September 18, 2026 · 6 min read
remove.bg Shutting Down: Your Complete Migration Guide
remove.bg's standalone website closes December 1, 2026 at 9:00 CET. Here is everything you need to do before that date — plus free alternatives that work today.
What Is Happening
Canva, which acquired remove.bg in 2021, is consolidating all background removal into the Canva ecosystem. The standalone remove.bg website, desktop apps, mobile apps, Photoshop plugin, and API will all stop functioning on December 1, 2026.
Migration Checklist
Use remaining credits
Any unused Pay-As-You-Go credits expire on December 1. There is no refund. Process your backlog now.
Export your processing history
Download any images you have processed and stored on remove.bg's servers. They will be deleted after shutdown.
Test an alternative tool
Do not wait until December 1. Test BatchBG or another tool now with a sample batch so you know the workflow before you need it.
Update API integrations
If you use the remove.bg API in scripts or applications, update them before December 1. See the API migration section below.
Cancel auto-renewal
If you have a subscription plan, cancel auto-renewal so you are not charged for a service that is shutting down.
Inform your team
If multiple people in your organization use remove.bg, make sure everyone knows the shutdown date and the replacement tool.
For API Users
remove.bg's API endpoints (api.remove.bg/v1.0/removebg) will stop responding on December 1. Canva is directing API users to Leonardo.ai, which uses a different request format and pricing model.
If you need a drop-in replacement, we are building a compatible API. See the BatchBG alternative page for details and timeline.
Free Alternatives Comparison
| Alternative | Price | Batch | Privacy |
|---|---|---|---|
| BatchBG | Free, unlimited | No limit | 100% local |
| Canva BG Remover | Requires Canva Pro | No batch | Server |
| Leonardo.ai | Credits-based | API only | Server |
| BatchRemover | $0.04/image batch | 60 images | Server |
| Backgroundless.io | $49 one-time | 40 images | Local |
Why This Matters
remove.bg processed an estimated 10 million images per month. Its 240M+ monthly search visits represent a massive user base that needs to find a new solution. The shutdown is not just a product change — it is a market-level disruption in the background removal space.
Switch to BatchBG Today
Free, unlimited, 100% local. No account, no credits, no shutdown risk.
Try BatchBG Free →