Detect a Photoshopped Image Online — Free
Detect a photoshopped image online with Error Level Analysis (ELA). Drop a JPEG, see the regions that were re-encoded at a different compression level than the rest of the photo — usually a sign of edits, paste-ins, or local retouching.
What ELA can and cannot show
Error Level Analysis re-saves the JPEG at a known quality and compares pixel error between the original and the re-save. Edited regions stand out because they were compressed at a different quality than the surrounding pixels. ELA is a signal, not a verdict — a clean photo can have hotspots near hard edges, and a heavily re-saved photo loses the signal entirely.
How to read the result
Bright patches against an otherwise dim background usually mean those pixels were touched after the original capture. Lone bright edges around objects are normal. Bright square or rectangle blocks in mid-photo are suspicious. Compare with the original side-by-side before drawing a conclusion.
Best cases for ELA
ELA works best on unedited, first-generation JPEGs. Screenshots, social-media re-saves, and PNG conversions break the signal. If a friend forwarded a photo through WhatsApp, the platform already re-encoded it once, which limits what ELA can reveal.
Frequently asked questions
Does it work on PNG or screenshots?
Not reliably. ELA depends on JPEG compression artifacts. Convert sources back to original JPEG if possible.
Is this proof of tampering?
No. ELA is a forensic hint, not legal evidence. Use it as a starting point and confirm with manual inspection.
Why does the edge of every object glow?
JPEG compression always introduces some error at high-contrast edges. That is expected and not a sign of editing.
Is it actually free?
Yes. No signup, no daily cap on normal personal use, no watermark on the output. Display ads keep the site free.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. The upload box opens the camera roll on mobile browsers directly.
What happens to my photo?
Uploads are processed to return a download link and removed automatically within an hour. We do not view, share, or sell your files.