Comparison
PimEyes alternative: how FaceDetective compares to other face search tools
Face search, reverse image search and people lookup are often thrown into one pot, but they answer different questions and are priced very differently. Here is what each tool actually searches, so you can pick the right one before you pay for anything.
Face search tools side by side
| Tool | What it is | Finds a person by face | Finds copies of any image | Free preview | Pricing model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FaceDetective | Face search + reverse image search | Free preview | One-time payment, no subscription | ||
| PimEyes | Face search engine | Limited | Monthly subscription plans | ||
| FaceCheck.ID | Face search engine | Limited | Credit packs | ||
| Social Catfish | People lookup service | Paid only | Subscription | ||
| Google Lens | Visual search | Free preview | Free | ||
| TinEye | Reverse image search | Free preview | Free + API plans |
Other services are summarised from how they publicly describe their own product. Their features and prices can change at any time — check their site before buying.
A closer look at each option
FaceDetective
Face search + reverse image search
Detects the face in your photo locally in the browser, then searches public sources. Free scan with a preview of the matches; $9.99 unlocks a single report and $43.90 unlocks every report for life.
PimEyes
Face search engine
The best known face search engine. Results are shown as thumbnails, and the source links are part of the paid plans it sells as recurring subscriptions.
FaceCheck.ID
Face search engine
Focuses on matching a face against social, news and public-record style sources. Access to full results is bought as credits rather than a flat report price.
Social Catfish
People lookup service
Built around dating-scam and catfish checks, combining image lookups with name, email and phone searches in one paid people-search product.
Google Lens
Visual search
Great for objects, products, plants and finding where a picture was published — but it deliberately does not offer face recognition to identify a person.
TinEye
Reverse image search
Finds copies and edits of the exact image file you upload. It matches pictures, not people, so a different photo of the same face will not show up.
Where FaceDetective is different
One price instead of a subscription
Most face search tools sell recurring plans, so a single check keeps billing you every month. FaceDetective charges once: $9.99 for the report you are looking at, or $43.90 once for unlimited scans and every report unlocked for life. There is nothing to cancel.
Two clearly separated searches
A face search and a reverse image search answer different questions. FaceDetective keeps them apart: the face scan detects a face first and looks for that person, while the image search takes any picture — a screenshot, product shot or artwork — and looks for copies of it. You always know which one you are running.
You see the scan, not just a spinner
The face is detected in your own browser, so you can watch the landmarks being read before anything is searched. During the scan you confirm or reject the first candidates, and rejected pictures never appear in your report.
Grouped, ranked results
Matches are grouped into social profiles, image copies and web mentions, each with a similarity score and the platform it came from, instead of one long wall of thumbnails.
Your report stays yours
Reports and uploaded photos are tied to your account and stored privately. Nobody else can open your report, and we never contact or notify the person in the photo.
Which one should you use?
- You want to know where a person appears online → run a face scan.
- You have one picture and want to know where it was published → run a reverse image search.
- You only need to check an object, product or artwork → a free visual search is enough.
- You are checking a dating match before meeting them → a face scan plus the dating and social results.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best PimEyes alternative?
- It depends on what you need. For finding a person by their face without a subscription, FaceDetective is the closest alternative: a free scan with a preview and a one-time payment to unlock the report. For finding copies of one specific image file, TinEye or Google Lens are enough and free.
- Is there a free face search?
- Yes. FaceDetective lets you run the scan for free and shows a preview of the matches, including the platforms they came from. Unlocking every result is a one-time payment.
- How is a face search different from a reverse image search?
- A reverse image search looks for the same picture. A face search looks for the same person, so it can find other photos where the face appears even if the image file is completely different.
- Can I check which photos of me are public?
- Yes, and it is one of the most common reasons people run a scan. Searching your own face shows which public pictures and profiles are linked to you, so you can ask for removals where you need to.
- Does the person get notified?
- No. Only public sources are searched, and nobody is contacted or notified about a scan.
Try it before you pay
The scan and a preview of your matches are free — you only pay once you want the full report.