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Test scope & comparison notes
These are recorded facts, not a unified ranking. Tested tiers and scope are not consistently recorded. Read pricing with its date and timing with its conditions. Privacy observations reflect visible flows and statements, not a security audit.
Cross-task capability coverage across selected products
Each product is scored independently per task edge; switch tasks below while keeping shared products selected| Task edge | Leonardo.Ai | Adobe | Switch / compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Background removal | 86/100 2048 × 2048 · PNG | 77/100 2048 × 2048 · PNG | Active task |
| Image upscaling | 78/100 1024×1024 (2.0x · Unwatermarked high-quality JPG · 271.9 KB) · Historical description; output not attached | 88/100 2048×2048 (4.0x Unwatermarked JPG) · Historical description; output not attached | |
| Object removal | 88/100 2048×2048 (Native full-resolution watermark-free PNG) · Historical description; output not attached | 89/100 2048×2048 (Full-Res Unwatermarked PNG) · Historical description; output not attached | |
| Image generation | 88/100 1024×1024 (Unwatermarked JPEG, 147.5KB, 100% pixel retention) · Historical description; output not attached | 90/100 1024 × 1024 · PNG |
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Browse this task →| Criterion | Leonardo.Ai (Remove Background) Background removal 86/100 Seven-aspect task score Full-size export plus shadow and transparency controls offer flexibility with upfront credit disclosure; login and 40 tokens were required in this run. Tested export 2048 × 2048 · PNG Historical test · 2026-10-16 | Adobe Firefly (Express) BG Remover Background removal 77/100 Seven-aspect task score Free full-size export without login opens the Firefly editor; the subject is retained, but gaps between curls need cleanup. Tested export 2048 × 2048 · PNG Historical test · 2026-10-16 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & rules | ||
| Pricing plans | Web individual and default three-seat team plans; excludes API · 2026-10-20 Plan · source date Monthly / one-time Annual bill / period Quota & limits Essential2026-10-20 ↗ 2026-10-20 ↗ USD 12/month USD 120/year Monthly 8,500 Fast Tokens/month; token bank 25,500 Annual 8,500 Fast Tokens/month Rules [1] Premium2026-10-20 ↗ 2026-10-20 ↗ USD 30/month USD 288/year Monthly 25,000 Fast Tokens/month; token bank 75,000 Annual 25,000 Fast Tokens/month Rules [1] Ultimate2026-10-20 ↗ 2026-10-20 ↗ USD 60/month USD 576/year Monthly 60,000 Fast Tokens/month; token bank 180,000 Annual 60,000 Fast Tokens/month Rules [1] 10 plan / billing-period records, all listed; — means that period is not recorded. The app payment panel confirms personal annual prices of $120/$288/$576, differing from earlier rounded monthly equivalents on the marketing site. Public plans permit paid users to buy top-ups without quoting pack prices or per-removal token cost. Unlimited relaxed generation does not establish unlimited removal. Verification has gaps; unknown prices and quotas are not inferred. Cancellation, sources & verification recordSelf-serve cancellation in account settings Official plans and usage terms ↗ · 2026-10-20 Capture 1 ↗ · Capture 2 ↗ Official app annual payment selection ↗ · 2026-10-20 Capture 1 ↗ · Capture 2 ↗ · Capture 3 ↗ | US individual Firefly web free feature and four monthly subscriptions; excludes student/business, full Creative Cloud and other regions; includes four generative credit add-on subscriptions · 2026-10-20 Plan · source date Monthly / one-time Annual bill / period Quota & limits Firefly web background remover2026-10-20 ↗ Free Free Free Official feature page describes free removal; single JPG/PNG/WebP input up to 50MB Count and free export specification are not stated; subsequent generative editing may require separate credits Firefly Standard2026-10-20 ↗ USD 9.99/month — Monthly 2,000 generative credits/month; not removal counts Rules [1] Firefly Pro2026-10-20 ↗ USD 19.99/month — Monthly 4,000 generative credits/month; not removal counts Rules [1] Firefly Pro Plus2026-10-20 ↗ USD 34.97/month — Monthly 10,000 generative credits/month; not removal counts First-year promotion advertised through October 21; regular price USD 49.99/month. Renewal and eligibility follow the offer terms. Rules [1]Firefly Premium2026-10-20 ↗ USD 139.91/month — Monthly 50,000 generative credits/month; not removal counts First-year promotion advertised through October 21; regular price USD 199.99/month. Renewal and eligibility follow the offer terms. Rules [1]2,000 generative credit add-on2026-10-20 ↗ USD 9.99/month — Monthly 2,000 generative credits/month; not removal counts 7,000 generative credit add-on2026-10-20 ↗ USD 29.99/month — Monthly 7,000 generative credits/month; not removal counts 10,000 generative credit add-on2026-10-20 ↗ USD 49.99/month — Monthly 10,000 generative credits/month; not removal counts 50,000 generative credit add-on2026-10-20 ↗ USD 199.99/month — Monthly 50,000 generative credits/month; not removal counts 9 plan / billing-period records, all listed; — means that period is not recorded. Four US individual Firefly monthly plans and four credit add-on subscriptions are listed. Pro Plus/Premium first-year promotions end October 21, with regular prices separately shown. Official pages do not quantify daily free removal counts or regional tax amounts. Generative credits concern other AI features and do not establish a payment requirement for free removal. Verification has gaps; unknown prices and quotas are not inferred. Cancellation, sources & verification recordSelf-serve cancellation in Adobe Account (monthly plans cancel anytime; annual billed-monthly plans subject to Adobe terms) Official plans and usage terms ↗ · 2026-10-20 Capture 1 ↗ US individual Firefly subscriptions ↗ · 2026-10-20 Capture 1 ↗ Official generative credit add-on subscriptions ↗ · 2026-10-20 Capture 1 ↗ |
| Free & trial allowance on the test date | 150 free daily tokens; each 25MP full-resolution background removal costs 40 tokens (3 free full-res cutouts/day) | Quick web background removal & full-res download are free without login; generative AI features in Firefly use Generative Credits |
| Cancellation & refunds | Self-serve cancellation in account settings | Self-serve cancellation in Adobe Account (monthly plans cancel anytime; annual billed-monthly plans subject to Adobe terms) |
| Disclosure of costs & limits | Remove Background dialog transparently lists resolution tiers (25MP/50MP) and 40-token cost before execution | File formats (JPG/PNG/WEBP) and 50MB limit are disclosed directly inside the upload dropzone |
| Task quality | ||
| Measured fixture results | Edge error MAD: 0.164 (Lower is better) · Global error SAD(k): 25.541 (Lower is better) · Foreground retention: 99.870% (Higher is better) · Background residue: 0.410% (Lower is better) | Edge error MAD: 0.1235 (Lower is better) · Global error SAD(k): 49.851 (Lower is better) · Foreground retention: 99.850% (Higher is better) · Background residue: 0.442% (Lower is better) |
| Fixture findings | Fine curls were well retained with semi-transparency enabled; the result is specific to this mode and fixture. | Hair and subject are largely retained; some background remains between curls. |
| Original historical observation | With Semi-transparency enabled, Leonardo.Ai's Remove Background preserves fine outer curls exceptionally well—achieving 99.87% foreground recall, SAD(k)=25.541, and mad_band=0.164 at full 2048×2048 resolution. | Very high foreground hair preservation (fg_recall=99.85%) in a 9.23MB 2048×2048 PNG, though a small patch of bookshelf background remained inside left curly hair gaps (bg_leak=0.442%, mad_band=0.1235, SAD(k)=49.85). |
| Suitable uses · historical assessment | Creators needing ultra-high curly hair recall (99.87%) and direct integration with Canva Magic Layers or AI generation workflows | Designers and everyday users who value Adobe's enterprise privacy standards and want a zero-login 2048×2048 full-res PNG |
| Result & output evidence | ||
| Delivery capabilities | ||
| Recorded export specifications | 2048 × 2048 · PNG · No watermark in test | 2048 × 2048 · PNG · No watermark in test |
| Historical specification note · not an official maximum | 2048×2048 (100% native RGBA PNG, supports up to 25MP/50MP) | 2048×2048 (Guests directly download full 2048×2048 PNG without sign-in; supports files up to 50MB) |
| Watermark observation | No Watermark | None |
| Batch & API | Sequential uploads in Library | Batch workflows available via Photoshop, Lightroom, or Creative Cloud APIs |
| Recorded free-tier dimensions | 2048 × 2048 | 2048 × 2048 |
| Attached file dimensions | 2048 × 2048 · PNG | 2048 × 2048 · PNG |
| Speed & reliability | ||
| Timing observation | Network-observed server wait: 7.5s · End-to-end reference: 9s | Network-observed server wait: 7.75s · End-to-end reference: 11.98s |
| Date & fixture | 2026-10-16 · anchor_bgremove_v1 · US-West (California, AS2914) | 2026-10-16 · anchor_bgremove_v1 · US-West (California, AS2914) |
| Repeated tests & reliability | No standardized repetition count, success rate or variability range is recorded. | No standardized repetition count, success rate or variability range is recorded. |
| Interaction experience | ||
| Account requirements | Account required in this test | No login in this test |
| Sign-in methods | Free login via Google, Apple, Microsoft, or Email | No login required for background removal and full-res PNG download; Adobe sign-in only needed for Generative Fill in Firefly |
| Manual adjustment | Can open directly in Canvas Editor or Canva Magic Layers | Seamlessly opens in Adobe Firefly canvas for Remove brush & Generative Fill |
| Interaction observations | Clean configuration dialog with Resolution (25MP/50MP), Shadow (None/Drop/3D), Background (Transparent/Color/Image), and Semi-transparency toggles. | Removed the legacy mandatory Adobe ID sign-in wall for downloading! Clicking Download immediately saves the PNG while opening firefly.adobe.com/hub in a new tab (-2 pts) alongside a floating chat bubble (-2 pts). |
| Background & reputation | ||
| Service lifecycle notice | Not verified | The legacy Adobe Express background-remover URL now redirects to the upgraded Adobe Firefly visual pipeline (/products/firefly/features/remove-background.html). |
| Operator | Leonardo Interactive Pty Ltd (Canva Group) | Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ: ADBE) |
| Recorded origin | Sydney, Australia | San Jose, California, USA |
| Domain history record | 2022–Present | Domain registered 1986 / Firefly pipeline 2023–2026 |
| Background & reputation assessment | Operated by Leonardo Interactive Pty Ltd (Sydney, Australia; part of Canva Group), with built-in Edit in Canva / Magic Layers integration. | Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ: ADBE, creator of Photoshop, Creative Cloud, and Firefly), global authority in digital imaging. |
| External reputation record | Flagship generative AI suite deeply integrated with Canva. | Users historically criticized Adobe Express for forcing sign-in before download; our 2026 test confirms the migrated Firefly page now lets guests download full-res PNGs without logging in. |
| Engineering & privacy | ||
| Processing location | Uploaded for cloud processing | Uploaded for cloud processing |
| Third-party tracking record | No third-party services listed in this record; this is not proof that none exist. | Adobe Experience Platform / Alloy |
| Engineering & privacy assessment | Natively supports 25MP–50MP cutouts without client-side pre-downscaling, returning an exact 2048×2048 RGBA PNG. | Backed by Adobe Creative Cloud enterprise blob storage (acp-aep-cs-blobstore-prod-va6-data.adobe.io) with signed temporary URLs and strict enterprise privacy commitments. |
| Retention statement | Explicit retention period unconfirmed; inspect policy record | Claims deletion within 4 hours; deletion not independently verified |
| Evaluation basis | ||
| Pricing transparency | 34 / 40 Requires a free login; free accounts receive 150 daily tokens (01_landing.png), clicking Remove Background on an uploaded image clearly displays resolution tiers (Up to 25 MP / 50 MP) and the 40-token cost (02_workspace.png), and delivers a full 2048×2048 true-Alpha PNG download (03_download.png). | 40 / 40 Landing page clearly states 'Remove the background from your image for free' and 'File must be JPEG (JPG), PNG, or WEBP and up to 50MB'; real-machine testing confirms guests download a 2048×2048 full-res PNG (9.23MB) without any sign-in wall. |
| Interaction restraint | 19 / 20 Clean configuration dialog with Resolution (25MP/50MP), Shadow (None/Drop/3D), Background (Transparent/Color/Image), and Semi-transparency toggles. | 16 / 20 Removed the legacy mandatory Adobe ID sign-in wall for downloading! Clicking Download immediately saves the PNG while opening firefly.adobe.com/hub in a new tab (-2 pts) alongside a floating chat bubble (-2 pts). |
| Background & reputation | 22 / 25 Operated by Leonardo Interactive Pty Ltd (Sydney, Australia; part of Canva Group), with built-in Edit in Canva / Magic Layers integration. | 25 / 25 Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ: ADBE, creator of Photoshop, Creative Cloud, and Firefly), global authority in digital imaging. |
| Engineering & privacy | 13 / 15 Natively supports 25MP–50MP cutouts without client-side pre-downscaling, returning an exact 2048×2048 RGBA PNG. | 15 / 15 Backed by Adobe Creative Cloud enterprise blob storage (acp-aep-cs-blobstore-prod-va6-data.adobe.io) with signed temporary URLs and strict enterprise privacy commitments. |
| Task quality | 53 / 65 Transition band error mad_band=0.164 · Global SAD(k)=25.541 · Foreground recall 99.87% / Background leak 0.410% | 39.1 / 65 Transition band error mad_band=0.1235 · Global SAD(k)=49.851 · Foreground recall 99.85% / Background leak 0.442% |
| Deliverable specifications | 20 / 20 True Alpha channel (8/8); Max deliverable spec: 2048×2048 (100% native RGBA PNG, supports up to 25MP/50MP) | 20 / 20 True Alpha channel (8/8); Max deliverable spec: 2048×2048 (Guests directly download full 2048×2048 PNG without sign-in; supports files up to 50MB) |
| Processing speed | 12.5 / 15 Network-observed server wait: 7.5s (API mode: async_queue; network upload 1.5s / end-to-end 9s shown for reference only, never penalized) | 10 / 15 Network-observed server wait: 7.75s (API mode: async; network upload 0.01s / end-to-end 11.98s shown for reference only, never penalized) |
