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Startup Archive

Free

Explore StartupArchive, a platform to discover startup ideas, case studies, and business insights to inspire founders and entrepreneurs.

Business ToolsFreeFree tier
Inputs: urlOutputs: image, url
Type
Saas

About Startup Archive

Startup Archive is a platform designed to help founders preserve their failed or inactive startup websites as interactive, read-only snapshots. Instead of continuing to pay for hosting and domain renewals, users can submit one or more URLs, and the service captures full-page screenshots of up to five routes from the same domain. Each route is saved in four variants: desktop with light or dark mode and mobile with light or dark mode. The resulting snapshots can be replayed in a dedicated viewer and embedded into portfolio pages, allowing founders to showcase their work without directing visitors to a dead link. The platform also supports before-and-after comparisons, enabling a visual changelog for tracking design or conversion improvements over time.

The service operates on a credit-based pricing model, where one credit equals one snapshot (a bundle of up to five routes with all variants). Pricing tiers start at $3.99 for a single snapshot, with discounts for buying in bulk (5 snapshots for $9.99, 50 snapshots for $25.00). The first 30 users are offered free credits, and no credit card is required to begin archiving. Startup Archive is trusted by indie founders and is marketed as a cost-effective alternative to keeping inactive sites online.

Please note that the listing description originally presented the tool as a platform for discovering startup ideas and case studies, which does not align with the actual functionality observed on the official website. This enrichment is based solely on the scraped website content, which describes the snapshot archiving service.

Key Features

Preserves failed or inactive startups as read-only interactive snapshots
Captures up to 5 routes per snapshot, each in desktop and mobile views with light and dark modes
Embeddable viewer that can be placed in portfolio sites without sending visitors to a dead link
Visual changelog with before-and-after comparisons for tracking changes over time
Credit-based pricing with no subscription required; first 30 users receive free credits
Full-page image capture without storing the site's markup, scripts, or media assets

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Reduces ongoing costs by eliminating hosting and domain renewal fees
  • Snapshots are embeddable and interactive via the viewer
  • Multiple route and variant captures provide comprehensive preservation
  • Credit-based pricing offers flexibility; no monthly commitment required
  • Free credits available for early adopters without needing a credit card
Cons
  • Only captures static images; dynamic functionality or interactive elements are not preserved
  • Limited to 5 routes per snapshot; larger sites may require multiple snapshots
  • Free tier is restricted to the first 30 users; ongoing use requires paid credits
  • Output quality depends on the original site's structure and may not render perfectly
  • No long-term guarantee of viewer availability or data retention should be verified

Best For

Archiving a failed startup for portfolio demonstrationCreating a visual changelog of design or conversion updatesSharing an interactive record of past work with a community or investorsReplacing costly hosting for an inactive site while keeping it accessible

Alternatives to Startup Archive

FAQ

How does the snapshot process work?
Based on available information, you submit one or more URLs and Startup Archive captures full-page images of those pages. It does not store markup, scripts, or media assets. The result is a clean, shareable archive that can be replayed in the built-in viewer and embedded on your site.
How many routes are included in one snapshot?
One snapshot captures up to five routes from the same domain. Each route is saved in four variants: desktop light, desktop dark, mobile light, and mobile dark. For example, two routes produce eight images.
Can I embed the snapshot in my portfolio?
Yes. The platform provides an embed that displays the product snapshot, including scrollable content, without sending visitors to a dead link. This allows you to showcase your work while keeping the live site offline.
What are the pricing options?
Startup Archive uses a credit system where 1 credit equals 1 snapshot. Pricing as shown on the website: 1 snapshot for $3.99, 5 snapshots for $9.99, and 50 snapshots for $25.00. The first 30 users receive free credits, and no credit card is required to start archiving.
How is this different from the Wayback Machine?
According to the website, the Wayback Machine is a free, excellent resource for most archival needs. Startup Archive is designed specifically for founders preserving a product shutdown in a format that can be easily embedded and shown in a portfolio, with options for visual changelogs and multiple view variants.