How to Spot Edited Images Online (Free Tools)
ELA and a few eyeball checks. Won't catch every fake, but catches the lazy ones.
Five eyeball checks
Before reaching for any tool, scan the photo with these in mind:
- Shadows that don't match the light source.
- Reflections that show the wrong objects.
- Lens distortion that flips between parts of the image.
- Fonts on signs that look subtly wrong (kerning, weight).
- Pixel-level smudges or repeating patterns in skin or hair.
Error Level Analysis (ELA)
Run the freeimgtool Tampering Detector. It re-saves the JPEG and compares the error levels per region. Areas edited after the original save typically show different error levels and pop in the heatmap.
ELA is a guide, not proof. A photo saved many times by camera software produces false positives. Use it alongside the eyeball checks, not instead of them.
What to do when you find a manipulation
Don't share the suspect photo with the claim. Note the artifact you saw, link to the source, and let the reader inspect themselves.
Frequently asked questions
Will ELA catch every edit?
No. Edits that are flattened and re-saved as a fresh JPG can become invisible to ELA. ELA catches the easy cases.
Is the verdict 'high' a 100% accusation?
No. Treat it as a flag worth investigating, not a verdict.