If you’re looking for alternatives to SauceNAO for reverse image searches, you’ve come to the right place. As an expert in digital content strategy with over a decade of experience, I’ve used reverse image search extensively to trace image sources, investigate copyright issues, and more.
In this guide, I’ll share 17 of the best tools similar to SauceNAO that you can use to search by image and discover where a picture originated or how it’s being used across the web. Whether you’re trying to find a higher quality version of an image, identify products, locate the source of artwork or a meme, or determine if your own images are being used without permission, these tools have you covered.
What is SauceNAO?
First, let’s briefly cover what SauceNAO is. SauceNAO is a popular reverse image search engine targeted at anime art, manga, and related fandom content. The name means “now I need to know the source!” and it allows users to upload images to find similar-looking pictures and their original source. It’s especially useful for identifying characters and scenes from anime/manga.
Why Look for SauceNAO Alternatives?
While SauceNAO is great for certain niche use cases, it does have limitations. Its image database is focused on fan art and doesn’t cover the full breadth of images you might want to search for. The algorithms also aren’t as advanced as some other reverse image search options. And occasionally the site has performance issues or downtime.
So it’s helpful to be aware of other high-quality reverse image search tools for when SauceNAO isn’t ideal. Here are 15 top alternatives I recommend.
Top 15 SauceNAO Alternatives
1. Google Images
Unsurprisingly, Google offers one of the most popular and comprehensive reverse image search options. Simply go to images.google.com, click the camera icon, and either paste in the URL of an image or upload one from your device. Google will show visually similar images, websites featuring the image, and different sizes of the same picture.
Key benefits of Google’s reverse image search:
- Extensive database thanks to Google’s web crawling
- Ability to find different resolutions of the same image
- Highlights key facts (like objects or text) from the image
- Option to narrow results by usage rights
- Mobile-friendly functionality in the Google app and Chrome browser
2. TinEye
Launched in 2008, TinEye is considered the original reverse image search engine. It lets you search by URL, upload, or drag-and-drop. It even offers browser extensions and a mobile app for on-the-go searches.
While the indexed image database (over 50 billion) is smaller than Google’s, TinEye’s sole focus is on reverse image search. This means they offer some advanced features like the ability to set custom API endpoints for more flexible searching. You can also compare up to 10 different images at once to spot modifications.
Other key features of TinEye include:
- Browser extensions for quick searches
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android
- API access for developers
- Several sorting and filtering options
- Bulk image upload tool
- Commercial licensing for professional use cases
Want to learn more about TinEye and other similar tools? Check out this helpful list of TinEye alternatives for even more options to try.
3. Yandex Images
Yandex is known as “the Google of Russia” and offers a robust image search engine at https://yandex.com/images/. I’ve found Yandex particularly useful when looking for results in certain geographic regions that Google tends to overlook.
Benefits of Yandex’s image search include:
- Visual matches from websites Google doesn’t index
- More results from Russia and Slavic countries
- Page translation to find details in other languages
- Search by image URL or upload
4. Bing Visual Search
Microsoft’s Bing search engine has its own image search feature with some AI-driven bells and whistles. In addition to finding similar images and web results, Bing will auto-detect and identify things like landmarks, products, text in images, and barcodes.
When you search with an image on Bing, you can click on “Visual Search” to open up a more advanced interface. Here you can crop specific objects to search, learn more about products, or explore visually similar images.
5. IQDB
If you’re looking for a SauceNAO alternative specifically to find anime art, check out IQDB (https://iqdb.org/). This multi-service engine searches through several anime and manga databases:
- Danbooru: Repository of anime artwork
- Konachan: Anime wallpapers
- Yande.re: Anime image board
- Gelbooru: Anime art community site
- Sankaku Channel: Anime & manga social platform
- E-shuushuu: Anime/manga images & news
- Zerochan: Anime imageboard
- Anime Pictures: Anime social network
So while its scope is narrower than general image search tools, IQDB is a top pick when searching for animated content. The key is that it cross-references multiple huge anime/manga databases in one convenient place.
6. Yahoo Image Search
Yahoo offers another large-scale reverse image search option at images.search.yahoo.com. It’s powered by Bing’s technology but provides a slightly different interface. When viewing individual images, Yahoo helpfully lists details like:
- Image source URL
- Estimated creation date
- Description text from page
- Image dimensions
- Related keyword searches
- Pages with matching images
It’s a solid backup to have when other search engines aren’t delivering the results you need.
7. PimEyes
PimEyes (https://pimeyes.com/) is the leading reverse image search engine focused specifically on facial recognition. If you need to find more pictures of a specific person – whether it’s yourself or someone else – PimEyes is the way to go. It uses AI to detect faces in uploaded images and match them to over 10 million websites.
Keep in mind that because of its facial recognition capabilities, PimEyes can potentially be used unethically to find personal info about people online. Use it responsibly for legitimate business or investigative needs. The site requires registration and paid plans for full results.
If you’re looking for other facial recognition search engines to try, this roundup of PimEyes alternatives has several great options.
8. Pixsy
Pixsy (pixsy.com) is a specialist reverse image search platform for photographers and artists to track their copyrighted work online. While you can do a basic search without registering, signing up for a free account unlocks more data on how your images are being used around the web.
Pixsy monitors your registered images 24/7 across major marketplaces like Amazon, Etsy, eBay, Alibaba, and Walmart. If it detects a possible copyright infringement, you’ll get an alert with details and recommended next steps to resolve the issue.
Unique Pixsy features include:
- Automatic DMCA takedown notices
- Integrated case management tools
- Copyright infringement analytics
- Custom search criteria for clients
- $0 upfront fees – pay only if you win a case
9. Berify
Berify (https://berify.com/) offers a more professional-grade image copyright detection service. The company partners with major content networks and platforms to scan for unauthorized use of your photos.
While Berify requires an ongoing subscription, it offers advanced features like mobile app monitoring, custom domains and keywords to scan, automatic case generation, whois lookup, and a WordPress plugin. For businesses and professional photographers, illustrators, and designers serious about protecting their visual IP, Berify is worth consideration.
10. ImageRaider
ImageRaider (https://imageraider.com/) is a no-frills alternative for finding duplicates of an image online. Just enter an image URL or upload a file, and you’ll get a list of sites using that exact picture.
One nice ImageRaider feature is the ability to exclude certain domains or URLs from the search to filter out irrelevant matches. The simple interface is also easy to navigate. While it may lack some of the AI-based detection of other tools, it’s still useful for quick searches.
11. Baidu Images
As the most popular search engine in China, Baidu is the best place to do a reverse image lookup if you’re trying to find results from Chinese websites. Navigate to https://image.baidu.com/ and click the camera icon to search by image file or URL.
The Baidu image search engine primarily delivers results from China and pages in simplified Chinese. While the interface is entirely in Chinese, if you’re using Chrome the browser’s auto-translate feature can help you navigate.
12. Sogou Images
Another major Chinese search engine, Sogou, offers image search capabilities at https://pic.sogou.com/. Its database also focuses on Chinese sites and will provide a different set of thumbnail results than Baidu. If you’re seriously searching for pics from China, try both engines.
To search with an image on Sogou, click the camera icon and paste in an image link or upload a photo from your device. Sogou has a lot going on in its interface so I recommend using Google Chrome’s auto-translate feature if you don’t read Chinese.
13. WhatAnime
Have an anime screencap or GIF that you want to identify? WhatAnime (https://trace.moe/) lets you upload snippets from anime to determine exactly what show and episode it’s from. Just select local files or enter the URL of an anime pic and WhatAnime will analyze it frame-by-frame to find the closest match in its database.
Search results display thumbnail comparisons along with the anime title, episode number, and timestamp where the scene appears. It’s surprisingly accurate and includes info from a huge number of anime series. Just keep in mind that it’s strictly for anime video content, not anime fan art or manga panels.
14. ASCII2D
ASCII2D (https://ascii2d.net/) is a unique option designed to find the original source of anime-style illustrations and fan art. It uses special algorithms to detect visual matches even if the image has been cropped or edited.
The ASCII2D site has a fun retro ASCII art aesthetic but is very functional. The color search lets you upload an image to find visually similar results, while the booru search specifically looks for the oldest match to try to determine the original version of the artwork. Note that the site is in Japanese but is still easy to use.
15. 3D IQDB
Rounding out the list is 3D IQDB (https://3d.iqdb.org/), a unique search engine for 3D models and assets. If you work in animation, game design, VR/AR, or other fields using 3D graphics, 3D IQDB is a fantastic resource to add to your toolkit.
The site lets you search by uploading STL, OBJ, PLY, SKP, GLTF, and other 3D file formats to find similar models from databases like Thingiverse, Sketchfab, Turbosquid, CGTrader, and more. It’s super useful for locating textures, meshes, environment assets, and more to use in modeling and rendering projects.
How to Choose the Best Reverse Image Search Tool
With so many options to choose from, how do you decide which reverse search engine is right for your needs? Here are some factors to consider:
- Image Database: Different tools index varying sources, so think about what types of images you search for most. Are you usually trying to find photos, digital art, product pictures, memes, anime/manga, etc.? Pick an engine that focuses on the relevant categories.
- Geographic Coverage: If you need to find an image’s source from a certain country or region, go with a platform that has strong coverage there. For example, use Yandex for Slavic countries, Baidu or Sogou for China, and so on.
- Facial Recognition: For identifying people in pictures, a face search specialist like PimEyes will deliver the most accurate results.
- Special Features: Some reverse image tools offer standout capabilities like object detection, multi-service search, mobile apps, browser extensions, bulk upload, API access, and more. Determine what’s most important for your typical use case.
- User Interface: Do you prefer a simple, no-frills interface or more advanced search options and filters? Look through the various tools to get a feel for the experience of each.
SauceNAO Alternative FAQs
- What is the best free reverse image search? Google Images and TinEye are the most popular free options for general reverse image searching. IQDB, ASCII2D, WhatAnime, and 3D IQDB are top choices for anime/manga, fan art, and 3D models.
- Are there mobile apps for reverse image search? Yes, Google and Bing offer reverse search in their mobile apps. TinEye also has standalone iOS and Android apps. For anime art, the Saucenao app is another mobile choice.
- Do any reverse image search engines use facial recognition? PimEyes is the best-known reverse image search tool that utilizes facial recognition technology to match photos of people.
- Can I search by image on my phone? Most search engines like Google and Bing support reverse image search on their mobile sites and apps. Simply tap the camera icon to upload or take a picture to use as your search query.
- Is there a reverse image search for anime? IQDB and SauceNAO are two top choices for reverse searching anime-style illustrations and fan art. For identifying anime video screenshots, check out WhatAnime and trace.moe.
Takeaway
SauceNAO is a great tool for finding the source of anime artwork and manga screenshots, but there are times you need other options for reverse image searching. Platforms like Google Images, TinEye, Yandex, IQDB, PimEyes, and others provide robust databases and unique features for tracing photos, digital art, memes, 3D assets, faces, and more.
For the broadest coverage, I recommend using multiple search engines to cross-reference results. And don’t forget to try region-specific tools when seeking images from certain countries. With the right combination of these SauceNAO alternatives, you’ll be able to track down the origin and appearances of just about any image on the internet. Happy searching!
