TimeBinder vs CreatorSeal: which suits how often you timestamp?

TimeBinder vs CreatorSeal at a glance

Where CreatorSeal is stronger

• Frequent sealing. If you seal every draft, a flat monthly price with no caps may cost less than paying per record.
• Creator-focused extras. Its plan includes a provenance PDF, a raw evidence bundle and a sealed display copy for sharing.
• RFC 3161 format. That suits processes that ask for that standard, and its pricing page says the timestamp token can be checked with standard tools without relying on CreatorSeal.

Where TimeBinder may suit you better

• A free plan that keeps going. One Pooled TimeBind a month is free with no time limit. CreatorSeal’s free access is a 3-day trial.
• No subscription needed. You can buy Tokens only when you need them, and Tokens you buy never expire.
• Up to 10 files in one record. A manuscript, its cover art and your notes can share one certificate.
• Bitcoin rather than a single time-stamp authority. An ASAP TimeBind can be checked from the certificate and the Bitcoin blockchain, without relying on TimeBinder.
• A plain choice between cost and independence:
• – 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.
• – ASAP (3 Tokens): It gets its own Bitcoin transaction, sent straight away, and can be checked independently, without relying on TimeBinder.

A rough cost check

These figures use only the prices on each site. At TimeBinder’s 9-for-$40 Token rate, CreatorSeal’s standard $19 a month would buy about 4 Pooled TimeBinds (about 3 at its $15 Founding Member rate), on top of the Free plan’s monthly Token. So if you timestamp up to about 5 times a month, TimeBinder is likely to cost the same or less. If you seal many drafts a week, CreatorSeal’s flat price is likely to cost less. Which plan do I need shows TimeBinder’s own maths. For creators it suggests the Free plan plus Tokens, or Expert from 13 Tokens a month.

When TimeBinder isn’t the right tool

• You want to timestamp every draft, many times a week, for one flat price. A plan with unlimited seals may suit you better.
• Your process asks for an RFC 3161 timestamp. See RFC 3161 vs a blockchain timestamp.
• You need to register copyright. That’s done through your country’s official process, not a timestamp.
• You need a signature or identity check. A timestamp isn’t one.

TimeBinder pricing

• Free: $0. 1 Token a month (1 Pooled TimeBind). No credit card required. Use it each month, as it doesn’t carry over.
• Essential: $20 a month for 5 Tokens (5 Pooled, or 1 ASAP + 2 Pooled). A paid plan replaces the Free plan’s monthly Token. Unused Tokens roll over. Cancel any time.
• Expert: $50 a month for 15 Tokens (15 Pooled, 5 ASAP, or a mix).
• Extra Tokens: 1 for $5, 3 for $15 or 9 for $40. Tokens you buy never expire.

Enterprise plans have custom Token limits and dedicated support. Service terms for every plan are set out in the TimeBinder Terms and Conditions. Checking a TimeBind is free. More options for creators are in the best timestamping services for creators.