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AIFree · No sign-up · Runs in your browser

Free AI background remover

Remove the background from any photo using on-device AI — your image itself is never sent to a server, only processed right here in your browser tab.

Image never leaves your device On-device AI No watermark, ever No subscription or account
Choose a photo to remove its background.
Needs a reasonably modern computer — check your device.
Your image is never uploaded to us. It’s processed right here in this browser tab using an on-device AI model — there’s no Altto server involved, so we never see it, copy it or keep it. On first use, your browser downloads the AI model itself (about 90 MB, from altto.co.uk) and keeps it for next time.

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At a glance

Background remover: quick facts

A free AI background remover that runs on your own device and gives you a full-size transparent PNG.

Updated

Price
Free. No sign-up, no watermark, no credit limits.
You get
A transparent PNG at your photo’s original resolution.
Works with
JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF and iPhone HEIC pictures. Best on people, pets and products, with a separate mode for logos and graphics.
Privacy
Your photo is processed in your browser and never uploaded.
How it works
An on-device AI model (about 90 MB, downloaded once from altto.co.uk and kept for next time).
Devices
Any laptop or desktop from about the last 6 years with 4 GB of memory, plus recent phones and tablets (a little more slowly).
How it works

How to remove the background from a photo

Add a photo and the AI finds the main subject, cuts it out and hands back a PNG with a transparent background at the photo’s original size. The first run takes longer while the AI model downloads.

  1. 01

    Choose a photo

    JPG, PNG or WebP, from your device.

  2. 02

    Click Remove background

    The on-device AI model processes it locally — the first run downloads the model itself.

  3. 03

    Download the PNG

    A transparent-background image, ready to use.

Tips

Tips for a clean cut-out

The AI does the hard part, but the photo you give it and how you use the result make a big difference.

  • Shoot with the cut-out in mindIf you’re taking the photo yourself, stand the subject a step away from a plain wall, in even light. Clear separation and no strong shadows leave the AI far less to guess.
  • Check the edges on dark and lightBefore you use the result, place it on a dark background and a light one. Leftover halos, or missing strands of hair, show up clearly against one or the other.
  • Keep it as a PNGPNG keeps the see-through background. Converting the result to JPG fills the transparent areas with a solid colour, usually white, so keep the PNG for anything you’ll place on another background.
  • Add a new background afterwardsTo put your subject on a new background, add the PNG on top of any picture in an app that handles layers, such as PowerPoint, Google Slides or Canva.

Like every Altto tool, this runs on your device — nothing you add is uploaded. How Altto works

RGBA

is how a PNG stores colour: red, green, blue and alpha. The alpha channel records how see-through each pixel is, which is what makes the background disappear.

Before you start

Will it run on my device?

Because the AI runs on your own device instead of on a server, your computer does the work — that’s what keeps your files private. Most computers from the last few years are fine, but a more powerful one is noticeably faster.

Your device:Checking…

Minimum

  • ComputerAny laptop or desktop from about the last 6 years
  • Memory (RAM)4 GB
  • BrowserThe latest Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari
  • DownloadAbout 90 MB the first time

On older computers each photo can take 20 seconds or more.

Recommended Fastest

  • ComputerA recent laptop or desktop
  • Memory (RAM)8 GB or more
  • BrowserChrome or Edge
  • GraphicsAny built-in or separate graphics chip from the last few years

Works on recent phones and tablets, a little more slowly.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What the background remover can and can’t do. Our guide on removing the background from a photo has more tips for tricky images.

Will it work on my computer or phone?
Most computers from the last few years run it fine. Because the AI runs on your own device, a more powerful computer is faster. See minimum and recommended specs, including a quick check of your device.
Is my photo uploaded to Altto?
No — Altto never receives your image. It's processed entirely on your own device, inside this browser tab, using an on-device AI model. We never see it, copy it or keep it.
Does anything get downloaded from the internet?
Yes, one thing: the first time you use this tool, your browser downloads the AI segmentation model itself (about 90 MB) from altto.co.uk, the same way a web page downloads a font or a script, and keeps it for next time. Your photo is never part of that download — it stays on your device and is never sent anywhere.
Why does the first run take longer?
That one-off model download. Your browser keeps the model afterwards, so later background removals start much sooner.
What file do I get back?
A PNG with a transparent background, at your original image's resolution, ready to drop onto a new background or use as-is.
What kind of photos work best?
Photos with a single clear subject — a person, product or animal — against a reasonably distinct background. Busy backgrounds, motion blur or very low-contrast edges can produce a rougher cutout.
Why are bits of hair or fur missing?
Fine strands against a background of a similar colour are the hardest thing for any background remover. A photo with more contrast between the hair and what’s behind it, or a larger, sharper original, usually gives a cleaner edge.
Can I remove the background from a logo or drawing?
Yes. Under “What’s in your picture?” choose “Logo, text or graphic”: it removes the flat background colour instead of looking for a person or object, and you can also clear that colour inside shapes. Check the edges closely; for a simple logo, the original design file from whoever made it will give you the cleanest version.
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Related guides: How to remove the background from a photo for free · JPG vs PNG: which should you use?