Markedfile vs Imatag: Invisible Watermarking Compared (2026)
Short answer: Imatag is built for large media and brand teams that trace thousands of images and videos and are happy to talk to sales. Markedfile is a self-serve tool for people with fewer files: you sign up, mark an image or PDF for each recipient, and later upload a leaked copy (even a screenshot) to see which recipient's copy it came from. Markedfile starts at $0; Imatag's leak-tracing product is priced on request.
Last updated: October 9, 2026. Pricing checked on each vendor's public page on that date. Tell us if something changed.
At a glance
| Markedfile | Imatag | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Creators, small teams, startups, agencies, law firms | Media companies, brands, large asset libraries |
| Leak tracing product | Included in every plan | "Leaks": pricing on demand, per volume of assets and number of copies (source) |
| File types | Images and PDFs | Images and videos (source) |
| Getting started | Self-serve, free plan | "Meet an expert" / talk to sales |
| Entry price | Free (5 active files, detection kept 6 months). Pro $9.99/mo, Unlimited $19.99/mo, Enterprise $49.99/mo per shared workspace | Leaks and Authenticity on request. Monitor (online tracking) from €299/month |
| Deployment | Web app | SaaS, API or on-premise |
| Your files | Processed in memory, not stored | Check Imatag's documentation for their policy |
Markedfile
Start today
Imatag
Talk to sales
What is the actual difference?
Both products embed an invisible, per-copy mark in a file. If a copy leaks, you extract the mark and read which copy it was.
The difference is who the product is shaped for. Imatag prices by asset volume and number of copies, offers an API and an on-premise option, and supports video. That is the right shape for a newsroom, an agency with a large library, or a brand with a legal team. If you need video, or on-premise deployment, Markedfile is not the right tool today.
Markedfile is shaped for the person who sends a pitch deck to 8 investors, a contract draft to 5 counterparties, or a preview pack to 30 buyers. There is no sales call, and it works on PDFs as well as images.
When Imatag is the better choice
- You need to trace video.
- You need an API or an on-premise deployment at large volume.
- You also want automated monitoring of the web and social networks for your content.
When Markedfile is the better choice
- You have a small number of files and a small number of recipients each time.
- You want to trace PDFs (decks, contracts, proposals) as well as images.
- You want to start today, for free, without a quote.
- You do not want your files stored on someone else's servers.
How tracing works in Markedfile
- Upload the image or PDF and create one marked copy per recipient (for example Ana, Bruno and Carla).
- Send each copy through any channel you already use: email, WhatsApp, Drive, Telegram.
- If a copy shows up where it should not, upload what you found (the file, or even a screenshot of it) to Detect.
- Markedfile reports which recipient's copy it matches.
The mark is designed to survive screenshots, recompression, crops as small as roughly 230 px of a detailed area (smaller crops can fail) and most 90° rotations. Detection is heuristic, so it is not a guarantee: a heavily edited or very small crop may not be identifiable.
FAQ
Can an invisible watermark really identify who leaked a screenshot? Often, yes, if the mark survived. Markedfile is designed to survive screenshots and recompression (except images under 256×256 px, which use a more fragile mark), but detection is heuristic and there is no 100% guarantee.
Does Markedfile stop leaks? No. It tells you which copy leaked so you can act on it, and it discourages leaks because recipients know copies are traceable.
Does Markedfile store my files? Files are processed in memory and are not stored.
Is there a free plan? Yes: 5 active files, with detection available for 6 months.
What if my file already leaked before I used Markedfile? Markedfile can only trace copies it marked. It helps with the next share, not with copies sent earlier.
Mark each copy before you share it
Create a free account. You can mark 5 files and see whose copy leaked.