‘Once on the Internet, always on the Internet’ You surely have gone through this phrase many times but its real meaning hits our mind when we discovered PimEyes, an AI-powered facial recognition tool that offers you a face search option to find online images of a specific face on the internet. 

This powerful yet controversial face-recognition tool has been making headlines, with many of its users recommending it, while others raising red flags. But what’s the reality behind PimEyes? Is It safe to use or a threat to user privacy? Let’s find out. 

In this PimEyes review, we will explore everything about this trending face recognition tool, alongside its features, pricing, use cases, alternatives, and safety. 

What is PimEyes? 

PimEyes is an AI-powered online facial recognition search engine tool that uses machine learning, and face recognition to help users find online images that have similar faces to the ones they upload. 

It’s USP Deep Search feature, which is a paid service that allows users to do a reverse image search, and a PimEyes’ Alert feature, which notifies users when new images with their faces are found. 

PimEyes’ face recognition capabilities are quite fast and precise. Users can test the service by uploading a face image to its search engine. The search engine will scan the internet in a matter of seconds and show the results. The free search is limited, so users need to pay a monthly fee if they want to access more information.

At the same time, you can use PimEyes for the following purposes: 

• Face search
• Finding the image source
• Deleting images from public results

However, some people may misuse the service for malicious purposes such as harassment.

How Does PimEyes Work?

PimEyes works most simply and easily. The process goes like this: when a user submits a photo to a search bar, it is first examined and quantified. Then, the search engine’s algorithms scan the database and look for the exact images or pictures that have similar features or elements. Finally, the images from the database and the submitted file are compared again and shown as results. 

For search images, PimEyes uses a set of advanced technologies, which mainly include - 

Image Fingerprinting 

The reverse image search comparison process relies on something known as an “image fingerprint”. The link with a real fingerprint is quite valid. It is distinctive information about what is in the photo (like a unique pattern of lines on your finger), expressed not in words, but in specific parameters that are comprehensible for algorithms. It is crucial to note that people cannot decode these parameters, only algorithms can. 

Machine Learning Algorithms

The description of image fingerprinting brings us to the next technological aspect: the relationship between reverse image search technology and machine learning. Machine learning is essential to the algorithms’ learning process. Using this technology, algorithms are taught to “see” objects in photos.

String and Image Search 

We can refer to these two types of search mechanisms as alternatives, but there are many situations in which they are rather supplementary services. String is the most prevalent search mechanism: it enables people to perform a search using words. We can refer to this one as a “text search”. The other option used in search engines is “image search”, which represents the reverse image search mechanism. 

Is it Safe to Search on PimEyes?

PimEyes allows users to find photos of them on the internet, along with the links to the websites where they are posted whether intentionally or unintentionally. This might sound like a useful tool to monitor your online presence, find attractive strangers, or check your dating app matches. But is it safe to search on PimEyes?

According to some privacy advocates and experts, the answer is no. PimEyes poses serious risks to the privacy and security of the people whose photos are searched and indexed by the website. It could be used for stalking, surveillance, harassment, blackmail, or identity theft. It could also expose people to unwanted or harmful content, such as explicit, fake, or manipulated images.

On the other hand, PimEyes claims it only searches for photos that are publicly available on the web, and that it has rules and safeguards to prevent misuse and abuse of its service. It also offers an opt-out option for people who want to remove their photos from the website. However, these measures are not enough to ensure the safety and protection of the users and the subjects of the photos. 

Therefore, it is not safe to search on PimEyes or to have your photos searched by others. You should be careful about what photos you share online, and how you use reverse image search tools. 

Features of PimEyes You Shouldn’t Overlook

As an AI-powered tool, PimEyes offers a variety of features and functionalities for reverse image search. Some of these features are free while upgrading to more advanced features will require you to pay for the subscription. 

Here are the key features of PimEyes: 

Face Search 

Face Search tool is the USP of PimEyes, which lets users find faces online by uploading reference images. The tool uses its facial recognition algorithms to scan the platform’s huge image index and find online images that match the facial features in your uploaded images. 

Free users can only use this tool three times a day. You can also adjust the image search by changing the search time and turning on Safe Search to filter out explicit content from the results. The tool will show you all the different occasions that your uploaded image has appeared on various websites, as well as images that are similar to your uploaded photo. 

PimEyes’ Alerts 

PimEyes’ Alerts is a paid service on the platform that alerts users whenever a new image gets uploaded on the internet. This service stores your uploaded images and uses them on daily searches to find new results that may have your face. 

It works like the Face Search tool, but it’s done automatically, and you get notified every time it discovers a new photo with your face. This feature helps you to manage your online presence and take action if these images are misused on other sites. 

We didn’t get a chance to test this feature, but we think PimEyes’ Alerts is a great feature by the platform for users who want to keep track of their online presence through preset Alerts. 

PROtect 

The PROtect feature is a premium service that helps individuals delete images that have their faces on the internet through legal action. Each premium user who has the PROtect plan gets a professional agent who will take care of legal steps (e.g., DMCA/GDPR Takedown Notices) for you to remove your image from the original websites. They will also keep you updated on whether the website has deleted your image and how effective their actions were.

Is PimEyes Free?

PimEyes Face search tool is a free service that you can use on their official website, with a limit of three searches per day. However, if you want to know the image source, you have to pay $14.99 for each search. 

PimEyes also has three main subscription plans:

Plan 1: Open Plus 

If you need more Face Search options, you can choose the Open Plus plan. It costs $29.99 per month or $300.70/year. It gives you up to 25 reverse image searches per day and shows you the sources of all the results. You can also create up to three PimEyes Alerts and get access to the platform’s dedicated support.

Plan 2: PROtect

The PROtect plan costs $39.99 per month or $383.90 per year. It has all the benefits of the Open Plus plan, plus 15 alerts from PimEyes. You also get professional assistance for reporting and removing images from websites and search results using DMCA/GDPR Takedown Notices.

Plan 3: Advanced

The Advanced plan is for famous people who want to keep an eye on their online presence. It costs $299.99 per month or $3,004.70/year. The plan gives you unlimited daily searches, shows you the sources of results, and lets you set up up to 500 PimEyes’ Alerts. 

The plan also has the Deep Search feature for more comprehensive and accurate reverse image searches in the platform’s index. You can also download your image search results as PDF or CSV files.

How to Use PimEyes?

To get started with PimEyes, follow the below-mentioned instructions: 

• Go to the PimEyes website on your desktop or smartphone. You can also download the PimEyes Apk for your Android device. 
• Click on the ‘Sign up’ button to register for a new account. 
• After signing up, search for your photos by uploading an Image or entering the URL. 
• Within a few seconds, PimEyes will display results if there’s a match found for the provided face or image. 

Pros and Cons of PimEyes

5 Best PimEyes Alternatives

The rising privacy concern over the platform has insisted users search for the best PimEyes alternative that is not only safe but also respects their privacy. So, after researching a lot to prepare an analysis report for this PimEyes review, we found 5 alternatives to PimEyes. So, let’s take a look at them. 

1). Google Lens 

Google Lens is one of the best reverse image search tools on the internet today. While it does not rely on face recognition, it can search for related images, texts, and products by simply snapping a picture of them. 

Every Android phone has a Google Lens app built-in, which you can access through Google Assistance and Google Search. The app employs Machine learning and sophisticated vision technologies to analyze the picture’s content, such as texts and objects. 

You can either take a photo with your camera or select an image from the gallery, and the main engine will identify the content and show you similar results. 

Key Features 

• Work without any installation or setup. 
• Find any object by taking a picture of it, such as eateries, famous faces, landmarks, etc. 
• Extract texts from any image and copy or translate them with a single click. 
• Solve maths problems step by step by just capturing a picture of them.

2). Yandex.Images 

Yandex, popular as Russian Google, also provides a reverse image search tool that lets you find lookalike images. The Yandex image search is completely free, and you can use it without signing up or setting up. 

While Yandex says it doesn’t use AI face recognition but Neural Networks, there were reports that the platform secretly uses a modified version of AI face recognition, which behaves similarly to the original technology in many situations. 

During our testing, we got 3 out of 5 precise searches, which is impressive. The only drawback is that the platform is mostly Russian, and most results come from Russian websites. 

Key Features 

• Accurately detect and find faces that match a reference photo. 
• Crop feature to zoom in on the face to improve the chances of finding the right one. 
• Uses Neural Networks and AI face recognition to find faces and objects that look alike. 
• Free; No limited searches

3). PicTriev

PicTriev is another free PimEye alternative that lets you have fun with image search. You can upload images and find similar faces on the web. The website does not promise to find your photos online, but you might be amused by the results. 

For instance, we used PicTriev’s to find our celebrity twin. It also examines your facial features and tells you how masculine or feminine the face is. PicTriev is not designed for professional use and will not give you detailed results like PimEyes. 

However, the website is free to use, with no limit on daily searches. Key Features You do not need to sign up or download anything; just upload the image or the image URL and get the results. The website also shows the person’s estimated age in the reference image. 

Key Features

• Find your doppelgangers on the internet and the percentage similarity to each one. 
• Supports 14 languages, such as German, Polish, Chinese, Italian, Russian, and more.
• Free; No limited searches

4). TinyEye

TinEye is a great choice if you want a reverse image tool for professional use. The platform specializes in Image Search and Recognition. It provides various services to millions of people and businesses.

The company has a collection of almost 62 billion images, and every time you do an image search, it makes a digital signature for the image you upload and then matches it with the images in its collection. 

The platform does not use AI face recognition; you may not get the best result for a face search. But to find pictures of famous people, things, and places, it is the perfect free tool to use.

Key Features

• Arrange the results by accuracy, date added, size, and more. 
• The TinEye browser extension is available. 
• Does not keep your images, making it one of the safest image search platforms. 
• Find your images online, even if they are edited and altered.

5). SauceNao

SauceNao allows you to find a similar image and its source. It was launched in 2008 and has been improving ever since. It has a huge collection of images from the web and can locate any image you upload. 

SauceNao matches the pixels of your image with the ones in its collection. If it finds a match, it will email you the link and you can contact the website owner if they are using your image without permission. You can choose from almost 40 databases to search for your image. 

Each database has a different theme, such as Shutterstock, Anime, Twitter, and more. Discover photos that look like yours on the internet and social media. 

Key Features

• Huge database for your image to get the most accurate results. 
• Compare product images to check if they are genuine or not. 
• Browser extensions for Firefox and Google Chrome are available. 
• Turn on safe search to avoid seeing adult content in your results.

Is PimEyes Face Recognition Tool Right for You?

Using face recognition services like PimEyes depends on your personal needs and preferences. While there are several privacy concerns over the platform, it also turns out to be helpful. 

Therefore, we recommend using PimEyes if - 

• You are worried about your face being misused for illegal purposes like fraud and identity theft.
• You want to remove your face from unauthorized sites by sending takedown notices on your behalf.

However, PimEyes may not be suitable for you if -

• You’re an ordinary internet user who doesn’t have any images with your face on them. 
• You’re not posting your pictures and activities online frequently. 
• You don’t feel the need to keep an eye on your online presence using AI face recognition tools.

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Is Investing in Facial Recognition App Development a Profitable Idea?

In recent years, facial recognition technology has expanded its presence in various domains, such as security, retail, healthcare, entertainment, and more. 

But is it a profitable idea to invest in facial recognition app development? Here are some benefits of facial recognition that you should consider before making a decision.

Benefits of facial recognition app development:

• Facial recognition can enhance security and convenience for users. For example, you can use facial recognition to unlock your smartphone, access your bank account, or verify your identity for online services.
• It can also improve customer experience and loyalty. For example, you can use facial recognition to personalize your marketing campaigns, offer discounts, or provide recommendations based on the customer's preferences and emotions.
• It can also create new opportunities and revenue streams for businesses. For example, you can use facial recognition to analyze customer behavior, measure customer satisfaction, or optimize store layout and inventory.

However, before making a final decision on whether to invest in facial recognition app development or not, we recommend you get expert advice from a professional mobile app development company. We, at Mtoag Technologies, offer free consultation to understand your unique app idea to deliver more than expected. 

Conclusion

There’s no second opinion in terming PimEyes as one of the most popular yet controversial facial recognition tools. We were pretty impressed with its features and advanced functionalities. 

Keeping aside the privacy issues, we would like to rate this tool 4.1/5 due to its advanced capabilities. However, the pricing should have been a little lower. 

Overall, we recommend this online reverse image search tool for users who are worried about their faces being misused for illegal purposes like fraud and identity theft. 

FAQs

Is PimEyes Safe? 

Yes, PimEyes is a safe online tool that uses face recognition technology to find images of a specific person on the Internet.

Can you Use PimEyes for Free? 

Yes, you can use PimEyes for free, but with some limitations. You are limited to just 3 searches per day.

Who is the Owner of PimEyes? 

PimEyes is owned by Giorgi Gobronidze.

What is the Best Alternative to PimEyes? 

There is no definitive answer to this question, as different tools may have different features and purposes. However, some possible alternatives to PimEyes are Google Images, TinEye, Bing Visual Search, and Yandex Images.

What is the Problem with PimEyes? 

One of the main problems with PimEyes is that it may violate the privacy of people whose images are searched and found without their consent. PimEyes also does not verify the identity or intention of its users, which may lead to abuse or harassment.

Why do People use PimEyes? 

People may use PimEyes for various reasons, such as self-monitoring, self-protection, self-image management, copyright infringement, identity theft, or curiosity.

How do I Remove Results from PimEyes?

To remove results from PimEyes, you need to subscribe to the PROtect plan, which allows you to permanently erase unwanted photos from external sites.