Use remove.bg for volume, automation, desktop, or Android. Use an on-device iPhone app when you edit a few photos at a time, want the full-resolution file without paying per image, and would rather not upload personal photos.
Side by side
Checked September 25, 2026 Prices as listed in the U.S.
| remove.bg | Background Remover: PNG Cutout | |
|---|---|---|
| Price model | Credits: 1 per full-resolution image. 40 credits/month for $9/month ($8.10/month billed yearly), or 10 pay-as-you-go credits for $9 | $3.99 once. No in-app purchases, credits, or subscription |
| Free option | Preview downloads up to 0.25 megapixels | None (paid download). iPhone’s Lift Subject is the free on-device option |
| Full resolution | Up to 50 megapixels, per credit | Your photo’s original resolution, every export |
| Where processing happens | remove.bg servers (you upload the image) | On your iPhone or iPad; works offline |
| Account | Needed for full-resolution downloads | None |
| Platforms | Web, Windows/Mac/Linux app, Android app, API, Photoshop extension | iPhone and iPad (iOS 17+) |
| Batch / API | Yes | No, one photo at a time |
| Manual edge fix | Erase/restore in the editor | Restore/Erase brushes, zoom, undo/redo |
| Backgrounds | Colors, photos, and more in the editor | Clear, white, black, custom color |
remove.bg details from remove.bg/pricing and remove.bg/tools-api, checked September 25, 2026. remove.bg does not list an official iPhone app; App Store apps using “remove.bg” in their names are from other developers.
The cost math
If you need a handful of full-resolution cutouts, remove.bg’s pay-as-you-go pack is 10 credits for $9. A one-time $3.99 app costs less than half of that, and every later export is included. If you need hundreds of images a month, the math reverses on time rather than money: remove.bg’s batch and API tools will save you hours that a one-photo-at-a-time editor can’t.
The privacy difference
A web remover has to receive your photo to process it. remove.bg notes that processed files are discarded automatically after 60 minutes, and its privacy policy explains the rest. That is a reasonable policy, but for photos of kids, your home, or unreleased products, you may prefer the image never leaves your phone. On-device removal uses Apple’s Vision framework, the same kind of technology behind the Photos app’s Lift Subject, so there is nothing to upload.
Quality: what to expect
remove.bg’s automatic results are generally strong, including on hair. An on-device mask may be less precise on some fine, low-contrast edges; that is what the Restore and Erase brushes are for. Test both on your hardest photo: a free remove.bg preview and a free Lift Subject in Photos will show you quickly whether the automatic result is enough.
When remove.bg is the better choice
- You process many images a week or need an API or automation.
- You work on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, or in Photoshop.
- You want AI-assisted extras beyond a flat background.
When an on-device app is the better choice
- You edit a few photos at a time on iPhone or iPad.
- You want full resolution every time without buying credits.
- You would rather not upload personal or unreleased photos, or you are offline.