Remove Background · 1 credit
A remove.bg alternative with credits that never expire
remove.bg's website and self-service API close on December 1, 2026. AirGallery removes backgrounds for 1 credit, with credits that never expire, plus an API.
remove.bg is closing its standalone website on December 1, 2026 at 9:00 CET, according to its FAQ. Its background removal is moving into Canva, the self-service API stops accepting requests that day (moving to Leonardo.ai), and unused pay-as-you-go credits expire. If you'd rather keep a simple pay-per-image tool, AirGallery is one option.
remove.bg is a dedicated background remover and does that one job very well. AirGallery's background remover is part of a wider photo studio: the same credits also pay for upscaling, product photos, object removal, restoration and image generation, and they never expire. No subscription is needed.
To be straight about the trade-offs: AirGallery processes cutouts at up to 1024 pixels on the long side, which suits web listings, slides and social posts. If you need full-resolution cutouts in bulk, a dedicated service may be the better fit. If you want one place for the whole edit, from cutout to styled product shot to upscale, AirGallery is built for that.
Example
The before photo is AI-generated, standing in for an upload. The result is unedited tool output, November 2026.
How to do it
- Sign up and get 10 free credits.
- Upload a photo to Remove Background and run it (1 credit).
- Download the transparent PNG, or send it on to Product Studio or Upscale.
Tips
- Run the cutout through Upscale (3 credits) if you need it larger than 1024 pixels.
- Use Product Studio to go straight from a phone photo to a styled shot.
- Developers can call the same tool over the REST API or MCP server.
1 credit per run. New accounts get 10 free credits; after that, credit packs start at $5 and never expire.
Questions
Is remove.bg shutting down?
remove.bg says its standalone website will no longer be available from December 1, 2026 at 9:00 CET. Background removal moves into Canva, the self-service API moves to Leonardo.ai, and unused pay-as-you-go credits expire on that date. Enterprise API contracts continue.
How does pricing work?
One credit per cutout. Credit packs start at $5 for 50 credits, credits never expire and there's no subscription.
What output size do I get?
Up to 1024 pixels on the long side, as a PNG with transparency.
Is there an API to replace the remove.bg API?
Yes. The background remover is available through the AirGallery REST API and MCP server, billed with the same credits. Output is up to 1024 pixels on the long side, so check that fits your use before switching a high-volume pipeline.