Self-Service or Managed?
Both products include the full Proof Stack — Transaction + Content + Operations + Receipt Graph.
Choose based on how hands-on you want to be.
Which Product Is Right for You?
Answer one question: Do you want to integrate yourself, or have us do it for you?
Self-Service
Full API access. Integrate CertNode into your workflow yourself.
Best for:
- • E-commerce stores & SaaS platforms
- • Course creators & digital sellers
- • AI companies tracking training data
- • Teams with development resources
Tiers:
- Starter — $29/mo (500 credits)
- Pro — $199/mo (5,000 credits)
- Business — $499/mo (25,000 credits)
- Enterprise — Custom (unlimited)
Shield
Fully managed. White-glove setup and dedicated support.
Best for:
- • High-ticket coaches & consultants
- • Merchants with $1M-10M+ GMV
- • Non-technical business owners
- • Teams that want zero integration work
Tiers (by GMV):
- Standard — $25K/year ($1-3M GMV)
- Elite — $50K/year ($3-10M GMV)
- Premium — Custom ($10M+ GMV)
Side-by-Side Comparison
Same core features. Different service levels.
| Feature | Self-Service Starter / Pro / Business / Enterprise | Shield Managed Service |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $29/mo | $25K/year |
| Pricing Model | Credit-based (receipt volume) | GMV-based (annual revenue) |
| Enterprise Option | ✅ Custom tier available | ✅ Premium tier ($10M+ GMV) |
| ✅ Proof Stack (Included in Both) | ||
| Transaction Receipts | ✅ | ✅ |
| Content Receipts | ✅ | ✅ |
| Operations Receipts | ✅ | ✅ |
| Receipt Graph (linking) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Content Authenticity | ✅ | ✅ |
| Public verification | ✅ | ✅ |
| Evidence export (PDF/JSON) | ✅ | ✅ |
| 🔧 Service & Support | ||
| Setup | Self-service (docs + API) | White-glove setup included |
| Integration | You integrate via API/SDK | We integrate for you |
| Support Response | 24-48 hours (email) | 4 hours (dedicated engineer) |
| Account Manager | Enterprise tier only | ✅ All tiers |
| Chargeback Defense | You handle disputes | We handle for you |
| 🚀 Technical Features | ||
| API Access | ✅ Full access | ✅ (optional) |
| Webhooks | ✅ | ✅ |
| Node.js & Python SDKs | ✅ | ✅ |
| SSO/SAML | Business & Enterprise | ✅ |
| Custom SLA | Enterprise tier only | 99.9% uptime (all tiers) |
Self-Service
API Platform • $29-$499/mo + Enterprise
- ✅Full Proof Stack included
- ✅API + SDK access
- ✅Self-service setup
- ✅Email support (24-48hr)
- 📊Enterprise tier for custom needs
Shield
Managed Service • $25K-$100K+/year
- ✅Full Proof Stack included
- ✅White-glove setup
- ✅We integrate for you
- ✅Dedicated engineer (4hr SLA)
- ✅We handle chargebacks for you
Quick Decision Guide
Choose Self-Service if...
- →You have developers who can integrate APIs
- →You want full control over your integration
- →You prefer pay-as-you-go pricing
- →You're comfortable handling disputes yourself
- →You're an AI team needing training data provenance
Choose Shield if...
- →You want us to handle everything
- →You don't have technical resources
- →You're a high-ticket business ($1M+ GMV)
- →You want us to fight chargebacks for you
- →You need guaranteed SLAs and dedicated support
Common Questions
Can I use Self-Service and Shield together?
No. These are mutually exclusive. Shield replaces Self-Service — it includes all the same features plus white-glove service. Choose one based on whether you want to integrate yourself or have us do it.
What about Enterprise?
Enterprise is a custom tier within Self-Service for organizations needing unlimited volume, custom SLAs, or multi-tenant architecture. Contact sales to discuss Enterprise requirements.
Is Content Authenticity included?
Yes! Content Authenticity features (C2PA credentials, content registry, provenance verification) are included in both products. Prove content ownership and verify provenance from your dashboard or via API.
What about AI training data / data registry features?
AI training data provenance, dataset certification, and compliance features are all part of the Self-Service platform. Use our Python SDK to integrate CertNode into your ML pipelines.
Can I start with Self-Service and upgrade to Shield later?
Yes! You can upgrade within Self-Service tiers anytime, or switch to Shield if you need managed service. Contact sales@certnode.io and we'll help migrate your data.
Do both products include the full Proof Stack?
Yes. Both Self-Service and Shield include Transaction + Content + Operations receipts + Receipt Graph. This forms verifiable provenance chains for legal defensibility. The only difference is the service model and pricing structure.
Still Not Sure? Let's Talk.
Schedule a 15-minute call and we'll help you choose the right solution for your business.