Visual search

Visual search lets you search with a picture instead of words. Point a phone camera at a plant, a landmark or a pair of shoes, or upload a screenshot, and tools like Google Lens and Bing Visual Search identify what is in it and show similar images, products and pages. Lens can also read and translate text in a photo, which helps with menus and signs.

Reverse image search answers a different question: where else does this exact picture appear? TinEye and Google Images can find copies of an image across the web, which helps photographers find unlicensed use of their work and helps anyone check whether a viral photo is older than the story attached to it. TinEye can also sort matches by date, which often points to the earliest copy.

Results depend heavily on the image. Clear, well-lit photos with one main subject work best, and cropping to the part you care about improves matches. Identifications of plants, mushrooms or medical issues can be wrong, so never rely on them for safety decisions. Uploaded images may be stored by the service, so avoid uploading photos of other people or private documents.

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4 AI search tools in visual search

Google Lens

by Google

Search with your camera or a photo to identify objects, plants and products, translate text and find similar images.

  • Free to use or free plan
  • Mobile app

Google Images

by Google

Google's image search, where you can search by words or upload a picture to find where else it appears.

  • Free to use or free plan

Bing Visual Search

by Microsoft

Microsoft's search by image: upload or snap a photo to find similar images, products and information about it.

  • Free to use or free plan

TinEye

by Idée

Reverse image search engine that finds where a picture appears online and which copy came first.

  • Free to use or free plan
  • Developer API

For checking news photos, combine methods. A reverse search shows earlier copies, while the photo's details, such as weather, signs, clothing and shadows, can confirm or contradict the place and date claimed for it. When a match leads to a news report, read the original report rather than a repost.

Most of these tools are free to use in a browser or a phone app.

Questions about visual search

How do I find where a photo came from?

Upload it to a reverse image search such as TinEye or Google Images. Look for the earliest copy and the site that published it first, then check the context there before sharing the image.

Is visual search accurate for plants or mushrooms?

It can help you start, but identifications can be wrong. Never decide whether something is safe to eat or touch based on an app. Ask a local expert or an official source.

Are my uploaded photos stored?

Services may keep uploaded images for a time. Read each privacy policy, and avoid uploading photos of other people, IDs or private documents to any visual search tool.

Can visual search identify people?

Some tools restrict searches for faces, and uploading photos of people raises privacy and consent issues. Use visual search for objects, places, products and text, and avoid uploading pictures of other people.

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