MicroPlastics vs PlastIQ
Also the answer if you searched for a plastiq alternative.
We make one of these apps. Read the table accordingly: we lead 8 rows and 0 are comparable, and we chose which rows to compare. Every claim about PlastIQ comes from their own public materials, linked at the bottom, last checked August 9, 2026 — if one is wrong, tell us and we will correct it.
The short answer
The closest competitor conceptually — packaging-aware, 0–100, exposure tracking. Two practical differences: scanning here does not sit behind a paywall on first use, and the whole database is readable on the web for free without an account. We also publish the model and grade the evidence, so you can see which numbers rest on a laboratory result and which rest on an inference.
What PlastIQ is
PlastIQ analyses a food item and estimates microplastic contamination from packaging, ingredients and food type, returning a colour-coded 0–100 risk score. It keeps a history log and tracks daily, weekly and monthly exposure averages. Its listing states that scanning requires an account and a paid subscription, with a 3-day trial.
Side by side
| PlastIQ | MicroPlastics | |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging in the model | Yes, stated explicitly | Yes — 30 of 100 points plus its own format database |
| Exposure tracking | Daily, weekly and monthly averages | Daily plastic count, streaks and long-run profile |
| Free scans without an account | Listing states an account and subscription are required, with a 3-day trial | Three free scans, and the full web database with no account at all |
| Free web database | Not published | 102 products, 30 materials, 15 formats, 120+ ingredients, all free |
| Published scoring model | Described in outline | Five components with fixed maxima, rendered per page |
| Evidence grade per product | Not described in their public materials | A–D, capping stated confidence |
| Use conditions in the score | Not described in their public materials | 25 of 100 points |
| Cosmetics and personal care | Food-focused | Covered, with an INCI checker and brand database |
"Not described in their public materials" means exactly that — we can only report what a company publishes, and absence of a published claim is not proof a feature is missing.
Which one you want
Use PlastIQ if
You want a food-only tool and are happy to subscribe before your first scan.
Use MicroPlastics if
You want to try before paying, or you want to look something up on the web without installing anything at all. The product database is free and needs no account.
These are not mutually exclusive and we are not going to pretend they are. Plenty of people run a broad scanner for the weekly shop and a specialist for the things they use every day.
Check our working before you install anything
The whole database is on the web, free, with no account: 132 products scored component by component, 30 materials, 15 packaging formats, and 24 sources each listed with what it does not establish. That is a harder thing to fake than a feature list.
Frequently Asked Questions
MicroPlastics or PlastIQ — which should I use?
Is MicroPlastics a good PlastIQ alternative?
How do we know this comparison is accurate?
Where these claims come from
Checked August 9, 2026. Spotted something wrong? Tell us — corrections are published, not quietly applied.
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