Image comparison
Compare images: see every pixel that changed
Pick two images. The tool checks every pixel value and shows exactly where they differ, if they differ at all.
No image yet
No image yet
Drop two images here, or paste one at a time.
- No upload. Both images stay on your device.
- Exact. Every pixel value is checked, not a summary.
- Free. No sign-up, no limits.
No images handy?
| Property | A | B |
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Pick image A and image B above. ScrubPhoto decodes both on your device and compares every pixel, one color channel at a time. You get a plain answer first: identical files, identical pixels, or how many pixels differ and by how much. Below it sit the file size, format, color profile and metadata of each image, a swipe view, and a map of every changed pixel.
How to compare two images
- Choose image A, then image B. On a computer you can drop both on the page at once.
- Read the verdict. "Pixels identical" means every pixel value matches, even when the files are different sizes.
- Use Swipe to slide between the two images, or Differences to see every changed pixel marked in red.
- Check the table for what changed around the picture: file size, format, color profile and metadata.
Identical pixels, different files
A photo file holds two things: the picture, and data about the picture. That data covers camera details, GPS, the color profile and AI tags such as C2PA Content Credentials. Two files can carry the same picture and still differ in size, because one kept that data and the other did not. That is exactly what a lossless metadata remover should produce.
Try the sample above. It compares a photo with the copy ScrubPhoto scrubbed. The files differ by about a kilobyte, and every pixel matches.
The reverse happens too. Saving a JPEG again, even at the highest quality setting, decodes the picture and compresses it again. Pixel values shift, usually by a few steps out of 255. You will not see it, but the comparison will. That is how you tell a lossless tool from one that quietly re-saves your photo.
What people use an image comparison for
- Proving a metadata remover kept every pixel: compare the original with the cleaned copy.
- Finding the difference between two edits, exports or versions of a design.
- Checking whether two photos are true duplicates or near copies.
- Seeing what an app changed when it "optimized" a photo.
- Finding out whether a re-shared copy was compressed again along the way.
How the comparison works
Both images are decoded in your browser with their orientation applied. The tool compares the stored value of every pixel on all four channels: red, green, blue and transparency. It skips color conversion, so the numbers are the ones in the file, not an adjusted version. A different color profile still shows up in the table, even when the values match.
Large photos are processed in strips, so a phone never holds the whole comparison in memory at once. A 12 megapixel photo usually takes a few seconds.
If the two images are different sizes, B is scaled to A's size first and the result is marked approximate. Scaling changes pixels on its own, so treat that map as a guide to where things changed, not as proof.
Nothing is uploaded. The images never leave your phone or computer, and the page keeps working offline once it has loaded.
Limits
- Most browsers other than Safari cannot open HEIC photos. Use Safari on an iPhone or Mac, or export a JPEG first.
- Very large images, around 50 megapixels and up, can be too much for a phone. Use a computer for those.
- A pixel comparison shows what changed, not who changed it or whether AI was involved. For AI tags inside a file, use the AI label checker.
Questions about comparing images
How do I compare two images for differences?
Choose image A and image B above. ScrubPhoto compares every pixel and marks each one that differs in red. The swipe view lets you slide between the two.
Can I compare images online without uploading them?
Yes. This tool runs in your browser, so both images stay on your device. Nothing is sent to a server.
Why are the files different sizes if the pixels are identical?
The difference is in the data around the picture: metadata, the color profile, thumbnails or how the file is packed. Removing metadata shrinks a file without touching a single pixel.
Does saving a JPEG again change it?
Yes. Every JPEG save compresses the picture again, so pixel values shift slightly. The comparison catches changes as small as one step out of 255.
Can it compare images of different sizes?
Yes, but only approximately. B is scaled to A's size first, and scaling changes pixels by itself. For an exact answer, compare two images with the same dimensions.
Does it compare metadata too?
It lists the metadata it finds in each image side by side, such as GPS, camera details, C2PA and the IPTC AI tag. The metadata viewer shows the full readout for one file.
Is this the same as a reverse image search?
No. It compares two images you already have. It does not search the web for copies of an image.
Which formats can I compare?
JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF and AVIF in any current browser, plus HEIC in Safari. For an animated GIF, the first frame is compared.
Sources
Official pages this page was checked against in October 2026: