A slightly blurry close-up of a messy indigo Brooklyn desk: a phone propped on old comic books glows with an electric lime green video editing app mid-background removal; nearby, a chipped "Coffee = Life" mug, crumpled sticky notes including a neon-green UFO doodle, and amber light from a flickering lamp.
A slightly blurry close-up of a messy indigo Brooklyn desk: a phone propped on old comic books glows with an electric lime green video editing app mid-background removal; nearby, a chipped "Coffee = Life" mug, crumpled sticky notes including a neon-green UFO doodle, and amber light from a flickering lamp.

Alright, learning to remove backgrounds from videos has been, like, a total lifesaver for me. I’m typing this in my cramped Brooklyn apartment, the radiator clanking like it’s possessed, and my cat, Muffin, is glaring at me for daring to use my phone for something other than her TikTok debut. I’m no video editing guru—honestly, I’m a hot mess—but these apps? They’re making me look like I kinda know what I’m doing. I got roped into editing videos for my buddy Jess’s Etsy shop, and let me tell you, my first attempts were straight-up embarrassing. Picture me, fumbling with my phone, coffee spilling everywhere, trying to make her candles look profesh. Spoiler: I failed spectacularly at first.

Here’s my raw, slightly chaotic take on the best apps to remove backgrounds from videos, straight from my trial-and-error (mostly error) adventures. I’m just a dude in a stained hoodie, figuring it out as I go. Let’s do this.

Why I Got Into Removing Backgrounds From Videos (It’s Jess’s Fault)

So, Jess sells these dope handmade candles on Etsy, and she begged me to help make her product videos pop. Her apartment’s a vibe, but not the good kind—think piles of laundry and a couch that’s seen better days. I needed to remove backgrounds from videos to make her candles the star, not her chaos. Like, I tried filming in her kitchen, but her tacky flamingo curtains kept stealing the show. Video background removal became my mission, and these apps were my salvation. I’m still learning, and I’ve made some cringey mistakes—like accidentally making a candle look like it’s floating in a glitchy void. This post from Vidyard totally helped me get why clean backgrounds are clutch.

A shaky close-up of an iPhone screen on CapCut displaying a candle video with a glitchy, half-removed background, a neon-green UFO doodle on a sticky note peeking in, set against an indigo desk with an electric lime green screen, exuding a wryly humorous tone.
A shaky close-up of an iPhone screen on CapCut displaying a candle video with a glitchy, half-removed background, a neon-green UFO doodle on a sticky note peeking in, set against an indigo desk with an electric lime green screen, exuding a wryly humorous tone.

My Fave Apps for Video Background Removal (And My Screw-Ups)

Here’s the deal: I’ve tested a bunch of apps to remove backgrounds from videos, and these are the ones that didn’t make me want to yeet my phone out the window. I’m doing this on my ancient iPhone, with Muffin swatting at the screen, so if I can make it work, you probably can too.

  • Runway: This app’s like the overachiever who makes it look easy. Its AI is scary good at removing backgrounds from videos. I used it for Jess’s candle clip, and it zapped her messy kitchen in seconds. But, uh, I got cocky and tried a super long video, and my phone basically begged for mercy. Stick to short clips unless you’ve got a beast of a device. Runway’s site has more on their AI magic.
  • CapCut: Yo, CapCut is my jam. It’s free, which is my vibe, and the background remover is so easy even I didn’t screw it up… much. My first try, I made Jess’s candle look like it was in a trippy neon void. Not ideal. But once I figured it out, it was smooth. They’ve got templates for lazy peeps like me too. CapCut’s tutorials saved my bacon.
  • VEED.IO: This one’s web-based, which was a godsend when my phone died mid-edit Remove Backgrounds From Videos. It’s not perfect—sometimes the edges look janky—but it’s great for quick fixes. I used it in a coffee shop, pretending to “work” while spilling latte on my jeans. VEED’s background removal tool is solid for us amateurs.
An over-the-shoulder view of a laptop on VEED.IO displaying a candle video with wonky background removal, on a coffee shop table with a latte stain and crumpled napkin, in an indigo-lime-amber palette evoking a bittersweet tone.
An over-the-shoulder view of a laptop on VEED.IO displaying a candle video with wonky background removal, on a coffee shop table with a latte stain and crumpled napkin, in an indigo-lime-amber palette evoking a bittersweet tone.

How I Kinda Figured Out Video Background Removal

Real talk: I was terrible at this at first. Like, laughably bad. I thought I could just toss a video into an app and get Hollywood vibes. Nope. My first attempt looked like a bootleg sci-fi flick from 1995. The key? Prep your video right. Good lighting, plain background. I learned this after filming under a dying bulb in my apartment—big yikes Remove Backgrounds From Videos. The app got confused, and Jess’s candle looked like it was in a black hole. This TechSmith guide taught me how to not suck.

Here’s my process now (still a work in progress):

  1. Use decent light. My one good lamp is my MVP.
  2. Pick a plain background. Jess’s striped curtains? AI’s worst enemy.
  3. Let the app do its thing—don’t rush it.
  4. Check the edges. Zoom in like you’re Sherlock.

I still mess up sometimes, but I’m getting there.

My Dumb Mistakes (Learn From My Pain)

Oh god, the horror stories. I once spent hours editing a video, only to save it in some weird format my laptop couldn’t open. Another time, I got carried away with CapCut’s templates and slapped a glittery unicorn background on a candle video. Jess was like, “Dude, what?” My worst fail? Losing an entire edit when my phone crashed during a storm. I was sitting in the dark, cursing, while Muffin just stared. Save your work, people. And maybe don’t edit during a Brooklyn monsoon.

These apps are forgiving, though, if you’re patient. I’m still a mess, but I’m learning. You got this.

A messy, off-angle shot of a desk with a phone on CapCut, a cat's tail swishing, and a spilled coffee mug, scattered with debris, in an indigo-lime-amber palette, exuding a wryly humorous tone of impending chaos.
A messy, off-angle shot of a desk with a phone on CapCut, a cat’s tail swishing, and a spilled coffee mug, scattered with debris, in an indigo-lime-amber palette, exuding a wryly humorous tone of impending chaos.A messy, off-angle shot of a desk with a phone on CapCut, a cat’s tail swishing, and a spilled coffee mug, scattered with debris, in an indigo-lime-amber palette, exuding a wryly humorous tone of impending chaos.

Wrapping Up My Video Background Removal Saga

So, yeah, removing backgrounds from videos has been a wild, messy ride. I’m no pro—my apartment’s a disaster, Muffin’s a furry dictator, and I’m still figuring out this video editing thing. But Runway, CapCut, and VEED? They’ve got my back. If I can make Jess’s candles look halfway decent, you can too. Try these apps, mess up a few times, and laugh it off. Got a go-to app I didn’t mention? Hit me up in the comments—I’m curious! Now, I’m gonna go bribe Muffin with treats so I can edit in peace.

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