Best timestamping services for creators (2026): an honest comparison

What any timestamp can and can’t show

A timestamp records that a piece of data existed at or before a certain time. For a file, that data is usually its hash: a short code calculated from the file’s exact contents. Change one pixel or one note and the hash changes.

So a good timestamp can help you show two things:

• that an exact file existed no later than the recorded time
• that a file shown later still matches the one that was recorded

The same limits apply to every option on this page. A timestamp is a dated record, not a right.

This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your situation, speak to a lawyer in your country.

Three kinds of timestamping service

1. RFC 3161 Time Stamping Authorities (TSAs). You send a file’s hash to a TSA. It returns a token signed with its certificate, containing the hash and the time. This is the standard behind timestamps in signed PDFs and code signing. Some TSAs are free: freetsa.org says “freeTSA.org provides a free Time Stamp Authority.” In the EU, a time-stamp from a qualified trust service provider is a “qualified electronic time stamp” under the eIDAS Regulation.

2. Bitcoin anchoring. The hash, or a value built from many hashes, is written into a Bitcoin transaction. The date comes from the public blockchain rather than from one company’s certificate. OpenTimestamps and TimeBinder both work this way. OriginStamp’s FAQ says it anchors hashes “on public blockchains like Bitcoin or Ethereum”.

3. Private registries. You upload your work. The registry stores it and issues a dated certificate. Safe Creative and Copyrighted.com are well-known examples. Neither is a government copyright office.

For more on the first two, see RFC 3161 vs blockchain timestamps.

Best timestamping services for creators compared

WIPO PROOF used to appear on lists like this one. WIPO’s own page says “The token generation service was therefore terminated on January 31, 2022.” See WIPO PROOF alternatives.

Where TimeBinder fits

TimeBinder is built for people who want a Bitcoin-anchored record without running software. You open the app, add up to 10 files, and choose Pooled or ASAP. Your browser calculates each file’s SHA-256 hash, and the file never leaves your device. You get a Proof of Time Certificate that a client, collaborator or lawyer can read.

You choose how the record is anchored:

• Pooled (1 Token). Your fingerprint is grouped with other users’ in one shared Bitcoin entry, usually recorded within 24 to 48 hours, and often sooner, depending on Bitcoin network activity. It’s checked through TimeBinder. The Free plan’s monthly Token covers one Pooled TimeBind.
• ASAP (3 Tokens). It gets its own Bitcoin transaction, sent straight away. It can be checked independently with the certificate and the Bitcoin blockchain, without relying on TimeBinder.

You can make a TimeBind publicly checkable with a QR code, or limit it to email addresses you choose. Checking a TimeBind is free.

TimeBinder is a good fit for drafts and versions you’d rather not upload: unreleased tracks, manuscript chapters, client concepts and source code. It’s also a good fit when you want a certificate instead of a proof file.

When another option is better

Be honest with yourself about what you need. Another option will often suit you better.

• You’re in the EU and need a qualified electronic time stamp. Use a qualified Time Stamping Authority. A Bitcoin timestamp is not a qualified electronic time stamp.
• You’re comfortable with a command line and want it free. OpenTimestamps is free, its code is published on GitHub, and it may be all you need. See TimeBinder vs OpenTimestamps, OpenTimestamps alternatives and free blockchain timestamp options.
• You already sign PDFs or code. Your signing tool probably supports RFC 3161 time-stamps already.
• You want a registry that stores a copy and offers extras. Safe Creative and Copyrighted.com do that. See Safe Creative and Copyrighted.com alternatives.
• You need an API for a business system. OriginStamp is built for integrations. See TimeBinder vs OriginStamp.

When TimeBinder isn’t the right tool

• You need a government copyright registration. TimeBinder isn’t one.
• You need an EU qualified electronic time stamp.
• You want to stop people copying your work. A timestamp can’t do that.
• You want a free tool with no account, and you’re happy to keep and check .ots files yourself. OpenTimestamps fits that better.
• You only ever need Pooled TimeBinds and you can’t rely on TimeBinder being available to check them. Use ASAP, or another method.

Choose in two minutes

1. Do you need an EU qualified time stamp? Yes: use a qualified TSA. No: keep going.
2. Will you install tools and keep a proof file next to every original? Yes: try OpenTimestamps. No: keep going.
3. Do you want the provider to store a copy of your work? Yes: look at a registry. No: keep going.
4. Do you want a readable certificate and no upload? TimeBinder fits. Use Pooled for everyday drafts, and ASAP when someone else may need to check it without relying on TimeBinder.

Which plan fits

From TimeBinder’s pricing page, in US dollars:

• Free: $0. The Free plan includes 1 Token every month (1 Pooled TimeBind). No credit card required. The Free plan’s monthly Token doesn’t roll over.
• Essential: $20 a month for 5 Tokens. It replaces the Free plan’s monthly Token, and unused Tokens roll over every month.
• Expert: $50 a month for 15 Tokens (15 Pooled, 5 ASAP or a mix). Unused Tokens roll over every month.
• Enterprise: custom Token limits and dedicated support. Service terms for every plan are set out in the TimeBinder Terms and Conditions.
• Extra Tokens, no plan needed: 1 for $5, 3 for $15 or 9 for $40. Tokens you buy never expire.

For musicians and creatives, the pricing page says: “Buying Tokens on the Free plan costs the same or less, so Essential is about convenience, not a lower price.”