Retrace vs FrameTrace:minutes or searches.
FrameTrace, at reversevideosearch.org, is a reverse video search tool with a free QuickSearch and monthly DeepSearch plans. It takes an upload or a link from YouTube, TikTok, Instagram or Reddit, like Retrace does.
The difference is how you pay. FrameTrace sells minutes of analysis by the month. Retrace charges per search, from a balance that never expires. Which is cheaper depends on how often you search.
Retrace and FrameTrace side by side
| Feature | RETRACE | FRAMETRACE |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | pay per search | monthly subscription |
| Free tier | up to 24 frames across the video | first second, 1 a day |
| Free limit | 2 scans, then 1 every 12 h | 1 QuickSearch a day |
| Entry price | $0.90 a search (top up from $1.90) | $7 / month |
| Deep analysis | $0.03 / frame, $1.50–$9.90 | 15 min for $7 · 60 min for $29 |
| Per minute of deep analysis | ≈ $2.40 (capped at $9.90) | under $0.50 on a plan |
| Unused capacity | balance never expires | monthly credits refresh |
| Inputs | file, link, GIF, screenshot | file (100 MB) or link |
| Account required | no | for paid plans |
| If nothing is found | 50% of a Trace back | not stated |
FrameTrace figures as listed on their pricing page in October 2026. Tell us if something here is out of date and we will correct it.
Which one should you choose?
CHOOSE FRAMETRACE IF
- You analyse long videos frame by frame every month.
- Fifteen or sixty minutes a month will actually get used.
- A recurring plan suits the way you work.
CHOOSE RETRACE IF
- You have one clip and one question.
- You want the free check to look at the whole video, not its first second.
- You would rather not have a subscription to remember.
A subscription wins on volume, not on one clip.
One search on Retrace is $0.90. The cheapest FrameTrace plan is $7 a month, which is less per minute if you use all fifteen minutes. If you search a few times a year, paying per search costs a fraction of one month — see pricing.
Run a free scan →The questions a comparison should answer.
Several sites share the name “reverse video search”. Here is how they differ.
Is Retrace a FrameTrace alternative?
Yes, for occasional searches. FrameTrace sells monthly DeepSearch minutes ($7 for 15 minutes, $29 for an hour); Retrace has no subscription — $0.90 to see a search's sources, and a balance that never expires.
Which free tier searches more of the video?
FrameTrace's free QuickSearch analyses the first second of the video, once a day. Retrace's free scan samples up to 24 distinctive frames across the whole video, with two free scans and then one every 12 hours. Retrace's free scan shows the match count; seeing the sources is paid.
Is FrameTrace cheaper?
For heavy use, yes. Their monthly plans work out to under $0.50 per minute of deep analysis. Retrace's frame-by-frame Trace costs about $2.40 per minute of video (capped at $9.90). If you analyse many long videos every month, a subscription costs less.
Do I need an account?
Not for Retrace — neither to scan nor to pay; an account is created from the payment. FrameTrace has accounts and login for its paid plans.
What happens if nothing is found?
On Retrace, if a paid Trace finds nothing, half its price goes back to your balance automatically, and a scan with no matches has nothing to unlock, so it costs nothing.