You spot a great pair of trainers in someone’s photo, a lamp in a video, or a dress in an advert with no name. Instead of typing vague descriptions into a search bar, you can search with the picture itself.
Quick answer: crop the photo to just the product, upload it to our free Reverse Image Search, and tap Google Lens. It’s the best engine for products. Then try Bing for a second set of shopping results.
Step by step
- Save or screenshot the photo with the product.
- Crop tightly around the item you want. If there are several products, search them one at a time.
- Upload the cropped photo to our Reverse Image Search.
- Tap Google Lens. Look for shopping results with prices and store names.
- Tap Bing to compare. It often shows different shops.
Tips for better product matches
- Show the product clearly. A photo where it’s large and in focus works far better than a tiny corner of a busy picture.
- Include logos and labels if you can see them. Brand names help a lot.
- Add words after searching. In Google Lens you can add text such as a colour or “women’s” to narrow the results.
- Try a different angle if you have more than one photo of the item.
What it works well for
- Clothes and shoes: crop to one item and include any visible logo, stitching or pattern.
- Furniture and decor: lamps, chairs, rugs and wall art are usually matched quickly.
- Gadgets and accessories: phone cases, headphones, watches and bags.
- Plants and flowers: Google Lens can often name the plant so you can find where to buy it.
- Books and packaging: Lens can read the text on a cover or label and search for it.
Use the text in the picture
If you can see a brand name, model number or label in the photo, that’s your best clue. Google Lens can read text inside images: select the text in the results and search it. A model number usually leads straight to the exact product.
Other ways to shop by photo
- Some shopping apps, including Amazon and Pinterest, have their own camera search for finding similar items in their stores.
- On many Android phones, Circle to Search lets you search a product straight from your screen.
Compare before you buy
Visual search often finds several shops selling the same item at very different prices. Check the seller’s reviews and return policy, and be wary of prices far below everyone else’s. It may be a copy or a scam. Our guide on checking whether a seller’s photos are real can help.
Watch out for copies and counterfeits
A search can turn up the same product at wildly different prices. Very cheap listings may be counterfeits using the brand’s own photos. Buy from the brand’s official store or well-reviewed sellers, and check that the listing photos are the seller’s own.
Frequently asked questions
Why does it show similar items instead of the exact one?
If the exact product isn’t in the engine’s index, it shows the closest matches. Try cropping differently, adding the brand name, or searching on another engine.
Can it identify furniture and home decor?
Yes. Google Lens and Bing are both good at furniture, lamps and decor. Crop to one item at a time.
Is it free?
Yes. Searching is free. You only pay if you choose to buy something.
Seen something you love? Find it with our free Reverse Image Search.