Best Mole Checker App Options and What They Can't Tell You

The best mole checker app depends on what you need, and none can tell you a mole is safe. Pori, which we make, is a cosmetic face scanner that doesn't check moles. For moles, SkinVision (EU only) gives a CE-marked risk indication, Miiskin and SkinIO store and compare mole photos with dermatologist access, and Skinive tracks spots. Any spot showing an ABCDE sign needs a dermatologist.

We make Pori, so we've put it first; here's what each app does well. Below you'll find the warning signs to check first, a comparison table, what the accuracy research says, and a short review of each app. Prices and ratings come from official store listings and websites as of October 2026. We didn't test these apps hands-on, and nothing here is medical advice.

What should you check before using any mole app?

Start with the ABCDE rule, because it's what a dermatologist will look at too. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says to see a dermatologist right away if a mole or pigmented spot shows any of these:

• A, asymmetry: one half is unlike the other half.
• B, border: the edge is irregular, scalloped or poorly defined.
• C, color: colors vary from one area to the next, including tan, brown, black, white, red or blue.
• D, diameter: melanomas are usually larger than 6 mm, about the size of a pencil eraser, when diagnosed, but they can be smaller.
• E, evolving: the spot looks different from the rest or is changing in size, shape or color.

Also get checked for a new spot that looks different from your other moles, or one that itches or bleeds. The NHS adds moles that are painful, inflamed or crusty, and new marks that haven't gone away after a few weeks. The AAD notes that melanoma can appear as a dark line under a fingernail or toenail or as a sore that doesn't heal, and that in people of African descent it tends to develop on the palms, the soles or around the nails.

If any of that applies, book the appointment first. An app result shouldn't change that decision.

Best mole checking apps compared

Can a mole scanner app detect skin cancer?

Not reliably enough to replace an exam. A 2020 systematic review in the BMJ found the evidence base small and concluded that current algorithm-based smartphone apps "cannot be relied on to detect all cases of melanoma or other skin cancers." For SkinVision, the most studied app, it found 80% sensitivity and 78% specificity across two studies of 252 lesions.

Later prospective studies told a similar story. A Dutch multicenter study of 785 lesions found 86.9% sensitivity and 70.4% specificity, with specificity falling to 45.5% on lesions that already looked suspicious. A Swiss study of 1,204 pigmented lesions in people at high risk of melanoma found sensitivity of 41.3% to 83.3% and warned about over-detection. In plain terms, these apps miss some cancers and send many people with harmless moles to the doctor.

US readers should also know that the Federal Trade Commission acted in 2015 against two apps, MelApp and Mole Detective, that rated moles low, medium or high risk without adequate scientific evidence. Be wary of any app that promises to tell you a mole is benign. For a broader look at how apps and doctors split the work, see AI skin analysis vs a dermatologist.

The apps, one by one

1. Pori: for your face, not your moles

Pori is our iPhone app (iOS 17 or later). It turns a selfie into a 0–100 skin score in about 10 seconds, with sub-scores for hydration and moisture, pores and texture, pigmentation and tone, anti-aging and elasticity, and overall health, plus a skin-age estimate. It builds a morning and evening routine, keeps a skin diary for sleep, water, stress and diet, and its Pro ingredient scanner flags each ingredient as beneficial, use with caution or avoid for your skin type.

It's on this list so you know where it fits: Pori is a cosmetic tool and is not a medical device. It doesn't diagnose, and it doesn't check moles. If you're tracking how sun exposure is showing on your face, our guide to signs of sun damage on your face explains what a selfie scan can and can't see. For moles, use one of the options below and a dermatologist.

2. SkinVision: the most studied risk checker

SkinVision is CE-marked as an EU MDR Class IIa medical device. You photograph one spot from 4 to 8 inches away, note symptoms such as itching or bleeding, and get a risk indication. According to its Instructions for Use, a high-risk result means seeing a doctor, preferably within 4 weeks, and a low-risk result means rechecking within 3 months. Its website lists €6.99 for a single check, €24.99 for 3 months and €49.99 for a year.

Where it's stronger: real regulatory status and more published accuracy research than any other consumer mole app, plus a body map, reminders and a PDF report for your doctor. Limits: it isn't intended for the US, Canada or anyone under 18; its instructions advise against using it on darker skin types (IV to VI), under nails, near scars or on skin folds; and the algorithm doesn't analyze changes between photos. Our full SkinVision review goes through the studies.

3. Miiskin: photo tracking plus US dermatology

Miiskin takes the opposite approach: no risk score, just organized photos you compare over time. Miiskin says on Google Play that the basics, including comparing two photos side by side, are free, and that Premium adds Automatic Skin Imaging for full-body photos. The US App Store lists Premium at $29.99 a year, "incl. measuring moles and full-body photos." Photos stay encrypted and separate from your camera roll.

Where it's stronger: change tracking, which is what matters most for moles, and a US online dermatology service with consultations from $59 and replies typically in 1 to 2 business days. Limits: the US app now centers on telehealth for acne, rosacea and similar conditions, and some user reviews mention slow replies and paid follow-up messages. See our Miiskin review.

4. SkinIO: total-body photos, often through a clinic

SkinIO builds a digital record of your whole skin. You or your doctor take full-body photos, and the app's AI tracks changes over time. The listing says images can be reviewed in the office with your doctor or sent to a dermatologist, with results in a few days indicating whether follow-up is recommended. It's free on the App Store, rated 4.6 from 64 ratings, and states that its results "are NOT a substitute for medical advice or diagnosis."

Where it's stronger: total-body coverage with a clinician in the loop. Limits: the listing doesn't state any regulatory clearance, and it has few ratings.

5. Skinive: broad spot and rash tracking

Skinive (listed in the US as "AI Skin Analyzer: Mole Checker") photographs and tracks moles, spots and rashes and highlights visible characteristics. Its website says its apps are CE-marked medical software. Its US listing, however, says Skinive "cannot determine whether a mole, spot, or skin lesion is cancerous" and is "not a substitute for professional medical evaluation." US prices run from $4.49 a week to $49.99 a year, and it needs iOS 17.6 or later.

Where it's stronger: covers acne, rashes and eczema-related changes as well as moles. Limits: only 14 US ratings, and the US version makes no risk claims for moles.

6. Your phone's camera and the AAD body mole map

The cheapest option works. The AAD's skin self-exam guide uses a full-length mirror and a hand mirror to check every area, including palms, soles, between the toes, under the nails and the scalp, and offers a free body mole map to record what you find. Add photos taken in the same light and at the same distance each time, and you have a record a dermatologist can use. Our guide to the best apps for consistent progress photos covers the setup.

How should you choose a mole tracking app?

• You want a risk indication and live in Europe or the UK: SkinVision, keeping in mind its limits on darker skin and its false alarms.
• You want to see whether moles change: Miiskin or SkinIO, both built around photo comparison.
• You want a dermatologist to look at your photos in the US: Miiskin's consultations or SkinIO through a participating clinic.
• You have a spot that fits any ABCDE sign: skip the app and book a dermatologist.
• You want to know how your face skin is doing: Pori, with the understanding that it's cosmetic and doesn't look at moles.

People with many moles, a personal or family history of melanoma, or a weakened immune system should ask a dermatologist how often to have a professional skin exam. SkinVision's own instructions tell these groups to seek professional care for any worrying spot.