Smartphones have made everyone a snap-happy photographer, but those pics often lack the dreamy, blurry background pros get with fancy cameras. You want your subject—be it a person, product, or pet—to shine without a messy backdrop stealing the show. How do you get that slick bokeh effect online without wrestling complicated software? This guide rounds up five killer tools to blur photo backgrounds with AI and tosses in Toolsmart’s Free Background Remover for when you need a totally clean look.
Part 1: Top Tools to Blur Your Photo Background
Blurring a photo’s background is a quick way to make your subject stand out, and these five online tools use AI to nail that pro-level bokeh effect. From simple one-click options to creative controls, here’s how they work and what they’re like to use.
Fotor
Fotor’s a versatile web-based editor with AI-powered background blurring that delivers natural depth-of-field effects. It’s great for portraits, products, or social media shots. No complex skills needed—just upload and tweak.
Features: Auto background blur, adjustable blur intensity, supports JPG/PNG, multiple blur effects (radial, tilt-shift, bokeh).
Price: Free; premium plans from $8.99/month for extra features.
Pros:
AI nails subject detection for fast blurring
Tons of blur styles like bokeh and motion
User-friendly interface
Cons:
Premium features behind a paywall
No batch processing in free plan
I popped a selfie into Fotor, and the AI instantly blurred the busy café background, making me the focus. The slider let me adjust the blur to just the right softness, and it was done in seconds. It’s perfect for beginners, though I wished I could blur multiple pics at once for free.
Pixlr
Pixlr’s a speedy online editor with a flexible blur tool for softening backgrounds or adding artsy effects. It’s ideal for social media creators who want quick, creative control. Mobile app included for on-the-go edits.
Features: Adjustable blur brush, whole/linear/circular blur modes, supports JPG/PNG/WebP, AI art filters.
Price: Free; premium from $4.99/month for advanced tools.
Pros:
Flexible blur options (brush or full image)
Mobile app for editing anywhere
Solid free plan
Cons:
Ads pop up in free version
Brush tool takes practice for clean results
I used Pixlr to blur the background of a product photo with the circular blur mode. It took a bit to get the brush size right, but the result made the item pop like a pro shot. The ads were a tad annoying, but the free plan’s got plenty to work with.
PicWish
PicWish is a straightforward AI tool built for quick background blurring, perfect for e-commerce or casual users. It’s all about speed and simplicity. No signup needed for basic use.
Features: One-click AI blur, adjustable blur strength, supports JPG/PNG, bokeh effect.
Price: Free; premium from $5.99/month for extra credits.
Pros:
Lightning-fast and dead simple
No signup for basic blurring
Cons:
Fewer blur effects than competitors
Premium needed for heavy use
I tried PicWish on a pet photo, and the one-click AI blur made my dog stand out against a messy yard in seconds. It’s crazy easy, but I wanted more blur styles like Fotor’s. Perfect for quick jobs when you don’t want to overthink it.
Photoroom
Photoroom’s AI-driven editor is built for pro-grade background blurring, ideal for business or social media visuals. It excels at isolating subjects cleanly. Signups required for full access.
Features: Auto subject detection, adjustable blur intensity, supports PNG/JPG, batch blur in pro plan.
Price: Free; pro plans from $9.99/month for batch editing.
Pros:
Super precise AI subject detection
Clean, professional-looking results
Cons:
Batch blur locked in paid plan
Signup needed for most features
I blurred a headshot’s cluttered background with Photoroom, and the AI perfectly outlined me for a smooth blur. Tweaking the intensity was a breeze, but needing an account for multiple edits felt like a small hurdle. Great for pro vibes.
Pixelcut
Pixelcut’s a streamlined AI tool for fast background blurring, great for e-commerce or social media. It’s all about simplicity with a mobile app for quick edits. No watermarks in free mode.
Features: One-click AI blur, adjustable blur strength, supports JPG/PNG/HEIC, mobile app available.
Price: Free; pro plans from $9.99/month for advanced features.
Pros:
Quick, automatic blur
No watermarks in free plan
Cons:
No batch processing in free mode
Limited editing beyond blur
I used Pixelcut to blur a product photo’s background, and it made the item pop in seconds with one click. It’s ridiculously simple, but I missed batch options when I had a bunch of pics to do. Perfect for fast, clean edits.
Part 2: Comparison of the Five Tools
Each tool brings something to the table, but which one’s right for you? Here’s a breakdown of how they compare across features, advantages, and pricing to help you pick the best for your needs.
Features: Fotor and Pixlr pack the most blur effects—bokeh, radial, motion—for creative flexibility. Photoroom and Pixelcut lean on one-click AI blur with strong subject detection. PicWish keeps things basic with simple blur but fewer options.
Advantages: Fotor’s variety and Pixlr’s brush tool are great for creative control. Photoroom and Pixelcut deliver pro results fast, ideal for business needs. PicWish’s no-signup simplicity is perfect for quick, no-fuss tasks.
Price: All have free plans. Fotor and Pixlr’s free versions are solid but have ads or limits. PicWish is free for basic use, while Photoroom and Pixelcut lock batch or advanced features behind paid plans.
Table:
Tool | Features | Pros | Cons | Price |
Fotor | Auto blur, multiple effects, JPG/PNG | Versatile effects, easy to use | Paywall for extras, no free batch | Free; premium $8.99/month |
Pixlr | Brush blur, multiple modes, JPG/PNG/WebP | Flexible, mobile app, robust free plan | Ads, brush needs practice | Free; premium $4.99/month |
PicWish | One-click blur, JPG/PNG, bokeh effect | Fast, no signup for basics | Few effects, premium for heavy use | Free; premium $5.99/month |
Photoroom | Auto AI blur, PNG/JPG, batch (pro) | Precise, pro results | Signup needed, batch is paid | Free; pro $9.99/month |
Pixelcut | One-click blur, JPG/PNG/HEIC, mobile app | Simple, no watermarks | No free batch, limited editing | Free; pro $9.99/month |
If you’re into creative tweaks, Fotor and Pixlr give you tons of blur styles to play with. Photoroom and Pixelcut are awesome for fast, pro-looking results, especially for business. PicWish is your go-to for quick, no-hassle blurring. For batch jobs, you’ll need a paid plan with Photoroom or Fotor, but Pixlr’s free plan is decently flexible.
Part 3: Complementary Tool: Toolsmart’s Background Remover
Blurring backgrounds is great, but sometimes you need a completely clean slate—like a solid color or transparent background for pro websites or print. Toolsmart’s Free Background Remover is a perfect complement, stripping away backgrounds with AI precision for a polished, distraction-free look.
Toolsmart’s Background Remover is a free, no-login AI tool that removes backgrounds from images in seconds. It’s built for e-commerce, social media, or portfolios, supporting JPG, PNG, and WebP. It’s simple and delivers pro results fast.
Features: Auto subject detection, transparent or custom color backgrounds, supports JPG/PNG/WebP, one-click removal.
Pros:
Totally free, no signup needed
Handles complex edges like fur or hair
Fast and beginner-friendly
Cons:
Web-based only, no app
Limited to background removal, no extra editing
How to Use:
Step 1: Head to Toolsmart Background Remover.
Step 2: Upload your image (JPG, PNG, or WebP).
Step 3: Click “Remove Background” for instant AI magic.
Step 4: Download your image with a transparent or custom background.
I uploaded a product photo with a messy shelf in the back. Toolsmart’s AI cut out the item perfectly, leaving a transparent background I swapped for a clean white one—ready for my online shop in seconds. It was so easy compared to Photoshop’s tricky selection tools.
FAQs
Q1: How does Toolsmart’s Background Remover handle complex edges like pet fur?
Its AI is super sharp, catching fine details like fur or hair for clean, natural edges—no fiddly manual work needed.
Q2: Can I revert to original colors after using Toolsmart’s Background Remover?
Yup, you can reset to your original image anytime with a quick click, no hassle.
Q3: Are these blur tools safe for personal photos?
Most, like Fotor and Toolsmart, use encrypted uploads, but check their privacy policies to be sure.
Q4: Can I blur backgrounds on my phone?
Totally—Fotor, Pixlr, and Pixelcut have mobile apps, and all work in mobile browsers for quick edits.