With time, websites upgrade. This creates a need for such a place where one can store previous versions of their website or web pages. Fortunately, Wayback Machine has been there to assist users in submitting websites and accessing 800+ billion archived web pages. But that’s not the only go-to option available, there are several Wayback Machine alternatives you can try for this purpose.
In this article, you’ll discover 20 alternatives to Wayback Machine that you can use to:
- Find lost content and information on your old website, and
- Compare your competitor’s website development strategy over time.
Not only do these internet archive sites help users save and revisit the previous web pages in the future, but most of these can also treasure the past and important pages of social media sites. So ready to explore the best internet archive tools other than Wayback Machine? Then continue reading.
Wayback Machine v/s Internet Archive
Today, the Internet Archive is considered one of the best Wayback Machine alternatives. However, Wayback Machine was itself founded by the Internet Archive in the early 2000s. Moreover, the platform began saving archived copies of the World Wide Web after the launch of Wayback Machine, and was launched to provide “universal access to all knowledge.” That’s the only reason you’ll see an option of Wayback Machine on the top when you visit the Internet Archive site.
Best Wayback Machine Alternatives
No doubt Wayback Machine is the most popular and trusted tool when it comes to keeping a tab on previously hosted web pages or websites. However, it has certain limitations that make people willing to switch to other alternatives. Here are 20 tools that serve the same purpose as Wayback Machine:
1. Archive.today (aka Archive.is)
This is one of the best alternatives to Wayback Machine and allows saving web pages and retrieving them later. In addition, it keeps the archived pages unalterable and safe from malware attacks. You can also download its Chrome extension or use it with an Android device.
Features:
- Free to use.
- Facilitates snapshots of a website for future needs.
- Easy-to-use interface.
- Works with Google and Yandex.
- Saves both screenshots and snapshots from the host website.
2. iTools
This is a programmable search engine that allows users to do more than just capture snapshots. It allows searching for various website SEO metrics including Alexa Rank, traffic, related sites, etc. It also allows performing internet searches with several search platforms.
Features:
- Free to use.
- Works as a website analyzer.
- Acts as a digital repository for websites.
- Facilitates web searches on different search engines (including media search engines), dictionary searches, financial trends, etc.
3. Visualping
Visualping is another cool alternative if you are in search of a digital archive library other than Wayback Machine. This not only provides an archive facility but also keeps track of changes in a web page. All you need to do is enter the website URL, select the type of content you want to monitor, and how frequently you want to evaluate for changes. Then you’ll get notified on the provided email address every time there will be a change in the selected area or part of the website.
Features:
- Free to check 5 pages per day.
- Monitors changes in website visuals (design, layout, images), text (content, keywords, inventory updates), and elements (CTA widgets, codes, interactive features).
- Allows monitoring of password-protected pages.
- Customized page monitoring solutions are available.
4. PageFreezer
PageFreezer is another archive alternative to ensure you don’t lose the grasp on your defunct web pages. It also allows the archiving of social media content and conversations with a proper automated collection and review system in place. Serving a wide range of industries, this tool makes web page comparison free of hefts and is optimum for online reputation management. Besides, it also facilitates digital signature, live browsing, recordkeeping for litigation purposes, and much more.
Features:
- This is a paid tool.
- Supports eDiscovery for recordkeeping and review purposes.
- Facilitates Automated website archiving.
- Customized quotes are available.
- Facilitates collection, review, and presentation of data from web and social platforms for litigation purposes.
5. Time Travel- The Memento Project
Memento is one of the key Wayback Machine alternatives that provides search results from several online archives including Wayback Machine. This implies that it offers a wide range of databases for locating a web page from the past. You can simply select the Time Travel option from the drop-down box on the home page (or simply visit the link) and look in the repository for the web page. It also comes with a Chrome extension that allows you to check the previous version of a web page by simply entering the date.
Features:
- Free to utilize.
- Draws data from various web archives using the Wayback Machine.
- Allows taking snapshots and generating links to snapshots.
- Chrome extension available.
6. ChangeTower
This one is an equally trusted and well-known alternative to Wayback Machine that provides archive snapshot storage. In addition, no software is required to use. Furthermore, it works on automated technical support for data collection.
Features:
- Free plan available with limited uses.
- Monitor real-time website changes.
- Automated archive data collection system.
- Tracks hidden URL changes.
- Customized solutions can be availed.
7. Perma.cc
Perma.cc is the optimum solution for researchers who need to maintain detailed citations for scholarly or legal content. The platform is developed and managed by Harvard Law School Library and offers free and paid plans. You can use it to generate a link for an existing URL and utilize it for citations forever. Even if the original source is modified, you’ll have access to the saved version with the Perma-generated link.
Features:
- Organizations need to invest in plans based on link numbers.
- Paid plans start from $10 a month.
- Perma-generated links are free to be integrated into your content.
- Powerful assistance tool for journalists, scholars, legal attorneys, and others.
- Access to the website screenshot version is available.
8. Sitllio
This was created to provide solutions for the limitations of the Wayback Machine. It offers consistent URL monitoring and time-stamped screenshot capturing that are automatically taken (monthly/weekly/daily) as you need. It further allows a 14-day free trial for its paid plans.
Features:
- Paid subscription plans are available with a free trial, starting from $29/month.
- URL and screenshot sharing are available.
- You can opt out of your plan at any time and can renew your subscription if needed at the month’s end.
- Screenshot captures are available on a daily/weekly/monthly basis.
- Transfer option for screenshots available for Dropbox, Google Drive, or Zapier.
9. UK Government Web Archive
This is an archive where you can find all the information about six UK legal deposit libraries. It falls under the category of country-specific Wayback Machine alternatives that are best when needed to find or save location-based data. The website aims to crawl, collect, and archive all govt. information published on the web. Such an archive is highly recommended when you need to assess information about a country’s online market scenario, consumer behavior, or economic landscape, etc.
Features:
- Find all UK Government web archives in a single place.
- Facilitates archive search for a wide range of topics and themes.
- It allows archiving links to social media and websites including govt. sites.
- Aims to automatically collect a wide range of or all UK-based websites at least once every year.
- It hosts an image library and also allows search for video or podcast archives.
10. GitHub
GitHub open source repository is free to use for personal purposes tool wherein you can archive open-source projects. This comes with paid plans but for individual purposes, its free features are also impressive.
Features:
- 15 GB GitHub Codespaces storage per month is available in the free plan.
- Paid subscription plans are available starting from $3.67 per user, per month for the first 12 months.
- Stores multiple copies of archived data with its partner repositories.
- Partnered with Software Heritage Foundation, Internet Archive, and many more reputed names.
- Saves data backup, issues, draft pulls, wikis, and much more about the archived open-source project.
11. ArchiveBox
ArchiveBox is a self-hosted, Python-written archive/repository tool that was launched before Google. This is to say you can check what the world’s most used search engine looked like when it was launched. Furthermore, it can save private, public, and social media content. It is a very useful open-source tool that automatically segregates and saves media files including images, videos, gifs, audio, etc., and saves them in a separate folder.
Features:
- A free to use tool.
- Archived links are stored by date bookmarked in a time-stamped format.
- Allows archiving of social media pages, podcasts, and private and public content.
- Stored data is indexed in JSON and HTML format.
- User-friendly interface
- Allows scheduled reporting for multiple devices.
12. MirrorWeb
This is one of the greatest Wayback Machine alternatives allowing data archiving so that you can see that live in the future. In particular, the website is quite useful for financial corporations because it complies with SEC Rule 17-a4, FINRA 2210, FCA COBS 4, and other relevant financial regulations. It is also a good option for gated websites or government organizations.
Features:
- Paid plans are available.
- Promises 24X7 support.
- Operates on SaaS platform to offer easy-to-use access.
- An easy download option for archives is available.
- Can be used for safekeeping social media links and conversations.
13.Page Vault
Looking for Wayback Machine alternatives for recordkeeping and litigation purposes? Page Vault is the right choice because it captures social media and website data for you. It acts like a repository for digital evidence collection so that you have the proof ready with metadata. The tool provides optimum results by capturing screenshots for infringement cases, unauthorized logo use, image leaks, false advertising, etc.
Features:
- Paid plans start from $199 per month.
- On-demand service packages are available, starting at $149.
- Can be used to capture conversations and posts on social media as well.
- Captures text-based content, videos, and images.
- Detailed capture reports in different file formats (PDF, Excel, Word, etc.) are available to download.
14. Fluxguard
This one is an AI-based Wayback Machine alternative that automatically crawls, collects, transforms data, evaluates, and summarizes the web page changes. In addition, it works with integrated API, Webhooks, Zapier, etc.
Features:
- Allows tracking 50 pages for free.
- On-demand PDF data extraction of all captured assets available.
- Saves archived data for more than 5 years.
- Monitors network request changes.
- Filters out false positives.
- Customizable reports are available.
15. Blit
Blit is another one of the automated Wayback Machine alternatives that approves scheduled screenshot captures. All you need to do is provide your email address, select a date or day, and enter the time between which you want the report. It offers a 14-day trial on all of its plans.
Features:
- Paid plans starting from as low as $5 per month are available.
- Tracks website and social media metrics.
- Allows uploading screenshots to cloud storage like Google Drive, Slack, AWS F3, FTP, Webhook, etc.
- Filter the screenshot results.
- Hides ad pop-ups.
16. Smarsh
It is one of the most reputed Wayback Machine alternatives that is useful for keeping a tab on web pages and social media conversations. The platform claims to have served banks, brokerage firms, investment advisors, government agencies, insurers, etc. It also has the support of Actiance which was integrated into it in 2018.
Features:
- Paid pricing plans.
- Provides voice archiving powered with TeleMessage.
- Retains and examines off-channel communication records on-demand for audits and investigations.
- Adheres to FINRA, SEC, IIROC, FCA, EU (GDPR and MiFID II), and other governing bodies for effective communication recordkeeping.
- Data extraction is available against a fee.
17. Ghost Archive
This is one of the most user-friendly alternatives of Wayback Machine that captures screenshots of a website. You just need to enter the site URL in the respective field on the top once you open the link. It aims to support the MementoWeb API.
Features:
- Entirely free to use.
- Saves artifacts in digital form and web page snapshots.
- Offers high-fidelity snapshot replay and nonscript replay.
- Video archives are supported for some websites with up to 360p quality (under 100 MB).
- Content violating the platform guidelines can be deleted.
18. Hexowatch
This is a change-detecting software and a splendid alternative to Wayback Machine that provides 13 different monitoring options. It highlights the changes clearly and summarizes them in a report, that too automatically. You just need to select the location, the percentage change for sensitivity, and how frequently you want the website to be monitored.
Features:
- Paid plans start from $12.42/month.
- Integrated with advanced technologies including Slack, Zapier, Telegram, etc.
- 13 different monitoring options are available.
- Data extraction is available via Google Sheets, RSS feed, .csv file, etc.
- Works without any proxies, programming code, or software.
19. MessageWatcher
It is a paid alternative to Wayback Machine that provides repository services for websites, social media, messages, emails, etc. The tool offers a 30-day free trial for its plans and also takes requests for additional services.
Features:
- Paid plan starts from $100/month.
- Supported by RingCentral integration.
- Free trial available.
- Can request for additional services.
- Quick data export is available.
20. Web Archive Singapore (WAS)
Similar to other country-specific web archives, this one offers previous history of websites/web pages based in Singapore. The website is aimed at serving people with knowledge about Singapore’s history, cultural heritage, events, etc. You can also suggest any website you want to archive.
Features:
- Free to use from the National Library Board (NLB) Singapore.
- Data since 2006 is available in digital copies.
- Provides detailed knowledge of Singapore’s places, people events, etc.
- Sorted archived web pages divided into 15 different categories.
- Filter options are available to narrow your search results.
These were the best Wayback Machine alternatives currently. Some are completely free to use while others come with free trial plans and paid plans. It is up to you to decide which one is the ideal choice based on your project requirements.
Wrapping Up
One of the most trusted and vast digital archives, Wayback Machine, was launched by Internet Archive, an American non-profit organization in 2001. It has certain limitations for instance, its crawler doesn’t facilitate the search for every web page created until now. In addition, it isn’t as effective in keeping up with the social media pages. Furthermore, it’s quite difficult to extract files in HTML or one of its variant codes with this tool.
That’s why digital marketers, especially web developers, are looking for alternatives to Wayback Machine. The above article has provided detailed insights on 20 Wayback Machine alternatives. Hope it helps!
Gurleen Kaur is a Content Writer at Mind Mingles. She has presented her work in International Conference On Guru Nanak Dev Ji: Life, Philosophy and Legacy held at Mata Sundri College For Women and was awarded by the title of “Best Paper Presenter” under College Student Category for the same (Dated: 27th and 28th September, 2019) Has a strong grip over creating interesting, unique and informative content pieces for a wide range of niches. Firm believer that words have an impact.
