Quick answer
Checkly - Checkly wins for most builders because its free tier is broader and more useful for API and browser monitoring, while UptimeToolbox is the better fit if you mainly want simple website monitoring, server checks, and a polished status page.
How the free tiers compare
The two free tiers solve similar problems, but they point at different builders. Checkly’s Hobby plan is more developer-centric: it gives you uptime monitoring plus API checks, browser or Playwright runs, alerting, dashboards, and a stronger code-first workflow if you later move into CLI, Terraform, or CI-driven tests. UptimeToolbox is simpler and more operations-focused: fewer monitors, slower checks, but it adds server monitoring, SSL and domain checks, custom domains, white labeling, and included SMS or voice credit. If you are validating uptime for a product that also needs synthetic API or browser coverage, Checkly stretches farther. If you mostly need a status page and basic site/server watch with low setup friction, UptimeToolbox is easier to live with. Neither free tier is unlimited, so the main decision is what kind of monitoring you will outgrow first.
Checkly vs UptimeToolbox free tier, side by side
| ChecklyFTV 58 | UptimeToolboxFTV 56 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free monitorsCheckly gives you more monitor slots; UptimeToolbox is tighter but includes server monitoring. | 10 uptime monitors | 5 monitors |
| Check intervalCheckly checks more often on the free tier. | Every 2 minutes | Every 3 minutes |
| Browser / Playwright checksThis is a major Checkly-only free tier capability in the provided data. | 1,000 runs per month | Not listed |
| API checksCheckly’s free tier is much stronger for API monitoring. | 10,000 runs per month | Not listed |
| Public locationsUptimeToolbox did not provide a public-location quota in the input. | 6 public locations | Not listed |
| Status pagesUptimeToolbox adds custom domains and custom HTML, but its free-tier service count is not listed. | 20 services, 250 subscribers, 1 custom dashboard | 1 status page |
| Alerting includedUptimeToolbox shows broader alert channel coverage in the free-tier description. | Email, Slack, webhook | SMS, voice credit, email, Slack, OpsGenie, webhooks |
| Server monitoringThis is a key UptimeToolbox free-tier feature. | Not listed | 1 server |
| SSL and domain monitoringUptimeToolbox includes both in the free tier. | Not listed | Included |
| Credit card required to startBoth inputs explicitly say no credit card is required. | No | No |
After you outgrow the free tier
Both products use flat monthly pricing after the free tier. Checkly’s first paid plan starts lower at $24/month, then steps to $64/month and custom enterprise pricing. UptimeToolbox starts at $29/month, then jumps to $99/month. For small teams, Checkly is cheaper at the entry paid tier and gives more room for API and browser checks. UptimeToolbox costs a bit more at the first step, but its paid plans bundle more status-page and server-oriented features instead of synthetic testing depth.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | Checkly | UptimeToolbox |
|---|---|---|
| Small team moving off free tierThis is the first meaningful paid tier for each product. | $24/mo | $29/mo |
| Need more monitor capacity and faster checksCheckly Team and UptimeToolbox Business are the next listed tiers. | $64/mo | $99/mo |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick Checkly when…
- You need API checks or browser/Playwright checks in the free tier.
- You want a code-first workflow with CLI, TypeScript, Terraform, Pulumi, or REST API support later.
- You are monitoring a small product and want alerting via email, Slack, and webhooks without paying yet.
- You expect to grow into a team workflow with more checks, more locations, and more status-page services.
- You care more about synthetic monitoring depth than about server monitoring or white-label status pages.
Pick UptimeToolbox when…
- You mainly need website uptime checks plus server monitoring.
- You want SSL certificate and domain expiration monitoring included from the start.
- You need a status page with custom domains and custom HTML on the free tier.
- You prefer a simpler monitoring setup for a small site or internal service.
- You want included SMS or voice credit without moving to a paid plan immediately.
Bottom line
For the most common builder case, Checkly is the better free-tier choice because it covers more of the monitoring stack you are likely to need as a product grows: uptime, API, and browser checks, plus stronger developer workflows later. UptimeToolbox is the better pick if your immediate need is simpler site and server monitoring with status-page polish, custom domains, and included alert credits. If you are choosing only one free tier to start with, Checkly is the safer default.
Read the full listings: Checkly and UptimeToolbox. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.