.ai on Pixelcut: the free allowance and how to start - 2
Clipdrop
Quick cutouts, 20 a day on the free plan
Clipdrop's free plan lets you start for free, with 20 background removals every 24 hours.
- What's free
- Free plan to start (source: clipdrop.co)
- 3
Fotor
Free background removal with HD download, no sign-up
Fotor's background remover is free to use with no sign-up needed, and its HD download is free. Uploads can be up to 60 MB.
- Main limit
- Uploads up to 60 MB (source: fotor.com)
- Free resolution
- Free HD download (source: fotor.com)
- 4
Photoroom
Start removing backgrounds on mobile or desktop
Photoroom lets you get started for free to remove backgrounds, and high-resolution exports need an upgrade. Pro is $7.50 a month billed yearly.
- Free resolution
- High-res exports need an upgrade (source: photoroom.com)
- First paid plan
- Pro: $7.50 a month, billed yearly (source: photoroom.com)
Start free at PhotoroomTerms read on photoroom.com on Photoroom: the free allowance and how to start Photoroom API Startup Plan: what startups get - 5
remove.bg
One free credit to try it on your own photos
remove.bg gives new users 1 free credit, and removing the background from one image costs 1 credit. Its preview images are up to 0.25 megapixels.
- Free resolution
- Preview, up to 0.25 megapixels (source: remove.bg)
- 6
Erase.bg
Three free HD downloads after a sign-up
Erase.bg gives 3 free credits when you sign up, enough to download 3 HD images. Each background removal uses 1 credit, and Pro starts at $5 for 10 credits.
- What's free
- 3 free credits at sign-up (source: erase.bg)
- Free resolution
- HD downloads, 3 free (source: erase.bg)
- First paid plan
- Pro: from $5 for 10 credits (source: erase.bg)
- 7
Pixian.AI
Small images, no sign-up, website only
Pixian's web app is free for images up to 0.25 megapixels, with low priority processing. Paid usage is pay-as-you-go with no monthly fees or minimums.
- Free resolution
- Up to 0.25 megapixels (source: pixian.ai)
- First paid plan
- Pay per image, no monthly fee (source: pixian.ai)
- 8
PhotoScissors
Standard-definition cutouts at no cost
PhotoScissors gives free standard-definition downloads, and each image downloaded in HD uses 1 credit. Pay as you go starts at 10 credits for $4.99.
- Free resolution
- Standard definition (SD) (source: photoscissors.com)
- First paid plan
- 10 credits for $4.99 (source: photoscissors.com)
Start free at PhotoScissorsTerms read on photoscissors.com on PhotoScissors: the free allowance and how to start - 9
Slazzer
Two free HD credits and unlimited free previews
Slazzer's free plan gives 2 free credits and unlimited free previews on its website. Subscriptions start at 100 credits a month for $11.
- Free resolution
- Preview, up to 0.25 megapixels (source: slazzer.com)
- First paid plan
- Subscription: 100 credits, $11 a month (source: slazzer.com)
- 10
Removal.AI
Low-resolution cutouts for personal use, free
Removal.AI is free for low-resolution images and personal use, and signing up gives one free high-resolution download. Monthly plans start at $5.99 for 100 credits.
- Free resolution
- Up to 0.25 megapixels, free (source: removal.ai)
- First paid plan
- Monthly: 100 credits for $5.99 (source: removal.ai)
AI startup programs
Programs from AI companies that give startups credits on paid usage.
Also useful for design and creative work
Referral links, picked for fit and ordered by fit (70%) and what a signup earns us (30%), at no cost to you. They never change this page's ranking.
How this comparison is built
The list covers background removers and AI photo editors a founder can use for free today without applying to a program. The order and the "best for" notes are our editorial reading of each tool's terms. Every term comes from the tool's own pricing or help page on the date shown, never from a third-party list; follow each link for the full conditions. Free downloads only at low resolution, a watermark, a cap on images or credits, API use kept for paid plans can matter more than the headline, so the comparison quotes them wherever the provider states them. Some of these tools pay StartupPerks a referral commission, and their links are labeled as referral links; that decides neither whether nor where a tool appears, and no tool pays for a placement on this page.
Read the full methodologyCommon questions
What is the best free background remover?
By the terms each provider states, Clipdrop's free plan allows 20 background removals per 24 hours, Fotor is free to use with a free HD download, Pixelcut gives limited background removal with no watermark, and PhotoScissors gives free standard-definition downloads.
Is remove.bg free?
remove.bg gives 1 free credit and free previews of up to 0.25 megapixels; a full-resolution image takes 1 credit.
Can I remove a background in high resolution for free?
Only a few times. Erase.bg gives 3 free HD downloads at sign-up and Removal.AI 1, while remove.bg, Slazzer and Pixian.AI keep free downloads at up to 0.25 megapixels.
What does Photoroom cost?
Photoroom is free to start, but high-res exports need an upgrade; its Pro plan is $7.50 a month, billed yearly.
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