Archive.is is a unique tool that allows users to capture the information on any website and store it for future reference.
The website, previously known as Archive.today, takes screenshots of different web pages and preserves the content even when the original page has been changed or deleted.
Archive.is only takes static photos or screenshots of websites and will therefore not show any on-page activity. The tool can be used by individuals needing to research or preserve information that would otherwise disappear or feature alterations.
Remember, web pages change constantly. Some changes are made deliberately by the website owner, while others happen due to technical hitches. Furthermore, content on a site can be deleted, and you’d have no way of retrieving it.
In just a fraction of a second, you can lose important information, which is why it is always a good idea to have a backup plan.
An archiving website such as Archive.is stores information on the cloud and that means you can access the information you need from anywhere in the world.
However, a particular downside to using Archive.is for purposes of preserving data is that any information stored on the database is available to the public. This means even the most sensitive information can be accessed by anyone at any time.
There is no option to protect data through passwords or private accounts. Another downside to using this tool is that web pages that require authentication cannot be saved.
Overall, Archive.is falls short when it comes to providing privacy and convenience. It also stores image files only.
If you are looking for something that can store web data efficiently and still give some level of privacy, you may want to check out these alternatives.
Best Archive.is Alternatives
Below are some of the most popular alternatives to Archive.is.
1. Wayback Machine
Wayback Machine is a digital archive that was founded back in 1996. It was launched for public use five years later in 2001. The tool was created by the Internet Archive, which has its headquarters in San Francisco, California.
Its name is quite fitting because it allows internet users to travel back in time, figuratively. Using this tool, you can view web pages exactly how they used to be in the past.
The tool is ideal for historians, researchers, people with disabilities, and website developers who want to access information they can use to further their cause.
One of the major advantages it has over Archive.is is that it captures moving images, a feature not available on the latter.
Another advantage of using this tool is that it allows you to listen to audio files that were on a particular website. Again this feature is not available on Archive.is.
It is equally important to note that Wayback Machine provides specialized services for adaptive reading, which can be quite helpful to the blind or people with disability.
Wayback Machine has a collection of over 696 billion archived web pages on its database. The pages include those that were created in 1996 up until a few months ago.
Another positive about this tool is that you can download and install its Chrome and Mozilla Firefox extensions to help make your work easier. These extensions eliminate the 404 error that is common with archived website pages.
2. ArchiveBox
Another alternative to Archive.is that you can use is ArchiveBox. It is a web-based, self-hosted archiving system that allows you to store links, web pages, and media pages.
This resource allows you to share the archived pages with whoever you wish. An advantage it offers is that, unlike Archive.is, you can also keep your saved pages private.
To use this tool, you have to download and install it on your servers. It comes with a command-line app that utilizes your terminal. It also features a web application compatible with almost all modern browsers, making it a convenient option.
Alternatively, you can install its app on your Linus, Windows, or macOS system. You’ll be pleased to know that the tool is completely free of charge, and you don’t have to worry about signing up.
What’s more, this particular tool supports different types of file storage, including audio, video, texts, docs, and media. When using this tool, you can save multiple URLs in a batch or separately, depending on what you deem fit.
Another positive aspect of using this tool is its straightforward user interface. You won’t have to worry about identifying where to enter a URL and what to do next. Finally, it is easy to download and install.
3. WebCite
WebCite was once a member of the International Internet Preservation Consortium. Unlike the previous tools, it is an on-demand alternative to Archive.is.
It is commonly used by historians, scholars, and researchers who wish to find unaltered information from websites that may have been updated or deleted.
WebCite has a simple user interface that allows you to browse through the sections easily. Its search option is located at the top right corner of the home page.
To find a web page or URL, enter the information in the search bar, and hit the enter button. You’ll then be redirected to a list of relevant results.
This tool stores files in an opaque or transparent format. The opaque format can be added to a cited URL, while the transparent format can be used to replace a cited URL.
4. Stillio
Stillio is another archiving resource that can be helpful in digging up information that was available on the internet in the past. A particular advantage that Stillio has over Archive.is is that it allows users to capture website screenshots automatically.
All you have to do is sign up to the tool’s website and then use the automatic capture feature to archive web pages. You can set the frequency for web capture to desirable intervals that include hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly options.
Another impressive feature of Stillio is that it allows you to add multiple URLs simultaneously. This particular feature is activated when you download and use the Stillio screenshot software.
Again, unlike Archive.is, Stillio allows you to organize your URLs by assigning customized names to them. That means you won’t have to worry about searching through multiple URLs just to identify the one you need to use.
While there is a free demo option for using Stillio, you’ll have to pay at least $29 to unlock some of its premium features. The good news is that it allows you to save files in different formats and offers exceptional privacy.
5. Archive-it
Archive-it is another leading web archiving service you can use. It was launched for public use in 2006 and has provided archiving services to over 800 organizations across 24 countries.
Unlike Archive.is, this alternative allows you to create a personal account. And once you are logged in, you can describe, manage, and download your web archive collection.
It features a simple user interface that allows you to search for items quickly. In fact, you can even narrow down your search to specific subjects.
For instance, you can conduct searches in Law Libraries, National Institutions, K-12 Program Schools, and Colleges & Universities. Additionally, you can run searches by using URLs or the names of specific websites.
6. TechRewind
TechRewind is the next archiving alternative that can be an excellent option for finding information. The website also allows users to travel back in time, figuratively speaking.
The unique aspect of this resource is that it focuses on technology rather than collecting just about every piece of information.
Therefore, if you are thinking of finding popular products in the technology sector, this should be the first place you go. A quick search through the resource will reveal how popular products used to look in the past and how they have changed over the years.
Some of the archives in the TechRewind database contain things like hardware information, software, video games, operating systems, online services, apps, and websites.
This resource allows you to narrow down your searches by year and category.
And unlike Archive.is, TechRewind features a blog section where you can get helpful information in the form of articles.
7. Competitor Screenshots
Just like its name suggests, Competitor Screenshots is a snapshot-based web archiving resource. It features millions of web pages that have been snapped and stored in its database.
The database contains web pages, social media activities, and various business entities’ email campaigns. The main objective of establishing this archiving resource is to ensure that users have access to past information that can help them understand how their competition is doing.
A look at your competitor’s past email campaign or web design can be all it takes for you to come up with a more creative marketing campaign.
However, it is worth pointing out that some services from this Archive.is alternative are not free, and you may have to part with a small fee to unlock them.
8. Croatian Web Archive
The Croatian Web Archive was established back in 2004 to collect and preserve critical information in the digital space. Its archiving system was developed in close collaboration with the University of Zagreb’s Computing Center.
Unlike Archive.is, the Croatian Web Archive tends to collect and archive academic and legal material. That means it is an excellent option for individuals who are developing thesis papers or carrying out research on various academic and legal matters.
Currently, the database contains at least 7400 archived resources.
Another unique aspect of this tool is that each document is assessed individually before being archived in the system. That ensures all the information that goes into the database is accurate and conforms to the highest standards of quality.
9. The Estonian Web Archive
The Estonian Web Archive is another alternative to Archive.is. It is managed by the National Library of Estonia, which collects, preserves, and gives access to its database to those in need.
As of the end of 2019, this archiving resource had almost 125,000 website titles with a total data size of 60TB.
It is worth pointing out that the National Library of Estonia is a member of the International Internet Consortium and, therefore, archives some of the most authentic web pages only.
Unlike Archive.is, this particular resource contains a lot of information regarding Estonia. It is, therefore, the ideal option for anyone who wants to learn more about Estonian laws, education, culture, geography, etc. Of course, the resource also contains some information about other parts of the world.
10. Memento Time Travel
Memento Time Travel is another excellent alternative to Archive.is. To use this resource, visit the Memento home page and enter the keywords you wish to search for. Then, hit the enter button and have a look at the list of results.
You can also start by choosing the date you wish to time travel to and then enter the necessary keywords. This tool is unique because it also displays results from other archiving resources.
Another advantage of using Memento Time Travel is that the service is completely free. In addition, its authentic database ensures that you can use the information you get from the site as evidence or citation material.
11. Perma.cc
Perma.cc is a simple way to store important web pages for future reference. Unlike Archive.is, Perma.cc allows users to enter broken links and retrieve information from the web pages that would otherwise be unreachable.
Perma.cc was created to help scholars, journals, and courts retrieve important information for citing purposes. It is, therefore, worth noting that all the information you’ll get from this resource can be helpful for academic and professional purposes.
To create a permanent link on Perma.cc, all you have to do is copy the broken link, paste it on the web resource, and hit enter.
The tool will automatically create a permanent link that you can refer to every time you want to make a citation for your academics or legal practice.
Another notable difference between Perma.cc and Archive.is is that the former requires you to sign up and enter your organization while the latter does not have a sign-up option. However, signing up on Perma.cc is free of charge.
12. Pagefreezer
Pagefreezer is a resource that was built to simplify litigation and compliance by automatically archiving websites, social media pages, short mobile messages, emails, and enterprise collaborations.
This resource comes with various software solutions to suit different needs. By archiving data, the website ensures that individuals can retrieve factual information to help them develop academic papers, build business strategies, and even expedite legal issues.
Unlike Archive.is, which requires you to manually capture the information on a particular webpage, Pagefreezer allows you to capture and archive different web pages automatically.
Since its launch, Pagefreezer has collected and archived up to 10 billion web pages and has served over 1800 customers. The company was established back in 2010 and has over the years developed unique tools to help different industries in the public and private sectors.
13. Resurrect Pages
Resurrect Pages is another alternative to Archive.is that may get the job done. However, unlike Archive.is, this is a Mozilla Firefox extension, which means you’ll need to download and install the browser on your device before you use this tool.
Once you activate the tool in your browser, you can enter seemingly dead or broken links and watch as the tool performs wonders. In no time, you’ll be staring at files and information you thought was lost forever.
The tool searches through five other page mirrors, including Google Cache, The Internet Archive, Memento Time Travel, Archive.is, and WebCite.
It is the ideal tool for you to use when you do not know which of the many alternatives are suitable for your particular needs.
14. CachedView
CachedView is another online tool that allows you to have a look at web pages that have been deleted or changed over time. It brings up pages exactly the same way they looked at the time of caching.
This website utilizes two primary resources, including Google Web Cache and Archive.org Cache. However, unlike Archive.is, this particular alternative offers you a more comprehensive range of web pages.
Basically, anything that has been live on the internet can be retrieved through this tool.
The CachedView website has a simple user interface allowing you to quickly enter a URL in the search bar and hit enter.
That action brings up relevant results for you to use. Many people use this resource to access websites that have been deleted or those that are temporarily out of service.
15. MirrorWeb
MirrorWeb is another Archive.is alternative that can be helpful in collecting and archiving web pages. It was established to help organizations meet their compliance and preservation needs.
The tool allows users to capture different web pages and social media activity. One thing that makes this tool different from Archive.is is that it captures everything as it happens.
In other words, it records on-page behavior or action and offers full interactivity. Currently, the tool has over 800,000,000 web pages, 4,000,000 social media posts, and stores over 400 TB of data.
This particular tool is best suited to meet the needs of organizations rather than individuals and you may have to pay a fee to unlock all its features.
The Wrap Up: What’s the Best Archive.is Alternative?
While each of the 15 alternatives above offers unique advantages, Wayback Machine stands out as being exceptional.
Not only does it provide specialized services for adaptive reading to aid those with disabilities, but it also captures multiple file formats. That means you can access different files without worrying about any information getting corrupted or lost.
What’s more, Wayback Machine has over 696 billion web pages in its database. That’s an immense amount of data that can be used by just about anyone regardless of their background.
