Google is a reliable engine for everyday searches; you can easily search faces, products, and texts and get great results for free. But sometimes, it just isn’t enough, especially when it comes to serious investigations.

You just got the first hit of the good stuff, and now you’re probably looking for something better, cheaper, and more reliable.

I’ve tested some reverse image search engines, and these are the best Google Lens alternatives based on key features:

Tool	Best For	Free?	Strengths	Weaknesses
ProFaceFinder	Most accurate face matches	No	Finds faces across dating apps & social media. Affordable, focused on people.	Paid. Smaller general database than Google.
CopySeeker	Google-style results with extras	Yes	Exact image matches, clean UI, app version (iOS).	Less known, fewer sources than Google.
Yandex	Free facial recognition	Yes	Great at finding similar faces, even edited ones.	Interface can feel outdated.
Bing Images	General info + people search	Yes	Good facial results, shows related info/events.	Less precise than ProFaceFinder/Yandex.
Pinterest	Famous people & aesthetic matches	Yes	Matches by style, low-res images, mobile-friendly.	Mobile-only for search, not built for faces.

1. ProFaceFinder – Best Results With Affordable Prices

I know you love Google since it’s very convenient, what if I tell you ProFaceFinder is like that, only better? Just like Google, ProFaceFinder provides similar and exact matches, with more results and accuracy. 

Though Google has a bigger database, ProFaceFinder has a better focus on faces, and provides better results without focusing on products, outfits, or accessories.

It only costs $6 for 2 searches, and $10 for 7, which is not expensive considering how thorough the results are. 

Most reverse image search engines hit a wall by pulling from public, surface-level sources, but ProFaceFinder digs deeper into platforms like popular dating sites, social media, and other relevant websites.

Here are the results from both engines:

• ProFaceFinder found 51 results.
• Google only found 1 result under “All” and 2 under “Exact matches”.

2. CopySeeker – The Closest Thing to Google

Besides CopySeeker’s cute interface and Google’s huge database and additional information it provides, I think they’re twins, just not like the ones that weirdly match their outfits and hairstyles until they’re 50.

CopySeeker, too, focuses mostly on finding exact people; however, the last one provides mostly exact matches (same photo, different sources), and its facial recognition works even better.

As for Google, since it’s been around forever, it has a massive database, helping users not only to get appropriate results, but also free information for everything and everyone.

3. Yandex Images – Best at Recognizing Faces For Free

Let’s face it: free reverse image search tools aren’t perfect. Sometimes they’re spot on, other times…not so much. But if we’re putting Google and Yandex head-to-head, this is how they differ:

Google is your go-to for products. Searching for that cute sweater or mystery gadget? Google’s got your back.

Yandex, on the other hand, is the detective you need when you’re trying to track down a face, especially if that face has even a hint of internet fame.

Yandex works a lot like Google, digging through social media, public sites, and other platforms. But when it comes to people searching, Yandex is often more accurate.

Now, here’s where it gets fun: Yandex doesn’t just find exact matches – it shows you similar images, too. It sorts pics by size, orientation, color, format, and even suggests images that work perfectly as wallpapers.

Example: Want a cool portrait of someone as your laptop background? Yandex will find it–already in the right size.

Fun fact: Yandex can help you dig up an entire meme empire featuring the same face. Yes, really.

What both engines have in common:

• Both tools can give you the name, bio, and random facts about the person in the photo.
• They both have free access to sources.

What makes them different:

Google is stubborn. It only wants to provide results of the exact person, and sometimes of the exact image or none at all, whereas Yandex, besides the person you’re searching for, provides 20 additional similar faces.

So, Yandex offers more variety, results, or just lets you fall down a rabbit hole of lookalikes and memes.

4. Bing Images – Good For Faces & Extra Info

Aside from being totally free (love that!), Bing is actually pretty solid when it comes to finding people and learning more about them.

Just upload a photo, and if the person has even a little fame, Bing will fill your screen with images. If it’s someone less known, you might need to do a bit of digging, but you’ll still get results.

Now, here’s the key difference from Google:

Google is a perfectionist. If it finds that exact person – especially the same photo you uploaded – it shows you everything it can. But if no, it basically gives up.

Bing, on the other hand, is more of a “take what you can get” kind of tool.

When you click a photo, you get to see its size, format, source, and similar photos. Let’s say you search for someone from Big Brother. 

Other than showing photos of the person you searched, Bing also shows you pics from different seasons, other reality shows, even drama headlines from years ago. 

It relies on related and similar photos and events as well as products only when it doesn’t have much on the person you’re searching for. It casts a wider net, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need.

5. Pinterest – Helpful When Searching Famous People

I wouldn’t go as far as saying Pinterest beats Google, but in some cases? It actually holds its own. Depending on what you’re looking for, Pinterest might be what you need.

Like most tools, it works best when you’re searching for well-known people, especially those with a distinct style or a strong fan base (because fans are usually the ones uploading and collecting the photos there).

Instead of uploading a picture, if you’re already on Pinterest, you can simply pick a photo of the person you want to search, zoom the picture, and get the results immediately. P.S. It only works on phones!

What Makes Pinterest Unique?

• Pinterest isn’t just about exact matches: it shows people with similar facial features or even just the same vibe. 
• It handles low-quality, altered, or edited photos with ease, and even includes videos in the results. 
• What really sets it apart is its eye for detail: accessories, hairstyles, outfits, and backgrounds often get matched even better than faces.

While testing it, Pinterest provided 100 results, with the majority being spot-on

What Works Best on Phones (iOS and Android)?

– ProFaceFinder – Works smoothly on both desktop and mobile, with no difference in performance. The interface adjusts perfectly to any screen, making it easy to navigate and use.

– Pinterest: Performs even better on mobile, whether it’s iOS or Android. You can position the image to highlight specific areas, which often leads to better results.

– CopySeeker: Works equally well on both desktop and mobile. Unlike most tools, it can also be installed as an app for easier access–though it’s currently available only on iOS.

– CamFind: A free mobile app available on both iOS and Android, but it’s more focused on products than faces.

– Photo Sherlock: A very handy app available on both iOS and Android. You can search by uploading an image from your gallery or snapping a new one on the spot.

– Visual Look Up: Apple’s built-in reverse image search feature for iOS. It’s easy to use, but doesn’t always work well, especially with faces–it’s better at recognizing animals, plants, and everyday objects.

1. Open a photo in your gallery.
2. Tap the Info (ℹ️) button at the bottom.
3. If there’s a star on the icon, Look Up is available for that photo.
4. Tap Look Up to see details about the object detected.

Laptop Users: If you’re using a Windows laptop, Bing Visual Search might already be built into your photo gallery. Just right-click on an image and select Search with Bing to get quick results without opening a browser. It’s a handy shortcut for instant reverse image searches.