5 Best Image Background Removers: Comparison & Test Results

5 Best Background Removers: In-Depth Reviews

1. Aiarty Image Matting

• Rating: 4.0/5 by Softpedia
• Platforms: Windows, macOS
• Output resolution: Up to 10K.
• Supported input formats: .heic, .jpg, .jpeg, .bmp, .png, .webp, .avif, .tif, .tiff, .jfif, and more
• Supported output formats: .png (8-bit, 16-bit), .jpg
• Best for: Best for e-commerce sellers, individuals, designers, and photographers who require high-efficiency matting of large image volumes, particularly those with complex edge and transparency.

Aiarty Image Matting is one of the best AI background removers I’ve tested. It’s fast, precise, and works impressively well on tricky details like hair, fur, and transparent objects. Unlike many so-called "one-click" removers that struggle with clean edges or leave background artifacts, Aiarty delivers sharp and natural extractions.

My Experience with Aiarty Image Matting

After launching Aiarty, I found that it offers four AI models tailored for different types of images. I tested a variety of pictures, including product shots, portraits with messy hair, and images with transparency, such as a bridal veil and a jellyfish. In most cases, the AI extracted subjects with crisp, natural edges and handled transparency better than most tools I’ve used.

Below is a screenshot of the interface—clean, simple, and intuitive.

Here’s a before-and-after comparison of a portrait automatically processed with Aiarty’s AI background removal. As you can see, the subject remains intact, the background is cleanly removed, and even fine hair strands are preserved.

For images with difficult edges or transparent elements, the manual refinement brush came in handy. It allowed me to fine-tune areas where the AI didn’t get everything 100% right, ensuring a more polished result.

Take this example: a girl wearing a transparent veil against a background filled with flowers. The complexity of both the subject and background posed a significant challenge for background removal tools. After using Aiarty’s AI auto background removal, some background residue remained, while certain areas of the subject were mistakenly removed.

Fortunately, Aiarty provides manual adjustment tools to refine the result. The Eraser tool helped me effectively remove any background fragments left behind by the AI. And, the Brush tool restored parts of the subject that had been mistakenly erased.

The Dodge tool was especially useful for semi-transparent objects. For example, in a photo of a girl wearing a transparent veil, the background behind the veil wasn’t fully removed.

By selecting the Dodge tool and setting the Value to 66, I brushed over the veil, gradually increasing its transparency.

Here’s the final result.

Beyond precision, output quality matters too. One standout feature of Aiarty is that the final images remain as sharp as the originals. This is a crucial advantage, as many online tools (such as Remove.bg and PhotoRoom, which I’ll cover later) impose resolution limits for free users. Additionally, Aiarty includes an AI enhancer with three specialized models, allowing users to enhance details and upscale images by 2x. This is particularly beneficial for those who require even higher quality than the original image.

Free download Aiarty Image Matting to remove background from your image now!

2. Remove.bg

• Rating: 3.7/5 by Trustpilot
• Platforms: Web (Chrome/Safari/Firefox), Windows/Mac apps, iOS/Android.
• Output resolution: Free version reduces image resolution.
• Supported input formats: .jfif, .pjpeg, .jpeg, .pjp, .jpg, .png
• Supported output formats: .png
• Best for: Casual users wanting quick, one-click removal, but the free version has low-resolution output.

Remove.bg is one of the most widely used online background removers, offering quick AI-powered matting through a simple web interface. With just one click, it automatically removes backgrounds from photos. Its massive user base and convenient API integration make it a popular choice.

However, while it performs well on solid backgrounds, it struggles with finer details in complex scenes—such as hair against intricate patterns—sometimes leaving residual artifacts. My test results were somewhat mixed compared to my expectations, but if you prioritize ease of use over absolute precision, Remove.bg remains a solid option.

My Experience with Remove.bg

Using Remove.bg was incredibly simple. After I uploaded an image (only one can be processed at a time), the AI automatically removed the background. The processing speed was fairly quick—for a 640px image, it took just a few seconds, while a 1024px image required around 10–20 seconds.

However, at times, I was asked to verify selections—such as picking the correct image from a grid—before the process could continue. While I understand this is meant to prevent misuse, it felt somewhat disruptive.

Once the AI finished, I zoomed in to check the details. If the cutout wasn’t perfect, I used manual refinement tools like the Erase/Restore brush to make adjustments. I also found the Magic Brush particularly useful—it allowed me to quickly select and remove unwanted areas, especially for well-defined subjects.

Once I was satisfied with the result, I clicked the Download button. However, I quickly realized that free users can only download low-resolution images. For example, when I tested an image that was originally 1548×2460 pixels, the free version only allowed me to download a 396×630 pixel version. The quality drop was noticeable, making it less ideal for professional use.

To give you a clearer idea of Remove.bg’s performance, I’ve included a comparison below. While the AI effectively removed the background, there are some noticeable downsides. The free version significantly reduces the resolution, and finer details—such as individual hair strands—are often lost in the process.

3. PhotoRoom

• Rating: 4.3/5 by G2
• Platforms: Web, iOS/Android.
• Output resolution: Free version: up to 1280x1280; Pro: 2400x2400
• Supported input formats: .jfif, .pjpeg, .jpeg, .pjp, .jpg, .png
• Supported output formats: .png
• Best for: Content creators needing fast removal with basic edits, though it sometimes struggles with fine details and limits free resolution.

PhotoRoom is another popular online background remover that offers AI-powered cutouts with just one click. Like Remove.bg, it provides an easy drag-and-drop interface and instantly removes backgrounds from images.

My Experience with PhotoRoom

Using PhotoRoom was simple and straightforward. I uploaded an image, and the AI automatically processed it. However, I quickly noticed that it frequently prompted me to verify I was human—much more often than Remove.bg—which became a bit annoying.

That said, the processing speed was fast. After the background was removed, I could replace it with a solid color and download the final result. There were two download options: Standard resolution (1280x1280) for free users and High resolution (2400x2400) for Pro users. If my original image was smaller than 1280x1280, the downloaded version retained its original resolution.

From my tests, PhotoRoom generally performed well, especially for product images. It effectively removed backgrounds in most cases, producing clean results that are suitable for e-commerce listings. However, when zooming in on detailed areas, I noticed minor imperfections—edges were not always perfectly crisp, and some fine details were lost.

For e-commerce sellers, the tool offers a convenient way to batch-process multiple product images, but this feature is only available in the Pro version. If you're handling a large volume of product photos, upgrading might be necessary.

For designers or users with high precision demands, PhotoRoom’s cutouts may require manual refinement, as it struggles with intricate details like stray hair strands or objects blending into the background.

On the other hand, for personal users, the free version provides a decent experience, though the resolution limit and watermark might be drawbacks. The Pro plan offers more flexibility but comes at a cost, so whether it's worth it depends on your specific needs.

4. Canva

• Rating: 2.5/5 by Trustpilot
• Platforms: Web
• Output resolution: Same as original
• Supported input formats: .jpg, .png, .heic, .webp
• Supported output formats: .jpg, .png, .pdf
• Best for: Marketers and designers needing simple cutouts for graphics.

Canva is a well-known design platform that offers a built-in Background Remover tool (limits free users to testing the tool on just one image), available only to Canva Pro users. While it provides an easy-to-use interface for removing backgrounds in a single click, users have reported various issues that significantly impact its reliability and efficiency.

Since Canva is primarily a design tool rather than a dedicated background remover, its cutout quality may not be as precise as specialized background removal software.

My Experience with Canva’s Background Remover

Using Canva’s background remover was simple—just upload an image, click the BG Remover button, and let the AI handle the rest. Once the background was removed, I could zoom in to preview the details and use the erase/restore brush for manual adjustments. After refining the cutout, I clicked Share > Download and saved the image in its original size with a transparent background.

However, the results weren’t always perfect. While it worked well on some images, it struggled with fine details like hair strands, often leaving behind rough edges. The erase/restore brush helped to an extent, but it lacked the precision needed for complex cutouts.

Another limitation is that Canva doesn’t allow fine-tuning transparency levels, making it difficult to handle semi-transparent areas. For example, if a bridal veil is partially see-through, Canva might remove the background behind it entirely or fail to cut it out properly—without any option to adjust transparency.

Looking at user feedback, I found similar complaints. Some users reported that the background reappeared after downloading, though this might be due to forgetting to check the Transparent background option. Others mentioned issues like excessive cutouts, and noticeable white edges. Performance-wise, the tool can be slow and laggy, especially with high-resolution images.

One of the biggest downsides is the lack of batch processing—you have to remove backgrounds one image at a time, which is frustrating if you’re working with multiple files.

5. Photoshop

• Rating: 4.6/5 by G2
• Platforms: Windows, Mac
• Output resolution: Same as original
• Supported input formats: .jpg, .png, .heic/.heif, .webp, .psd, .psdc, .tiff, .psb, .raw
• Supported output formats: .jpg, .png, .psd, .tiff, .webp
• Best for: Professionals needing manual refinements, as its automatic cutout is less precise but offers full editing control.

Adobe Photoshop is widely recognized for its powerful editing capabilities, and its background removal tool is no exception. Unlike simpler AI-powered tools, Photoshop offers a combination of automatic and manual methods, giving users greater control over their edits. But how does it compare to more beginner-friendly options? Here’s my take.

My Experience with Photoshop’s Background Remover

I first tested the Remove Background option in the Quick Actions panel. The process was straightforward and fast, but compared to other one-click AI background removers like Aiarty Image Matting and Remove.bg, Photoshop’s precision fell short.

The image below shows the result of Photoshop’s Remove Background tool. As you can see, some areas were mistakenly removed, while parts of the background that should have been erased remained intact.

It worked well for simple images with clear contrast between the subject and background but struggled with finer details.

For complex images—especially those with hair, fur, or semi-transparent elements—I had to refine the results manually. While Photoshop provides advanced selection tools like Select and Mask, manual cutouts require time and experience, making them less ideal for beginners.

Test Image Comparison: How Each Background Remover Performs

While we tested over 100 images for this review, we’ve selected three representative examples to showcase how each background remover performs in different scenarios:

• A portrait with fine hair strands – to evaluate how well each tool preserves intricate details like stray hairs.
• A jellyfish with a dark background – to evaluate how well each tool handles semi-transparent subjects and preserves fine details.
• A product image of a shoe with a solid background – to assess their accuracy in handling straightforward cutouts.

These images highlight key challenges in background removal, providing a clear comparison of each tool’s strengths and weaknesses.

Test Image 1: Portrait with Fine Hair Strands

In this test, Aiarty performed the best, accurately identifying the subject while keeping the background completely removed. It preserved most of the fine hair strands, maintaining a natural and detailed look.

Remove.bg also provided a clean background and retained the subject’s overall shape. However, the edges of the hair appeared harsh, and many fine strands were lost in the process.

PhotoRoom delivered a well-defined cutout with a clean background, but the hair edges were noticeably blurred, and several fine strands were removed. This resulted in a slightly softer look compared to the original.

Canva produced a clean background and maintained the subject’s completeness. However, some hair strands were removed, and certain areas of the hair appeared stiff, making the edges less natural.

Photoshop handled hair details relatively well, keeping a good amount of fine strands intact. However, some parts of the background were not fully removed, and the tied strap on the sleeve was mistakenly cut out, affecting the overall accuracy of the result.

Below is the full image comparison. It shows how each tool handles background removal while maintaining the subject’s shape and clarity.

The close-up detail comparison focuses on fine elements - hair strands. Aiarty retains more detail, while others blur or remove delicate strands, affecting the natural look.

Test Image 2: A Jellyfish with a Dark Background

Aiarty and PhotoRoom removed the black background most cleanly. The other three tools left significant background residue. However, PhotoRoom had some drawbacks—it lost finer details, with some areas appearing blurred or cropped. In terms of detail preservation, Aiarty performed better than PhotoRoom. Additionally, PhotoRoom altered the colors, making them appear lighter than the original image.

Test Image 3: Product Image of a Shoe with a Solid Background

This test featured a relatively simple cutout task, as the subject had a clear outline against a solid background. Aiarty, PhotoRoom, Canva, and Remove.bg all successfully removed the background while preserving the shoe's shape without any noticeable errors.

However, Photoshop had a minor issue where a small portion of the background inside a hand-stitched area was mistakenly removed.

When it comes to output resolution, Remove.bg had a significant limitation for free users—the original image was 1484x1920, but the processed result was drastically reduced to 439x568. PhotoRoom also lowered the resolution, outputting at 989x1280, which might be a concern for users needing high-resolution results.

Conclusion

Based on our tests, Aiarty delivers the best overall performance with its high AI precision, fast processing speed, and support for batch removal. Unlike other one-click tools such as Photoroom, Remove.bg, and Canva, Aiarty not only ensures clean cutouts but also provides manual adjustment tools, including transparency control, allowing users greater flexibility.

While Photoroom, Remove.bg, and Canva also offer decent background removal results, they lack extensive manual editing options and batch processing. For users with high-volume cutout needs, these limitations can be time-consuming.

Photoshop, on the other hand, falls behind in terms of automation. Its one-click background removal struggles with accuracy, often requiring manual refinements even for simple images with clear contours and solid backgrounds.

If you need a balance of precision, speed, and flexibility, Aiarty is the best choice. Photoroom, Remove.bg, and Canva are suitable for quick, casual edits, while Photoshop remains a better fit for those comfortable with manual adjustments.

Evaluation Criteria: How We Tested These Background Removers

To identify the best background removers, we conducted a series of structured tests using 20 popular tools. Each tool was evaluated based on six key criteria:

1. Accuracy – We tested how well the AI detected and separated subjects from different types of backgrounds, including solid colors, gradients, complex scenes, and semi-transparent elements like hair or fur.
2. Ease of Use – We assessed the user interface, workflow simplicity, and whether the tool required manual adjustments to achieve clean cutouts.
3. Feature Set – We examined additional functionalities such as edge refinement, transparency control, batch processing, and background replacement options.
4. Output Quality – We compared the final cutouts in terms of sharpness, smoothness, and edge clarity, ensuring that no unwanted traces or jagged outlines were left behind.
5. Processing Speed – We measured how quickly each tool processed images, especially when handling high-resolution files or batch operations.
6. Overall Value – We factored in pricing, free vs. paid features, and whether the tool’s performance justified its cost.

To ensure fairness and consistency, we tested each background remover with over 100 images, covering a diverse range of subjects:

• Portraits (various hairstyles, clothing details)
• Animals (fur, feathers, and complex textures)
• Products (e-commerce-style images with different lighting and shadows)
• Logos and graphics (sharp edges, transparency elements)
• Vehicles (cars, motorcycles, with reflections and complex backgrounds)

By analyzing performance across these different image types, we identified which tools consistently delivered precise and clean cutouts.