Best AI tools to remove background from media
The best AI tools to remove backgrounds include Picsart, 123RF, PicWish, Luma, and Viyou. While these platforms all leverage AI for background removal, they distinguish themselves through their primary focus areas—ranging from video processing and commercial stock photography to specialized creative agents. Choosing the right tool depends on whether you require a simple web-based editor, mobile accessibility, or enterprise-grade API integration for automated workflows.
Top picks at a glance:
- Picsart — Users needing video-specific background removal across multiple platforms.
- 123RF — Stock content subscribers needing background removal for product photography.
- PicWish — General users requiring a versatile photo-centric background removal tool.
- Luma — Professional creators needing advanced AI agents for image iteration.
- Viyou — Budget-conscious creators looking for an entry-level image background remover.
| Tool | What it does | Pricing | Free tier | Refunds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Picsart | An AI creative platform for generating and editing images, videos, and audio assets. | Free tier; paid from $10.5/mo | Yes | — |
| 123RF | A stock content platform offering photos, vectors, videos, audio, and fonts, plus AI-powered creative design tools. | From $16.1/mo | No | — |
| PicWish | An AI-powered photo editor designed to simplify image processing tasks for personal and business use. | Free tier | Yes | 7 days |
| Luma | Creative agents that plan, generate, iterate, and refine with full context across every stage of creative work. | Free tier; paid from $30/mo | Yes | None stated |
| Viyou | AI video and image generation platform for creative and engaging storytelling and visual transformations. | Free tier; paid from $3.34/mo | Yes | 7 days |
* pricing not verified against the vendor's pricing page.
How to choose
To select the right tool, first evaluate your technical requirements and accessibility needs. If you require programmatic access, choose between Picsart, PicWish, or Luma, as they offer API support, whereas Viyou and 123RF do not. Consider your budget and the necessity of a free tier; while most provide one, paid plans vary significantly in starting price. If you prioritize platform flexibility, note that Picsart, PicWish, and Viyou offer mobile app support, while 123RF and Luma are strictly web-based. Always check the subscription terms before signing up, specifically whether the service auto-renews or requires cancellation via email versus in-app. Finally, if you are a commercial user, review stated usage limits carefully, as some providers restrict commercial use on non-paid plans or merchandise for resale.
Picsart
Best for: Users needing video-specific background removal across multiple platforms.
Picsart functions as an AI creative platform for generating and editing various assets. It allows users to remove backgrounds from video files. You can access the tool on web, desktop, iOS, and Android, and the service supports API integration.
1-step background & object removers for videos
Pricing, in their words: “Choose the plan that fits how you create” (pricing)
Subscription terms they state: cancel in-app (source)
123RF
Best for: Stock content subscribers needing background removal for product photography.
This platform provides a wide range of stock content, including vectors, audio, and photos, alongside AI-powered design tools. It is specifically designed to help users remove backgrounds from product images. Note that standard licenses prohibit the use of these assets on merchandise intended for resale.
Discover one click AI Cutout to remove unwanted backgrounds in seconds.
Pricing, in their words: “PLUS Team From $16.10 /month per seat” (pricing)
Subscription terms they state: cancel in-app · auto-renews (source)
Limits the vendor states:
- Standard licenses may not be used on merchandise for resale purposes.
PicWish
Best for: General users requiring a versatile photo-centric background removal tool.
PicWish is an AI-powered editor that simplifies image processing for both personal and professional tasks. It supports background removal across web, desktop, and mobile platforms. Users should be aware that refunds for purchases made through third-party app stores are not processed directly by the company.
Remove backgrounds from photos faster than ever.
Pricing, in their words: “The Pro plan offers daily HD downloads for most online features and extra credits.” (pricing)
Subscription terms they state: cancel in-app · 7-day refund window (source)
Limits the vendor states:
- Orders purchased through third-party platforms such as App Store and Google Play cannot be refunded directly by our company.
Luma
Best for: Professional creators needing advanced AI agents for image iteration.
Luma utilizes creative agents to plan and refine work across the entire creative process, including the removal of backgrounds from images. The service is available via web and API access. Be advised that commercial use is restricted for those on non-paid subscription plans.
Remove background 1 credits/image
Pricing, in their words: “Save up to 20% with yearly” (pricing)
Subscription terms they state: cancel in-app · auto-renews · states no refunds (source)
Limits the vendor states:
- commercial use restricted on non-paid plans
Viyou
Best for: Budget-conscious creators looking for an entry-level image background remover.
Viyou provides an AI platform focused on visual transformations and storytelling. It enables users to remove backgrounds from photos using web or mobile interfaces. If you need to cancel a subscription, you must do so via email.
AI Background Remover
— viyou.ai
Pricing, in their words: “Full Access creation for a full year. No caps, no waiting, no interruptions” (pricing)
Subscription terms they state: cancel by email · 7-day refund window (source)
Which one for your situation
- You are a social media manager creating daily content and need to remove backgrounds from videos on your phone. → Picsart: It is the only tool listed that explicitly offers background removal from video and provides both iOS and Android applications.
- You run a small online boutique and need a reliable, budget-friendly way to remove backgrounds from product photos. → Viyou: It offers the most affordable paid entry point at $3.34 per month and includes a free tier for your image editing needs.
- You are a software developer building an automated pipeline that requires a background removal API for images. → Luma: It provides a dedicated API for image processing, though users should note that commercial use is restricted on non-paid plans.
FAQ
Is there a free tool to remove background from media?
Yes — Picsart, PicWish, Luma, Viyou offer a free tier.
What is the cheapest paid option to remove background from media?
Viyou starts at $3.34/month.
Which of these have an API?
Picsart, PicWish, Luma document a developer API.
How do I cancel these subscriptions?
Picsart: cancel in-app; 123RF: cancel in-app; PicWish: cancel in-app; Luma: cancel in-app; Viyou: cancel by email.
Can I get a refund?
PicWish states a 7-day refund window; Luma states it does not offer refunds; Viyou states a 7-day refund window. The others (Picsart, 123RF) do not state a refund policy on the pages we read.
Do these subscriptions auto-renew?
123RF, Luma state that paid plans renew automatically. Check the billing page before subscribing; the rest do not state it either way.
Sources
Every fact above was read from the vendors' own pages: