# Layerre vs Photoroom API

> Layerre scores 57.6 (C) to Photoroom's 53.5 (D) for design templates. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side.

- Canonical: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/layerre-vs-photoroom
- Markdown: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/layerre-vs-photoroom.md (~4,100 tokens)
- Site index for agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt (the key docs and every listing in one file, at most 16 MB, about 4 million tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms-full.txt)
- API: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json
- MCP: https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (the whole catalogue as tools, no key)
- DNS: dig +short TXT <slug>.grade.anchorterminal.com (the grade as a DNS TXT record, for a sandbox with no HTTP where names still resolve; also top., best.<category>. and <a>.vs.<b>. under the zone, and the same under grade.letme.dev)
- Licence: CC BY 4.0, credit Anchor Terminal and link this page (https://www.anchorterminal.com/terms/#data)
- Updated: 2026-11-07

Layerre scores 57.6 (C) on agent readiness against Photoroom API's 53.5 (D), and leads in 3 of 7 scored categories. Photoroom API leads on payments & pricing and transparency & trust. Both do design templates.

- Layerre: grade C, 57.6/100, rank #785 of 1486. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/layerre.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/layerre.json
- Photoroom API: grade D, 53.5/100, rank #940 of 1486. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/photoroom.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/photoroom.json
- Best programmatic image and design asset APIs for AI agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/design-assets/index.md
- All 153 assets comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/design-assets/index.md

## Which one, for what

### Layerre (C)

Good for: Bulk image and PDF variants from Canva designs a team already has.

Ahead on:
- Agent ergonomics, 69 against 64
- Maintenance & community, 78 against 13

Also in its favour:
- Runs on your own machine

Watch for: Imports Canva designs only; there is no template editor of its own

### Photoroom API (D)

Good for: Product-photo work at volume, such as cutouts, white backgrounds, shadows, generated scenes and clothing shots, one image a call.

Ahead on:
- Payments & pricing, 40 against 25
- Transparency & trust, 69 against 63

Watch for: No status page was found on the site or in the docs, so there is no public incident history to read


## Why the edge

### Maintenance & community: Layerre +65

- Layerre (78): @layerre/mcp-server 0.1.0 published to npm on 29 October 2026, 8 days before this check (30). MCP server commits from 19 to 24 October, the registry entry of 29 October, and What's New entries dated 21 August and 18 October in the sitemap (20). The repository is a week old with no issues to judge; support by email and in-app chat (5 of 25). com.layerre/layerre is in the official MCP registry under a domain-verified namespace (15). CI runs the vitest suite on push and pull requests to main on Node 22 (8 of 10). 30 + 20 + 5 + 15 + 8 = 78.
- Photoroom API (13): The last dated changelog entry is 21 April 2026 by the 9 October reading, 197 days before 4 November. The changelog sits on a paused host and was not re-read (0, cause time). No dated changelog entry in the 90 days from 6 August by that reading, and no other dated Photoroom source was found (0). A public changelog and a Discourse community where each of the 17 topics dated 30 September to 3 October 2026 had a reply, per the 9 October check. We did not open the topics to see who replied (11). No official SDK, and the official MCP registry search for photoroom returned no entry on 4 November (0). The sample code repository's last commit is a README change on 23 April 2026 and it has no CI, per a clone on 4 November (2).

### Payments & pricing: Photoroom API +15

- Layerre (25): No x402, MPP or L402 (0). Plan prices are public with render counts, and one import or one variant is one render, so the price a render follows from the plan (about $0.03 on Starter, $0.005 on Pro) without being published per unit (15 of 20). Free plan of 50 renders a month with API access; the pricing page doesn't say whether a card is needed (10 of 20, half as with an unstated card rule). A person signs up and creates the key, or approves OAuth in a browser (0). 0 + 15 + 10 + 0 = 25.
- Photoroom API (40): Per the 9 October check, not re-read on 4 November. No x402, MPP or L402 in the docs, the OpenAPI description or the pricing pages (0). Per-image prices are public, $0.02 for background removal and $0.10 for an Image Editing call (20). Sandbox mode gives 1,000 free watermarked calls a month and a new account 10 free production calls on the Remove Background API, with no card, per the pricing page (20). A person has to create an account and activate the API in the dashboard. The MCP server also needs a Photoroom sign-in (0).

### Transparency & trust: Photoroom API +6

- Layerre (63): The MCP server is MIT. The service is closed under terms of 13 August 2026 that name a sole proprietorship in Ontario (20 of 30). The privacy policy and DPA of the same date agree. Data is kept while the account is active and deleted from production on account deletion, with limited backups. Design files aren't used to train public AI models. Google Analytics runs on accepted cookies (24 of 30). No deprecation policy or notice period (0). Ten subprocessors listed with purpose and location in both documents, including Supabase, Stripe, Cloudflare, Google, Resend, Canva and Slack (20). 20 + 24 + 0 + 20 = 64.
- Photoroom API (69): Per the 9 October check, not re-read on 4 November. Closed hosted service under the Photoroom Terms and Conditions effective 29 July 2026, which name the application programming interface. Sample code is MIT (15). The security page gives retention figures (images discarded after the call, operational logs 15 days, API access logs one year). The statements on training disagree. The privacy policy of March 2026 says model improvement does not apply to API images, the security page says self-serve API plans train by default with an opt-out, and the terms authorise training on user content with an opt-out. A DPA is for Enterprise customers only (14). Preview and alpha functions carry a two-week notice, the 2024 base URL change gave a dated deadline, and the AI Backgrounds v2 model is marked deprecated with no removal date (12). The security page names GCP, AWS, Cloudflare, Datadog and Vercel and says hosting is in the United States. The full list is in the trust centre, which was not read (16).

### Agent ergonomics: Layerre +5

- Layerre (69): 13 MCP tools (15 for 11 to 30), with no toolsets or read-only subset (15). Template and variant lists take `skip` and `limit`, and templates filter by `tag` and `q` and can leave out layers (16 of 20). 422 validation bodies and a JSON 429 with `retry_after` (17 of 20). Every tool is annotated, read tools with readOnlyHint and idempotentHint, updates idempotent, no tool destructive, and the server has no delete tool. The REST API has no idempotency keys for variant creation (16 of 20). Few required fields, but no official SDK; a Postman collection and the MCP package only (5 of 15). 15 + 16 + 17 + 16 + 5 = 69.
- Photoroom API (64): Per the 9 October check, not re-read on 4 November. The response body is the image itself, so an agent saves a file and reads nothing into context. `outputSize`, `maxWidth`, `maxHeight`, `export.format` and the `size` presets set what comes back, and the MCP server has one tool, per Photoroom (18). Nothing to paginate. Output size, format and DPI controls (15). JSON errors with a message and a documented meaning for 400, 401, 403, 402, 429 and 500, but the two APIs use different shapes and `Unauthorized` covers both a missing key and an empty balance (13). No idempotency key. Calls keep no state, failed calls are not billed and `background.seed` repeats a generated background, but a retried success is billed again. The MCP tool's annotations were not read (10). Only the image is required and defaults are sensible. No official SDK, only sample code for four platforms (8).

## Score by category

| Category | Weight | Layerre | Photoroom API | Edge |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 42 | 42 | even |
| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Schema & documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 87 | 86 | Layerre +1 |
| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 69 | 64 | Layerre +5 |
| Security & auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 48 | 49 | Photoroom API +1 |
| Payments & pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 25 | 40 | Photoroom API +15 |
| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Maintenance & community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 78 | 13 | Layerre +65 |
| Transparency & trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 63 | 69 | Photoroom API +6 |
| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | 0 | |
| **Total** | | **57.6 · C** | **53.5 · D** | |

## Facts side by side

| Fact | Layerre | Photoroom API |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kind | HTTP API | HTTP API |
| Vendor | Layerre | Photoroom |
| Hosted endpoint | `https://api.layerre.com/v1` | `https://image-api.photoroom.com/v2` |
| Transports | HTTP, Streamable HTTP, stdio | HTTP, Streamable HTTP |
| Auth | OAuth or key | OAuth or key |
| Pricing | Freemium | Freemium |
| x402 | no | no |
| Licence | MIT for the MCP server. The Layerre API is a closed service under terms last updated 13 August 2026 | Proprietary service under the Photoroom Terms and Conditions. The sample code repository is MIT |
| Tools exposed | 13 | 1 |
| Read-only variant documented | no | no |
| llms.txt | yes | yes |
| MCP registry | `com.layerre/layerre` | not listed |
| Last release | 2026-10-29 | 2026-04-21 |
| Terms last updated | no date given | 2026-07-29 |
| Privacy policy last updated | no date given | 2026-03-01 |
| Customer content may train models | not found in the text | yes, with an opt-out |
| Terms restrict automated access | not found in the text | yes |
| Terms restrict benchmarking | not found in the text | not found in the text |
| Terms or service can change without notice | not found in the text | not found in the text |
| Arbitration or class-action waiver | not found in the text | yes |
| Popularity | 119 npm/wk | none |

## How the scores have moved

### Layerre

No score change since it was listed.

### Photoroom API

- -2.6 on 4 November 2026 (C to D): correction, time
- +0.1 on 27 October 2026: checklist

## Verdicts

**Layerre.** A public OpenAPI 3.1 contract, published rate limits with Retry-After, and 13 annotated MCP tools that can't delete anything make Layerre straightforward for an agent to call. It works only from Canva designs, is run by a sole proprietor with no status page or SLA, and its API and MCP server are at version 0.1.0.

**Photoroom API.** A call costs $0.02 for background removal or $0.10 for any combination of edits, and a sandbox key gives 1,000 free watermarked calls a month without a card. No status page or official SDK was found, and Photoroom's privacy policy and security page disagree on whether API images train its models.

## Before you call either

### Layerre

1. Call `layerre_auth_status` first to confirm the connection
2. Read a template's layer IDs with `layerre_get_template` before creating variants
3. Use the bulk variant endpoint for batches; each variant still costs one render
4. On 429 wait for the Retry-After seconds; limits are per IP address
5. Expect template import from a Canva link to take 10 to 30 seconds

### Photoroom API

1. Send the key in the `x-api-key` header. Prefix it with `sandbox_` while testing, because calls with the plain key consume paid images
2. Save the response body as a file. A 200 returns image bytes, PNG by default, and any other status returns JSON with `error.message` or `detail`
3. Send model selectors such as `pr-ai-shadows-model-version: 2026-04-15` as HTTP headers, not form fields. They are not in the OpenAPI file
4. Stay under 60 images a minute. On 429 back off with an exponential delay, and set a client timeout of at least 60 seconds for AI edits
5. Use `POST /v2/edit` with `imageFile` for local files and `GET /v2/edit` with `imageUrl` for hosted ones. Each call takes one image

## Questions

### Which is better for AI agents, Layerre or Photoroom API?

Layerre scores 57.6 (C) on agent readiness against Photoroom API's 53.5 (D), and leads in 3 of 7 scored categories. Photoroom API leads on payments & pricing and transparency & trust.

### Do Layerre and Photoroom API need an API key?

Both take an API key or an OAuth sign-in.

### Can an agent call Layerre and Photoroom API without installing anything?

Yes. Layerre has a hosted endpoint at https://api.layerre.com/v1 and Photoroom API at https://image-api.photoroom.com/v2.


## For agents

- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/layerre-vs-photoroom.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/layerre-vs-photoroom.min.md
- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {"a": "layerre", "b": "photoroom"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare layerre photoroom`
- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/layerre.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/photoroom.json

## Other comparisons with Layerre or Photoroom API

- [Adobe Photoshop API vs Layerre](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/adobe-photoshop-api-vs-layerre.md)
- [APITemplate.io vs Layerre](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/apitemplate-io-vs-layerre.md)
- [APITemplate.io vs Photoroom API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/apitemplate-io-vs-photoroom.md)
- [Bannerbear API + MCP vs Layerre](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/bannerbear-vs-layerre.md)
- [Bannerbear API + MCP vs Photoroom API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/bannerbear-vs-photoroom.md)
- [Canva REST APIs + MCP vs Layerre](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/canva-vs-layerre.md)
- [Canva REST APIs + MCP vs Photoroom API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/canva-vs-photoroom.md)
- [Contentdrips API and MCP vs Layerre](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/contentdrips-vs-layerre.md)
- [Contentdrips API and MCP vs Photoroom API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/contentdrips-vs-photoroom.md)
- [Creatomate vs Layerre](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/creatomate-vs-layerre.md)
- [Creatomate vs Photoroom API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/creatomate-vs-photoroom.md)
- [DynaPictures vs Layerre](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/dynapictures-vs-layerre.md)
- [DynaPictures vs Photoroom API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/dynapictures-vs-photoroom.md)
- [Layerre vs Pictify](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/layerre-vs-pictify.md)
- [Layerre vs Pixelixe](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/layerre-vs-pixelixe.md)
- [Layerre vs Placid API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/layerre-vs-placid.md)
- [Layerre vs PostNitro](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/layerre-vs-postnitro.md)
- [Layerre vs Robolly](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/layerre-vs-robolly.md)
- [Layerre vs Shotstack](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/layerre-vs-shotstack.md)
- [Layerre vs Templated API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/layerre-vs-templated.md)
- [Photoroom API vs Pictify](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/photoroom-vs-pictify.md)
- [Photoroom API vs Placid API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/photoroom-vs-placid.md)
- [Photoroom API vs PostNitro](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/photoroom-vs-postnitro.md)
- [Photoroom API vs Robolly](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/photoroom-vs-robolly.md)
- [Photoroom API vs Shotstack](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/photoroom-vs-shotstack.md)
- [Photoroom API vs Templated API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/photoroom-vs-templated.md)
- [Abyssale vs Layerre](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/abyssale-vs-layerre.md)
- [Layerre vs Osmo CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/layerre-vs-osmo-cli.md)
- [Abyssale vs Photoroom API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/abyssale-vs-photoroom.md)
- [Adobe Photoshop API vs Photoroom API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/adobe-photoshop-api-vs-photoroom.md)
- [Osmo CLI vs Photoroom API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/osmo-cli-vs-photoroom.md)
- [Photoroom API vs Pixelixe](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/photoroom-vs-pixelixe.md)

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Query this catalogue directly over MCP: https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (Streamable HTTP, no key). How: https://www.anchorterminal.com/agents/#mcp