Looking for the best image search engines? These 11 tools make it easy to find virtually any type of image you can imagine.
Image search has come a long way. Today, you can locate high-quality images for websites, marketing campaigns, or creative projects with ease.
Modern image search engines come with advanced filters to help you refine results by size, orientation, color, and usage rights—ensuring you find exactly what you need without copyright concerns.
Want to buy a license for an image? Some search engines make it simple to locate and purchase the right visuals.
Need to trace the origin of a specific image? Reverse image search tools can help.
Or maybe you’re just seeking inspiration, desktop wallpapers, or visual references—whether it’s Van Gogh’s artwork or a specific bird like the eastern bluebird, image search engines cover it all.
Here’s a list of top image search engines you can rely on:
1. TinEye Reverse Image Search
TinEye is a reverse image search engine designed to help you find the source of images and see where they appear online.
You can search by uploading an image or using a URL. Simply click the arrow icon in the search box to upload an image from your computer and discover its online presence.
TinEye also offers browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera, allowing you to right-click on any image and perform a reverse search instantly.
2. Google Images
Google Images remains the go-to tool for basic image searches. Just enter a keyword, and you’ll get a wide range of results.
For more precise searches, Google offers a variety of filters. For example, searching for [green bird] allows you to narrow results to cartoons, clipart, illustrations, or logos. Clicking “Tools” opens additional filters such as size, color, type of image, usage rights, and upload date—perfect for finding exactly what you need, including royalty-free images.
Google Reverse Image Search
Google Images also lets you perform reverse image searches. Click the camera icon in the search box to upload an image or enter its URL to find its source.
Google Lens for Desktop
Google Lens is now integrated into Chrome, enabling visual searches directly from webpages. Click the Lens icon in the address bar or right-click any image and select “Search with Google Lens.” Highlight the image or a section of the page, and Chrome will display results in a side panel.
3. Yahoo Image Search
Yahoo Image Search is another option for finding images. Its interface is similar to Google Images, but the results and ranking may differ slightly.
4. Bing Image Search
Bing offers a solid alternative to Google Images. Its layout and features are comparable, and it includes unique tools like the People filter, which lets you select images of people based on style, such as just faces or head-and-shoulders shots.
5. Pinterest Visual Search Tool
Pinterest has its own visual search tool, ideal for an image-heavy platform. To use it:
- Log into your Pinterest account.
- Click any pin in your feed, profile, or board.
- Click the icon in the bottom-right corner of the pin.
Pinterest then shows visually similar results. With its massive user-generated image database, it’s a great source for inspiration or finding specific visuals.
6. Openverse
Openverse (formerly Creative Commons Search) is part of the WordPress open-source project. It indexes openly licensed images from across the web, including public domain and Creative Commons content.
While it may not offer the specificity of Google, Bing, or Yahoo, it’s useful for finding freely usable images. Filters let you refine searches based on usage rights, commercial use, or modification permissions.
7. Flickr
Flickr is unique because its images come from amateur and professional photographers sharing their work. It’s excellent for browsing and discovering high-quality photos.
If you plan to use images for commercial or marketing projects, be sure to filter results by the appropriate usage license to stay compliant.
8. Getty Images
For high-quality stock photos, Getty Images is a top choice. You can search by keyword or by image/video using the “Search by image or video” option.
Keyword searches offer helpful auto-suggestions to refine your results, and Getty Images provides an extensive range of filters to help you find exactly what you need.
Keep in mind that all images require a paid royalty-free license. You can purchase licenses individually or in packs at a flat rate.
9. Shutterstock
Shutterstock is another popular option for royalty-free stock photos and is often more budget-friendly.
Its library is vast, and search filters are comprehensive. Shutterstock offers flexible purchasing options, including annual plans and prepaid image packs. For example, one plan provides 350 downloads per month for $169, while smaller packs of five images are available for $49—ideal for marketers on a budget.
10. The New York Public Library Digital Collections
The NYPL Digital Collections is perfect for finding unique, high-resolution digital images. This archive includes historical books, maps, photographs, sketchbooks, ledgers, and more, all in the public domain.
These images are free to use and reuse, making it an excellent resource for creative projects or research. Exploring this collection often reveals visuals you won’t find anywhere else.
11. Yandex Image Search & Similar Images
Yandex offers multiple tools for image discovery. On Yandex Images, you can browse collections by topic and refine results by size, orientation, type, file format, and more.
The Similar Images tool allows you to find images similar to an existing one—for instance, products with comparable features—making it useful for both inspiration and detailed visual searches.
FAQs for “11 Best Image Search Engines for Visual Content”
1. What are the best image search engines?
Some of the top image search engines include Google Images, TinEye, Bing Image Search, Yahoo Image Search, Pinterest Visual Search, Openverse, Flickr, Getty Images, Shutterstock, NYPL Digital Collections, and Yandex Images.
2. What is a reverse image search?
A reverse image search allows you to upload an image or use its URL to find where it appears online, discover its source, or locate visually similar images. TinEye and Google Images offer this feature.
3. Can I find royalty-free images using image search engines?
Yes. Tools like Openverse, Getty Images, Shutterstock, and NYPL Digital Collections provide images with licenses for legal use. Filters in Google and Bing also help identify royalty-free content.
4. How can I search for images by type or usage rights?
Most modern image search engines let you filter results by image type (photo, illustration, clipart), size, color, orientation, and usage rights to find the exact images you need.
5. Are there free alternatives to paid stock photo sites?
Yes. Openverse, Flickr (with proper licensing filters), and NYPL Digital Collections offer free images that can be used for personal or commercial projects, depending on the license.
6. How do visual search tools like Pinterest and Google Lens work?
Visual search tools let you select an image or part of a page to find visually similar images, ideas, or related content, making it easier to explore concepts or identify objects.
7. Can I use these image search engines for commercial purposes?
Yes, but always check the license or usage rights. Paid sites like Getty Images and Shutterstock provide licenses for commercial use, while free sources like Openverse and NYPL Digital Collections offer images under public domain or Creative Commons licenses.
8. Which search engine is best for historical or unique images?
The New York Public Library Digital Collections is ideal for rare, high-resolution scans of historical books, maps, photographs, and other unique images not commonly found elsewhere.
9. Are there any image search engines suitable for large-scale image discovery?
Yes. Google Images, Bing Image Search, and Pinterest have vast databases and advanced filtering options, making them suitable for comprehensive image searches.
10. Can I find similar products or items using image search engines?
Yes. Tools like Yandex’s Similar Images and Google Lens allow you to upload an image and find visually similar products, objects, or artworks.
