ForensAI vs. Forensics Firms
An honest comparison—because they solve different problems
We built ForensAI because most people who need forensic-style analysis of their account data don't need—and can't afford—a full forensics firm engagement. But that doesn't mean firms are never the right choice.
This is an honest breakdown of what each option does, what it costs, and when you should use each one.
The Quick Comparison
| ForensAI | Forensics Firm | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free (limited) / $179 one-time | $3,000–$10,000+ per engagement |
| Time to results | Minutes | Days to weeks |
| Data analyzed | Account exports (Google, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Dropbox) | Account exports + physical devices + deleted data recovery |
| Where analysis happens | 100% on your device | Their lab (your data leaves your possession) |
| Court testimony | No | Yes (certified expert witness) |
| Deleted data recovery | No (analyzes what exports contain) | Yes (hardware-level forensics) |
| Chain of custody certification | Self-documented | Professionally certified |
What ForensAI Does Well
Account-Level Analysis at Consumer Scale
ForensAI is designed for analyzing account data exports—the data you can download from Google Takeout, Apple Privacy Report, Facebook, Instagram, Microsoft, Dropbox, Snapchat, TikTok & X.
These exports contain:
- Login history (who accessed your account, from where)
- Device information (what phones/computers are connected)
- Security events (password changes, 2FA modifications)
- Location data (if enabled)
- Activity logs and timelines
ForensAI parses these exports (which are typically massive, nested JSON files) and identifies patterns that indicate unauthorized access, monitoring, or suspicious behavior. It generates risk scores and creates PDF reports summarizing findings.
Best for:
- Detecting if someone accessed your accounts
- Initial investigation before deciding on next steps
- Documentation for attorneys/legal proceedings
- Ongoing monitoring (unlimited scans)
- Privacy-sensitive situations (no data upload)
What Forensics Firms Do Well
Deep Investigation with Legal Weight
Forensics firms provide services that software can't replicate:
- Physical device forensics — Extracting data directly from phones, computers, hard drives, including deleted files
- Expert testimony — Certified examiners can testify in court about their findings
- Chain of custody certification — Documentation meeting legal standards for evidence handling
- Deleted data recovery — Recovering data that's been "deleted" but still exists on storage media
- Decryption and password recovery — Accessing locked or encrypted devices (within legal bounds)
Best for:
- Cases requiring court testimony
- Criminal investigations
- High-stakes litigation (custody disputes over $100k+ assets)
- Recovering deleted evidence
- Physical device examination
- Corporate investigations requiring certified chain of custody
When to Use ForensAI
- You suspect someone is accessing your accounts and want to check
- You need quick answers (minutes, not weeks)
- Budget is a concern ($179 vs. $3,000+)
- Your evidence is in account exports, not physical devices
- You want to analyze privately (data never leaves your device)
- You need documentation for an attorney to review
- You want to do initial analysis before deciding if a firm is needed
- You need ongoing monitoring (unlimited scans)
When to Use a Forensics Firm
- You need expert testimony in court
- Criminal charges are involved (either direction)
- You need to recover deleted data from a device
- The opposing party will challenge evidence authenticity
- High financial stakes justify the cost
- You need physical device examination
- Corporate policy requires certified forensic examination
The "Start with ForensAI" Strategy
Many attorneys recommend this approach:
- Export your data — Download Google Takeout, Apple, Facebook, etc.
- Scan with ForensAI — Understand what's there (free scan shows top findings)
- Get Full Forensics ($179) — Complete analysis with PDF reports
- Review with attorney — Decide if findings warrant a forensics firm
- Escalate if needed — Hire a firm for testimony or device forensics
This approach saves thousands in cases where account-level analysis is sufficient, while ensuring you don't miss important evidence in cases that need professional examination.
Real Scenarios
Scenario 1: Suspecting Partner Monitoring
Best choice: ForensAI
You want to know if your partner has been accessing your accounts. You don't need court testimony (yet)—you need answers. ForensAI analyzes your Google, Apple, and Facebook exports to show logins from unfamiliar devices or locations. If you find evidence, you can decide next steps with full information. Cost: $179 vs. $3,000+ for the same account-level analysis from a firm.
Scenario 2: Custody Battle Requiring Evidence
Best choice: Start with ForensAI, potentially escalate
Your attorney needs to understand what digital evidence exists. ForensAI gives them a clear picture in hours. If the evidence is strong and contested, they may recommend a forensics firm for testimony. But in many cases, the ForensAI report plus your testimony about how you obtained the exports is sufficient.
Scenario 3: Criminal Stalking Case
Best choice: Forensics firm (but ForensAI for initial documentation)
If you're pursuing criminal charges, prosecutors will want certified forensic examination. But ForensAI can help you document the pattern of behavior while you're gathering other evidence and deciding whether to pursue charges.
Scenario 4: Recovering Deleted Messages
Best choice: Forensics firm
ForensAI analyzes what's in your account exports—it can't recover data that's been deleted from the source. If you need deleted texts, emails, or files recovered from a physical device, you need a forensics firm with hardware forensics capabilities.
Cost Breakdown
| Service | ForensAI | Typical Firm |
|---|---|---|
| Initial analysis | Free (limited) / $179 (full) | $1,500–$4,000 retainer |
| Account export analysis | Included in $179 | $250–$500/hour × 8–20 hours |
| PDF report | Included | $500–$2,000 additional |
| Additional scans | Unlimited | New engagement each time |
| Expert testimony | Not available | $350–$450/hour |
| Typical total (account analysis) | $179 | $3,000–$10,000+ |
For detailed firm pricing, see What Digital Forensics Firms Actually Charge.
The Bottom Line
ForensAI and forensics firms aren't competitors—they solve different problems at different price points.
If you need to understand what's in your account data, need answers quickly, and want to keep your data private, ForensAI delivers professional-grade analysis for $179.
If you need court testimony, deleted data recovery, or certified chain of custody for high-stakes litigation, a forensics firm is the right tool.
Many people start with ForensAI to understand what they're dealing with, then make an informed decision about whether professional forensics are warranted.
Free scans show top findings. Full Forensics ($179) unlocks complete analysis + PDF reports.
ForensAI is an educational tool. For legal matters requiring certified evidence, consult a licensed forensic examiner or attorney.
