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iLost Alternative: Guest Loss Reports With vFound AI and Published Prices

iLost already lets the public search found items, in 19 languages, with certifications and paid shipping built in. vFound differs in letting guests report a loss and see possible matches (ranked by vFound AI), giving each venue its own branded site in twelve languages, publishing its prices and charging guests nothing.

The essentials

  • Both iLost and vFound let the public search found items. iLost does it in 19 languages; vFound’s guest pages come in twelve.
  • iLost shows only found items, so people cannot file a lost report; vFound guests can report a loss and see possible matches, ranked by vFound AI.
  • With iLost the owner pays for shipping, including an iLost handling fee; vFound claims are free; return postage is separate.
  • iLost shows several certifications and does not publish business prices; vFound publishes a flat price for Lost & Found: US$75/month, billed yearly at US$900.

The short answer

vFound adds what iLost’s public search leaves out: guests can report a loss, see possible matches at once and get an email if the item turns up later. vFound AI ranks those matches with a one-line reason for each, lets guests describe a loss in a short chat or search with a photo, and writes listings from staff photos. Each venue has its own branded site in twelve languages, the Lost & Found price is published at US$75/month, billed yearly at US$900, there is a 14-day trial that requires a valid card, and claims are free and return postage is separate.

iLost is a capable platform with real advantages, especially for multilingual and public-sector operators, so read the comparison before you decide.

How iLost works

iLost for Business is a lost and found platform for organisations, run by iLost B.V., with a free public search site. It serves events, city and government, transport, hotels, amusement parks and more.

Anyone can search an organisation’s found items 24 hours a day in 19 languages, as on the Eindhoven Airport page. Photos can be shown, though organisations may withhold them to prevent fraudulent claims. Only found items are displayed, and people cannot file a lost report. The organisation that found an item verifies ownership using control features. For returns, the owner pays for shipping online, and iLost charges a handling fee, and some organisations add an admin fee.

Its strengths are substantial. iLost claims ISO 27001, ISO 9001, GDPR, PCI DSS and WCAG 2.1, and names customers including Arriva, GVB, Connexxion, Q-dance, Meininger Hotels, Walibi, several Dutch municipalities and Pathé. Business pricing is not published; its business terms say fees follow the initial offer, the customer contract or its price list.

Where vFound differs

Guests can tell you what they lost. On vFound, a guest who cannot see their item can report the loss and instantly see possible matches to check. For 90 days, they get an email each time a likely match is logged. Guests can describe the loss in their own words and language in a short chat that fills in the report for them to check and send. vFound AI then ranks likely matches with a one-line reason for each. A guest who tracks the item with Apple Find My can attach a Find My share link to the report. Staff see every report and can turn one into a claim.

vFound AI does the busywork. Staff snap a photo and vFound AI suggests the title, category, color, any brand it can read on the item, a description and tags. It writes search keywords in six languages for each listing it fills in, so a guest who types “cartera” or “portefeuille” finds the wallet, and guests can search with a photo of what they lost. When the photo it reads shows an ID, a bank card or a lit screen, it switches that photo to staff-only. AI suggests. Your team decides.

A site that is yours. Each venue gets its own branded lost and found website at yourvenue.vfound.io, with your name, colors and cover photo, plus printable QR code signs and a widget that adds it to your own website. Guest pages, claim pages and emails come in English, Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Swedish, Turkish, Japanese and Simplified Chinese. The catalogue is photo-led, each item can be published with or without its photo, and you can use your own subdomain, such as lostandfound.yourhotel.com.

Private claims with proof. Guests submit a private claim, answer category-specific verification questions and can attach proof photos. Staff accept or decline, and the conversation runs through a private email link with no account needed. vFound AI compares the answers and proof photos with your private record and gives staff a suggestion, red flags and a question to ask next. It also translates guest messages, and staff can reply in the guest’s language.

Published venue prices, free claims and separate postage. vFound Lost & Found is US$75/month, billed yearly at US$900, with a self-serve 14-day trial that requires a valid card. vFound claims are free; return postage is separate, the venue sets any shipping arrangement, and guests collecting in person can book a pickup time. vFound offers paid return shipping only on enabled, reviewed routes, with postage and a separate service fee. Compare each provider’s actual route coverage and guest price before choosing.

iLost and vFound side by side

iLostvFound
Public searchYes, 24 hours a day, in 19 languagesYes, any time, no account or app; guest pages in twelve languages, AI search keywords for listings written with photo auto-fill, and photo search
Venue brandingOrganisation page on iLost’s search site; where agreed, scripts add a search bar, button and found item overview to your websiteOwn site at yourvenue.vfound.io with your name, colors and cover photo; your own subdomain; website widget
Guest loss reportsNot possible; only found items are shownGuests see possible matches instantly (ranked by vFound AI), then an email each time a likely match is logged over 90 days
PhotosCan be shown, or hidden for securityPublish with or without the photo, and AI switches a photo it reads to staff-only if it shows an ID or a bank card
Ownership checksOrganisation verifies with control featuresPrivate claim, category-specific questions, proof photos; a vFound AI claim check with red flags. Staff accept or decline
ShippingOwner pays online; includes an iLost handling fee, and some organisations add an admin feePickup booking and manual returns; optional paid shipping on enabled, reviewed routes, with postage and a separate vFound service fee
CertificationsClaims ISO 27001, ISO 9001, GDPR, PCI DSS, WCAG 2.1None listed
PricingNot published; its business terms refer to the offer, the customer contract or its price listUS$75/month, billed yearly (US$900 a year); 14-day trial, valid card required
Track recordArriva, GVB, Pathé and others, named on its business siteNo public figures

Positioning reflects each vendor’s public materials as of September 2026; confirm current features and prices with the vendor before deciding.

For each fact with a link to its source, see vFound vs iLost.

Who should choose which

Choose iLost if your visitors speak many languages, if you are a transport operator, municipality or large event organiser that needs certifications such as ISO 27001 and PCI DSS, or if you want owners to pay for shipping online without your team handling payment.

Choose vFound if you want guests to be able to report a loss, see possible matches at once (ranked by vFound AI) and hear back when the item appears, you want a lost and found site in your own brand, you want a flat price you can budget for, and you want free claims with return postage priced separately. vFound AI also writes your listings and checks claims, while your team makes every decision.

Try vFound free for 14 days, or compare the field in our best lost and found software guide.

Optional online return shipping is offered only on enabled, reviewed routes. A guest sees postage and the separate vFound service fee before choosing to pay. The venue still approves the claim, packs the item and physically hands it to the carrier. See the return-shipping terms.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best iLost alternative?

For venues that want guests to report a loss, see possible matches and receive an email if the item is logged later, vFound is a photo-first alternative with its own branded site per venue, vFound AI and published prices. If you need 19 languages or certifications, iLost may fit better.

Can people report a lost item on iLost?

No. iLost’s support site says only found items are displayed and people cannot file a lost report. They search the found items an organisation has published. vFound lets guests do both: search, or report a loss and get an email each time a likely match is logged over the next 90 days.

Who pays for shipping with iLost and with vFound?

With iLost, the owner pays for shipping online, and the price includes an iLost handling fee; some organisations add an admin fee. vFound claims are free; return postage is separate, and the venue decides whether to offer pickup or its own shipping. Guests collecting in person can book a pickup time within the venue’s hours.

How much does iLost cost?

iLost does not publish business pricing on its site; its business terms refer to the initial offer, the customer contract or its price list. vFound Lost & Found costs US$75/month, billed yearly at US$900, with a 14-day free trial that requires a valid card.

Does vFound use AI?

Yes. vFound AI suggests an item’s details from one photo, writes search keywords for it in six languages, lets guests search with a photo or describe a loss in a short chat, ranks likely matches and checks claims for staff. It never changes a claim or item status on its own: a person at the venue decides each claim and each return.

About this article

Prepared by vFound, the front desk suite for venues: lost and found, parcels, coat check, equipment checkout and visitor sign-in. Our guides explain practical workflows and the features available in vFound. Examples are illustrative, not customer case studies. Send a correction or question.