Unscreen, the original one-click video background remover, was shut down on December 1, 2025, and unscreen.com now redirects to Canva. If you are looking for what Unscreen used to do — drop a video, get the background removed — here is the honest 2026 landscape.
What happened to Unscreen
Canva acquired Unscreen's parent Kaleido in 2021. In late 2025 Canva retired the standalone product: the API, user accounts and stored projects were removed, and unscreen.com now redirects into Canva's own background remover.
Canva's replacement vs what Unscreen did
| Unscreen (old) | Canva background remover (now) | |
|---|---|---|
| Transparent export | GIF / PNG-style alpha workflows | MP4 only — no alpha channel |
| Manual edge fixes | Not offered | Not offered — a wrong cut can't be repaired |
| Standalone tool | Yes, open page and drop file | No — inside the Canva editor |
| Batch / pro use | Hobby tier | Requires Canva Pro subscription |
The structural problem: MP4 cannot carry transparency. If your workflow needs alpha (compositing in After Effects, Premiere, DaVinci, overlays in OBS or CapCut), no MP4-exporting tool can serve you.
Real alternatives in 2026
| Tool | Transparent video | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CutoutVideo (this site) | WebM alpha, ProRes 4444, PNG sequence | One-job tool, no editor, free beta quota. Built exactly for the workflow Unscreen retired. |
| Runway | Via green-screen + keying | $15–95/mo AI suite; matting is not its core job |
| Beeble | EXR / PNG sequences | $19–75/mo VFX toolkit; pro-grade, heavier than a utility |
| CapCut / Premiere plugins | Native keyers | Manual rotoscoping or green-screen shooting required |
Status timeline: Unscreen API retired Dec 1, 2025 · unscreen.com redirected mid-2026 · remove.bg standalone shuts down Dec 1, 2026.