Do you want to remove a video background without resorting to a green screen, but you don’t know which software to choose? We’ll walk you through eight of the best video background remover software tools on the market, so you can choose the one that’s right for you.
What is a background remover software?
This type of software allows you to isolate and cut out your foreground object or person, source the background, and change it to transparent ready to insert any new background you choose. From new locations to fun visual effects like GIFs and animated PNGs, the choice is endless.
Why use a tool to remove background from video?
Typically, this software requires you to perform tricky editing tasks like chroma-keying and using green screens, which makes manually removing a video’s background a task that can take hours, if not days. Nobody’s got time for that, right?
That’s why we developed Unscreen, the free online video background remover that cuts time down from hours to seconds, so you can focus on being creative instead.
What are the advantages of removing a video background?
Where you are creating adverts or funny memes, here are some of the ways you’ll save time, effort, and cost when choosing to add video background removal to your workflow:
- Get more creative with editing. When you remove a background, you have a blank canvas to play with. Add different colors or motions effects and experiment until you find what’s right, all from the comfort of your workspace.
- Significantly cut production costs. You no longer need to spend time moving from place to place or hiring a crew to help you set up and manage equipment. It’s just you, your subject, a single scene, and you have everything you need.
- Repurpose footage. Only have time to shoot once? No problem. With background removal, you can rework a single piece of footage and tailor it for new usage in multiple ways.
Can I remove the video background without green screen?
You’ve probably more often than not come across the requirement to film with a green screen backdrop if you want to change out the background later with Chroma key post-production techniques. Not everyone has time for that setup, and while we offer a software that allows you to remove video backgrounds without green screen, we know that there are times you might just need one. You can go ahead and read our guide on how to use and make a green screen.
How to choose the best video background remover software for you
Removing the background of a video without a green screen doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s all about finding the right tool for you and your specific needs, how often you will use it and which particular interface you prefer working with. So, how do you choose the best video background remover software? You can start by considering the following criteria:
Ease of use
All you need for a quick and easy background switch is a platform to upload your footage and a single tool that can instantly cut around the outline of the object you want to keep in the video. The main background is then removed automatically.
Price
Depending on what you need the software for, you can either use a free tool for basic video editing up to a few seconds or opt for a paid version with a one-off fee for projects as you go. Prices start from $3.99 for a mobile app to $299.99 for advanced software. Those with monthly subscriptions are beneficial if you use their background remover alongside the platform’s more comprehensive video editing tool kit.
Compatibility to other software
Do you already have a more extensive video editing toolkit but want to import the simplified results of a video background removal software? Make sure it’s compatible with post-production software platforms such as Final Cut Pro, Adobe AfterEffects, VDSV, iMovie, and DaVinci Resolve.
Our picks for the best video background remover software
There’s plenty of video background removers on the market, from mobile apps to full-service toolkits. So, which background remover software could fit your needs best?
Here’s an overview of the most popular ones in 2021.
Unscreen
With Unscreen, you can remove a video background for free for clips of up to 5-10 seconds. For longer videos, you can upgrade to one of our monthly subscriptions bundles that start from €1.98 per video minute, or a pay-as-you-go option for €4.99 for ad-hoc projects.
These pro options for advanced video editing mean you can work on feature-length videos in Full HD and automatically preserve the audio track of your original video.
Unscreen keeps things simple. It's one of the easiest ways to remove a video background without a green screen.
Upload your video or GIF, choose one of the backgrounds from the gallery or upload your own from your device. Even with the free version, you can import into video editing software platforms like Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Final Cut Pro.
Unscreen could be one of the best video background remover software out there – depending on your needs – but let’s explore other tools so you can make up your mind.
Final Cut Pro
As advanced post-production software, Final Cut Pro offers a vast toolkit costing $299.99, although a free trial is available.
Final Cut Pro works best with green screen footage, using the Keyer Effects under the effect toolkit to replace your background.
Looking for less complexity in background editing? Use Unscreen and then upload your results to Final Cut Pro to add other effects. Check out our top tips about how to remove or change video backgrounds in Final Cut Pro.
Movavi
Movavi has a free tool with limited capability, or the Movavi Video Editor Plus is a one-time payment of $59.95.
The platform has a simple interface and includes a library of video backgrounds, or you can upload your own. The downside is that the video clip you wish to work with is better in green screen format since the edit tool is a chroma-key.
Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe After Effects
Both tools cost $20.99 per month, with After Effects being the less complex video editor.
With video background removal, Premiere Pro and After Effects require using chroma-keying and edging tools to select and cut out the foreground subject for accuracy, which is time-consuming and requires a precise hand.
Find out how to simplify this process and import already edited files using Unscreen’s free Premiere Pro extension or the After Effects Unscreen extension. For more detailed information, read our blog posts about how to remove background in Premiere Pro and in After Effects.
VSDC Video Editor
VSDC is considered one of the best visual editing tool downloads for Windows users. There’s a free basic version or a one-off fee of $19.99 for the Pro edition, which you need for editing video backgrounds.
To remove the background from a video, you can use the Transparency and Background Remover tools, which require you to use the chroma-keying eye drop tool to select the background and cut out the foreground object.
Are you looking to save time and avoid the detail of chroma-keying? Create a transparent background in Unscreen and upload it to VSDC software to add your new video background sequence.
TechSmith Camtasia Studio
Camtasia Studio has a one-time fee of $244.53, so it’s an investment worth it only if you plan to use its spectrum of visual and audio tools for video.
The Video background remover capabilities also require Chroma keying since the process requires you to select what color you want to remove from your scene in the visual effects menu. Of course, a green or blue background works best for precise editing.
Wondershare Filmora
Wondershare Fimora’s annual plans start at $51.99 for Mac and $61.99 for Windows for its highly advanced video editing suite.
It features a green screen advanced tool that cuts out the desired object and creates a transparent image background ready for swapping the foreground object onto different creations.
Kinemaster
Kinemaster is a free video editing and animation phone app for iOS and Android. Monthly subscriptions are available for $3.99.
Like many others, Kinemaster uses layering and a chroma key tool to achieve background removal, requiring you to upload a green screen object image for optimal results.
Don’t just remove your video background — easily switch it up too!
That wraps up our list of the best video background remover software. Once you’ve done so, switching it out for another is next — that way, you can create an entirely new look. Follow our step-by-step guide on how to add new video backgrounds with Unscreen.
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