I Tried Popular AI Object Removers

Have you ever looked at a photo and your eye is immediately drawn to that one object that shouldn’t be there? That’s what an AI object remover is all about.

Thanks to AI, it’s easier than ever to erase the person who photo-bombed your otherwise perfect selfie or remove a logo from the t-shirt of your model.

An AI object remover helps anyone improve the final look of their photos, whether by removing a distracting element or making their photos look more professional. All with a single click.

Are you ready to dive into the world of possibilities that an AI object remover can offer you? Let me help you find the right one for you.

In this list, I’ve included the best programs I’ve found to remove objects from your photographs. Here, you can learn how they perform, if they’re free to use, and much more.

I tested these programs with a group of sample photos. In the article, I decided to show you the results on a single picture to keep things consistent. The picture I chose has a complex and a simple removal – this way, you can see how each program performs in different situations.

Let’s get started.

What is the Best AI Object Remover in 2024?

Photoshop’s Remove Tool 

I’m putting Photoshop at the top of the list not only because of the quality of the results but also because of its versatility.

The AI Remove tool was updated with a brand new Distraction Removal feature (v.26 Oct 2024).

Simply enable the Remove tool nested in the Healing tools (J). Then, go to the Options bar and click ‘Find Distractions.’ Then, select one of the two options.

The first option is ‘Wires and Cables’. This is a one-click option, so you don’t need to do anything besides click on it. The second option is ‘People’ – this allows you to refine the selection with the brush before removing anything.

Since the first time I used this tool, I’ve been amazed by its speed and accuracy. It’s unlike anything I’ve seen before, and I regularly test many programs to tell you about them in these articles.

Note that the ‘People’ option is only for distractions – you can’t erase one of your subjects with this tool. So, if you want to delete an ex-partner from a photo or an object that’s not a wire, you can use the brush to select them.

You don’t have to make a precise selection. In fact, you are encouraged to cover a more extensive area to ensure you’re including every part – even the shadows.

The great thing about this tool is that you can set it up to use AI or not. That’s what I was talking about when I mentioned its versatility.

I prefer to have it in Auto, so the software chooses when to use it. This is because some objects don’t require AI to be deleted – the good old-fashioned ‘Content Aware’ is enough.

This will help you work more sustainably because using generative AI has a big impact on the environment. Also, it will help you make better use of your monthly AI credits quota.

Of course, you can still use the Generative Fill tool to remove objects if you want variations or if you want to swap the object instead of just deleting it.

Beware that unlike Generative Fill, the AI ‘Remove’ tool applies the results directly to the image instead of creating a new layer. So, make sure you duplicate the layer before using it if you want a non-destructive workflow.

Photoshop is available only through an Adobe subscription, either as a standalone plan or as part of the Photography package. So far, the subscription includes unlimited use of generative AI.

However, Adobe says they will implement a monthly quota at some point, after which you’ll require extra credits to use the generative AI tools across the Creative Cloud apps.

Lightroom’s Remove Tool

Continuing with Adobe’s Creative Cloud products, Lightroom is close behind Photoshop in using AI for object removal, thanks to the latest update (v. 14.0.1) released in October 2024.

Lightroom’s Remove tool also allows you to enable or disable the AI, which I greatly appreciate. However, it doesn’t have the Auto feature like Photoshop to let it decide independently.

I enabled the Detect Objects option to see if it was as spot-on as the one in Photoshop. Unfortunately, it’s not. Ideally, you should be able to scribble over something and it would automatically select it.

In my experience, it only works if the object is isolated with clear edges; otherwise, it doesn’t do a good job.

It’s not a big deal, though; you just have to select a bigger brush size and cover the entire object yourself – it doesn’t require any precise selections. Then, click Remove.

Once the object is removed, you can browse the three variations it generated or click Generate to get more. In my tests, the results were consistently good, and it always worked very fast.

If you only use Lightroom for your photo editing, there’s no need to get Photoshop just for object removal – outside of the object detection, Lightroom’s tool is equally good. Plus, you can Copy-Paste, Sync, and Auto-Sync the Generative removal to batch-edit your photos.

As with Photoshop, you need an Adobe subscription to use Lightroom, and in the future, you may get a monthly AI credits quota.

Luminar Neo’s GenErase

I like that the GenErase tool is available right off the bat in Luminar Neo. When you launch the program, you’ll immediately see the AI generative tools on the right side of the Catalog – the landing module.

You don’t even need to go into the editing side or search under multiple panels or menus. Right there, you’ll see GenErase. Simply click on the photo you want and click on GenErase to activate it.

It will take a moment to launch the tool, which is something I don’t particularly like. Overall, the AI generative tools in Luminar Neo are slower than those of its competitors. That said, it’s almost always worth the wait.

Once the work panel of the GenErase tool is open, simply use the brush to paint over the object you want to delete. It’s better to go over it so you’re sure you’re not missing anything.

You can adjust the size of the brush as well as zoom in and out of the picture. Once the object is selected, simply click Erase and wait for the result.

As I was saying, it takes a bit of time. Generally, it’s quite acceptable, but if you want to try different variations or work on multiple photos, then Luminar is probably not the best for you.

In my experience, it gets it right from the first try – sometimes it requires a second, but rarely more. However, I would like to see the variations from the beginning because now it only gives you one.

For every variation, you need to click Erase and wait again. Then, you can hover over them using the Undo and Redo buttons marked with arrows.

Once you’re satisfied with the results, click Save. Unlike Photoshop, it won’t create a new layer. Instead, it will generate a new image, which you can find in the Generative Creations folder.

I highly recommend using Luminar Neo to delete unwanted objects from pictures because it does an amazing job. If you’re not an Adobe subscriber, Luminar Neo is certainly the way to go, as it’s less expensive, and the results are as good or even better depending on the picture.

Luminar Neo also has an Erase tool in the Edit module. In it, you’ll find ‘Remove Powerlines’ and ‘Remove Dust Spots’ options that also work very well.

On the downside, the users who bought a lifetime license won’t have access to GenErase after January 1st, 2026. I imagine it will be sold as an extension pack, but how much it will cost is still unknown.

However, Luminar Neo subscribers can use AI generative tools without limit.

Runway’s Erase and Replace

Runway is an applied research company that develops AI tools for creatives. I’ve already included some of their tools in other articles because I really enjoy their intuitive interface and the amazing results.

You can use the Erase and Replace tool to remove unwanted objects from your pictures. Simply upload your photo to the website. Then, use the brush to paint over the objects you want to erase – no need to be precise.

The tool doesn’t work without a prompt, as it’s meant to also replace objects. I typed ‘erase,’ and it worked perfectly.

I quickly got four variations – although I only liked the first one. I could’ve generated more, but it uses five credits every time you use it.

You can always see how many credits you have remaining in the top right corner. When you sign up for the first time, you get 125 credits for free. Once you run out, you have to get a subscription. They have different plans so you can choose the one that’s best for you.

By the way, they also have a tool called ‘Inpainting’ to remove unwanted objects from videos.

Photos’ Clean Up 

If you’re a Mac user, you’ll have a desktop app called Photos installed by default. Until iOS 14, Photos only had a basic tool for removing blemishes and small things.

The fall update to Sequoia 15.0 came with a handy new tool called ‘Clean Up,’ an AI object remover. I just updated my MacBook Air and gave it a try. I have to say that I was very satisfied with the results.

I tried the Clean Up tool with photos I had already imported into my Photos program, and it worked well. However, to keep the test consistent, I uploaded the one you’ve seen throughout this article, and while it wasn’t my favorite result, it was quite good.

To use it, import your file into Photos. Then, go to the Edit screen. On the right side of the top menu, you’ll see the Clean Up button.

The first time I used it, it took a few seconds to download; the following times, it worked immediately.

Once you enable the tool, it scans the photo and identifies the different elements – you’ll see them glowing. Click on the one you want to erase. It’s also possible to brush or circle them.

You can zoom in and out or change the brush size if necessary.

That’s it. There’s no Remove or Erase button, but it starts working after you finish indicating the object.

As you can see, it’s very easy to use. You won’t get variations or have other tools to retouch, but you can always brush over the area that doesn’t satisfy you and give it another go.

The best thing about it is that you don’t have to pay credits or subscriptions or download any additional software. It’s ready to use without limits on your Mac computer.

Cleanup.pictures

For quick removals and smaller photos, there are options available that don’t require creating accounts or paying for subscriptions. However, their capabilities are limited.

However, many users may only want to remove a photo bomb from a vacation photo to share on social media or some other easy task. If this is your case, then you should definitely try Cleanup.pictures.

Simply upload your picture to the website. As long as it’s not a high-resolution picture, you won’t need to sign up.

One feature I really appreciated is that when uploading a high-res photo, the service asks if you’d like it downsized to continue using it as a guest. This saves you the hassle of resizing the image elsewhere or figuring out the approved size.

Once uploaded, use the brush to paint over the object you want to erase – no fuss.

It did a great job erasing the bird on my sample picture. However, trying to remove the two people next to the main subject like I did with Photoshop or Luminar is impossible.

So, it’s a great choice for free without fuss, but it’s limited in capabilities.

PhotoEraser

With PhotoEraser, I uploaded the same sample photo I’ve used so far, and I wouldn’t say I liked the results – except for the bird. However, a clearly defined bird on a clear blue sky is almost always an easy removal.

The reason I didn’t dismiss PhotoEraser after the unsatisfying result is that I was impressed at how well it detected the individual elements. Something even more potent programs like Lightroom weren’t able to do.

So, I decided to upload a different photo and give it another try – this time, a busy street. Even if the image is busy and complex, each element is small in relation to the overall photo, and I figured it had a better chance of going well.

As with the first image, PhotoEraser identified the elements very well. However, by ticking the boxes and asking it to remove them, I didn’t get a good result. This is because it selects only the subject but disregards the shadow.

I then decided to try the manual tools – in this case, the Brush. I selected one by one, and I got a very good result, and that’s why I’m recommending it to you.

You might not get it on the first try, but with a little patience and experimentation with its tools, PhotoEraser is a good program for removing unwanted objects.

You can use it for free, and only have to create an account and subscribe if you like the results. I like that it gives you the option for a weekly subscription – this isn’t very common and can be handy if you just want to use it to fix your vacation photos.

Meanwhile, the monthly subscription costs the same as Photoshop, but you can do a lot less things with it. So, either go for the one-time weekly subscription or get the entire year, which isn’t super cheap but can be worthwhile if you have enough use for it.

Photoroom’s Magic Retouch 

Photoroom is another online AI tool you can use to erase unwanted objects from your photos. It doesn’t give the best results with complex images, but it’s a good solution for the average user’s needs.

You need to log in to use it – but don’t worry, it doesn’t require much. Just type in your email address and they’ll send you a link to use. The interface is friendly, and the tool is easy to use.

If you only need to export your photos in low resolution, you can stick to the free account, which includes the Eraser tool and even background removal.

However, you need a pro subscription to export in high resolution. This also allows batch editing and other perks you might be interested in, so check it out if you have more advanced needs.

Pixelcut.ai

Another great AI online remover if you need to erase simple objects from your photos is Pixelcut.ai. You don’t need to sign in or pay anything – it’s free and unlimited.

Simply upload your picture and brush over the object you want to erase. Then, click on Apply Magic Eraser. On simple objects, such as the birds in the sky in my sample image, it worked great.

They do have a more advanced algorithm that promises to perform on more complex images. However, this requires a subscription.
The Pro plan is quite costly, considering that it’s similar to the price of more robust editors like Luminar.

Despite the warning that I couldn’t use the advanced algorithm required for complex tasks unless I was a Pro user, I decided to give it a try with my sample image.

As you can see, the results aren’t great. So, as they advise, stick to simple objects if you’re using the free version.

Why do I need to use an AI object eraser on my photos?

An AI object removal tool has many uses for professional photographers, hobbyists, and even casual users.

If you’ve ever gone on vacation, you know how difficult – if not impossible – it is to get a selfie or picture of your family without anyone in the background. Using AI, you can easily remove other tourists without any photo editing knowledge.

Another popular use for AI removal involves removing one of the subjects from the photo – for example, removing an ex-partner. This is a complicated task often requested by people to skilled photo retouchers.

This task may still be difficult to perform only with an AI remover, so people will still hire a retoucher, but they will have to spend much less time performing it than they used to.

Some professional uses may include removing a logo from a t-shirt. As you probably know, you can’t use an image for commercial purposes if there are any noticeable brand icons and logos in it. An AI object remover will make this task fast and easy.

You can remove a distracting piece of garbage on your street photography or create a digital background by removing every object and even the subject in the picture – the possibilities are endless.

While removing objects from photos has always been possible, AI has made the job faster and easier.

FAQ’s

How do I remove unwanted objects from photos with AI?

Using AI to erase objects in your photos is a straightforward process. Simply choose a program with this feature – it can be one from this list or any other you prefer.

While they may have small variations, all AI removers work similarly. You have to select the object you want to delete – this can be by brushing over it, circling it, or clicking on it.

Then, click the appropriate button to start the process. It may be labeled with something like Erase, Remove, or a similar command.

That’s it. If you’re satisfied, you can download your photo or proceed with your usual editing process.

How do I remove unwanted objects from photos without AI?

It’s always been possible to delete unwanted objects from your photos – even before the proliferation of generative AI tools. The more advanced tools we had were proprietary algorithms such as the Content-Aware Fill in Photoshop.

However, other tools like the Clone Stamp or the Healing Brush allow you to do the job with more control. These tools are still useful and are advisable whenever you need to remove something small and easy.

Photoshop has even included the option to turn AI on or off in its remove tool.

Is there a free AI object eraser for photos?

Yes, there are many free options to remove objects from your photos using generative AI tools. However, they’re often limited.

Some of them will only allow you to work on low-resolution images, others give you a limited number of uses, while a few only perform well with simple tasks and reserve the advanced tools for paying users.

Can I erase objects from a photo using AI on my phone?

Yes, there are mobile apps that have an AI object erase feature – for example, Photo Retouch, TouchRetouch, or Photoroom.

Can I remove objects from a photo online using AI? 

Yes, there are plenty of websites that offer this service. Generally speaking, they have a limited free version and a paid premium one. Depending on your needs, you can choose what’s best. Try Pixelcut.ai, Photoroom, or PhotoEraser – you can find more information about them in this article.