📅 September 16, 2026⏱️ 8 min read🏷️ Shutdown Guide

remove.bg Credits Expiring Dec 1? Here's Exactly What to Do Now

If you're a remove.bg user with unused credits, you're probably feeling a mix of frustration and panic. The service you relied on is shutting down, your paid credits are about to vanish, and you need a plan. This guide walks you through exactly what's happening, what happens to your credits, and a step-by-step action plan to protect your workflow before the deadline.

What Exactly Is Happening?

remove.bg, acquired by Canva in 2021, announced that its standalone website will cease operations on December 1, 2026 at 9:00 AM CET. The background removal technology is being integrated into Canva's design platform, while the API service is transitioning separately to Leonardo.Ai. This means:

The remove.bg website will no longer be accessible
All user accounts and stored images will be deactivated
Browser bookmarks and extensions pointing to remove.bg will break
API integrations will need to be migrated to Leonardo.Ai

Timeline of Events

2021

Canva acquires remove.bg

remove.bg joins Canva but continues operating as a standalone service.

Early 2026

Shutdown announced

remove.bg announces the standalone service will close on December 1, 2026.

Now — Nov 30, 2026

Final window to use credits

Your remaining credits are still usable. This is your last chance.

December 1, 2026, 9:00 AM CET

💀 Shutdown day

Website goes offline. All credits expire. No refunds, no rollovers.

What Happens to Your Credits?

This is the question everyone is asking. Here's the straightforward answer:

Will my credits transfer to Canva? ▼

No. remove.bg credits are separate from Canva credits and will not transfer. They are two different billing systems.

Will my credits transfer to Leonardo.Ai? ▼

No. The API migration to Leonardo.Ai is a separate transition. Existing remove.bg credits do not carry over. You'll need to purchase new credits from Leonardo.Ai if you use the API.

Can I get a refund for unused credits? ▼

Unlikely. remove.bg's terms of service state that credits are non-refundable. The company has not announced any refund program for the shutdown. Your best option is to use them before the deadline.

What if I have a subscription? ▼

Subscriptions should be cancelled before the next billing cycle to avoid being charged for a service that's shutting down. Check your account settings or contact remove.bg support to confirm cancellation.

What about my stored images and history? ▼

Download any images you need from your remove.bg account before December 1. After shutdown, your account and all stored data will be deactivated. There may be a grace period for data export, but don't count on it — download now.

Your Action Plan: What to Do Right Now

✅ Complete This Checklist Before December 1

Download all stored images from your remove.bg account history
Cancel any active subscription to avoid post-shutdown charges
Use remaining credits on any pending background removal tasks
Export API keys and documentation if you use the remove.bg API
Switch to a free alternative like SmartImgKit for ongoing needs
Update bookmarks and workflows to point to your new tool
Test your new tool thoroughly before the shutdown deadline

Why SmartImgKit Is the Best Replacement

After testing dozens of alternatives, SmartImgKit Background Remover stands out as the best remove.bg replacement for most users. Here's why it should be your go-to tool after the shutdown:

Truly free, forever: No credits, no subscriptions, no quotas. Process as many images as you want.
No watermark: Every download is full HD with no branding or watermarks.
100% private: Images are processed locally in your browser. They never touch a server, never get stored, and can never be used for AI training.
No account needed: No signup, no email, no password. Just open the tool and start using it.
It won't shut down: Because it's a free, community-supported tool with no subscription business model, there's no risk of it disappearing like remove.bg.

How to Switch in Under 2 Minutes

Open SmartImgKit Background Remover
Drag and drop your first image (the AI model downloads automatically on first use)
Preview the result and download as PNG
Bookmark the page to replace your remove.bg bookmark
That's it — you're fully migrated!

Published September 16, 2026 | ← Back to Blog