- Green screen and background tools side by side
- Ten tools for green screen and background removal
- Key out a colour, or skip the backdrop: the two methods
- Getting a clean key when you film
- Editing, live production or a webcam: where the effect runs
- Setting up a green screen shot, step by step
- My advice: decide on the backdrop before the software
- Frequently asked questions
Green screen software either keys out a coloured backdrop you've filmed in front of, or uses AI to cut you out of the background with no backdrop at all. If you can film against a green or blue screen, use a tool with a chroma key; if you can't, choose AI background removal or a webcam app. Ten options follow in no particular order.
A green screen looks simple until you try it: a sheet behind you, a click in the software, and suddenly you're in a studio. In practice the result depends far more on which method the software uses than on the brand name on the box.
The ten tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order. Each description comes from the vendor's own pages, read as of Nov 2026, and they cover editors, live-production software and webcam apps.
Green screen and background tools side by side
| Tool | Type | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Canva | Online design and video editor | Removing a video background in the browser |
| DaVinci Resolve | Editing, colour, effects and audio suite | Pulling clean keys in a full post-production suite |
| Ecamm Live | Mac streaming and recording studio | Green screen backdrops in Mac live streams |
| Kapwing | Online AI video editor | AI background removal with no green screen |
| NVIDIA Broadcast | AI effects app for RTX graphics cards | Virtual backgrounds for calls and streams |
| OBS Studio | Free, open source streaming and recording | Keying a colour out of live or recorded video |
| Shotcut | Free, open source video editor | Chroma key in a free, cross-platform editor |
| VCam | Webcam background removal app | On-device webcam background removal and branding |
| vMix | Live production software for Windows | Chroma key and virtual sets in live shows |
| Wirecast | Live streaming software for Mac and Windows | Multi-camera live shows with chroma key built in |
Ten tools for green screen and background removal
Canva
Best for: Teams with Canva Pro who want to erase a video's background online and set a new scene, inside the editor they already use for designs.
DaVinci Resolve
Best for: Editors who want keying, colour correction, visual effects and audio post in one application on Mac, Windows or Linux, with a free download offered.
Ecamm Live
Best for: Mac-only streamers and recorders who want camera effects, including green screen backdrops, built into their live studio.
Kapwing
Best for: Footage you've already filmed without a backdrop, where AI isolates the subject in the browser and you swap in a new background.
NVIDIA Broadcast
Best for: Streamers and video callers with an NVIDIA RTX graphics card who want background removal, replacement or blur without a physical backdrop.
OBS Studio
Best for: Streamers on Windows, Mac or Linux who want free, open source recording and streaming software with a chroma key filter for each scene.
Shotcut
Best for: People editing recorded clips on Windows, Mac or Linux who want a free, open source editor whose feature list includes chroma key.
VCam
Best for: Meeting hosts and streamers who want webcam background removal and branding processed on their own device, with a free version that adds a watermark.
vMix
Best for: Windows-based live productions that want virtual sets and chroma key alongside other production elements, from software sold by licence.
Wirecast
Best for: Live shows on Mac or Windows that switch between several cameras, bring in remote guests and need chroma key as a listed feature.
Key out a colour, or skip the backdrop: the two methods
There are two methods on the vendor pages, and you choose by whether you can film in front of a coloured backdrop. The first is keying a colour. OBS's Chroma Key Filter page says the filter removes any instances of a given colour from the source. vMix lists chroma key among the things you can add to a production, Wirecast lists Chroma Key and Green Screen as a feature, and the Fusion page for DaVinci Resolve talks about pulling clean keys on a green screen shot. Shotcut's full feature list includes chroma key, and Ecamm Live's page says its camera effects add green screen backdrops.
The second method needs no backdrop at all. Kapwing's page says it isolates subjects with AI, with no green screen or manual editing required. VCam and NVIDIA Broadcast describe background removal and replacement for webcams, which suits calls and streams where hanging a sheet behind you isn't practical.
One name has gone from this category altogether. The ChromaCam address now shows a Service Discontinuation Notice from Personify. It's a useful reminder to check that a webcam background app is still supported before you build a regular show round it.
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Getting a clean key when you film
- Light the backdrop evenly. Shadows and hot spots on the screen are what leave patchy edges, so light the screen separately from the person in front of it.
- Leave some distance. Standing a step or two away from the backdrop cuts the coloured glow that spills onto hair and shoulders.
- Watch your clothes. Anything green, or shiny, can vanish with the background. Switch to blue if green is part of your brand colours.
- Smooth out creases. A pulled-tight cloth or a painted wall keys far better than a crumpled sheet.
- Lock the camera. A steady shot with fixed focus and exposure gives the software the same colour to remove in every frame.
If you need footage to drop in behind you, my guide to free green screen footage lists places to find it.
Editing, live production or a webcam: where the effect runs
The third choice is when the effect happens. Editors key the colour after you've filmed, so you can take your time, tweak the edges and redo a shot. Live-production and streaming tools key the colour while you're on air, which means the lighting has to be right before you press go. Webcam apps sit between your camera and your meeting or streaming software, and they're built for talking heads rather than full-body shots or complex scenes.
Work out which of those three you need before comparing features. A weekly live show and a polished course video want different tools, even if both use a green screen.
Setting up a green screen shot, step by step
- Choose the method: a backdrop and chroma key, or AI background removal with no backdrop.
- Hang or fix the backdrop so it's smooth and fills the whole frame behind you.
- Light the backdrop first, then light yourself, and stand a step or two forward.
- Record a short test and key it in your software before you film the full take.
- Adjust the key's tolerance and edge settings until hair and shoulders look clean.
- Add the new background, and match its light and colour to the way you're lit.
Do you make green screen or background removal software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My advice: decide on the backdrop before the software
Start with the room, not the tool. If you can put up a smooth, evenly lit green or blue backdrop, a chroma key tool gives you the most control, and the free, open source options on this list are a sensible place to begin. If you film in a busy home office or on the move, AI background removal saves you the setup, though fine detail like hair is where you'll notice the difference. For live shows, choose software that keys while you stream, and test it on a full rehearsal before the first broadcast.
If you're taking green screen into YouTube, my guide to YouTube green screen walks through it, and for heavier compositing there's my list of VFX software.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What is green screen software?
It's software that removes a coloured backdrop, usually green or blue, from video so you can place a new background behind the subject. The effect is called chroma keying.
Do I need a green screen to remove a video background?
No. Some tools use AI to separate you from your surroundings with no backdrop, and webcam apps do the same for calls and streams. A physical screen still gives you the most control over the edges.
Why does my green screen key look patchy?
Uneven lighting is the usual cause. Shadows, creases and green light spilling onto the subject all leave patches, so light the screen evenly and stand further away from it.
Can I use a blue screen instead of green?
Yes. Chroma key removes whichever colour you pick, so blue works well, especially if you're wearing green or green is in your logo.
Is green screen software free?
Several tools on this list describe themselves as free or open source on their own pages, and others offer a free version or a trial. Check each site for current terms before you commit.
What's the difference between chroma key and background removal?
Chroma key removes a single colour you've filmed against. AI background removal works out where the person ends and the room begins, so it doesn't need a coloured backdrop.
