Photography — entry 019 of 25
Remove.bg
Remove.bg's REST API strips the background from a photo in a single POST call, returning either the cut-out image directly or, on request, a JSON response carrying a base64-encoded result plus foreground metadata. Every request needs an API key sent via the X-Api-Key or Authorization header — a live call without one returns a 403 auth_failed error. New accounts get one free credit and unlimited low-resolution previews at no cost; a full-resolution removal then costs 1 credit (0.25 credits through the official apps), bought as one-off packs or a recurring subscription.
GreatAPIs Score
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<a href="https://greatapis.com/api/remove-bg/"><img src="https://greatapis.com/badge/remove-bg.svg" alt="Scored 87 on greatapis.com"></a>Auth quickstart
- Sign up with the provider to get an API key.
- Send it on every request as a header
X-API-Key: <key>
Your key is stored only in this browser (localStorage) and sent directly to the API — never to greatapis.
Endpoints
Background Removal1
POST/removebgRemove the background of an image
application/json — RemoveBgJson (required)
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Image background removed | RemoveBgJsonResponse |
400 | Error: Invalid parameters or input file unprocessable (no credits charged) | — |
402 | Error: Insufficient credits (no credits charged) | — |
403 | Error: Authentication failed (no credits charged) | AuthFailed |
429 | Error: Rate limit exceeded (no credits charged) | RateLimit |
Fetch account info1
GET/accountFetch credit balance and free API calls.
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | — | |
403 | Error: Authentication failed | AuthFailed |
429 | Error: Rate limit exceeded | RateLimit |
Improvement Program1
POST/improve
application/json — ImprovementProgramJson (required)
| Status | Description | Schema |
|---|---|---|
200 | Image submitted | ImprovementProgramJsonResponse |
400 | Error: Invalid parameters or input file unprocessable | — |
403 | Error: Authentication failed | AuthFailed |
429 | Error: Rate limit exceeded | RateLimit |
Try it
Developer reference
https://api.remove.bg/v1.0Resolution-scaled: up to 500 images/minute at 1 megapixel, scaling down as input resolution rises (roughly 250/minute at 2MP, 50/minute at 10MP, 10/minute at 50MP). Every response carries X-RateLimit-Limit (total megapixel-image budget), X-RateLimit-Remaining, and X-RateLimit-Reset (Unix timestamp) headers; exceeding the limit returns HTTP 429 (no credit charged) plus a Retry-After header with seconds until reset.
- POST/removebg
- GET/account