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Over the last decade, there has been a boom in the facial recognition industry— biometric authentication and identification technologies are being incorporated into solutions in virtually every niche. Facial recognition has pervaded our daily life, which is especially apparent in the huge number of smartphone apps that use facial biometric software.
Some are used for entertainment, others for genetic evaluations, and still more for mobile banking: the possibilities are endless. With so many choices available on Google Play and in the Apple Store, how can you know which ones are worth trying out? Read on to learn all about our favorite facial recognition apps on the market.
What Is a Facial Recognition App?
How Do Face Recognition Apps Work?
Top Face Recognition Apps
Luxand (Android, IOS)
TrueKey (Android, IOS)
Railer (Android, IOS)
MojiPop (Android, IOS)
Log Me (Android, IOS)
IObit Applock (Android)
FacePhi (Android, IOS)
FaceFirst (Android, IOS)
FaceApp (Android, IOS)
Face2Gene (Android, IOS)
DigiPass (Android, IOS)
Blippar (Android, IOS)
BioID (Android, IOS)
Applock (Android)
Who Uses Face Recognition Apps?
Airports
Education Facilities
Retail Stores and Supermarkets
Marketing Agencies
Social Media
Medics
Bonus: Entertaining Apps That Use Face Recognition
Summary
Facial Recognition Apps FAQ
How do I use Google's face recognition?
How do facial recognition apps work?
What is a simple facial recognition application?
Are there any face recognition apps for Android?
Are there any face recognition apps for iOS?
Do any facial recognition apps have an API?
What Is a Facial Recognition App?
Before we dive into the top face recognition apps, we want to give you a quick rundown of what exactly facial recognition is and how it works in an app. Biometric technology assesses an individual’s physical or behavioral characteristics— one of which is their facial features. A deep learning algorithm captures and analyzes a face and then compares it to a stored face print contained in the system’s database.
Facial recognition apps can identify faces by analyzing video frames, close-ups, or distance photos. The program identifies certain points, or nodes, of a person’s face. The nodes, along with skin surface analysis and 3D face mapping, are used to determine a face’s features.
Characteristics such as the width of the nose, the shape of the cheekbones, or even the depth of the eye sockets may be analyzed. The system uses these features to create a digital image and store it as a template, which can be used for identification and verification purposes later on. However, the accuracy and the quality of the software will have a drastic impact on the effectiveness of its application.
The facial recognition market has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years and is anticipated to continue doing so: the latest projection expects it to grow to $7 billion in 2024, as compared to $3.2 billion in 2019. For more information on the current state of the facial recognition market, check out our related article.
How Do Face Recognition Apps Work?
In the simplest terms, a face recognition app follows these steps when identifying a human face:
- The application captures a picture of your face from a video or an image.
- The application reads your facial geometry.
- Your facial reading is compared to a database of face prints.
- The software recognizes your face print, and you gain access to the system.
Of course, there are also some apps that are used for entertainment purposes rather than security. For instance, some may read your facial geometry and then adjust it to show you how you would look older, younger, or as the opposite gender.
For a less bare-bones explanation of how face recognition technology works, check out our post on the topic.
Top Face Recognition Apps
Luxand (Android, IOS)
| Type of Application | Facial memorization and recognition |
| Developer | Luxand, Inc. |
| Distinctive Features | Memorizes faces for future reference Software can detect 70 different facial features Recognizes faces in live streams |
| Advantages | Great facial APKs Users can add names to photos Users can experiment with changing an avatar’s characteristics |
| Design | Loaded with features and a gallery is available to easily access stored face prints |
| Speed of Face Recognition | Realtime, as fast as 0.00154 seconds |
| Accuracy | Highly accurate; true acceptance rate of 99.83% |
| Price | Free trial, then $9— $499/month |
| Bugs/Cons | Doesn’t work with the rear camera |
TrueKey (Android, IOS)
| Type of Application | Password management and protection |
| Developer | McAfee Security |
| Distinctive Features | Passwords are securely stored MFA is the standard, and you can add even more factors |
| Main Advantages | After logging in, all apps that need a password will be synchronized AES-256 encryption |
| Design | Applauded for its easy-to-use design |
| Speed of Face Recognition | Nearly instant |
| Accuracy | False positive data is not published |
| Price | Free for 15 passwords $19.99/year for unlimited passwords |
| Bugs/Cons | No apparent bugs, but one disadvantage is the lack of options for multiple users |
Railer (Android, IOS)
| Type of Application | Student and employee attendance |
| Developer | MEGASAP |
| Distinctive Features | Leave management Time attendance for HR teams Kiosk mode and self-check-in/checkout are available Face recognition lets employees log in and out quickly |
| Main Advantages | Attendance and leaves are seamlessly integrated Detailed reports and analytics are available |
| Design | |
| Speed of Face Recognition | Real-time; exact speed stats are not published |
| Accuracy | Published accuracy of 99.7% |
| Price | Free for up to 3 users $40— $400 for paid plans |
| Bugs/Cons | Some users believe the app needs too many permissions |
MojiPop (Android, IOS)
| Type of Application | Customized avatars |
| Developer | Eureka Studios |
| Distinctive Features | Available in 58 languages Create an avatar based on a selfie Change your avatar’s expression, hairstyle, mood, and background |
| Main Advantages | Quick and easy to use Convert avatar stickers to different file formats Thousands of new types of animated stickers are released every day |
| Design | Fun, colorful design full of customizable options |
| Speed of Face Recognition | Nearly instant |
| Accuracy | The app is used for entertainment purposes, rather than facial recognition— therefore, there is no false positive data released |
| Price | Free version Premium costs $5.99/month or $29.99/year |
| Bugs/Cons | Users can’t delete existing avatars |
Log Me (Android, IOS)
| Type of Application | Online photo directory |
| Developer | New Life AI |
| Distinctive Features | Recognizes faces in photos and pulls up their social media accounts You can connect with people you may know through facial identification |
| Main Advantages | Can extract multiple faces from a photo You can access images that are uploaded to your social media accounts |
| Design | Simple design with large, labeled icons |
| Speed of Face Recognition | Nearly instant |
| Accuracy | No accuracy information is published; however, some Google Play reviews claim that the results are inaccurate |
| Price | Free |
| Bugs/Cons | You can’t delete photos from the app Some people have difficulties registering for an account |
IObit Applock (Android)
| Type of Application | Device security |
| Developer | IObit Applock Team |
| Distinctive Features | Unlock your apps via face recognition or fingerprint authentication Liveness detection feature When somebody attempts to unlock your device, the app emails you a photo of them |
| Main Advantages | AI and deep learning are combined to give users a highly accurate experience You can add fake covers and disguise the lock-screen |
| Design | User-friendly and feature-rich |
| Speed of Face Recognition | According to reviews, very fast |
| Accuracy | No accuracy stats are published, but the app has great reviews |
| Price | Free with ads or one-time $2.99 cost for the premium version |
| Bugs/Cons | Sometimes, users pay for the premium version and still get ads |
FacePhi (Android, IOS)
| Type of Application | Banking |
| Developer | Tres Tristes Tigres |
| Distinctive Features | Identity can be verified by PIN, ID number, or a card, after which a facial scan is requested All mobile banking services can be accessed after verification |
| Main Advantages | Very reputable app that is publicly tradable on Euronext Over 10 million people use their solutions Eye biometrics solution lets users approve transactions instantaneously |
| Design | Sophisticated and sleek design |
| Speed of Face Recognition | Ultra high-speed |
| Accuracy | 99% accuracy |
| Price | Corporate-oriented app with customized prices |
| Bugs/Cons | Some issues with older iPhone models ever since iOS 13 was implemented |
FaceFirst (Android, IOS)
| Type of Application | Facial identification and security from afar |
| Developer | FaceFirst |
| Distinctive Features | You can take a photograph of somebody from a distance, and the app will notify you if they are on a watchlist Security alerts are routed to relevant people Email and text alerts can be sent to organizations |
| Main Advantages | Fast notifications Data encryption Works as a standalone solution, but it can also be integrated into a company’s existing biometric platform |
| Design | Unappealing UI |
| Speed of Face Recognition | Ultra-fast |
| Accuracy | Exceptional accuracy at up to 100 feet Works even when beards, scarves, sunglasses, or hats are included in the photo |
| Price | Free for end-users |
| Bugs/Cons | The iOS app has different functionalities from the Android one |
FaceApp (Android, IOS)
| Type of Application | Entertainment |
| Developer | FaceApp Inc. |
| Distinctive Features | AI-based styling functions Users can change their background easily Change your facial features, such as your smile, your gender, or your age |
| Main Advantages | Plenty of cosmetic features and filters Professional quality results |
| Design | Excellent in-app navigation |
| Speed of Face Recognition | The app alters your facial features in real-time |
| Accuracy | Accuracy is irrelevant, as FaceApp does not identify or authenticate faces |
| Price | Basic features are free Ad-free version for $4.99/month or $29.99/year |
| Bugs/Cons | FaceApp has privacy issues that have made the app fairly controversial |
Face2Gene (Android, IOS)
| Type of Application | Healthcare |
| Developer | FDNA |
| Distinctive Features | Discovers genetic abnormalities Special communities can be created for health care practitioners Users receive feedback on their cases |
| Main Advantages | Many syndromes are available for detection On par with a doctor’s diagnosis |
| Design | Some difficulties with navigation and UI |
| Speed of Face Recognition | Much faster than making a diagnosis in-person |
| Accuracy | 91% accuracy |
| Price | Free |
| Bugs/Cons | Only healthcare professionals can use Face2Gene |
DigiPass (Android, IOS)
| Type of Application | Mobile enterprise security |
| Developer | OneSpan |
| Distinctive Features | Secures devices from malware attacks using fingerprint and facial recognition Users can scan a QR code from a website they’d like to use (Step 1 of 2FA) and then scan their face (Step 2 of 2FA) |
| Main Advantages | Fraud protection Advanced biometrics to validate identity for transactions |
| Design | Very simple, clean design |
| Speed of Face Recognition | Nearly instantaneous |
| Accuracy | No metrics are published; however, Digipass won the 2018 Cybersecurity Excellence Award |
| Price | Free for end-users |
| Bugs/Cons | Some users get an internal error “4067” and are unable to register |
Blippar (Android, IOS)
| Type of Application | Educational |
| Developer | Blippar |
| Distinctive Features | Scan everyday objects to learn about them Create AR face profiles and customize them to display your mood |
| Main Advantages | You can use the app to scan a product that has Blippar’s logo on it |
| Design | Poorly designed UI |
| Speed of Face Recognition | It doesn’t recognize your face, but it does have a database of nearly 400,000 celebrities |
| Accuracy | While it’s easy to scan objects, there are some reviews of results being inaccurate |
| Price | Free |
| Bugs/Cons | Login bugs hamper user experience |
BioID (Android, IOS)
| Type of Application | Multi-factor user authentication |
| Developer | BioID |
| Distinctive Features | Liveness detection feature Periocular eye recognition is used for faces that are only partially visible |
| Main Advantages | Companies and developers can integrate this into their own mobile platform End users can use it to log into any website or application that supports the BioID app |
| Design | Simple to use and user-friendly support |
| Speed of Face Recognition | No metrics are published |
| Accuracy | 97% to 99% accuracy |
| Price | Free |
| Bugs/Cons | Demo is very limited Some users have issues passing the liveness check |
Applock (Android)
| Type of Application | Voice unlocking |
| Developer | Sensory |
| Distinctive Features | Face and voice recognition are combined to unlock your device’s apps in a seamless manner You can create a backup verification method if your face or voice are abnormally affected (for instance, if you are sick) |
| Main Advantages | Choose which apps you want to lock Enrollment is easy and fast Works offline |
| Design | Fun, interactive user interface |
| Speed of Face Recognition | Metrics aren’t published |
| Accuracy | Metrics aren’t published, but most user reviews seem satisfied with the accuracy |
| Price | Free with ads $2.99 for the PRO version |
| Bugs/Cons | Some privacy issues |
Who Uses Face Recognition Apps?
Face recognition apps are becoming more popular in a variety of industries— for a comprehensive breakdown, read our article “What Is Facial Recognition Used For?”
Airports
People who come and go into airports can be monitored by airport security with the assistance of face recognition systems. This can identify travelers who have expired visas or who may be under criminal investigation.
Education Facilities
Attendance apps allow teachers to keep track of students who are skipping classes or hiring people to take tests for them. Such solutions let universities maintain their integrity.
Retail Stores and Supermarkets
Such places can combine facial recognition with surveillance cameras in order to scan shoppers’ faces and prevent shoplifting.
Marketing Agencies
Marketing agencies can use facial applications to target people based on their ethnicity, gender, or age and match them with relevant products.
Social Media
Social media platforms like Facebook can recognize faces in uploaded photos— users can tag those faces, and the photo will show up on the people’s profiles.
Medics
Doctors can use face recognition apps to help identify genetic abnormalities. For instance, the Face2Gene app discussed earlier has over 17,000 genetic disorders in their database.
Bonus: Entertaining Apps That Use Face Recognition
There are many apps that use facial recognition for purely entertainment purposes. With these, you can turn yourself into a customizable avatar, see what your ethnicity might be, or change your facial characteristics. Such apps include:
- Snapchat: Send filtered and customized photos to friends. These photos disappear after they are viewed.
- Animoji: Create 3D emojis that take your facial expressions into account.
- EmoticonAR for Messenger: The app recognizes your emotion in a photo of your face and turns it into an accurate emoticon.
- My Heritage: The app’s advanced face recognition algorithms give users insight into their possible genealogy.
- Gradient: Scan your face and see what celebrities you look like!
Summary
Face recognition technology is here to stay. There are a huge number of apps in the Apple Store and Google Play that have integrated facial recognition technology— and, as you can see, nearly every industry can benefit from using these solutions. Banking, device unlocking, genetic disorder identification, and entertainment: these are just a few of the most common kinds of facial recognition apps on the market. If you use any of our recommended apps, let us know!
Facial Recognition Apps FAQ
How do I use Google's face recognition?
Use your Android device to open your Google Photos app. Sign in to your account and tap the search bar at the top of the app. Under the list of recent searches, there will be a row of faces— tap a face to see photos associated with them.
How do facial recognition apps work?
Facial recognition apps scan many points or “nodes” of a person’s face and then compares the user’s facial geometry to a stored template. If it’s a match, the user is verified and gains access to the restricted zone.
What is a simple facial recognition application?
Some facial recognition applications don’t need to identify or authenticate users’ faces, as they were developed for purely entertainment purposes. For instance, Animoji just creates emojis based on your facial expression.
Are there any face recognition apps for Android?
Yes, some popular ones include Luxand, Blippar, Face2Gene, FaceApp, and Applock.
Are there any face recognition apps for iOS?
Yes, some popular ones include BioID, DigiPass, FaceFirst, FacePhi, and Log Me.
Do any facial recognition apps have an API?
Yes, plenty of apps do. Take, for instance, Luxand. It has facial recognition, avatar, e-card, baby prediction, aging, zombie, and face enhancement APIS.
