# PhotoLayers vs Background Eraser

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PhotoLayers at none against Background Eraser's 2. PhotoLayers also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5). Background Eraser's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (134K vs 20K). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Background Eraser sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per year. PhotoLayers asks for nothing beyond the download.

PhotoLayers holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Background Eraser has 134K ratings behind it against 20K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of PhotoLayers's written reviews are positive against 75% of Background Eraser's.

PhotoLayers ships an update every 3 months, Background Eraser every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 27, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | PhotoLayers | Background Eraser |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (20K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photolayers/id501882698/reviews)** | [4.5 (134K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/background-eraser-ai-remove/id815072622/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 20K | **134K** |
| Positive reviews | **80.4% of reviews** | 74.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Subscription |
| Size | 9 MB | 111 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [handyCloset Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/434388697) | [SUNWOONG JANG](https://appshunter.io/developer/515224445) |

## What reviewers say

### PhotoLayers

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photolayers/id501882698)

Easily create stunning photo collages and composite images by layering up to 11 photos. Remove unwanted backgrounds to make subjects transparent and adjust color tones for more attractive visuals.

**Highlights:** Photo layering, Background eraser, Create collages, Composite photos, Color control

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful editing tools
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 💡 Versatile layering options
- 🎨 Excellent for photo manipulation
- 🆓 Fully functional free version

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Quality loss when saving images
- 📢 Intrusive ads
- 🔒 Concerns about data privacy
- 📐 Lack of zoom/pan for precise positioning

**Reported bugs**

- Eraser tool issues after recent update
- Crashes and freezes on some devices
- Inability to access photo library in certain cases

**Requested features**

- Undo/redo functionality
- Horizontal/landscape mode support
- Increased layer limit
- Ability to save edited images in higher quality


### Background Eraser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/background-eraser-ai-remove/id815072622)

Effortlessly remove backgrounds from your photos with AI-powered tools. Maintain transparency, fine-tune edges, and add new backgrounds. Export in high resolution and various formats.

**Highlights:** AI background removal, Transparency maintenance, Fine pixel-level accuracy, Erase/Restore tool, Crop with presets, Adjust image effects, Add new backgrounds

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro - Annual | $12.99 | per year |
| Remove AD & remove watermark | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Helpful for editing photos
- 💡 Allows custom backgrounds
- 🚀 Efficient background removal
- 👍 Useful for digital scrapbooking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes when saving edited photos
- 🔒 Forced to follow social media for full access
- 🔒 Paid version doesn't remove all ads
- 🐛 Eraser tool can be inaccurate
- 🐛 Leaves pixelated edges after background removal

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to exit ad screen
- Losing progress when switching apps
- Inconsistent background removal quality
- Paid version not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Add more background options
- Improve accuracy of eraser tool
- Implement undo/redo functionality
- Allow importing custom backgrounds
- Add tutorial or guidance for new users


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PhotoLayers free?

PhotoLayers is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Background Eraser free?

Background Eraser is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, PhotoLayers or Background Eraser?

PhotoLayers is rated higher. PhotoLayers averages 4.8 out of 5 from 20K ratings, while Background Eraser averages 4.5 from 134K ratings.

### Do PhotoLayers or Background Eraser have ads?

Both PhotoLayers and Background Eraser show ads.

### Which is updated more often, PhotoLayers or Background Eraser?

PhotoLayers ships an update every 3 months, and Background Eraser every 4 days. Most recently, PhotoLayers was updated on October 27, 2026 and Background Eraser on October 27, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*