Both tools detect content theft, but they work very differently. Here's an honest comparison to help you choose.
| Feature | ContentTrace | Copyscape |
|---|---|---|
| Detection Method | ✓ Dual: Fingerprints + Content matching | Text comparison only |
| Pricing Model | ✓ Flat annual fee (no per-search fees) | Pay-per-search ($0.03/search adds up fast) |
| Proactive Protection | ✓ Invisible tokens prove ownership automatically | ✗ Only detects after theft occurs |
| Automated Monitoring | ✓ Nightly scans while you sleep | ✗ Manual checks only |
| WordPress Integration | ✓ Native plugin, works from dashboard | ✗ Separate web interface |
| Ownership Proof | ✓ Archive.org timestamps + tokens | Comparison only (no proof generation) |
| Takedown Generator | ✓ DMCA/EU/International notices with evidence | ✗ Not included |
| Catches Paraphrasers | ✓ Content fingerprinting detects modified copies | Limited (exact match focused) |
| Free Tier | ✓ Yes, 1 scan/week (5 posts) | ✗ No free tier |
| Data Privacy | ✓ We don’t store your post content (brief processing for checks) | Content sent to their servers |
Content thieves come in two flavors. You need protection against both.
Catches: Lazy scrapers, RSS thieves, auto-bloggers who copy everything including hidden tokens.
How it works: We embed a unique, searchable token in your post that scrapers copy without knowing. When you search for it, you find your stolen content instantly.
Catches: Smart thieves who clean up HTML, remove tokens, or slightly modify your text.
How it works: We search for unique phrases from your content. Even if they remove the fingerprint, your writing style and key passages are still detectable.
Copyscape is great for one-off checks. ContentTrace adds forensic proof (tokens + Archive timestamps) and automated monitoring from inside WordPress.
Try ContentTrace Free →Copyscape's pay-per-search model can get expensive for active bloggers.
| Scenario | ContentTrace Pro | Copyscape Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Check 10 posts/month | €2.42/month (flat) | ~$3.00/month |
| Check 50 posts/month | €2.42/month (flat) | ~$15/month |
| Check 100 posts/month | €2.42/month (flat) | ~$30/month |
| Automated daily monitoring | ✓ Included (plan limits apply) | ✗ Not available |
With ContentTrace, you pay once per year and avoid per-search fees. Scan limits depend on your plan (and your configured Google API quota).
No. Copyscape is a respected tool that's been around for years. It's great for one-off plagiarism checks. But for WordPress bloggers who want automated, proactive protection, ContentTrace is purpose-built for that use case.
Yes. Some users use ContentTrace for monitoring and Copyscape for deep-dive investigations. They can complement each other.
Those are academic plagiarism tools designed for universities and publishers. They're expensive and often overkill for bloggers. ContentTrace is built specifically for WordPress content creators.
They're independent tools. ContentTrace is a WordPress plugin that embeds tokens and runs automated scans. Copyscape is a web service you visit manually. You don't need both, but you can use both if you want.
Disclaimer: This comparison is for informational purposes only and is based on publicly available information as of January 2026. Product names and trademarks belong to their respective owners, and there is no affiliation or endorsement implied.
Try ContentTrace free — 1 scan per week, 5 posts. See for yourself if anyone is stealing your content.