Useknockout – open-source background removal API, 40× cheaper than remove.bg (github.com)

Useknockout has launched an innovative open-source background removal API that significantly reduces costs and improves performance compared to established players like remove.bg. This state-of-the-art service, which boasts a mere ~200ms processing time per image and an operational cost of approximately $0.00005 per image, is powered by the BiRefNet model—currently rated highest on multiple benchmarks including DIS5K and HRSOD. The API is user-friendly, allowing for seamless integration into applications with the ability to deploy on self-hosted Modal infrastructures through a single command. The significance of Useknockout lies in its combination of affordability, SOTA quality, and flexibility. It not only matches or exceeds the capabilities of competitors in preserving complex details such as hair and fur but also offers features like alpha-preserving PNG outputs, batch processing, and background substitution. The model is shared under an MIT license, promoting open access and enabling commercial usage without barriers. This launch is set to empower developers and businesses by democratizing access to high-quality image editing, thereby enhancing e-commerce, media, and creative workflows while significantly lowering operational costs.