EZ-CorridorKey

Overview

EZ-CorridorKey is a desktop interface for CorridorKey, an AI chroma keyer that separates foreground from background. It suits video editors who want local control over mattes, batch jobs and alpha-capable exports without paying for the app. Its trade-off is slower alpha generation on Mac, where importing premade mattes is recommended.

The app combines automatic alpha generation with paint-and-track tools, then lets editors refine and inspect the result before export. Processing stays on the user’s machine, with no accounts, telemetry or cloud processing; an update check contacts GitHub when the app launches.

Key features

Matte generation and keying

GVM and BiRefNet generate alpha automatically, while MatAnyone2 and VideoMaMa offer paint-and-track control. The CorridorKey refiner supports green and blue screens and detects which color is in use. That combination gives editors more than a one-click key: they can start with an automatic matte and refine it, or take a more controlled approach when the result needs work.

Preview and batch work

A dual viewer can show source footage alongside alpha or composite output, with an A/B wipe, pan and zoom, and channel switching. Live despill, refine and despeckle sliders make it possible to judge adjustments against the preview. For repeated clips, a queue processes jobs back to back with live progress, sound cues, recent projects and saved sessions; those conveniences make it better suited to ongoing editing work than a one-off browser utility.

Formats and hardware

Exports include EXR and PNG sequences, ProRes 4444 and VP9 with alpha, preserving bit depth. Inputs include MOV, MP4, PNG, JPG, JPEG, TIF, TIFF and EXR. The app offers a low-VRAM tiled mode below 12 GB and keeps VRAM use around 6 GB; its maker says an 8 GB NVIDIA card can handle most clips. That stated capacity is useful for users without top-tier GPUs, though it is not a promise that every clip or workflow will fit.

Pricing

EZ-CorridorKey costs nothing, with the full desktop app included and donations optional. It is free forever under the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license, and there is no free trial because the app itself is free. There are no paid tiers or stated seat or quota limits. The noncommercial license matters: users needing commercial use should check whether its terms suit their work before adopting it.

Platforms

The app runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, with Docker instructions for Linux servers or remote GPUs. Apple Silicon Macs from M1 onward are supported through a built-in MLX engine, but alpha generators run slower on Mac; importing premade mattes is the maker’s recommendation for that platform. Windows builds are code-signed by EZscape Ventures LLC and macOS builds are Apple-notarized. Help is directed through the GitHub README or install walkthrough, with an EZSCAPE Discord also available.

Who it's for

EZ-CorridorKey is a strong fit for editors who want local chroma keying, adjustable previews, queued processing and several alpha export formats in one free desktop app. Its support for green and blue screens, multiple matte-generation approaches and Linux server or remote-GPU workflows gives it room to suit different setups. It is less compelling for Mac users who need fast automatic mattes, and it is not the choice for users whose work requires a license that permits commercial use.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Full desktop app is free forever, with no account or cloud processing required.
• Pros: Multiple alpha-generation and paint-and-track options, plus live refinement controls, give users ways to work beyond a basic automatic key.
• Pros: EXR and PNG sequences, ProRes 4444 and VP9 with alpha preserve bit depth across a useful range of export needs.
• Pros: Low-VRAM tiled mode and support for remote GPUs give users alternatives to relying on a high-memory local card.
• Cons: Alpha generators run slower on Mac, so the recommended premade-matte workflow may add preparation work.
• Cons: The CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license may not suit commercial projects.
• Cons: Launching the app triggers an update check request to GitHub, despite footage and project files staying local.

Alternatives

For a browser-based option with clear per-day caps, choose BGRemove.video: its free plan allows 3 successful removals per 24-hour window, with videos up to 60 seconds and 2 GB, and exports transparent WebM with VP9 alpha without a watermark. Files are retained for 24 hours, so it is a different fit from EZ-CorridorKey’s local workflow.

Bria Video Background Removal is an alternative with free and trial plans.

For another free desktop option, Transparent Background is an open-source Python package with GUI and webcam support.

BackgroundRemover.video is an alternative paid service.

Cutout.Pro is a freemium alternative.

For a Linux command-line workflow rather than a desktop GUI, Video Background Remover CLI is free and requires Python 3.10 or newer; model downloads on first run, and long animated GIFs can become large.

FuzzPuppy Video Background Remover is a free web alternative.

VCam is a freemium alternative.

Browse the Video Background Removal Software category for more options.

Verdict

Choose EZ-CorridorKey if you want a free, local desktop keyer with detailed preview controls, batch processing and multiple alpha-capable exports. Its main advantages are control and flexibility without a subscription; its main reasons to look elsewhere are the noncommercial license and slower Mac alpha generation.