GoodSkin vs SkinVision: cosmetic skin analysis vs mole checks

If your goal is to analyze the skin on your face and see whether your routine is working, GoodSkin is the app built for that job. SkinVision is a different kind of product: a CE-marked medical app that assesses a single mole or skin spot for signs of skin cancer risk, and its store listings say it is not intended for use in the US or Canada. GoodSkin does not check moles at all.

So the choice depends on your question. “Is my skin improving with my new routine?” is what GoodSkin is built for, with scores for 14 visible traits and a history you can compare month to month. “Is this spot something to worry about?” belongs with a dermatologist, or with SkinVision where it is available.

GoodSkin vs SkinVision: what each one is for

What is GoodSkin?

GoodSkin is a skin analysis app for iPhone and Android. You take one selfie and the AI analyzes the visible skin on your face. The report gives a Skin Score out of 100 plus scores for 14 traits: Skin Age, Acne, Wrinkles, Dark Spots, Pores, Redness, Pigmentation, Glow, Hydration, Oiliness, Face Shape, Bloat, Elasticity and Texture. Each trait gets a status (from Excellent to Needs Improvement), a short explanation and practical recommendations, and the report also shows your skin type and skin tone.

GoodSkin is a cosmetic and educational tool, not a medical device. It does not diagnose acne, rosacea, melasma, skin cancer or any other condition, and it does not look at individual moles.

What is the SkinVision app?

The SkinVision app is a paid medical service from SkinVision B.V. You photograph one skin spot with the app’s camera, and an algorithm gives you an immediate risk indication for signs of skin cancer. According to SkinVision’s website, a panel of dermatologists may review your photo when extra certainty is needed, and the app suggests a next step, such as whether to see your doctor.

Its store listings describe it as a regulated medical device with European CE marking under the EU Medical Device Regulation (Class IIa). SkinVision says the service does not give a diagnosis, is not a substitute for a healthcare professional, and is not intended for people under 18.

How does the analysis compare?

The two apps look at completely different things. GoodSkin wants a straight-on selfie of your whole face, because it is estimating visible cosmetic traits like fine lines, pore visibility, redness and evenness of tone. SkinVision wants a close-up of one spot, because its algorithm assesses that one spot for signs of skin cancer.

The output is different too. GoodSkin gives you a score, a status and recommendations for each of its 14 traits, plus a scan confidence rating that warns you when a photo is too blurry, dark or badly lit to trust. SkinVision gives you a risk indication for one spot and advice on what to do next. If you are curious how far a phone camera can be trusted for cosmetic scoring, our guide to how accurate AI skin analysis is covers what these apps can and cannot see.

What does the evidence say about skin cancer apps?

SkinVision publishes its validation work on its scientific evidence page, including a hospital study run with Erasmus MC in the Netherlands, and notes that more research is ongoing, especially in everyday users and people with darker skin tones.

Independent reviewers have been more cautious about this whole category. A 2020 systematic review in The BMJ concluded that algorithm-based smartphone apps could not be relied on to detect every melanoma or other skin cancer. That is the main reason to treat any app result, from any company, as a prompt to act rather than an all-clear.

Tracking over time

Tracking is where GoodSkin does most of its work. With GoodSkin Premium you get unlimited scans, scan history by month with your average and best score, a “potential glow” estimate, before-and-after comparisons, daily scan streaks and a daily skincare tip. That is what you need when you are testing a retinol, a sunscreen habit or a new moisturizer and want to see whether wrinkles, redness or dark spots on your face are actually fading.

SkinVision tracks something else. It stores your spot photos and offers a body map, so you can monitor individual moles and share the history with your doctor. For a mole, change over time is one of the most important warning signs. That makes this useful for that specific job.

Privacy

GoodSkin keeps things light. There is no account to create, photos are not stored on GoodSkin’s servers, and your scan history is saved on your phone.

As a medical service, SkinVision handles health data by design. Its App Store privacy label lists data such as health information, photos and your email address as linked to your identity, which is expected when dermatologists may review your images and you keep a history of spots. SkinVision states that it complies with the GDPR in the European Economic Area and is ISO certified for information security.

Cost

GoodSkin is free to download. The full report, unlimited scans and progress tracking come with GoodSkin Premium, an in-app subscription.

SkinVision is free to download, with some free features: risk profile and skin type quizzes, storing images of your moles, and UV information for your area. Risk checks are paid. You can buy a single assessment or unlimited checks for 3 or 12 months, and SkinVision says these are not subscriptions. Prices vary by country, and SkinVision says some health insurers cover the cost.

Is SkinVision available in the US?

Not officially. SkinVision’s App Store and Google Play listings say the app is not intended for use in the United States and Canada, and it does not appear on the US App Store. Its listings name partnerships with insurers, cancer clinics and universities in the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, the Netherlands and New Zealand. GoodSkin, by contrast, is available in the US on the App Store and Google Play.

If you are in the US and a spot worries you, skip the apps and book a skin check with a board-certified dermatologist. Between visits, the AAD’s guide on how to do a skin self-exam shows you how to check your whole body once a month. Knowing your Fitzpatrick skin type can also help you understand how easily your skin burns.

Why people choose GoodSkin

• It reads your whole face. One selfie gives a Skin Score plus 14 named traits, from Acne and Redness to Hydration and Texture.
• Every score comes with a plan. Each trait has a status, a short explanation and practical recommendations that are not tied to any product catalog.
• It is built for tracking. Monthly averages, best scores, before-and-after comparisons and streaks show whether a routine is working.
• It flags bad photos. The scan confidence rating tells you when to retake a selfie instead of trusting a skewed score.
• It is private by design. No account, photos are not stored on GoodSkin’s servers, and your history stays on your phone.
• It is available in the US, on iPhone and Android.

Which should you choose?

• Choose GoodSkin if your goal is analyzing your skin at home: understanding your skin type, scoring traits like wrinkles, pores, hydration and redness, and seeing whether your routine is making a difference. For that job, it is the better app. You can learn more on our AI skin analysis page.
• See a dermatologist if a mole or spot is new, changing, bleeding or simply worrying you, wherever you live. GoodSkin does not check moles, and no app replaces an in-person exam.
• Consider SkinVision for a specific spot, if you live where it is offered, as a prompt to decide whether to get it looked at.

If you want to compare GoodSkin with other cosmetic skin scanners, see our roundup of the best skin analysis apps.