A reverse image search allows you to find the original source and context of an image. This can be incredibly useful for detecting copyright infringement, finding higher resolution versions of an image, discovering modified or edited images, searching for lookalike products and more.
In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know about reverse image searches, including:
Table of Contents
- What is a Reverse Image Search?
- Why Would You Use a Reverse Image Search?
- Find Original Source of Images
- Detect Copyright Infringement
- Find Higher Resolution Versions
- Search for Lookalike Products
- Detect Edited or Altered Images
- Best Reverse Image Search Engines
- Google Images
- TinEye
- Yandex
- Bing
- KarmaDecay
- RevEye
- PimEyes
- SameEnergy
- Dumpor
- How to Do a Reverse Image Search on Google
- On Desktop
- On Mobile App
- On Mobile Browser
- How to Do a Reverse Image Search on TinEye
- On Desktop
- On Mobile App
- On Mobile Browser
- How to Do a Reverse Image Search on Yandex
- On Desktop
- On Mobile App
- On Mobile Browser
- How to Do a Reverse Image Search on Bing
- On Desktop
- On Mobile App
- On Mobile Browser
- How to Do a Reverse Image Search on KarmaDecay
- On Desktop
- How to Do a Reverse Image Search on RevEye
- On Desktop
- How to Do a Reverse Image Search on PimEyes
- On Desktop
- How to Do a Reverse Image Search on SameEnergy
- On Desktop
- How to Do a Reverse Image Search on Dumpor
- On Desktop
- Reverse Image Search Engine Comparison Table
- Tips for Effective Reverse Image Searches
- Use Large Image Files
- Crop Irrelevant Backgrounds
- Try Multiple Search Engines
- Search Frequently Used Images
- Use Advanced Search Filters
- Limitations of Reverse Image Searches
- Reliance on Matching Visual Signatures
- Limited Image Databases
- Privacy Concerns with Facial Recognition
- Can’t Determine Motive or Intent
- Conclusion
What is a Reverse Image Search?
A reverse image search allows you to take an existing image file and search for matching or similar images online. Instead of entering keywords into a search engine like Google, you input an actual image file and the search engine scans its database for visually similar images.
It works by analyzing the visual elements, properties and digital fingerprint of the image to find matches. This allows you to discover where else that image appears online, locate modified versions of it, find higher quality versions of it, uncover copyright violations and more.
Why Would You Use a Reverse Image Search?
There are many reasons why conducting a reverse image lookup can be useful:
Find Original Source of Images
A reverse search makes finding the origins and context of an image possible. If you come across an interesting image online but have no idea where it came from, a reverse search engine can help you locate the original source.
Detect Copyright Infringement
Scanning an image through multiple reverse search engines allows you to quickly check if your original content is being used without permission elsewhere. This makes it easy to catch copyright violators.
Find Higher Resolution Versions
In many cases, reverse image searches can lead you to larger, higher quality versions of images. This is great for finding images suitable for printing or display.
Search for Lookalike Products
If you come across a product image you like, you can input it into a reverse image search to reveal visually similar products being sold by other retailers.
Detect Edited or Altered Images
Reverse searches are helpful for detecting if an image has been edited or altered from its original. This can reveal misinformation and fake images being spread online.
Best Reverse Image Search Engines
There are a variety of reverse image search engines available, each with their own strengths and capabilities. Here are the top options:
Google Images
As the world’s most popular search engine, Google Images has an extensive database of indexed images making it a great starting point for reverse lookups. It’s easy to use on both desktop and mobile.
TinEye
TinEye boasts over 33 billion images indexed in its searchable collection. It specializes in finding edited, resized or cropped versions of images.
Yandex
Yandex has an image database of over 15 billion indexed photos. It offers advanced options like searching by image region and finding visually similar but non-matching images.
Bing
Bing’s reverse image search draws upon its daily indexing of over 100 million images. It provides comprehensive matching from a variety of sources.
KarmaDecay
KarmaDecay is specifically designed to locate reposts and duplicates of images posted on Reddit and other sites. Their primary focus is detecting copyright infringement.
RevEye
RevEye reverse image searches over 800 million images from popular sites like Instagram, Twitter, Amazon, YouTube, Reddit and more.
PimEyes
PimEyes focuses specifically on facial recognition search capabilities using advanced AI and computer vision technology.
SameEnergy
SameEnergy is designed for shopping and fashion-related searches. It allows you to search for clothing by image to find the exact items or lookalikes being sold by various retailers.
Dumpor
Dumpor indexes over 19 billion images from websites and social media platforms. It has options to filter by content type, license, size and more.
| Search Engine | Database Size | Key Features |
|-|-|-|
| Google Images | Hundreds of billions indexed | Most comprehensive database, easy to use, mobile friendly |
| TinEye | 33+ billion indexed | Specialized in finding edited images |
| Yandex | 15+ billion indexed | Advanced search filters, visually similar images |
| Bing | 100+ million indexed daily | Draws comprehensively from many sources |
| KarmaDecay | Focused on Reddit reposts | Specialized in detecting copyright infringement |
| RevEye | 800+ million indexed | Pulls from Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Amazon, Reddit |
| PimEyes | Billions indexed | Facial recognition focus |
| SameEnergy | Millions indexed | Specialized for shopping and fashion searches |
| Dumpor | 19+ billion indexed | Filters like content type, license, size |
How to Do a Reverse Image Search on Google
Google’s reverse image search functionality is easy to use on both desktop and mobile. Here are the steps:
On Desktop
- Go to Google Images.
- Click the camera icon in the search bar.
- Select “Upload an image” and choose the image file from your computer to upload.
- Click “Search by image”.
- Review the results for matching and similar images.
On Mobile App
- Open the latest Google app on your iOS or Android phone.
- Tap the camera icon at the bottom.
- Choose “Search with a picture” and select an image from your phone’s gallery.
- Review the search results.
On Mobile Browser
- Go to Google Images in your phone’s browser.
- Tap the camera icon in the search bar.
- Select “Upload” and pick an image from your phone’s storage.
- Review the results.
How to Do a Reverse Image Search on TinEye
TinEye offers robust reverse image lookup in an easy-to-use interface. Here’s how to use it:
On Desktop
- Go to the TinEye website.
- Click “Upload an image” or drag and drop an image file onto the page.
- Click “Search image”.
- Browse through the match results.
On Mobile App
- Download the TinEye app on your iOS or Android device.
- Choose “Upload Photo” and select an image from your phone’s gallery.
- Review the reverse search results.
On Mobile Browser
- Navigate to TinEye in your mobile browser.
- Tap “Upload” and pick an image file from your phone’s storage.
- Click “Search image” and browse the matches.
How to Do a Reverse Image Search on Yandex
Yandex offers advanced reverse image capabilities on both desktop and mobile. Here’s how to use it:
On Desktop
- Go to Yandex Images.
- Click on the camera icon in the search bar.
- Choose your image file to upload from your computer files.
- Click “Find similar images”.
- Use the filters to narrow results by image region, size, license and more.
On Mobile App
- Download the Yandex app on your Android or iOS device.
- Go to Images and tap the camera icon.
- Select a photo to search and tap “Find similar images”.
- Use the options to filter and sort results.
On Mobile Browser
- Go to Yandex Images in your mobile browser.
- Tap the camera icon and upload a photo to search.
- Tap “Find similar images” and use the filters to refine results.
How to Do a Reverse Image Search on Bing
Bing also provides reverse image search capabilities through its desktop and mobile interfaces:
On Desktop
- Go to Bing Images.
- Click on the camera icon next to the search bar.
- Choose “Upload a photo” and select an image from your computer.
- Review the visual match results.
On Mobile App
- Open the Bing app on your iOS or Android device.
- Tap the camera icon at the bottom right.
- Choose a photo from your phone’s gallery to search.
- Browse the reverse search results.
On Mobile Browser
- Go to Bing Images in your phone’s browser.
- Tap the camera icon and upload a photo to search.
- Review the matching and similar images returned.
How to Do a Reverse Image Search on KarmaDecay
KarmaDecay specializes in searching Reddit for image matches. Here’s how to use their desktop site:
On Desktop
- Go to KarmaDecay.
- Click “Upload an image” and select a file from your computer.
- Click “Search KarmaDecay”.
- The results will display any matches of the image found on Reddit.
How to Do a Reverse Image Search on RevEye
RevEye draws results from numerous social media sites beyond just Reddit. Here’s how it works on desktop:
On Desktop
- Go to the RevEye site.
- Click “Choose file” in the main search bar.
- Select an image and click the search icon.
- Scroll through the results across Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Amazon and other sources.
How to Do a Reverse Image Search on PimEyes
PimEyes offers facial recognition-based reverse image search. Here are the desktop steps:
On Desktop
- Go to PimEyes.
- Click “Choose file” below the main search bar.
- Select an image containing a face and click the search icon.
- Filter through facial matches and sources.
How to Do a Reverse Image Search on SameEnergy
For shopping-focused searches, SameEnergy can help find product matches. Here’s how:
On Desktop
- Go to the SameEnergy homepage.
- Click “Search by image” and upload a product photo from your computer.
- Browse results to see the same or similar products being sold across the web.
How to Do a Reverse Image Search on Dumpor
Dumpor provides advanced filtering for reverse lookups. Follow these steps on desktop:
On Desktop
- Go to the Dumpor homepage.
- Click “Select file” and upload an image to search.
- Use the left sidebar to filter by content type, license, size, aspect ratio and more.
Tips for Effective Reverse Image Searches
Here are some tips to help you get the most out of reverse image lookups:
Use Large Image Files
Bigger, higher quality image files work best. Small, grainy, blurry images are harder to match accurately.
Crop Irrelevant Backgrounds
Cropping out any irrelevant backgrounds prior to uploading creates a cleaner visual signature for matching.
Try Multiple Search Engines
Using different reverse search engines can uncover different results, so try more than one.
Search Frequently Used Images
Focus your searches on images that are reused often like logos, memes, illustrations and product photos. Unique images have lower match rates.
Use Advanced Search Filters
Engines like Yandex and Dumpor offer advanced search filters to narrow down results and hone in on targets.
Limitations of Reverse Image Searches
While reverse lookups are extremely useful, they do have some inherent limitations to be aware of:
Reliance on Matching Visual Signatures
Results are dependent on images having near identical or very similar visual signatures in order to register as a match. Even small changes in scale, cropping, editing, watermarks etc. can prevent matches.
Limited Image Databases
No search engine has an index of every image on the internet, so matches may be missed simply because certain images are not in their databases.
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Privacy Concerns with Facial Recognition
Services like PimEyes demonstrate the privacy risks of facial recognition technology. It can surface personal images without consent.
Can’t Determine Motive or Intent
Reverse searches reveal where images appear online, but not why they are being used. Determining intent or context requires further investigation.
Conclusion
Reverse image searching is an invaluable tool for discovering the origins and tracing the usage of images online. With robust options like Google Images, TinEye, Yandex and more, you can uncover vital information with just a few clicks. Paying attention to image quality, using multiple search engines, leveraging advanced filters and understanding limitations will produce the most fruitful results. With so many beneficial applications, from research to copyright protection to online shopping, reverse lookups are worth adding to your online toolkit.
FAQs
What is the best reverse image search engine?
Google Images is generally the best option thanks to Google’s unmatched reach in indexing a huge portion of images on the internet. However, using multiple search engines can provide more comprehensive results, so also try TinEye, Yandex, Bing, KarmaDecay and others.
Is reverse image search legal?
Using reverse image searching is perfectly legal in most cases. However, what you do with the results you uncover may have legal implications. You should avoid reusing or distributing images without permission based on reverse lookup results.
Can reverse image search be wrong?
Yes, reverse searches rely on algorithms to match images visually, so inaccurate or irrelevant results are certainly possible. Factors like low image quality, modified images or limited database scope can result in wrong or missed matches. Always verify and investigate results manually.
Is there facial recognition reverse image search?
Yes, services like PimEyes provide facial recognition-based reverse image search capabilities specifically for locating other instances of faces appearing online. This does raise privacy concerns regarding consent and personal image use.
Can you reverse search images on iPhone?
Yes, Google, TinEye, Yandex and Bing all offer dedicated iOS apps or mobile browser interfaces for uploading images to reverse search directly from your iPhone photo gallery. Android also has access to these mobile search options.
Can I get in trouble for reverse image search?
You are unlikely to get in trouble strictly for using reverse search engines. However, reusing images without permission that you uncover through reverse lookups could put you at risk for copyright disputes. Respect licenses and ownership when utilizing any results you find.
