AI Tools

How to remove the background from a photo: iPhone, Canva, online tools and ours, compared

Last updated 2026-10-02From Plien Roob — AI model photography for online stores

There are four ways to remove a photo background: the Photos app on an iPhone, Canva's background remover, online background-removal sites, and Plien Roob's background removal tool. For one photo you need quickly, an iPhone does it free with nothing to sign up for. For many product photos where you need a transparent PNG the same size as your upload, use our background removal at 1 credit per image.

The uploaded photo: a smiling woman with her hair tied up, in a black T-shirt printed with the word Thailand in gold, jeans and a leather belt, standing in an old market lane — An example from our background removal tool. On the left is the photo uploaded, on the right the file you get, placed on a checkerboard to show what is transparent; the checkerboard is not in the file. We did not compare the picture with iPhone or Canva, because we have not tested them on the same photo.

An example from our background removal tool. On the left is the photo uploaded, on the right the file you get, placed on a checkerboard to show what is transparent; the checkerboard is not in the file. We did not compare the picture with iPhone or Canva, because we have not tested them on the same photo.

The four ways compared

iPhone Photos app
Best for
One photo you need quickly
What you get
The main subject lifted out, to copy or share into another app
Check first
iOS 16 or later and a phone with an A12 chip or newer · try it on a real product photo first
Canva
Best for
People already working in Canva
What you get
The photo with its background removed on the canvas
Check first
The background remover depends on your Canva plan; check the latest terms on Canva's help pages
Online background removers
Best for
Trying several, with photos that aren't secret
What you get
Depends on the site
Check first
File size you get back, watermarks, and what happens to uploaded photos; read this before uploading an unreleased product
Plien Roob background removal
Best for
Many product photos you place on your own colours
What you get
A transparent PNG the same size as your upload, in about 12 seconds
Check first
1 credit per image; signing up gives 10 credits, once

Way	Best for	What you get	Check first
iPhone Photos app	One photo you need quickly	The main subject lifted out, to copy or share into another app	iOS 16 or later and a phone with an A12 chip or newer · try it on a real product photo first
Canva	People already working in Canva	The photo with its background removed on the canvas	The background remover depends on your Canva plan; check the latest terms on Canva's help pages
Online background removers	Trying several, with photos that aren't secret	Depends on the site	File size you get back, watermarks, and what happens to uploaded photos; read this before uploading an unreleased product
Plien Roob background removal	Many product photos you place on your own colours	A transparent PNG the same size as your upload, in about 12 seconds	1 credit per image; signing up gives 10 credits, once

iPhone details checked against several articles on 2 October 2026. We have not tested every kind of product.

How to remove a background on an iPhone

Open the photo in the Photos app.
Touch and hold the product or person in the photo until a glowing outline runs around the subject.
Choose Copy or Share, then paste it into the app you will use next.

The feature needs iOS 16 or later and a phone with an A12 Bionic chip or newer. It runs on the phone, with no internet needed. The examples people usually see are people and pets; whether it picks out the main subject of a product photo depends on the photo, so try it on your own photo first before using it on a whole batch.

The iPhone feature gives you a subject to paste somewhere else, not a full-size PNG saved to download. If you want a file to keep in a product library, use a way that gives a PNG directly.

Removing the background with Plien Roob

Our tool takes the photo you upload, cuts the original background away and returns a transparent PNG the same size as your upload. The product comes from your original photo and is not redrawn. On real jobs, half finish within about 12 seconds. It costs 1 credit per image, about ฿2.09–฿3.50 depending on your plan, and if it fails the credits come back automatically.

Choose the photo, either a new upload or one from your library.
Check the credit count on the button, then press remove background.
Download the PNG you get.
Place it on a dark colour and zoom in on the edges before you use it.

See the details, price and limits of the background removal toolBackground removal: how to use it and what it cannot do

Watch out for white after removing a background

Removing a background gives you a file with a transparent background, and transparent is not white. When you open it you often see a light grey and white checkerboard; that pattern is not in the file. If you save the file over as a JPEG, the transparent area turns black, because JPEG cannot hold transparency. If you need white for a product page, place the PNG on white as one more step.

The same result file, placed on a light peach background — The same result file as the picture near the top of this article, placed on peach so you can see it. The peach is not in the file; a transparent PNG shows whatever colour you put behind it.

The same result file as the picture near the top of this article, placed on peach so you can see it. The peach is not in the file; a transparent PNG shows whatever colour you put behind it.

Need white for a marketplace? The full steps are hereWhite-background product photos, ready for a marketplace listing

Getting clean edges after the background is gone

Shoot against a surface that contrasts with the product: a light item on a dark surface, a dark item on a light one.
Leave only one product standing out, and move anything touching or overlapping it out of the frame.
Leave empty space around the product; anything cut off at the edge of the photo is missing from the result too.
Very complex edges such as flyaway hair or sheer fabric may not cut cleanly everywhere; zoom in on the edges every time before you use the file.

A white T-shirt hanging against a black wall — An illustration: a light-coloured item shot against a dark surface contrasts cleanly, which makes for a cleaner cut.

Frequently asked questions

Can I remove a background from a photo for free?

Yes, but the amount is limited. On a supported iPhone, lifting a subject from its background is free. With Plien Roob's background removal, signing up gives you 10 credits, once, with no card needed, enough to remove the background from 10 images. Your first free-plan image has no watermark; the images after it do. It is not an unlimited free background remover.

How do I remove a background on an iPhone?

Open the photo in the Photos app, touch and hold the product or person until a glowing outline appears, then choose Copy or Share. It needs iOS 16 or later and a phone with an A12 chip or newer. Try it on your own product photo first, because whether it picks out the main subject depends on each photo.

Is removing a background in Canva free?

It depends on your Canva plan and on terms Canva can change at any time. Canva's own help pages disagree with each other about free accounts, so check the latest terms on Canva's help pages before you plan to use it on many product photos.

Do I get a white background after removing it?

No. You get a transparent PNG, which is not white. For white, place the file on white in a photo editing app and save it again. Don't save it as a JPEG without putting white behind it first, or the transparent area turns black.

What size does the photo need to be for background removal?

A photo uploaded to our tool needs a shorter side of at least 480 pixels, with 1024 or more recommended. JPEG, PNG and WebP are accepted, up to 15 MB per file, and the result is as large as your upload. Photos sent through chat apps are often shrunk, so use the original file from your camera or phone.

Photos by Vie Studio on Pexels