What book is this?
If all you have is a picture of a cover, there are three ways to name the book: ask people who know books, search the image with Google Lens, or let Buki read the cover where you found it and keep the book on your shelf. Here is what each one is good at.
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Three ways to find out
| Ask people (r/whatsthatbook) | Google Lens | Buki | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How | Post the picture and wait for an answer | Search the image | Click the picture where you saw it |
| Speed | Depends on who answers | Seconds | A few seconds |
| Hard covers | Good: people know rare editions | Very good at recognising covers | Reads the cover and the post's words together |
| Keeps the book | No | No: close the panel and it is gone | Yes, on a shelf, with the post you found it in |
| Cost | Free | Free | Ten catches free, then $29 a year, or $4 a month |
Questions people ask
Can Google Lens tell me what book this is?
Often, yes. Lens is very good at recognising covers. It does not keep the book: close the panel and the answer is gone. Buki names the book and saves it to your shelf with the post you found it in.
Is there a free way to identify a book from a picture?
Yes. Google Lens and communities like r/whatsthatbook are free. Buki is free for ten catches, and a catch is one picture, however many books it holds.
What if the photo does not show the title?
Buki reads the whole cover, not only the title, and sends the post's text along with the picture, because a caption often names a book its cover hides. Every guess is checked against OpenLibrary before you see it.
Does it work on a photo of a whole shelf or a stack?
Yes. One picture can hold up to 20 books, and Buki lists each one so you choose which to keep.
Will it ever get the book wrong?
Sometimes, on a blurry or half-hidden cover. Nothing is saved until you choose a pile, so a wrong guess costs you one click.
Do I need an account?
No. Your shelf lives in your browser, and nothing about it leaves your computer.
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