PixGuard vs TinEye
Compare copyright risk scanning with reverse image search. Both are valuable tools, but they solve different problems.
| Feature | PixGuard | TinEye |
|---|---|---|
| Watermark text and logo detection (stock agencies) | ||
| EXIF/IPTC/XMP copyright fields | ||
| Similarity matching for edited or cropped copies | Pro and Business | |
| Error level analysis | ||
| AI-generation estimate | ||
| Find web pages where an image appears | Pro and Business (source lookup) | |
| Website scan (up to 50 pages) | ||
| WordPress plugin | ||
| Chrome extension | ||
| API access | Business plan | |
| Risk score (0 to 100) | ||
| Free tier | 30 image scans | Non-commercial use only |
| Starting price | $29/mo (Pro) | from $200 / 5,000 searches |
When to use TinEye
TinEye is excellent for finding copies of your images across the web, including cropped, resized and edited versions. If you're a photographer or content creator who wants to find where your images are being used, TinEye's reverse image search is comprehensive and fast. It's a strong fit for finding unauthorized copies of images you own.
When to use PixGuard
PixGuard looks for copyright risk signals in the images you use. If you're a website owner, agency, or content team that uses images from many sources, PixGuard checks for copyright metadata, watermark text and logos from major stock agencies, and matches against a database of reference image fingerprints. Each image gets a 0 to 100 risk score with the reasons behind it, so you know which images to investigate first.
Using TinEye and PixGuard together
The two tools answer different questions, so they work well one after the other. A practical workflow:
- Start with PixGuard. Scan your website to find the images with the highest risk scores. PixGuard flags copyright metadata, watermark text and logos from major stock agencies, fingerprint matches and other risk signals, and shows the signals behind each score.
- Look up flagged images with TinEye. For any image PixGuard scores high, a TinEye search shows where else it appears online, which can point to a likely source and tell you who to ask about a license. On Pro and Business, PixGuard's own source lookup also shows web pages where a matching image appears.
- Decide and document. Keep the images you hold a license for, license or replace the rest, and record what you decided for each one.
Neither tool tells you whether you hold a license. PixGuard points you to the images worth investigating and TinEye helps you trace where they came from; your license records settle the question.
The Bottom Line
TinEye finds copies of images you own. PixGuard flags copyright risk signals in images you use. They're complementary tools for different stages of the copyright lifecycle.
If you manage a website and want to find the images that may need a license, PixGuard is built for that. If you're a photographer tracking unauthorized usage of your work, TinEye is the better fit. Many professionals use both.
Try PixGuard free
Paste a page URL and PixGuard checks its 3 largest images for watermark patterns and other visual risk signals. No signup, 3 checks a day. For metadata and fingerprint checks, create a free account (30 image scans, no credit card).