Quick answer
OnlineOrNot - OnlineOrNot wins for most builders because its free tier is easier to start with and covers the core uptime-monitoring workflow with no card required, while UptimeToolbox gives more monitor count but is more useful mainly if you need server monitoring and a more generous status page setup.
How the free tiers compare
These two free tiers sit in the same category, but they optimize for different starter needs. OnlineOrNot is the cleaner fit if you are validating a few websites, APIs, or cron jobs and want browser checks, Slack/Discord alerts, and a status page with basic team collaboration. Its free plan is narrower on raw monitor count, but the surrounding workflow is more complete for app teams. UptimeToolbox gives you more monitors and adds server monitoring, custom domains, and white labeling on the free tier, which makes it attractive for smaller infrastructure-first setups. The tradeoff is that its paid ladder starts higher and the free plan is less rounded for browser-driven synthetic monitoring. Both say no credit card is required to start, so the choice is mostly about whether you need app-centric monitoring depth or broader monitoring breadth.
OnlineOrNot vs UptimeToolbox free tier, side by side
| OnlineOrNotFTV 56 | UptimeToolboxFTV 56 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free monitorsUptimeToolbox gives more free monitor slots. | 3 uptime monitors | 5 monitors |
| Check intervalSame on both free tiers. | 3 minutes | 3 minutes |
| Browser checksOnlineOrNot is the only one here with explicit browser-check quota in the free tier. | 1,000 runs/mo | Not listed |
| Status pagesBoth include one free status page. | 1 status page | 1 status page |
| Team membersOnlineOrNot states a specific free-team limit; UptimeToolbox does not specify a count. | 2 included | Team members included |
| Server monitoringUptimeToolbox includes server monitoring on the free tier. | Not included | 1 server |
| SSL monitoringBoth include SSL monitoring. | Included | Included |
| RetentionDifferent retention framing, so they are not directly equivalent. | 14 days of data retention | 7 days high-resolution retention, 3 months historical data |
| No credit card requiredBoth inputs explicitly say no card is required to start. | Yes | Yes |
After you outgrow the free tier
Both products use flat monthly pricing after the free tier. OnlineOrNot’s first paid plan starts at $15/mo for Pro, so it is the cheaper upgrade path if you only need more monitors, faster checks, and broader alerting. UptimeToolbox starts at $29/mo for Professional, then jumps to $99/mo for Business, so its paid ladder is steeper. There is no usage-based pricing in the provided plans, so there are no per-event cost scenarios to estimate from the input.
When to pick each one
Pick OnlineOrNot when…
- You are checking a small number of SaaS endpoints, APIs, or cron jobs and want the monitors to be more complete than just simple pings.
- You need browser check runs on the free tier for synthetic checks.
- You want Slack and Discord alerts included without moving up.
- You are sharing a status page with basic branding, team access, and subscriber updates for a tiny product.
- You want the cheapest path into a paid plan at $15/mo if you outgrow the free tier.
Pick UptimeToolbox when…
- You want 5 free monitors instead of 3 and your setup is still small enough that count matters more than browser automation.
- You need server monitoring on day one, not just website or endpoint checks.
- You care about custom domains and white labeling on the free tier for a public-facing status page.
- You expect to rely on SMS and voice credits in the starter workflow.
- You are likely to move into a larger flat plan that begins at $29/mo and need more room before paying.
Bottom line
For the most common builder use case, OnlineOrNot is the better free-tier pick: it is easier to start with, covers the full basic monitoring loop, and has the lower paid entry point when you outgrow it. UptimeToolbox is the better choice only if you specifically want more free monitor count and server monitoring, or if custom domains and white labeling matter immediately. If you are choosing a free tier for a small app, OnlineOrNot is usually the safer default.
Read the full listings: OnlineOrNot 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.