You don't need Photoshop, and you definitely don't need a website that makes you upload your photo to a stranger's server. Your iPhone can pull the subject out of a photo on its own, in about a second, for free. Here's how, and how to actually use the cutout once you've got it.
TL;DR — iOS can lift a subject right out of the Photos app (long-press the subject, then drag or copy it). To do something with the cutout, like make a sticker, drop it on a new background, or build a collage, open the photo in Jodu: tap it, the subject is isolated on-device, and you can add a border and place it anywhere. Nothing uploads.
The quick way: lift a subject in Photos
If you just want the cutout and nothing else, iOS has this built in (iOS 16 and later). Open the photo in the Photos app, press and hold on the subject for a second, and it pops out with a glowing outline. From there you can drag it into a message or tap Copy and paste it somewhere else.
It's genuinely handy for a one-off. Where it runs out of road is when you want to actually do something with the cutout: put it on a new background, turn it into a sticker with a white border, or combine a few cutouts into one image. Photos won't help you there.
The better way for anything creative: Jodu
Cutting a subject out, giving it a clean border, and dropping it onto a new background usually takes two or three different apps. In Jodu it's all in one place, and it's quick.
Add a photo with a clear subject. Open Jodu, start a project, and drop in your photo. A subject that stands out from its background gives the cleanest cut.
Press and hold to isolate the subject. Press and hold on the photo and a toolbar pops up. Tap Remove BG, and Jodu lifts the subject off its background in about a second, all on-device.
Add an edge. Tap Effects and pick a look. Color Border gives a clean sticker outline, and there's also Torn Paper, Color Wash, and Crumpled.
Now it reads like a cut-out. The subject sits on the canvas with a crisp border, ready to move, resize, or layer with text and stickers.
Or remove the background completely. Want just the subject? Lift it onto a clean canvas, then drop it onto a new background or into a collage.
When it looks right, export to your camera roll or share it straight out.
Why on-device matters
Most free "remove background" tools online work by uploading your photo to their server, processing it there, and sending it back. That means your picture, often of a person, sits on someone else's computer for a while. Jodu runs the whole cutout on your iPhone using Apple's built-in vision models. The photo never leaves your phone, and it works with no signal.
Getting clean edges
A few things that help the cutout come out clean:
- Pick a photo where the subject stands out from the background. More contrast makes the edge easier to find.
- Hair and fur are the hardest part for any tool. A border or torn-paper edge hides small rough spots, and it usually looks better anyway.
- If the photo has more than one subject, the cutout grabs the main one. Crop in first if you want a specific person or object.
What to make with your cutouts
Once you can cut anything out, the fun part is using it. Cutouts are the backbone of a good collage. Turn a few into stickers, drop them over a textured background, or line them up into a seamless Instagram carousel. Cutouts are also the starting point for most aesthetic collage apps.
FAQ
Can you remove a background on iPhone for free?
Yes. iOS has subject lift built into the Photos app (iOS 16 and later), and free apps like Jodu do one-tap cutouts on-device.
Does removing a background upload my photo anywhere?
Not with the on-device options. iOS subject lift and Jodu both run on your iPhone using Apple's vision models, so the photo never leaves your device. Many web-based removers do upload, so check before using one with personal photos.
How do I get a transparent cutout I can reuse?
Lift the subject and place it on whatever you need. In Jodu you cut the subject out and drop it onto a new background or into a collage; iOS subject lift lets you copy the bare cutout into other apps.
What's the best app to cut out a photo for a collage?
Jodu, if you actually want to use the cutout. It isolates the subject on-device, adds borders and torn-paper edges, and gives you a freeform canvas to build on.