SauceNAO is a reverse image search engine you can use to find the real source of an image online. Once you upload an image to SauceNAO, it conducts a deep search, looking for any metadata related to the image.
Besides direct uploads, you can also copy and paste an image link to begin the search. You can also choose to set the image results to Safe Search or Auto, depending on your needs.
However, SauceNAO has a very bland interface, and that can discourage most people from using it.
Additionally, since it’s free, SauceNAO has to find other means of making money. There’s the use of ads and constant notifications asking for donations. This can interfere with the overall user experience.
For these reasons, we sought to find the best SauceNAO alternatives you can turn to. If you want to track the origin of an image you saw online, then read this to the end.
Best SauceNAO Alternatives You Can Use
1. Google Images
Google Images is one of the most dependable sites for reverse image searches on this list. It has a user-friendly interface and robust algorithms that give you accurate results.
You begin by uploading the image you want to look up. Alternatively, you can paste the image URL link and let Google Images search the internet for similar images.
But what sets Google Images apart from SauceNAO is the database size and the precision of its results. Whether you want to find the artist of a painting or identify a rare flower, Google Images has it.
Additionally, you can use Google Images on any device that supports commonly used browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Edge, etc.
Explore the best alternatives to Google Images here.
2. TinEye
TinEye, often praised as one of the best reverse image search engines online, is a solid SauceNAO alternative. It stands out from the competitors thanks to its exceptional features, amazing user interface, and flawless operation.
The image search engine works by scouring the internet for images that match your query using state-of-the-art algorithms.
It’s a particularly effective tool for locating or detecting visually comparable photographs. This is because it uses the image itself as the search input, in contrast to other alternatives.
But the biggest asset that gives TinEye a boost is the extensive image database. There are billions of images to work with, increasing the accuracy rates.
Explore more tools like TinEye in this post.
3. PimEyes
PimEyes has a very simple setup. It takes an image as input and searches the broad reaches of the internet for any matches or similar photos.
The search engine provides the user with all the important information needed to correctly identify the image. The info includes the image’s original source, connected websites, and even locations where it has been shared.
The high accuracy is made possible thanks to the enormous database that is updated frequently. But the feature that makes PimEyes better than SauceNAO is the facial recognition capabilities. That’s what makes it perfect for reverse-searching facial images of people.
Therefore, if you’re trying to verify an image of an old friend, you stand a better chance with PimEyes.
Find out the best alternatives to PimEyes here.
4. Yandex Images
While it’s predominantly used in Russia, Yandex Images is another good platform for reverse-searching images. It rivals SauceNAO when it comes to accuracy, ease of use, and overall features.
It searches the internet for similar or identical images when you upload one or enter a URL. That makes it easier to locate the original or obtain additional information about an image for free.
Additionally, Yandex is a very useful tool for fact-checking or figuring out unfamiliar topics. Any query that involves visual searches can be solved using Yandex.
Like most of the big search engines, Yandex has a huge database of billions of images. I was surprised to find images that I considered too obscure for search engines there.
Check out similar tools to Yandex Images here.
5. trace.moe
trace.moe has an interface that’s closer to SauceNAO than the other alternatives listed here. But that’s where the similarities end because it offers a better search engine with a wider search range.
Within the realm of reverse image search, trace.moe is a unique and innovative tool with a simple operation. You can either paste the image URL or upload an image for the search to begin. The platform quickly analyzes it and compares it to a huge library of photos.
Once done, it provides you with the image title, dimensions, and metadata like timestamps in a matter of seconds.
trace.moe’s accuracy is one of the best, and it’s rare to get an error. You can even look up videos and GIFs.
6. Bing Images
Bing Images is a useful tool for various tasks, with identifying images with reverse search being one. It lets you upload an image and find comparable ones as accurately as possible, free of charge.
Like SauceNAO, using Bing Images isn’t complicated. You simply click on the camera icon on the Bing Images page to upload an image from your device. Alternatively, you can paste the image URL for a much quicker search.
After that, Bing Images searches through its enormous database for photos that match or have a similar aesthetic. It then gives you the source and size of the photograph in a matter of seconds.
Another area where Bing Images excels is the features it offers users to make their search easier. You can filter searches by license type, for example, so you only get appropriate results.
Also Read: How To Reverse Image Search On Instagram?
7. Getty Images
Getty Images is not only a source of amazing images but it is also a reverse image search engine.
Getty Images has a simple and effective method for searching reverse images. It produces amazing results by combining complex search algorithms with a large image library. Users only need to upload an image or enter a URL.
Within a matter of seconds, Getty’s reliable algorithms search its enormous database for the most accurate matches. The reliable accuracy is why professionals, journalists, and creatives all love the site. The results are obtained faster and with better quality than when using SauceNAO.
Getty also has an amazing user interface with clear fonts, making it easy for even newbies to use. You can use Getty Images on Android and iOS.
Explore: Best Social Catfish Alternatives
8. IQDB
IQDB may not have a cleaner and well-organized site design like SauceNAO. But it delivers when it comes to reverse image searches. It may be less known, but it’s slowly gaining a reputation for being reliable.
The reverse image search function on IQDB is remarkably effective, even though it is remarkably basic. The website allows users to upload photographs or offer a direct URL. It then searches its large database in a matter of seconds to identify matches or similar images.
The feature comes in handy for things like finding the original source of an image. It’s also effective at finding high-resolution copies. The speed and accuracy are also astounding. If it improved its overall interface, it could rank among the best.
9. Qwant Images
Qwant Images is exceptionally designed with a dark background that’s easy on the eyes, similar to SauceNAO. The main difference being that it has more icons and refined search functionalities.
Qwant Images matches your uploaded photo with visually comparable results instantaneously. It achieves this by scanning the enormous expanse of the internet using state-of-the-art technology.
So you can find the original source of most images, confirm its legitimacy, or just find more similar pictures.
But what impressed me the most about Qwant Images is the privacy it accords users. Any image queries you make remain confidential. The privacy gives you the freedom to look up any image you want, even explicit ones.
Also Read: Best Websites Like Qwant
10. Image Identify
As far as simple layouts go, Image Identify takes the cake. At the same time, it’s great at conducting reverse image searches, even better than SauceNAO.
The site searches the internet for corresponding or related photos after users upload an image or submit its URL. It provides comprehensive details about the content, sources, and other vital metadata.
Image Identity is quite effective in recognizing objects, faces, and artwork, making it useful for a variety of tasks. The platform is also very fast and accurate. It even comes with search filter options to narrow things down for users.
11. EXIF Data Viewer
EXIF Data Viewer is a more professionally included online resource for photographers. It provides all the digital metadata info on every photograph. The details include the type of image, date it was taken, size, camera make, and sometimes even the location.
It can also be used as a substitute for SauceNAO if you want to reverse-search some types of images. The website itself isn’t as colorful as some other alternatives, but it gets the job done all the same.
When you open the EXIF Data Viewer website, you can either upload the image or paste the image URL. The image formats you can reverse-search include JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, RAW, and XMP, just to mention a few.
12. Berify
Berify is another fantastic image search engine you can turn to. It features a well-designed interface with a combination of colors and fonts that are easy to see and read. One area where Berify beats SauceNAO is the reverse video search which is highly useful.
Berify’s simple yet incredibly powerful reverse image search algorithm is what makes it so magical. Using a single click, users may upload an image or enter a URL. The system then quickly searches the internet for any instances of that image.
Usually quick and thorough, the results show you related photos along with their online locations.
With this, you can find the original source of an image and investigate possible copyright violations. You can even track down the social media profiles of people using images falsely.
13. Yebol
Yebol has a very clean website that’s easy to use and comes with multiple search options that go beyond images.
So how does Yebol work? You can either upload an image or paste the URL then hit Enter to begin your search. But the ease of use isn’t the only thing that makes Yebol such a reliable SauceNAO alternative.
First, it provides a large image database to guarantee thorough results. There are billions of images to search from, and it all takes a very short time.
Second, the platform is continuously improved by AI-driven algorithms. So, the more you use Yebol, the more refined the search results become.
14. Picsbuffet
Picsbuffet has an interesting design that’s wildly different from SauceNAO. It embodies the true meaning of image search because the whole website is designed with images. But I don’t know why the designer chose to use images of geese.
Outside of the interesting design, Picsbuffet does a very good job of identifying images. Unlike the other options, you can either upload an image or use keywords to find images. At the same time, it provides you with a 2D design for viewing images, the only one on our list.
It also comes with links for leaving user feedback, finding customer support, and checking your search history.
15. Google Lens
Not to be confused with Google Images, Google Lens is a much more refined tool for finding the real source of an image.
Instead of uploading an image or pasting the URL, Google Lens has a built-in scanner. You tap on the corners of the scanner and drag it over an image on your screen, then hit search.
Within seconds, the tool gives you a list of images that look similar to the original image. So you can quickly determine all information about any visual file online.
Google Lens also comes with the ability to extract text from images. That includes metadata that you can use to know more about an image, something SauceNAO doesn’t offer. Google Lens can be used on Android and iOS.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are countless reverse image search engines and apps out there. SauceNAO is still amazing at what it does, but these 15 alternatives are just as capable and, in some cases, even better.
Google Images and Bing Images are the most advanced because they have the largest image databases. But if you want something you can use on the move, Google Lens may be the right fit.
So start reverse-searching images and find all the hidden information about them.
Tom Clayton
Tom loves to write on technology, e-commerce & internet marketing. I started my first e-commerce company in college, designing and selling t-shirts for my campus bar crawl using print-on-demand. Having successfully established multiple 6 & 7-figure e-commerce businesses (in women’s fashion and hiking gear), I think I can share a tip or 2 to help you succeed.
