If you’ve ever had that gut feeling that someone’s being shady on Tinder, you’ve probably looked up Cheaterbuster AI. It promises to sniff out secret dating profiles—but at a cost.
But what if you don’t want to spend $17.99 every time your suspicions flare up?
That’s exactly what I wanted to find out. So I went on a mission to test 5 free (or nearly free) Cheaterbuster AI alternatives. Tools that claim they can help you track hidden dating profiles, spot catfish behavior, or even unmask that “just a friend” who seems a little too available online.
Here’s what worked, what flopped, and which tool I’d trust if my relationship were on the line.
What is Cheaterbuster AI, and why are we looking for alternatives?
Cheaterbuster AI, formerly known as Swipebuster, is an online tool designed to help you uncover whether someone is using Tinder behind your back. It was created to expose people who claim they’re not on dating apps but might still be swiping on the side.
Using just a first name, age, and general location, Cheaterbuster claims it can search Tinder’s database and flag any matching profiles. The results are usually quick and straightforward, showing whether that person is active, when they were last online, and even what kind of photos they’ve uploaded.
It’s a tempting tool for anyone with a nagging feeling that something isn’t right. But the downside is it’s not cheap. Each search costs $17.99, and that only covers one person. There’s no free version, no trial, and no bulk discount. If you’re trying to check multiple people or you’re simply not ready to spend money every time doubt creeps in, Cheaterbuster can feel like an expensive gamble.
That’s why I decided to look for alternatives that could do the job without the hefty price tag. I wanted tools that offer similar results, maybe even better ones, without charging nearly twenty bucks per search.
Next, I’ll walk you through five tools I tested, each one free or cheaper than Cheatbuster’s fee.
5 free CheaterBuster alternatives
In my quest to end the pandemic of catfishes and find cheaper tools than CheaterBuster, I found 5 of the best tools for finding out more about suspicious partners. Some do reverse image search, while some simply find social profiles through basic details like name, phone number, and email address.
Here are the 5 best free or cheaper alternatives to CheaterBuster straight from my research book:
1. PimEyes
PimEyes is an advanced facial recognition search engine that scans the internet to find images containing a specific face. By uploading a photo, users can discover where that face appears online, which can be particularly useful for identifying if someone’s images are being used on dating sites or other platforms without their knowledge.
The platform is designed to help individuals monitor their online presence and protect their privacy. It’s essential to note that PimEyes emphasizes ethical use, advising users to search for their own images and refrain from using the tool for stalking or unauthorized surveillance.
Unique Features
- Facial Recognition Search: Utilizes AI to match uploaded photos with images available on publicly accessible websites.
- Search Result Details: Provides links to the websites where matching images are found, allowing users to see the context in which their images appear.
- Alerts: Users can set up alerts to be notified when new instances of their face appear online.
- Takedown Assistance: Offers guidance on how to request the removal of unauthorized images from websites.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅Accurate facial recognition✅ User-friendly interface✅ Alert system for new matches ✅ Takedown support | ❌Full details require a paid subscription.❌Uploading personal photos may raise concerns❌Subscription plans can be expensive for some users❌Limited to publicly accessible sites. |
Pricing
PimEyes offers several subscription plans:
- Open Plus: $29.99/month – Up to 25 searches daily, 3 alerts.
- PROtect: $34.99/month – Up to 40 searches daily, 15 alerts, and takedown assistance.
- Advanced: $299.99/month – Unlimited searches, 500 alerts, and comprehensive support.
While PimEyes offers a free search option, accessing detailed results and utilizing features like alerts and takedown assistance requires a subscription.
In summary, PimEyes is a powerful tool for individuals seeking to monitor their online presence and protect their images from unauthorized use. However, those looking for a completely free alternative to Cheaterbuster AI may find the limited free access restrictive. It’s essential to weigh the benefits against the cost and consider privacy implications before using the service.
2. Google Reverse Image Search
Google Reverse Image Search allows users to search the web using an image rather than text. By uploading a photo or providing an image URL, Google scans its vast index to find visually similar images and related content across the internet. This can be particularly useful for identifying if someone’s images are being used on dating sites or other platforms without their knowledge.
To use this feature:
- Navigate to Google Images.
- Click on the camera icon in the search bar.
- Choose to upload an image or paste an image URL.
- Click “Search” to view results.
Google will then display visually similar images and the websites where they appear.
Unique Features
- Visual Search: Finds images that are visually similar to the one provided.
- Source Identification: Helps locate the original source of an image.
- No Cost: Completely free to use without any subscription or payment.
- No Account Required: Accessible without the need to sign in.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅Completely free to use ✅No account needed✅User-friendly interface ✅Quick results | ❌May not index all websites, especially niche or private platforms❌Cannot identify individuals based solely on facial features❌Cannot access private or restricted content.❌Poor-quality images may yield less accurate results. |
Pricing
Google Reverse Image Search is entirely free to use. There are no hidden fees, subscriptions, or limitations on the number of searches you can perform.
Google Reverse Image Search is a valuable, cost-free tool for those looking to verify if someone’s images are being used elsewhere online. While it has its limitations, especially regarding facial recognition and access to private content, it serves as a solid starting point in your investigative efforts.
3. TinEye
TinEye is a reverse image search engine developed by Idée, Inc., a company based in Toronto, Canada. Launched in 2008, TinEye was the first to use image identification technology rather than keywords, metadata, or watermarks. It allows users to search by uploading an image or providing an image URL, creating a unique digital signature or “fingerprint” of the image to match it with other indexed images.
Unlike some other search engines, TinEye does not recognize outlines of objects or perform facial recognition. Instead, it focuses on finding exact matches and modified versions of the submitted image, such as cropped, resized, or edited versions. This makes it particularly useful for verifying the source of an image or detecting unauthorized use.
Unique Features
- Image Identification Technology: TinEye uses advanced algorithms to create a digital fingerprint of the uploaded image, enabling it to find exact and altered matches online.
- Sorting Options: Users can sort search results by best match, most changed, biggest image, newest, and oldest, providing flexibility in analyzing the results.
- No Facial Recognition: TinEye does not perform facial recognition, focusing solely on the image’s content, which can be a privacy consideration for some users.
- Browser Extensions: TinEye offers browser extensions for quick access to reverse image searches directly from the context menu.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅Free for non-commercial use✅Accurate for exact matches✅User-friendly interface ✅You don’t need to open an account to use | ❌ Limited database ❌Cannot identify individuals based solely on facial features❌Misses personal photos not already indexed❌Commercial API is very expensive |
Pricing
TinEye offers its reverse image search service for free to individual users for non-commercial purposes. For commercial use or high-volume searches, TinEye provides API access through its MatchEngine, with pricing tiers as follows:
- Starter: $200/month for up to 5,000 images and 1,000 monthly searches.
- Basic: $500/month for up to 50,000 images and 30,000 monthly searches.
- Corporate: $1,500/month for up to 500,000 images and 150,000 monthly searches.
- Enterprise: Custom plans for up to 500 million images and 50 million monthly searches.
These plans are geared towards businesses and organizations requiring large-scale image search capabilities.
In summary, TinEye is a valuable tool for individuals seeking to verify the source of an image or detect unauthorized use. While it lacks facial recognition capabilities and may have limitations in its database coverage, its free access for non-commercial use and focus on exact and modified image matches make it a useful resource in your investigative efforts.
4. BeenVerified
BeenVerified is a background check and people search service that aggregates public records to provide comprehensive reports on individuals. By entering a name, phone number, email address, or physical address, users can access information such as:
- Contact details
- Criminal records
- Property ownership
- Social media profiles
- Employment history
- Relatives and associates
This tool can be particularly useful for verifying the authenticity of individuals met online, especially on dating platforms.
Unique Features
- Comprehensive Reports: Aggregates data from various public records to provide detailed profiles.
- Multiple Search Options: Allows searches by name, phone number, email, or address.
- Mobile App: Offers a user-friendly mobile application for on-the-go searches.
- Reverse Phone Lookup: Identifies the owner of a phone number, which can be helpful in detecting potential scams.
- Email Lookup: Reveals associated accounts and profiles linked to an email address.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅Provides extensive data from public records✅Easy to navigate and interpret reports.✅Convenient mobile app for searches on the go.✅Versatile search options enhance usability. | ❌I find it challenging to reach support❌Occasional inaccuracies in reports have been noted❌There are unexpected recurring billing.❌Requires a paid subscription for full access. |
Pricing
BeenVerified operates on a subscription model:
- Monthly Plan: $29.99 per month.
- Three-Month Plan: $58.47 billed every three months ($19.49 per month).
These plans offer unlimited searches during the subscription period. However, it’s important to note that BeenVerified does not offer a free trial, and users should be cautious of third-party sites claiming to provide free access.
In summary, BeenVerified offers a comprehensive suite of tools for individuals seeking to verify the authenticity of online connections, especially in the dating sphere. However, potential users should be aware of the subscription model, ensure they understand the billing practices, and approach the service with due diligence to avoid unexpected charges or data inaccuracies.
5. Social Catfish
Social Catfish is an online investigation service based in Murrieta, California. It aims to assist users in avoiding internet fraud, such as romance scams, by providing online identity verification. The platform allows users to run background checks, including social searches (names, emails, usernames, and phone numbers) and reverse image searches. The service specializes in determining if a person has been involved in catfishing activities on other websites.
Unique Features
- Reverse Image Search: Allows users to upload a photo to find where else it appears online, helping to identify stolen images.
- Social Search: Enables searches by name, email, phone number, or username to uncover associated social media profiles and online activity.
- Background Checks: Provides information on criminal records, property ownership, and more.
- Educational Resources: Offers blogs and articles to educate users about online scams and how to avoid them.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅Easy to navigate and interpret reports.✅Offers multiple ways to search for information.✅Provides resources to help users understand and avoid scams. | ❌Requires payment for full access to features.❌Inaccurate results❌Difficulties accessing customer service |
Pricing
Social Catfish operates on a subscription model:
- 3-Day Trial: $5.73 for unlimited social searches, $6.87 for unlimited image searches.
- Monthly Subscription: $27.48 for unlimited social searches, $28.97 for unlimited image searches.
- Search Specialist Service: $397 one-time payment for advanced identity verification.
The bottom line is Social Catfish provides tools that can assist in verifying online identities and uncovering potential scams. However, potential users should be aware of the subscription model, ensure they understand the billing practices, and approach the service with due diligence to avoid unexpected charges or data inaccuracies.
Cheaterbuster vs 5 free (or almost free) Alternatives
| Tool | Reverse image search | Username/email lookup | Standout feature | Major downside | Pricing |
| Cheaterbuster | ✅ Yes (via Tinder API) | ✅ Yes (Tinder-specific) | Finds Tinder profiles by email | Expensive; works only with Tinder | $17.99/search or $34.99/month |
| PimEyes | ✅ Powerful facial recognition | ❌ Not supported | Global facial recognition engine | Expensive, privacy concerns | €36/month (Basic) |
| TinEye | ✅ Fast, exact match | ❌ Not supported | Free reverse image search with match tracking | No facial recognition; not effective on selfies | Free (API options available) |
| Google reverse image search | ✅ Yes (basic) | ❌ Not supported | Free, widely accessible image search | Poor with selfies or blurry dating pics | Free |
| BeenVerified | ❌ Not supported | ✅ Name, email, phone | Deep people search from public records | Reported scams, vague or outdated info | $29.99/month |
| Social catfish | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (multiple fields) | Multi-angle lookup (image, email, phone) | Hit-or-miss accuracy, pricey monthly sub | $5.73 trial → $27.48/month |
Quick Takeaways:
- Best Free Duo: Pair Google Reverse Image with TinEye for a zero-cost, basic search combo.
- Closest to Cheaterbuster’s Tinder Search: PimEyes (for images), though it’s costly and not Tinder-specific.
- Best for Multi-type Lookup (If Paid): Social Catfish combines image + contact lookup
- Not Ideal for Catfish Hunting: BeenVerified is more like a background check tool. It’s useful, but not image-focused.
- Cheaterbuster: Still best for direct Tinder digging, but your wallet might feel betrayed.
Final thoughts
After digging through all these tools, it’s clear that catching a cheat isn’t as straightforward or cheap as I hoped. Cheaterbuster is laser-focused on Tinder but comes at a price. PimEyes blew me away with its tech, but the cost and ethical gray areas made me pause. Google Reverse Image and TinEye? Solid and free, but only if you’re lucky enough to have a crystal-clear photo.
Social Catfish tries to be a one-stop shop, and it kind of works if you’re okay spending and sifting through mixed results. As for BeenVerified, I’d skip it unless you’re after a background check, not catfishing clues.
I found that combining a couple of free tools gave me decent insight without draining my wallet.
Would I pay for Cheaterbuster again? Maybe if I had proof that something shady was going on. Otherwise, free tools, plus a little digital sleuthing, go a long way.
