Local, private background removal without uploads
I wanted a background-removal workflow that did not depend on a cloud service.
No account. No upload. No API bill. No monthly limit. Just run it locally and process images on your own machine.
So I built Remove Background Local:
https://github.com/tecnomanu/remove-background-local
Discovery notes
This started as a simple need: I wanted a background-removal tool I could trust with real files, not only demo images. Most existing workflows are either cloud-first, subscription-first or limited by credits.
The useful signal was clear: developers, designers and ecommerce teams often need the same basic operation many times, but they do not always want another SaaS step in the middle of their workflow.
Local processing makes the tool boring in the best way: predictable, private and scriptable.
That is why I am especially interested in feedback around:
quality on product photos
speed on normal laptops
edge cases with hair, plants, glass or semi-transparent objects
batch workflows
CLI usage inside automation pipelines
If enough people find it useful, the next direction is better presets, easier model selection and more automation hooks.
What it does
Drag and drop images in a web UI
Paste images from the clipboard
Process multiple files in a queue
Keep results in persistent local sessions
Download PNG, WEBP or JPG
Choose transparent or solid-color backgrounds
Run from the CLI with
rm-bgOpen it as a small desktop app with Electron
Switch between several segmentation models
Use alpha matting for harder edges like hair, plants or semi-transparent details
The default model is ISNet, because it is fast and good enough for most cases. For higher quality, the app also includes BiRefNet models.
Why local-first matters
Background removal often involves product photos, client assets, design drafts or personal images.
For that kind of work, local processing is not only convenient. It is also a better default:
private by design
no vendor lock-in
no rate limits
no image upload
no hidden cost per batch
Try it
If you already have Node.js and Python 3.9+ installed:
npx -y remove-background-local
Then open:
http://127.0.0.1:7860
For a permanent install:
npm install -g remove-background-local
rm-bg web
rm-bg desktop
Feedback I am looking for
I would especially like feedback from people who work with:
ecommerce images
design workflows
AI image tooling
local-first apps
privacy-sensitive media workflows
If you try it, I would love to know which model gives you the best quality/speed tradeoff on your machine.