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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 | Icons8 | Switch / compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Background removal | 86/100 2048 × 2048 · PNG | 73/100 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 | 66/100 1024 × 1024 · PNG | |
| Object removal | 88/100 2048×2048 (Native full-resolution watermark-free PNG) · Historical description; output not attached | Not tested in topic | Compare in task topic → |
| Image generation | 88/100 1024×1024 (Unwatermarked JPEG, 147.5KB, 100% pixel retention) · Historical description; output not attached | Not tested in topic | Compare in task topic → |
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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 | Icons8 Background Remover Background removal 73/100 Seven-aspect task score Trial limits are disclosed upfront, with full-size output and batch support without login; only three free trials and a notification prompt limit convenience. Tested export 2048 × 2048 · PNG Historical test · 2026-10-17 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 ↗ | Icons8 web background remover: monthly, annual and prepaid, excluding API · 2026-10-20 Plan · source date Monthly / one-time Annual bill / period Quota & limits Minimum prepaid package2026-10-20 ↗ USD 10 · one-time payment Usage / one-time Usage / one-time Minimum charge $10; at the listed $0.20/image this equals 50 images; use anytime Limited2026-10-20 ↗ USD 9/month USD 90/year Monthly 100 images/month; unused credits roll over Annual 100 images/month; unused credits roll over Prepaid $502026-10-20 ↗ USD 50 · one-time payment Usage / one-time Usage / one-time 250 images at the listed $0.20/image; use anytime Prepaid $1002026-10-20 ↗ USD 100 · one-time payment Usage / one-time Usage / one-time 500 images at the listed $0.20/image; use anytime Prepaid $2002026-10-20 ↗ USD 200 · one-time payment Usage / one-time Usage / one-time 1,000 images at the listed $0.20/image; use anytime 9 plan / billing-period records, all listed; — means that period is not recorded. Prepaid entry confirms a $10 minimum and $50/$100/$200/custom choices. Displayed discounted prices are retained. Reviewed general terms assign applicable taxes to the user but do not specify background-remover subscription refund/cancellation details, which remain unconfirmed. Verification has gaps; unknown prices and quotas are not inferred. Cancellation, sources & verification recordCancellation and refund terms follow official checkout and help policies. Official plans and usage terms ↗ · 2026-10-20 Capture 1 ↗ · Capture 2 ↗ Minimum prepaid charge and amount choices ↗ · 2026-10-20 Capture 1 ↗ Relevant official terms excerpts ↗ · 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) | Anonymous visitors get 3 free demo background removals at full resolution; additional images cost $0.20/image or $9/mo |
| Cancellation & refunds | Self-serve cancellation in account settings | Cancellation and refund terms follow official checkout and help policies. |
| Disclosure of costs & limits | Remove Background dialog transparently lists resolution tiers (25MP/50MP) and 40-token cost before execution | Disclosed upfront in the landing page hero subtitle ("Try it with 3 demo removes") |
| 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: 0.1653 (Lower is better) · Global error SAD(k): 52.608 (Lower is better) · Foreground retention: 99.070% (Higher is better) · Background residue: 0.260% (Lower is better) |
| Fixture findings | Fine curls were well retained with semi-transparency enabled; the result is specific to this mode and fixture. | Clean subject contours and free full-size output in the record; the finest flyaway hairs are cut sharply. |
| 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. | Clean main subject and inner curl separation (99.07% foreground recall) with slightly firmer outer flyaway cutoffs (mad_band=0.1653) at full 2048×2048 native resolution. |
| 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 needing 1–3 full-resolution 2048×2048 unwatermarked cutouts without creating an account |
| 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 (Unwatermarked 2048×2048 RGBA PNG within 3 free guest demo removals) |
| Watermark observation | No Watermark | No watermark |
| Batch & API | Sequential uploads in Library | Batch upload up to 500 images, REST API, Mac app, and Figma/Photoshop plugins |
| 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: 7.4s · End-to-end reference: 10.2s |
| Date & fixture | 2026-10-16 · anchor_bgremove_v1 · US-West (California, AS2914) | 2026-10-17 · 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 3 full-res demo images; supports Email / Google / GitHub sign-in |
| Manual adjustment | Can open directly in Canvas Editor or Canva Magic Layers | Not verified |
| Interaction observations | Clean configuration dialog with Resolution (25MP/50MP), Shadow (None/Drop/3D), Background (Transparent/Color/Image), and Semi-transparency toggles. | Triggers a browser notification permission prompt during upload to alert when background processing completes, but allows direct 2048×2048 unwatermarked export within the 3-image demo quota without forced signup. |
| Background & reputation | ||
| Service lifecycle notice | Not verified | Not verified |
| Operator | Leonardo Interactive Pty Ltd (Canva Group) | Icons8 LLC |
| Recorded origin | Sydney, Australia | New York, USA (Global Distributed Team) |
| Domain history record | 2022–Present | 2012–Present |
| Background & reputation assessment | Operated by Leonardo Interactive Pty Ltd (Sydney, Australia; part of Canva Group), with built-in Edit in Canva / Magic Layers integration. | Developed by Icons8 LLC (founded in 2012 by Ivan Boyko, creator of Pichon, Lunacy, Smart Upscaler, and Generated Photos). |
| External reputation record | Flagship generative AI suite deeply integrated with Canva. | Not verified |
| 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. | Not verified |
| Engineering & privacy assessment | Natively supports 25MP–50MP cutouts without client-side pre-downscaling, returning an exact 2048×2048 RGBA PNG. | Supports batch drag-and-drop up to 500 images (JPG/PNG/WebP) via the ai-cdn.icons8.com async pipeline, plus native Mac app, Figma/Photoshop plugins, and REST API. |
| Retention statement | Explicit retention period unconfirmed; inspect policy record | Explicit retention period unconfirmed; inspect policy record |
| 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). | 29 / 35 The landing page (01_landing.png) explicitly states "Try it with 3 demo removes" in the hero subtitle. Anonymous guests can upload and download full 2048×2048 unwatermarked RGBA PNG cutouts (02_workspace.png) for up to 3 demo images before hitting the "$0.20 per image / $9 per month" paywall (03_download.png). |
| Interaction restraint | 19 / 20 Clean configuration dialog with Resolution (25MP/50MP), Shadow (None/Drop/3D), Background (Transparent/Color/Image), and Semi-transparency toggles. | 24 / 30 Triggers a browser notification permission prompt during upload to alert when background processing completes, but allows direct 2048×2048 unwatermarked export within the 3-image demo quota without forced signup. |
| 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. | 19 / 20 Developed by Icons8 LLC (founded in 2012 by Ivan Boyko, creator of Pichon, Lunacy, Smart Upscaler, and Generated Photos). |
| Engineering & privacy | 13 / 15 Natively supports 25MP–50MP cutouts without client-side pre-downscaling, returning an exact 2048×2048 RGBA PNG. | 12 / 15 Supports batch drag-and-drop up to 500 images (JPG/PNG/WebP) via the ai-cdn.icons8.com async pipeline, plus native Mac app, Figma/Photoshop plugins, and REST API. |
| Task quality | 53 / 65 Transition band error mad_band=0.164 · Global SAD(k)=25.541 · Foreground recall 99.87% / Background leak 0.410% | 38.6 / 65 Transition band error mad_band=0.1653 · Global SAD(k)=52.608 · Foreground recall 99.07% / Background leak 0.260% |
| 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 (Unwatermarked 2048×2048 RGBA PNG within 3 free guest demo removals) |
| 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: 7.4s (API mode: async; network upload 1.6s / end-to-end 10.2s shown for reference only, never penalized) |
