Decide
When to choose ImageTrace
ImageTrace is not the right tool for everyone, and we would rather you know that up front. Here is an honest look at when it fits, and when something else is the better call.
Choose ImageTrace when
- You want to find where your images are being used yourself, instead of handing the whole thing to someone else.
- You want to keep 100 percent of anything you recover. We charge a flat price per scan and never take a percentage.
- You want the evidence packaged for you: source URL, full-page screenshot, first-seen date, and an editable demand letter in Dutch or English.
- You want to keep an eye on a portfolio over time, not just run a one-off check. Monitoring re-scans on your cadence and sends a digest of new matches.
- You want predictable costs. Pay per scan from EUR 5, with volume and loyalty discounts up to 50 percent, and credits that never expire.
A plain reverse image search (like Google or TinEye) may be enough when
- You only need a quick, one-off check on a single image.
- You only care about exact copies on pages those engines already index.
- You do not need the matches bundled into evidence, and you are happy to do the digging yourself.
ImageTrace goes further: it also looks at marketplaces, print-on-demand stores, and social feeds that general search engines do not surface, and it catches cropped, resized, recolored, and lightly edited copies, not just exact ones.
A commission-based recovery service may suit you when
- You would rather someone else chase the payment for you and do not want to be involved in the back-and-forth.
- You are comfortable giving up a cut of what is recovered. These services commonly take 30 to 50 percent, and from that point their team tends to decide how your claim is handled.
ImageTrace is the opposite trade: you stay in control and keep everything, but you (or your own lawyer) decide what to do with a match.
A lawyer or agency is the right call when
- The case is high-value or complex, or you want to go all the way to formal legal action.
- You want professional legal handling end to end.
ImageTrace fits neatly in front of this: it finds the matches and hands you the evidence, which you can act on yourself or pass to your lawyer.
What ImageTrace is not
We are not a law firm and not a collection agency. We do not send takedowns, negotiate licenses, or escalate cases on your behalf. We find the copies and give you the evidence. What you do next is your call.
Quick comparison
| ImageTrace | Plain reverse image search | Commission recovery service | Lawyer / agency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finds copies across marketplaces, print-on-demand, social | Yes | Limited | Yes | Varies |
| Catches crops, resizes, recolors, light edits | Yes | Mostly exact only | Yes | Varies |
| Packages evidence for you | Yes | No | Yes (they hold it) | They build it |
| Who controls the claim | You | You | The service | You and your lawyer |
| What it costs | Flat per scan, keep 100 percent | Free, do-it-yourself | A cut of what you recover | Hourly or contingency |
| Who acts on the match | You | You | The service | The lawyer |
Run a free first scan
Run a free first scan and see what comes back. No credit card, no subscription, no percentage taken later.
Get in touch if you want help deciding whether ImageTrace fits your case.