Best Free AI Background Removers Compared (2026) — Craiyon, imgmend & More

The Best Free AI Background Removers in 2026

AI background removal has improved dramatically. Tools that once cost money or required Photoshop are now free, instant, and browser-based. But not all free background removers are equal — some add watermarks, limit file size, or produce rough edges on hair and fur.

We tested the most popular options — Craiyon, imgmend, remove.bg, and Canva — on real photos to give you an honest comparison.

Tool Comparison at a Glance

Tool	Free Limit	Watermark?	Output Quality	Hair/Fur Edges	Download Format
imgmend	3/day	No	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Excellent	Full-res PNG
remove.bg	1 preview only	Yes (low-res)	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Excellent	Low-res free
Canva	5/month	No	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Good	PNG (Canva format)
Craiyon	Unlimited (slow)	Yes	⭐⭐⭐	Fair	Low-res PNG
PhotoRoom	Limited	Yes (free)	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Good	PNG

1. imgmend — Best Free Background Remover Overall

imgmend offers the best combination of quality and genuine free access. The AI accurately removes backgrounds from portraits, product photos, logos, pets, and complex scenes — with clean edge detection on hair, fur, and transparent objects.

• Free plan: 3 background removals per day, full-resolution output, small watermark (Pro removes it)
• No signup required — open the site, upload, download. Done.
• Output: Full-resolution transparent PNG
• Best for: ecommerce product photos, headshots, social media content

Try imgmend background remover free →

2. remove.bg — Best Quality, But Free Tier Is Limited

remove.bg pioneered AI background removal and still delivers excellent results, particularly for complex hair and detailed edges. However, the free tier only lets you download a low-resolution preview (max 0.25 megapixels). Full-resolution downloads require a paid plan starting at $9.99 for 40 images.

• Free plan: Low-resolution preview only (~625×417 px max)
• Paid: From $9.99 for 40 images or $24.99/month for 167 images
• Best for: professionals who need the highest accuracy and can pay for it

3. Canva — Good Quality, But Requires an Account

Canva's Background Remover is solid and integrates with their design platform. The free plan gives you 5 background removals per month, but you must create a Canva account to use it. Output stays inside the Canva editor, which adds friction if you just want a standalone PNG.

• Free plan: 5 removals/month with a free account
• Best for: users already working in Canva for social media design

4. Craiyon — Unlimited but Lower Quality

Craiyon is primarily known as a free AI image generator, not a background remover. Its background removal feature works, but the edge quality is noticeably lower than dedicated tools — especially on complex backgrounds or fine hair. Output is low resolution and includes a watermark on the free plan. Processing can be slow during peak hours due to shared server resources.

• Free plan: Unlimited, but watermarked and low-res
• Output quality: Acceptable for simple subjects, rough on detailed edges
• Best for: quick rough cuts where quality is not critical

How to Choose the Right Tool

• Need free + full resolution, with the option to remove the watermark? → Use imgmend (3/day free, Pro removes the watermark)
• Need the highest possible accuracy and willing to pay? → Use remove.bg
• Already using Canva for design? → Use Canva's built-in tool
• Need unlimited processing and quality doesn't matter much? → Craiyon works

Tips for Better Background Removal Results

• Use photos with good contrast between subject and background
• Avoid patterned backgrounds that are similar in color to the subject
• Upload the highest resolution version of your image
• For product shots, shoot against a plain white or gray background first

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a truly free AI background remover?

Yes — imgmend removes backgrounds for free (3 per day) at full resolution, no account needed. Free downloads carry a small watermark; upgrading to Pro ($9.90 one-time) removes it.

Does Craiyon do background removal?

Craiyon primarily generates images but does offer basic background removal. Quality is lower than dedicated tools like imgmend or remove.bg, and the free output is watermarked and low-resolution.

Which background remover is best for hair?

imgmend and remove.bg both handle hair and fur well, with clean strand-level edge detection. Craiyon and simpler tools tend to produce rough, blocky edges on complex hair.

Can I remove backgrounds from product photos for free?

Yes. imgmend is well-suited for ecommerce product photography — upload a product photo, remove the background, and download a transparent PNG for your store listing, all free.

Remove your image background free at imgmend →