QOVES alternative
QOVES alternatives in 2026: Facet vs QOVES
Last updated: May 22, 2026
TL;DR
If you want clinical facial analysis without the $150 per year QOVES subscription or the 28-day wait, Facet is the alternative. Same use case (structured aesthetic analysis with recommendations), different methodology (deterministic scoring with peer-reviewed citation per threshold), different pricing ($39 once, lifetime), different speed (60 seconds, not 28 days).
Facet vs QOVES, side by side
| Dimension | Facet | QOVES |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | $39 USD, one-time, lifetime access | $150 USD per year, subscription |
| Turnaround time | About 60 seconds | Up to 28 days for initial analysis |
| Methodology transparency | Deterministic engine with cited paper per threshold (Fink, Carruthers, Goode, Sadick) | Proprietary trained models, no per-threshold citation |
| Modules scored | 10 (skin, eyebrows, eyes, nose, lips, cheeks, jawline, hair, beard, overall harmony) | 12 categories with 160+ tests across them |
| Photos required | 1 front-facing (profiles optional) | 6 specific angles required |
| Score reproducibility | Reproducible (deterministic) | Variable (trained-model variance across re-runs) |
| Re-analysis frequency | Unlimited rescans included for life | Annual re-analysis required |
| Ethnicity-aware thresholds | 7 categories baked into the scoring engine | Claims personalization to ethnicity, methodology not public |
| Recommendation protocols | Two per module: natural and clinical | Personalized non-surgical transformation plan |
| Established brand presence | Newer, launched 2026, smaller user base | 35,000+ users, press coverage in major publications, 5+ years established |
When to choose QOVES over Facet
- You want a single comprehensive report from an established, well-known brand with press coverage.
- You are willing to wait nearly a month for the initial analysis to be delivered.
- Annual recurring billing is not a barrier for you.
- You value the specific QOVES report format and existing community.
When to choose Facet over QOVES
- You want results in 60 seconds, not 28 days.
- You prefer a single payment instead of an annual subscription.
- You want to read the exact peer-reviewed paper behind every score in your report.
- You want to track changes over time with unlimited rescans, not annual re-uploads.
- You want a tool you can take to a dermatologist as a clinical baseline.
Pricing in plain numbers
Facet
$39 USD
One-time. Lifetime access. No renewal.
Year 1 cost: $39. Year 5 cost: $39. Year 10 cost: $39.
QOVES
$150 USD
Per year. Cancellable annually.
Year 1 cost: $150. Year 5 cost: $750. Year 10 cost: $1,500.
The methodological difference
Facet's scoring engine is deterministic. Every threshold is mapped to a specific peer-reviewed paper. Fink 2021 for skin homogeneity. Carruthers 2020 for brow ideal. Goode 1984 for nasal tip projection. Sadick TTRS for skin texture. The full citation list is on the methodology page.
QOVES uses proprietary trained models built on aggregated research. The exact thresholds, the training data, and the scoring math are not disclosed publicly.
Both approaches are defensible. Facet's is more transparent, more defensible in a clinical conversation, and more reproducible (re-run the same scan, get the same score). QOVES is more polished as a brand and has more press coverage.
User quote
"I went in thinking it would tell me I'm a 7 and to drink more water. Instead it flagged that my canthal tilt was -2° and my midface ratio was off, then gave me a specific protocol for both. My dermatologist confirmed the skin findings two weeks later. This is the first tool I've used that actually treats your face like a clinical document."
Daniel R., 28, London
Frequently asked
Is Facet really a QOVES alternative?+
Facet and QOVES serve the same use case (structured facial aesthetic analysis with recommendations) with materially different methodologies. Facet uses MediaPipe landmarks and a deterministic scoring engine with peer-reviewed citations behind every threshold. QOVES uses proprietary trained models. Facet delivers in 60 seconds for $39 once; QOVES takes 28 days for $150 per year.
Is Facet cheaper than QOVES?+
Yes. Facet is $39 USD one-time, lifetime access. QOVES is $150 USD per year. After one year, Facet is roughly one-fourth the cost. After three years, Facet is roughly one-twelfth the cost. There is no subscription with Facet.
Is QOVES better than Facet?+
QOVES has stronger brand recognition (35,000+ users, press coverage) and runs 160+ specific tests vs Facet's parameter set. Facet is faster (60 seconds vs 28 days), cheaper ($39 once vs $150 per year), and methodologically transparent (every score cites a paper). The right tool depends on whether you value brand recognition (QOVES) or speed plus methodological transparency plus pricing (Facet).
Can I use Facet to prepare for a QOVES consult?+
Yes. Many users run Facet first to get a clinical baseline, then compare against QOVES or a dermatologist consultation. Because Facet's report includes citations, the parameters and thresholds are defensible in clinical conversations.
Does Facet have the same accuracy as QOVES?+
Accuracy is methodology-dependent and hard to compare directly. Facet uses MediaPipe landmark detection (468 points at sub-millimeter precision) plus deterministic threshold math drawn from peer-reviewed papers. QOVES uses trained models on aggregated research. Both have known limitations (Facet defers profile-only parameters; QOVES uses proprietary scoring that is not externally validated). For methodology details on Facet, see /methodology.
What does QOVES do that Facet does not yet do?+
QOVES has 160+ specific tests across 12 categories. Facet covers 10 modules with deeper depth per module. QOVES requires 6 specific photo angles which gives them more clinical data per scan than Facet's 1 to 3 photos. QOVES has established press coverage and a larger user base. Facet defers several profile-only parameters (Goode nasal index, gonial angle, cervicomental, others) pending a profile-CV pipeline.
One-time payment. Lifetime access. Results in 60 seconds.