This guide was checked against archive.today's official pages on August 18, 2026. Features, domains, and capture results may change. Never submit sensitive information to a public archive.
- Use the upper 'My url is alive...' field to save and the lower 'I want to search...' field to look up snapshots
- The official homepage says the service saves both a text and a graphical copy
- Treat the resulting snapshot as public and shareable; do not submit confidential material
- Open both available views and confirm that the required text, images, URL, and capture time are present
- For material records, add a local export when available and an independent second archive
archive.today is an on-demand web archive with separate fields for saving a live URL and searching existing snapshots. Its official homepage says it stores both text and graphical copies. This guide follows the actual interface, explains why you should treat submissions as public, documents script and access limitations, and shows when historical discovery, local artifacts, or integrity material call for a different or second tool.
archive.today (also known as archive.is and archive.ph) presents two different tasks on one page: save a URL that is live now, or search snapshots that have already been saved. The English labels are compact, but the consequences of creating a shareable snapshot are easy to overlook.
This guide is written for people searching 'archive today,' 'archive is,' and 'web archive today.' It lets you choose the right field immediately, then verify the resulting webpage and graphical views without relying on unsupported speed or success-rate claims.
What is archive.today?
archive.today creates fixed-link snapshots of web pages and serves the archive through domains including archive.today, archive.is, and archive.ph. The official homepage says it saves a text copy and a graphical copy and disables active elements and scripts in saved pages.
- Submit a currently public URL to create a snapshot
- Search by URL, host, and patterns shown on the official interface
- Switch between Webpage and Screenshot views on supported results
- Keep the source URL, capture time, and fixed snapshot URL together
- Detailed operator information is not provided on the official homepage
How to save and search pages
Go to archive.today (or an official domain that resolves for you). Paste the public URL into the upper field labelled 'My url is alive and I want to archive its content' and select save. Complete a CAPTCHA if shown. Processing time depends on the page and current service conditions.
Use the bottom field labelled 'I want to search the archive for saved snapshots'. Enter any URL to see all snapshots saved by any user, sorted by date.
Open the saved Webpage and Screenshot views. Confirm the relevant text and images, source URL, capture time, and any missing or blocked elements before relying on the link.
archive.today sometimes shows a CAPTCHA before saving. Complete it to proceed.
Want the steps in this guide to hold up as evidence?
Every save — including Guest saves — automatically gets an external RFC 3161 timestamp. Pro lets you download that proof as an evidence pack and adds private archives, URL monitoring, and diff checks on top.
- External timestamp auto-attached to every save, even Guest
- Pro unlocks the evidence pack download for past Guest saves too
- Private archives, URL monitoring, diff checks, and archive management
Key limitations
A successful completion screen does not guarantee that every required element was captured. Review these constraints before relying on the result.
- Treat snapshots as public; do not submit personal, confidential, or privileged material
- The official service description says active elements and scripts are disabled in saved pages
- Authenticated pages, access controls, and sites that reject capture may fail
- Record the source URL and capture time outside the fixed link as well
- Add separate hash or external timestamp material when your workflow requires it
- Some operational details, including retention and deletion conditions, are not fully documented on the official homepage
- A CAPTCHA may appear during submission
Every archive on archive.today is public. Do not use it for sensitive or private evidence.
archive.today vs. alternatives
| Feature | archive.today | Kiroku | Wayback Machine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary workflow | Create/search public snapshots | Capture, inspect, search, and share a live page | Discover history or save one page |
| Documented view | Text + graphical copy | Screenshot + self-contained HTML + extracted text | Replay of fetched page; assets may be missing |
| Historical discovery | Search by URL/host | Search public records saved on Kiroku | Calendar of captures for a URL |
| Private workflow | Not documented; treat as public | Pro can select private before capture | Primarily public Wayback access |
| Verification context | Source URL + time + fixed link | Source URL + time + SHA-256 + external RFC 3161 | Source URL + time + Wayback URL |
| One-submission scope | Submitted page | Submitted page | Save Page Now saves one page |
Search multiple histories for an already-deleted page. For a live important page, create the artifacts you need and inspect them. Add an independent second archive only when the record warrants redundancy.
When to use archive.today — and when not to
archive.today excels at quick, lightweight snapshots. But when you need more, choose accordingly.
- Good fit: create a shareable public snapshot of a live page
- Good fit: search whether someone previously saved a URL or host
- Poor fit: retain personal or confidential content privately
- Add another method: verify file hashes or an external timestamp
- Inspect carefully: video, authenticated pages, and complex JavaScript are material
Summary
archive.today is an on-demand web archive with separate fields for saving a live URL and searching existing snapshots. Its official homepage says it stores both text and graphical copies. This guide follows the actual interface, explains why you should treat submissions as public, documents script and access limitations, and shows when historical discovery, local artifacts, or integrity material call for a different or second tool.
FAQ
Are archive.today and archive.is the same service?
Yes. archive.today, archive.is, archive.ph, and archive.li are all mirrors of the same service sharing the same archive data.
Can I delete an archive I saved?
Do not use the service on the assumption that you control deletion or privacy after submission. Saved results expose a 'report bug or abuse' route, but removal can depend on service review. Keep personal and confidential material out of public submissions.
Is archive.today free?
Yes, it is completely free and does not require an account.
What should I use if archive.today is down or slow?
Try the Wayback Machine to look for prior captures, or submit a live public page to Kiroku and inspect the resulting screenshot, HTML, text, summary, and SHA-256 record. A hash helps compare file identity; it does not by itself prove that the source content was true.
Sources
- archive.today official sitehttps://archive.today/
- Wayback Machine (Internet Archive)https://web.archive.org/
- Kiroku — Web Archive Servicehttps://kiroku.today/en
Run the 14 checks after every capture
Every service needs post-capture QA. Kiroku keeps the screenshot, HTML, extracted text, URL, capture time, and SHA-256 together for review. Choose a private save before submitting sensitive material.
Guest saves are free and include an external RFC 3161 timestamp automatically. Pro unlocks the evidence pack download and ongoing archive workflows.