withoutBG Open Weights
Open weights · commercially permissiveLicense: Apache-2.0
BiRefNet Massive
Open weights · commercially permissiveLicense: MIT

withoutBG Open-Weight Model vs birefnet-massive

Quantitative comparison: 33 images scored against ground-truth mattes. Lower is better. Use the view controls on each row to switch between transparency, chroma key, and alpha matte on all outputs.

MetricwithoutBG Open-Weight Modelbirefnet-massive
MGE (Edge Quality)0.03457 ✓0.03965
MAE (Overall Accuracy)0.01317 ✓0.02234

Disclosure: withoutBG includes BiRefNet

withoutBG Open Weights and Pro Model API are routed pipelines. A classifier sends fine strands, soft detail and transparency to withoutBG's own matting model, and hard opaque objects, flat scenes and vehicles to BiRefNet (MIT license), which is part of the pipeline. On this page, 8 of 33 images went to BiRefNet, so on those images this page partly compares BiRefNet with BiRefNet. The table splits the scores by route: the first group is what withoutBG's own matting model handled.

ImagesMetricwithoutBG Open-Weight Modelbirefnet-massive
Routed to withoutBG matting (25)MAE0.00988 ✓0.01650
MGE (edges)0.03128 ✓0.03764
Routed to BiRefNet (8)MAE0.02343 ✓0.04059
MGE (edges)0.04487 ✓0.04592

Per-image averages, lower is better.

Original photo: autumn bouquet vase
Ground Truth alpha matte: autumn bouquet vase
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: autumn bouquet vase
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: autumn bouquet vase
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.07595
MAE
0.02381✓
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.05840✓
MAE
0.03213
Original photo: balcony flower planter bokeh
Ground Truth alpha matte: balcony flower planter bokeh
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: balcony flower planter bokeh
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: balcony flower planter bokeh
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.03402✓
MAE
0.02906✓
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.03695
MAE
0.22434
Original photo: balcony plant bokeh
Ground Truth alpha matte: balcony plant bokeh
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: balcony plant bokeh
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: balcony plant bokeh
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.04621
MAE
0.01031
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.03036✓
MAE
0.00569✓
Original photo: bearded man portrait
Ground Truth alpha matte: bearded man portrait
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: bearded man portrait
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: bearded man portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01697✓
MAE
0.00407✓
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.01950
MAE
0.00826
Original photo: bike handlebar near beach
Ground Truth alpha matte: bike handlebar near beach
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: bike handlebar near beach
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: bike handlebar near beach
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01899
MAE
0.00660
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.01413✓
MAE
0.00270✓
Original photo: blowing dandelion seeds
Ground Truth alpha matte: blowing dandelion seeds
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: blowing dandelion seeds
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: blowing dandelion seeds
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.04118✓
MAE
0.01690✓
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.05214
MAE
0.02378
Original photo: campfire flames night
Ground Truth alpha matte: campfire flames night
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: campfire flames night
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: campfire flames night
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01469✓
MAE
0.00695✓
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.02709
MAE
0.01414
Original photo: cargo ebike park tracks
Ground Truth alpha matte: cargo ebike park tracks
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: cargo ebike park tracks
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: cargo ebike park tracks
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.06638
MAE
0.01242✓
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.06317✓
MAE
0.01272
Original photo: compound leaf raindrops
Ground Truth alpha matte: compound leaf raindrops
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: compound leaf raindrops
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: compound leaf raindrops
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02498
MAE
0.00460
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.01567✓
MAE
0.00398✓
Original photo: confetti sunset portrait
Ground Truth alpha matte: confetti sunset portrait
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: confetti sunset portrait
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: confetti sunset portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.03139
MAE
0.00959
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.03000✓
MAE
0.00914✓
Original photo: dried flowers clay vase
Ground Truth alpha matte: dried flowers clay vase
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: dried flowers clay vase
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: dried flowers clay vase
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.03577✓
MAE
0.00660✓
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.03776
MAE
0.01013
Original photo: elderly man running blur
Ground Truth alpha matte: elderly man running blur
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: elderly man running blur
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: elderly man running blur
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01789✓
MAE
0.00452✓
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.01792
MAE
0.00976
Original photo: grass seed stem bokeh
Ground Truth alpha matte: grass seed stem bokeh
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: grass seed stem bokeh
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: grass seed stem bokeh
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.03015
MAE
0.01049
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.01997✓
MAE
0.00759✓
Original photo: hanging plant window
Ground Truth alpha matte: hanging plant window
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: hanging plant window
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: hanging plant window
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.05026✓
MAE
0.01100✓
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.05595
MAE
0.01593
Original photo: messy bun cityscape
Ground Truth alpha matte: messy bun cityscape
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: messy bun cityscape
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: messy bun cityscape
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01835✓
MAE
0.00586✓
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.04070
MAE
0.02035
Original photo: messy hair bearded portrait
Ground Truth alpha matte: messy hair bearded portrait
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: messy hair bearded portrait
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: messy hair bearded portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01551✓
MAE
0.00578✓
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.02327
MAE
0.01633
Original photo: orange berries branch
Ground Truth alpha matte: orange berries branch
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: orange berries branch
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: orange berries branch
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.05432✓
MAE
0.02385✓
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.06721
MAE
0.03654
Original photo: red flower balcony bokeh
Ground Truth alpha matte: red flower balcony bokeh
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: red flower balcony bokeh
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: red flower balcony bokeh
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02832
MAE
0.01777
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.01545✓
MAE
0.00387✓
Original photo: small fishing boat bw
Ground Truth alpha matte: small fishing boat bw
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: small fishing boat bw
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: small fishing boat bw
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02225✓
MAE
0.00549✓
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.02449
MAE
0.00583
Original photo: smiling man seaside sunset
Ground Truth alpha matte: smiling man seaside sunset
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: smiling man seaside sunset
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: smiling man seaside sunset
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01052
MAE
0.00205✓
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.00943✓
MAE
0.00447
Original photo: smiling woman seaside
Ground Truth alpha matte: smiling woman seaside
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: smiling woman seaside
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: smiling woman seaside
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02272✓
MAE
0.00521✓
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.05837
MAE
0.04824
Original photo: spoked bike wheel
Ground Truth alpha matte: spoked bike wheel
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: spoked bike wheel
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: spoked bike wheel
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.03536✓
MAE
0.00578✓
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.03597
MAE
0.00685
Original photo: sprinter motion blur
Ground Truth alpha matte: sprinter motion blur
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: sprinter motion blur
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: sprinter motion blur
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02418✓
MAE
0.02733✓
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.03465
MAE
0.03383
Original photo: street dancer studio pose
Ground Truth alpha matte: street dancer studio pose
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: street dancer studio pose
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: street dancer studio pose
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02203
MAE
0.00368✓
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.01852✓
MAE
0.00400
Original photo: street portrait man
Ground Truth alpha matte: street portrait man
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: street portrait man
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: street portrait man
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01403✓
MAE
0.00312✓
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.01949
MAE
0.00672
Original photo: sunset field portrait
Ground Truth alpha matte: sunset field portrait
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: sunset field portrait
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: sunset field portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02054✓
MAE
0.00590✓
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.04253
MAE
0.01640
Original photo: tabby cat portrait
Ground Truth alpha matte: tabby cat portrait
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: tabby cat portrait
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: tabby cat portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02730✓
MAE
0.00734✓
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.03509
MAE
0.01486
Original photo: terrier dog mugshot
Ground Truth alpha matte: terrier dog mugshot
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: terrier dog mugshot
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: terrier dog mugshot
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02940✓
MAE
0.01110✓
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.09978
MAE
0.04155
Original photo: two bikes field
Ground Truth alpha matte: two bikes field
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: two bikes field
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: two bikes field
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.07739
MAE
0.09324
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.06949✓
MAE
0.01981✓
Original photo: two gravel bikes park
Ground Truth alpha matte: two gravel bikes park
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: two gravel bikes park
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: two gravel bikes park
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.13603
MAE
0.02861
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.08811✓
MAE
0.01729✓
Original photo: windblown curly hair backpack
Ground Truth alpha matte: windblown curly hair backpack
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: windblown curly hair backpack
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: windblown curly hair backpack
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02353✓
MAE
0.00573✓
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.04840
MAE
0.01911
Original photo: windblown curly portrait
Ground Truth alpha matte: windblown curly portrait
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: windblown curly portrait
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: windblown curly portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.03757✓
MAE
0.01221✓
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.07133
MAE
0.02808
Original photo: woman street portrait glasses
Ground Truth alpha matte: woman street portrait glasses
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: woman street portrait glasses
Alpha matte
birefnet-massive alpha matte: woman street portrait glasses
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01677✓
MAE
0.00759✓
birefnet-massive
MGE
0.02711
MAE
0.01281

Methodology

  • Alpha mattes are grayscale masks encoding per-pixel foreground probability. They capture fine edge detail (hair, fur, semi-transparent regions) that binary masks discard.
  • Metrics are computed by comparing predicted mattes against a ground-truth reference: MGE measures edge sharpness and MAE measures pixel-level accuracy. Both are lower-is-better.
  • Scored images come from Bench v0, where every image has a ground-truth matte. The benchmark page has the full methodology and per-image scores for every model (CSV / JSON).