It is safe to assume that TinEye is one of the first to create a web-based reverse image search. However, as time goes by, various TinEye alternatives rise, carrying a different strength that cannot be overlooked. What are those? Find out in the list below.
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What is TinEye?
TinEye is a Canada-based free reverse image search engine launched in 2008.
Claiming the first web-based image search facility, TinEye enables you to find where a certain image is located on the internet only by uploading the initial image. According to TinEye’s website, it is the first image search engine that uses recognition technology instead of the commonly used one; watermark or metadata.
The way TinEye works is actually simple. It scans the image for a distinctive mark which they called a ‘fingerprint’, and crawls the internet to find a similar mark. That way, they can image accurately, even though it is already modified.
The tool proves itself to be beyond useful, especially for copyright owners. With TinEye, people can easily track a certain image’s whereabouts and take action accordingly.
Aside from the image search service, TinEye also creates several innovations. Those are MultiEngine which enables you to install an image search service on your app, MultipleColorEngine that helps to find the exact color and color percentage of an image, and TinEye Alerts, which gives you reports on where your image shows up.
TinEye is available through the website and as a browser extension. To improve your experience, there is also a paid version if you need a more extensive search and API integration.
9 Best TinEye Alternatives that Actually Work
While TinEye is a pretty useful service, it also has its drawbacks. Other features are not available on TinEye, and the feature might be what you really need. Therefore, the list below will show you some reverse image search that actually works.
1. Google Image Search
Google’s reverse image search is by far one of the internet’s most reliable image search services. You have to go to Google’s website, look for a camera button beside the search bar, and you are good to go.
Google Image Search connects with Google’s core service, which is a search engine. Therefore, apart from knowing the website that contains your image, you will get related information and context on what it is about.
Additionally, Google can also help you to extract text from your image. You can pick the words apart, translate each word, or translate it as a whole. Moreover, by clicking the ‘Listen’ button, you will also be able to hear how the words are pronounced.
However, in terms of accuracy, Google Image Search is somewhat lacking, especially in altered images. In some cases, it might slow you down instead of helping.
Google Image Search is available through the website and is accessible on computers, Android, and iOS. The newer Android phones even have Google Lens built into the camera, so you can do reverse image searches from the phone directly.
2. Image Raider (Infringement.Report)
As a reverse image search service, Image Raider or Infringement. Report takes a very different approach than the other platforms. Instead of giving solutions to individuals, they provide them for certain professions, most importantly brand owners, law firms, photographers, and developers.
Image Raider focuses on helping you to find infringement by showing you the location of your selected image. Even more, it is also integrated into CRM tools to help you keep track of the violation in case you want to pursue the lawbreaker.
Moreover, Image Raider is also integrated into Dropbox, Google Drive, and other cloud-based storage to extract photos easily. You can also connect it to Zapier, which will greatly help with automation.
Image Raider has a simple and user-friendly UI. Instead of taking you to multiple pages to find an image, Image Raider processes the landing page to become a search result page, so you can easily scroll to find what you are looking for.
3. Bing Visual Search
Standing head-to-head with both TinEye and Google Image Search is Bing Visual Search. Bing enables you to do drag-and-drop or manually upload the image you want to search. Additionally, it also enables you to search images by taking photos directly from your webcam or camera.
Like other image search engines, Bing will provide information about the image. That includes websites that use images and related searches or options to see similar images.
What makes Bing unique, though, is the Visual Search button available below the image you search for. With that, you can crop a certain object or element in the image, and the system will specifically search for it.
Not stopping there, Bing Visual Search is also doing a good job regarding face-searching. It is unclear whether they really have the technology, but if what you seek is an image search with facial recognition, Bing is your best bet.
4. Labnol Digital Inspiration
Some people might feel like they have struck a diamond with Labnol, while others may think it is a waste of space. It is because Labnol is hardly an image search application, nor is it a standalone reverse image search engine that owns an independent system.
What Labnol offers is a web-based image-searching service that integrates its searching process with Google Image Search. Its feature is pretty basic, yet it covers the essential job of image search.
Upon uploading your image, Labnol will process and upload it to its server. Then, you will have the “Show Matching Images” button, which redirects you to the Google Images page, in which you can find a comprehensive result.
For those whose phones have pre-installed Google Lens, Labnol’s effort might feel unnecessary. But if your phone is one of the older models, or you prefer to save space and not install any image-searching app, then Labnol can become pretty handy.
Moreover, with Labnol, you can directly upload the photo from iCloud, GDrive, or Dropbox and share it via Whatsapp, Twitter, or Facebook. So, it is really a matter of practicality.
5. Yandex
Yandex may not be as popular as the other TinEye alternatives mentioned above. But, it is actually the second-most-popular in its home country, Russia.
Before you dig deep into the website, just remember that Yandex openly states that it uses your data for its development. So, you may want to take action accordingly.
Regarding image search, Yandex has quite a high accuracy, especially regarding face and place identification. The result also comes instantly after you drag-and-drop or manually upload your image.
With Yandex, you can find the exact image in various sizes, as well as the site that contains the image and its related searches. Moreover, there is also a crop feature where you can crop certain objects or elements in the image and run a separate search.
What makes Yandex different is its great UI. All the results are displayed in one scrollable window, and you do not have to click anywhere to get all the information. However, the only drawback is that some of the search results are in Russian, which can be challenging for non-Russian speakers.
6. Getty Images
Getty Images is a website known for its ability to provide photography catalogs and a chance to purchase picture licenses for use. However, not many people know that Getty Images also has a reverse image search feature.
To try the feature, you must click the camera button on the right of the search bar. You can also do a reverse image search with keywords to improve the result. Either way, the result will show up instantly, and you can purchase the image directly.
However, the benefit of using Getty Image for image searching lies in its extensive filters and adjustments. For starters, you can specify the image result by adjusting the file type, whether a photo, illustration, or vector.
Moreover, you can also adjust the photo orientation (portrait or landscape), people within the image (number of people, range of age, photo composition, and even ethnicity), dominant color, image style (abstract, realism, etc.), and even choosing a certain photographer.
Getty Images reverse image search is ideal for those who intensely use the service or just need to search for legal, licensed pictures. It will surely cut off the process of image-searching.
7. PimEyes
PimEyes has been gathering praise – and warning – all over the internet due to its highly-and-hauntingly-accurate image search. It is a reverse image search with AI that takes pride in its facial recognition feature and is not something to be overlooked.
PimEyes is quite different from the other image search services. For starters, it focuses only on face searches. And, instead of showing you the same photo and where it’s located, it will detect your face and find your other photos.
There is no limit to the timeframe, either. It means, PrimEye can find your photos from years ago, as long as it is on the internet. Moreover, the result comes in a matter of seconds, and most of the time, it is right.
With a free account, all you have is three free searches, along with the ability to track the site location of your photo.
However, with the paid plans, you will get more extensive features, such as unlimited search, deep search, photo alert, and even the chance to ask the sites to take the photos down.
The bottom line is, PimEyes’ features might sound a bit eerie. But it is truly beneficial, especially for individuals needing to track their photos or art creators who want to find who steals their artwork.
8. Noobox
It is safe to say that Noobox offers a service that not many search engines provide. Noobox is a great substitute for TinEye if you seek not only the ability to do an image search but also compile them.
In Noobox, you can search for a certain image and get a result from seven different reverse image search engines. Some of them are TinEye itself, Google Image, Baidu, Bing, Yandex, and SauceNAO.
Moreover, you can also search from screenshots, extract images, and H5 video control.
Due to the features, Noobox can be the best way to go if you do image-searching regularly. The fact that Noobox is available as a Chrome extension makes the app accessible and easy to work with. The only downside is the fact that it is only available for Chrome.
9. CamFind
If you are looking for a tool to do a reverse image search using iPhone and Android devices, CamFind comes with a solution. Basically, the way CamFind works shows a lot of resemblance to Google Lens instead of TinEye. But it is still a powerful tool for image searching. How so?
First, CamFind uses the point-and-shoot method to capture the image instead of uploading it from the device. This makes CamFind ideal for quick searches and for those who want instant results.
Aside from the related image results, CamFind also enables you to find the store that sells the item you are searching for and give directions to the store. If your image is a movie poster, CamFind will tell you the name of the movie and the nearest cinema to your location.
CamFind is also considered favorable, especially among visually-impaired individuals. That is because the app instantly voices out whatever you search when the result comes up.
Since CamFind’s core feature is the camera, it is also equipped with basic camera adjustments such as auto-focus and auto-flash. If interested, you can get CamFind for free on your respective phone’s app store.
As you can see on the list above, there are a lot of TinEye alternatives, and each has its own strength and drawbacks. Even so, all have a distinctive feature that makes each unique and beneficial. So, it all goes back to your preference.
