How-toUpdated
How to remove a background in Canva for free
Canva’s own Background Remover needs a paid plan. You can make the cutout elsewhere for free and upload it to Canva as a transparent PNG in about a minute.
Make a transparent PNG for Canva
In short
- Canva’s Background Remover is listed on Canva’s help page for Pro, Business, Education and Nonprofits plans, not for free accounts.
- Free route: cut the photo out in CutLift, download a PNG, upload it to Canva.
- CutLift background removal is unlimited, with no watermark and a full-size PNG.
- A transparent PNG keeps its transparency in Canva, so you can put it on any colour or photo.
- The cutout is made on your device; the photo is not uploaded to CutLift.
Why you cannot do it on a free Canva plan
Canva’s help page says the Background Remover is available to Canva Pro, Business, Education and Nonprofits users. A free account does not list it. Plans and limits change, so check your own account in Canva.
You do not need it. Canva accepts any PNG you upload, and a PNG can carry a transparent background.
The free way, step by step
- 1Cut the photo outOpen the photo in CutLift and click Remove background. Brush any part it got wrong.
- 2Download a PNGSave as PNG. PNG keeps the transparent area; JPG would fill it with a colour. A free account is needed to download.
- 3Upload to CanvaIn Canva open Uploads, choose Upload files and pick the PNG.
- 4Place it in your designDrag it onto the page. The background shows through, so change the page colour or put a photo behind it.
- 5Layer itResize and move it, and put text behind it for a poster look.
Do the cutout at full size and let Canva do the resizing. A big PNG stays sharp when scaled down, but a small one blurs when scaled up.
Free way compared with the built-in tool
| Canva Background Remover | CutLift then upload | |
|---|---|---|
| Plan needed | Paid Canva plan (see Canva help) | None; free account to download |
| Where the work happens | Inside your design | In the browser, on your device |
| Extra steps | None | Download and upload once |
| Edge control | Click-based | Brush back and away |
Need the same transparent file for other places too? See transparent background.
Questions
Is the Canva Background Remover free?
Canva’s help page lists it for Pro, Business, Education and Nonprofits plans. Check your account in Canva for the current rules.
Will the PNG stay transparent in Canva?
Yes. Canva keeps the transparent area of an uploaded PNG.
Does CutLift add a watermark?
No. Background removal is free, unlimited and full size.
Is my photo uploaded to CutLift?
No. The cut-out runs on your own device.
Can I do a whole folder?
Yes, with batch background removal in CutLift Pro.
Sources
Checked on 9 November 2026. Rules change: if something here is out of date, tell us at [email protected].