How to remove a background in Canva
Canva's Background Remover is one of the easiest one-click cutout tools — but it's locked behind Canva Pro. Here's how to use it if you have Pro, what the free workaround is, and when a dedicated tool makes more sense.
Remove a background in Canva (step by step)
- Upload your photo (Uploads → Upload files) and drag it onto the canvas. The tool only appears once the image is placed in a design.
- Select the image, then click Edit image → Background Remover. It lives in the Pro tools section of the effects panel.
- Canva cuts the background automatically. Use the Erase and Restore brushes to fix spots it missed.
- To keep the cutout: Share → Download → file type PNG and tick Transparent background. Without that tick you'll get white corners.
The catch: Background Remover is Canva Pro only
There's no free tier for this specific tool — Canva's free plan will show the button but ask you to upgrade when you click it. Canva Pro costs around $12–15/month depending on your region. If background removal is the only Pro feature you need, that's an expensive way to buy it.
Free alternative that works the same way
- Open CutOutLab — free, no account, works in the same browser tab as Canva.
- Drag your picture in. The AI cuts the subject out in seconds and shows a before/after slider.
- Download the transparent PNG, then upload it back into Canva as a normal image.
You get unlimited cutouts at no cost — the AI runs on your own device inside the browser, so there's no server processing your photos. People and Precision scene modes (for portraits and fine edges) each include free daily runs; the Pro plan is only for the cloud HD engine on difficult photos. A dedicated tool also keeps your Canva plan untouched for the features you actually use there.
Which should you use?
| Situation | Best pick |
|---|---|
| Already pay for Canva Pro | Canva Background Remover — it's built in |
| Free plan, occasional cutouts | CutOutLab — free and unlimited |
| Many product photos per week | CutOutLab for cutouts (batch-friendly), design in Canva |
| Need studio-grade edges (hair, glass) | CutOutLab HD mode or manual retouching |
FAQ
Can I remove backgrounds in Canva for free?
Not with Canva's own Background Remover — it requires Canva Pro. The free workaround is to remove the background with a dedicated tool first, then upload the transparent PNG into Canva.
Why does my Canva download have white corners?
You downloaded as JPG, or didn't tick "Transparent background" in the PNG options. Re-download as PNG with the transparency box checked.
Does CutOutLab add a watermark?
No — free cutouts are clean, full resolution, and unlimited.
Related: how to remove the background from a picture · how to remove a background in GIMP · 3 free methods compared · how to remove a watermark from a photo · free remove.bg alternative — no Canva subscription, no sign-up