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rembg

Open-source tool that removes image backgrounds with local AI models, from the command line, Python or an HTTP server.

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Is rembg free?

Yes, rembg has a free plan. What you get: Open source (MIT): free background removal on your own computer. To get it: install rembg with pip, choosing the CPU, NVIDIA or AMD option; then type rembg in your terminal to run it on a file or folder; then let it download the model on first use. Verified on github.com.

Free plan at a glance

Includes
  • Open source (MIT): free background removal on your own computer

No usage limit: it's open source and runs on your own computer. The optional withoutBG and Atlas Cloud backends need their own API keys.

Duration
Free forever
Commercial use
Not allowed on the free plan

How to get it free

Self-host
  1. Install rembg with pip, choosing the CPU, NVIDIA or AMD option
  2. Type rembg in your terminal to run it on a file or folder
  3. Let it download the model on first use

Good to know

  • The default model needs a paid agreement for commercial use
  • Models download on first use; the default one is about 1.02 GB
Get the free plan

github.com, Checked Source

Overview

rembg is an MIT-licensed background remover you run as a CLI, Python library, HTTP server or Docker container. It downloads ONNX models on first use, including BRIA RMBG-2.0 (the default), BiRefNet, U2Net, ISNet and SAM, and runs on CPU, NVIDIA CUDA or AMD ROCm.

Key features

  • Processes single files, whole folders (with a watch mode) and RGB24 image streams from FFmpeg
  • HTTP server with an API and a Gradio web UI
  • Many models, including BRIA RMBG-2.0, BiRefNet variants, U2Net, ISNet for anime and SAM
  • Edge modes for hair and fur: color decontamination, alpha matting and ViTMatte
  • Mask-only output and support for custom ONNX model files

Best for

Tasks
Edit photos (incl. background removal, upscaling)
People
Developers who need background removal inside scripts or apps, Teams that want a self-hosted background removal API, People batch-processing folders of product photos or portraits

Limitations

  • The default model (BRIA RMBG-2.0) needs a paid agreement for commercial use; other models have their own licenses
  • Requires Python 3.11 or newer, below 3.14, and a terminal or code
  • The default model is about 1.02 GB and slower than u2net

Screenshot

rembg screenshot, as published by rembg
Image published by rembg

FAQ

Is rembg free?
Yes. rembg has a free plan: Open source (MIT): free background removal on your own computer. We last checked github.com's pricing page on 2026-10-24.
What does the rembg free plan include?
Open source (MIT): free background removal on your own computer. Source: https://github.com/danielgatis/rembg (checked 2026-10-24).
How do I get rembg for free?
Steps: Install rembg with pip, choosing the CPU, NVIDIA or AMD option; Type rembg in your terminal to run it on a file or folder; Let it download the model on first use. Start at https://github.com/danielgatis/rembg (checked 2026-10-24).
Do I need an account to use rembg for free?
Not for the free option: the free route is to self-host rembg (Install rembg with pip, choosing the CPU, NVIDIA or AMD option). Checked 2026-10-24.
What's the catch with rembg's free plan?
The default model needs a paid agreement for commercial use. Models download on first use; the default one is about 1.02 GB. Checked 2026-10-24.
What are free alternatives to rembg?
Upscale.media, Clipdrop and Upscayl all have free plans. We checked their free offers on 2026-10-25.
Can I use rembg commercially?
rembg itself is MIT-licensed, but the default model, BRIA RMBG-2.0, needs a paid agreement for commercial use. You can choose another model, such as u2net, after checking its license.Source: github.com/danielgatis/rembg
Does rembg need a GPU?
No. It runs on CPU, and NVIDIA (CUDA) and AMD (ROCm) GPUs are supported through separate install options.Source: github.com/danielgatis/rembg
Are my images sent to a server?
The local models are ONNX files downloaded to your computer on first use. Only the optional withoutBG and Atlas Cloud backends send images to those companies' servers.Source: github.com/danielgatis/rembg

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Sources

Free offer
Verified on github.com/danielgatis/rembg
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How we check free offers

Added by our team. We check that a free option exists and record the date; signing up is between you and rembg, so read their privacy policy and terms first.

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