Compare

TimeBinder vs ProofStamper: which file timestamp fits you?

Start with one file Any file type. Up to 10 files per TimeBind. Opens plans and pricing.

Clicking opens our plans and pricing page. Start on the Free plan there. Files are hashed locally on your computer; nothing is uploaded or stored by TimeBinder.

ProofStamper issues RFC 3161 timestamps via FreeTSA, with a free tier. TimeBinder records file fingerprints on Bitcoin. Here’s a fair side-by-side.

Your files never leave your computer. With TimeBinder, each file is hashed locally on your own device. Nothing is uploaded or stored by TimeBinder.

TimeBinder vs ProofStamper: the short answer

ProofStamper and TimeBinder both fingerprint your file in your browser, so the file itself isn’t uploaded. The difference is what the fingerprint is sent to. ProofStamper gets an RFC 3161 timestamp from an independent Time Stamping Authority, FreeTSA, and its free tier needs no registration. TimeBinder records the fingerprint on the Bitcoin blockchain and gives you a Proof of Time Certificate. If you want a free, standard RFC 3161 timestamp for one file at a time, ProofStamper is a reasonable choice and costs nothing. If you’d rather have a Bitcoin record that holds up to 10 files per TimeBind, TimeBinder’s Free plan includes 1 Token a month, enough for one Pooled TimeBind, with no credit card required. If you need a record that can be checked without TimeBinder, use an ASAP TimeBind.

Published 30 October 2026. Sources and TimeBinder pricing checked on 30 October 2026.

What is TimeBinder? TimeBinder is a blockchain timestamping service. It shows that a digital file existed no later than a specific time, and that it still matches its fingerprint, by anchoring the file’s SHA-256 fingerprint to the Bitcoin blockchain. Files are hashed in your browser and never uploaded, and each TimeBind comes with a Proof of Time Certificate that can be checked later. It does not prove who created a file or that its contents are true.

TimeBinder vs ProofStamper at a glance

	ProofStamper (from its own site)	TimeBinder
What the record is	RFC 3161 timestamp “via FreeTSA”	A record on the Bitcoin blockchain
File handling	“Local SHA-256 hash”; the file stays on your device	Hash calculated on your device; files never uploaded
Free option	Free tier, “No registration”, “1 file at a time (no batch)”, “Generic certificate + watermark”	Free plan: 1 Token a month (one Pooled TimeBind of up to 10 files), no rollover, no credit card required
Paid options	Pro “$9 /month or $90/year”; credit packs “10 credits $9”, “50 credits $29”, “200 credits $79”, valid for 12 months; Business “Custom quote”	Essential $20/month (5 Tokens); Expert $50/month (15 Tokens); extra Tokens 1 for $5, 3 for $15 or 9 for $40; Enterprise custom
Currency	Shown with “$” signs; the page says “All prices in euros, tax included”, and its comparison table shows “Free · €9/month”	US dollars
Batches	Pro: “Batch up to 50 files”	Up to 10 files per TimeBind on every plan
Checking later without the provider	Its site says “Verifiable independently of ProofStamper”	ASAP: yes, from the certificate and the Bitcoin blockchain. Pooled: checked through TimeBinder
eIDAS	“Not an eIDAS qualified service”	Not offered
Who runs it	ATOVA CONSEIL, “a French company based in France”	TimeBinder, based in Brisbane, Australia

Where ProofStamper is stronger

Being fair about this matters more than winning the comparison.

Free with no account. Its free tier needs no registration. TimeBinder’s Free plan needs an account.
A standard format. RFC 3161 is a long-established timestamp standard. ProofStamper gives you a PDF certificate and a .tsr token.
Independent checking on the free tier. ProofStamper’s site says its proofs are verifiable independently of ProofStamper. On TimeBinder, only ASAP TimeBinds can be checked without us.
Bigger batches on Pro. Pro handles up to 50 files in a batch. A TimeBind holds up to 10 files.

Where TimeBinder may suit you better

A public blockchain rather than one authority. An RFC 3161 timestamp relies on the Time Stamping Authority that signed it. An ASAP TimeBind’s Bitcoin record can be checked without relying on any single company, including us. Our RFC 3161 vs blockchain timestamp page sets out the trade-offs.
Up to 10 files per TimeBind, even on the Free plan. ProofStamper’s free tier is one file at a time, with a watermark on a generic certificate.
Prices in one stated currency. TimeBinder’s prices are in US dollars. ProofStamper’s page shows dollar signs but says prices are in euros, so check what you’ll be charged.
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. 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.

The Pooled vs ASAP explainer covers the detail, and how TimeBinder works walks through a TimeBind step by step.

What a TimeBind shows, and what it doesn’t

What it shows

That this exact file existed no later than the time recorded on the Bitcoin blockchain
That a file shown later still matches its fingerprint: the same file gives the same fingerprint, and any edit gives a different one
An independent record that anyone you allow can check, without relying on your own systems

What it doesn’t show

It doesn’t show who made a file, or who owns it.
It doesn’t show the contents are true or accurate, or whether AI was used.
It doesn’t stop anyone copying or changing a file. It shows whether a file still matches its fingerprint.
A Pooled TimeBind can’t be checked without TimeBinder.
It can’t say how a court, client, insurer or anyone else will treat it.

Pooled TimeBinds are verified through TimeBinder. ASAP TimeBinds can also be verified independently, from the certificate and the public Bitcoin blockchain. Checking is always free.

A note on wording

ProofStamper’s site describes the legal strength of its proofs in stronger terms than we use. We keep to what a timestamp shows: that an exact file existed no later than the recorded time and still matches its fingerprint. How any timestamp is treated as evidence depends on the jurisdiction and the decision-maker.

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

When TimeBinder isn’t the right tool

You want a free timestamp with no account at all. ProofStamper’s free tier or another free RFC 3161 service fits that better. Our free blockchain timestamp page covers more free options.
Your process asks for an RFC 3161 token specifically. Some workflows expect that format. TimeBinder doesn’t issue one.
You need an eIDAS qualified timestamp. Neither ProofStamper nor TimeBinder offers one. Look for a qualified trust service provider.
You need every record checkable without the provider, for free, and you’re comfortable with technical tools. See TimeBinder vs OpenTimestamps.
You stamp dozens of separate files at once. ProofStamper Pro’s 50-file batches may suit you better than 10-file TimeBinds.

TimeBinder pricing

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, so use it each month. A paid plan replaces the Free plan’s monthly Token.
Essential: $20 a month for 5 Tokens (5 Pooled, or 1 ASAP + 2 Pooled). Unused Tokens roll over every month. Cancel any time.
Expert: $50 a month for 15 Tokens.
Extra Tokens: 1 for $5, 3 for $15 or 9 for $40, by credit or debit card via Stripe. Tokens you buy never expire.
Enterprise: custom Token limits and dedicated support. Service terms for every plan are set out in the TimeBinder Terms and Conditions.

A Pooled TimeBind costs 1 Token and an ASAP costs 3. Checking a TimeBind is free. Not sure which plan fits? Use which plan do I need.

TimeBinder vs ProofStamper: FAQ

Is ProofStamper free?

Its free tier is $0 with no registration. It’s limited to one file at a time, with a generic, watermarked certificate. Pro removes the watermark and adds batches.

Does ProofStamper use a blockchain?

Its pricing page describes an RFC 3161 timestamp from FreeTSA, a Time Stamping Authority, and doesn’t mention a blockchain. TimeBinder records on the Bitcoin blockchain.

Do both keep my file private?

Yes. Both calculate the SHA-256 fingerprint on your device. TimeBinder never uploads or stores your files.

Is either one an eIDAS qualified timestamp?

No. ProofStamper’s site says it is “Not an eIDAS qualified service”, and TimeBinder doesn’t offer eIDAS qualified timestamps.

Can I check a TimeBinder record if TimeBinder closes?

An ASAP TimeBind, yes, from the certificate and the Bitcoin blockchain. A Pooled TimeBind is checked through TimeBinder, so use ASAP if independence matters.

Can I use both?

Yes. Nothing stops you timestamping the same file with both. Keep the original file unchanged alongside each certificate.

Related guides

TimeBind your files

If you’d like a Bitcoin record of your files, start with a Pooled TimeBind: the Free plan includes 1 Token a month, and no credit card is required.

Open plans and pricing and choose a plan. The Free plan is $0.
Sign in, then add your files. They stay on your computer.
Seal them and download your Proof of Time certificates.

See plans and pricing →

Your files stay privateEvery file is hashed locally on your own computer. Your files are never uploaded or stored by TimeBinder; only a fingerprint is sealed to Bitcoin.

The Free plan includes 1 Token every month. See pricing