What is Etchv?
Etchv is a watermarking API for images, PDFs and video. Each file you deliver gets a unique 256-bit watermark ID written into the pixels by a neural network model, so the mark is not a visible stamp and is designed to survive resizing, cropping and compression.
You call the API before a file leaves your app, and the watermark is applied to that specific copy. Later, you run detection on a copy you find and look up the matched ID in your own records to see which recipient or license it came from. The API keeps the native format, so JPEG stays JPEG, layered PSD keeps its layers, PDFs keep selectable text, and H.264 MP4 or MOV video keeps its audio.
Key features
- Invisible watermark embedded in image pixels
- PDF watermarking that keeps text selectable
- Video watermarking for supported MP4 and MOV files
- Detection that matches a watermark ID to a copy
- Format-preserving output for 12+ image formats, PDF and video
- SDKs for Python, Node.js, Go, Rust, C# and Java
Who is it for
- Media and publishing platforms
- Studios distributing press kits and previews
- Companies sharing confidential investor documents
- Stock and licensed photo providers
Pros and cons
- Watermark is invisible and survives resizing, cropping and compression
- Keeps original formats, layers, animation and selectable PDF text
- Free trial with no card required
- Video watermarking is limited to supported H.264 MP4 and MOV files
- Detection identifies a copy, not who shared it
Etchv pricing
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Launch | 19 USD / month | 250 credits/month, images only, 1 concurrent operation, 20 requests/min |
| Growth | 49 USD / month | 1,000 credits/month, images, PDFs and video, 2 concurrent operations, 100 requests/min |
| Scale | 99 USD / month | 2,500 credits/month, 5 concurrent operations, 300 requests/min |
| Business | 499 USD / month | 15,000 credits/month, 16 concurrent operations, 1,000 requests/min, SSO, GPU processing at 3x credits |
Prices copied from Etchv pricing, checked October 8, 2026. Currency as shown by the vendor; taxes may apply.
Is Etchv free?
There is a free trial. 7-day trial with 200 credits, no card required.
Etchv alternatives
| Tool | Price from | Free plan | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
 Perplexity | not listed | yes | AI search engines |
 Sourcegraph | 16K/yr | ? | AI search engines |
 Consensus | 12 USD/mo | ? | AI search engines |
| CContext.dev | 19 USD/mo | trial | AI search engines |
 Mapify | 9.99 USD/mo | yes | AI search engines |
 Kagi | 5 USD/mo | trial | AI search engines |
FAQ
What is Etchv used for?
Invisible forensic watermarking API that embeds a unique neural-net watermark in images, PDFs and video to trace leaked copies.
Is Etchv free?
There is a free trial. 7-day trial with 200 credits, no card required.
How much does Etchv cost?
The cheapest paid plan is 19 USD/mo (vendor pricing, October 8, 2026).
What are the best Etchv alternatives?
Closest alternatives: Perplexity, Sourcegraph, Consensus, Context.dev, Mapify.
Data checked October 8, 2026 on the vendor website (etchv.com).