How to remove background from your image for free with Adobe Express

Removing a background is one of those small tweaks that makes a huge difference, whether you are cleaning up a product shot or trying to make social posts look less like they were taken in a cluttered kitchen.

Adobe Express gives you an easy way to do that for free, without diving into the full complexity of Photoshop.

Its browser editor and mobile apps include a background removal quick action that uses Adobe’s AI to pick out your subject and knock out everything else in a couple of clicks.

Adobe Express: at Adobe

Remove backgrounds quickly and easy with Adobe's free tool, based on its Firefly AI model. It features a host of useful features and AI tools, letting teams quickly spin up new ideas and designs.

The free plan currently includes background removal alongside core editing features and a limited pool of AI credits, so you can experiment with a few images before deciding if you need anything more advanced.

Let's take a look at how to easily remove backgrounds with Adobe Express.

What you need before you start

Before you start cutting backgrounds, you will need a free Adobe account and access to Adobe Express in your browser or via the iOS or Android app.

Once you've signed in, the current Free plan gives you access to the Remove background quick action, basic editing tools, and a limited pool of AI credits.

How to remove a background in Adobe Express

Once you are set up, removing a background in Adobe Express is mostly a case of pointing it at the right image and letting the AI get on with it.

On desktop, sign in to the Adobe Express website, head to the Home screen, and look for the Quick actions panel, where you will find Remove background alongside other tools.

You can also open a new project, add your image to the canvas, then select the same option from the image editing controls.

In the Android and iOS mobile apps, the flow is pretty similar: create a new project, add a photo from your camera roll or files, tap to select it, then look for the Remove background control in the toolbar.

In both cases, you either drag and drop a JPEG or PNG into the upload area, or choose a picture from local or cloud storage.

The tool's first pass usually appears within a few seconds, and in testing it tends to be most reliable with clear subjects – a person against a flat wall, a gadget on a desk, or a logo on a plain background.

If the result is still not right, it is often faster to undo, crop or adjust the original image so the subject stands out more clearly, then run Remove background again rather than fight a messy mask.

Once you are happy with the cut-out, you can download it as a PNG with a transparent background.

Pro tips for cleaner, more professional results

To get the best results, it helps to start with the right kind of image.

Higher-resolution photos with a clear subject and decent contrast between foreground and background usually give the cleanest cut-outs, so avoid tiny, heavily compressed files if you can.

Cropping the picture before you run Remove background can also make a difference, because it forces Adobe Express to focus on the person, product, or logo, rather than guessing between multiple objects in the frame.

Inside Express, you can also add subtle drop-shadows or outlines so the subject does not look like it has been pasted on.

Limits of the free background remover

Although Adobe Express makes it easy to remove backgrounds on the Free plan, there are a few limits to bear in mind.

For starters, background removal draws on the same pool of generative credits as other AI features.

Quality is the other main constraint. The tool is generally very good with straightforward subjects, but it can still struggle with fine hair, glass, motion blur, or very busy, low-contrast backgrounds.

For most everyday jobs the free version should be enough, but if you are working at higher volumes or need more precise control, that is where a paid Express plan or a full Creative Cloud app starts to make more sense.

Is Adobe Express background removal really free?

As things stand, you can use the tool on the Free plan, with no card details required, as long as you stay within your monthly allowance of AI credits.

FAQs

• Does Express change my image size or quality? It can apply some compression on export, so check the downloaded file.
• Can I use my cut-outs in commercial projects? Yes in many cases, but you should always check Adobe’s current licence terms.
• Does the background remover work on logos and graphics too? It usually can, but you will get the best results with simple, high-contrast designs.
• Can I process several images at once? Adobe Express is geared around working on one design or template at a time.
• Do I need any other Adobe apps installed for this to work? No. Everything runs in your browser or in the Express mobile app.

TechRadar Pro created this content as part of a paid partnership with Adobe. The company had no editorial input in this article, and it was not sent to Adobe for approval.