Quick answer
SweetUptime - SweetUptime wins for most builders who want more headroom on the free plan, but Servervana is the better pick if you care about browser monitoring and a lower-cost paid upgrade path.
How the free tiers compare
These two free tiers are aimed at the same monitoring job, but they optimize for different constraints. Servervana gives you a smaller free bundle: 10 HTTP monitors, one DNS monitor, one status page, and 3-minute checks, but it includes custom HTTP requests and a clear path to a $3 to $4 paid plan. That makes it attractive if you expect to upgrade early and want browser monitoring or Slack/webhooks sooner. SweetUptime’s free tier is broader: 20 uptime monitors, 20 domain and SSL checks, 10 servers, 5 status pages, and 1-minute checks, so it fits more live services before you pay. Its first paid tier starts at $9/month, and the gap between free and paid is larger in both capacity and price. If you want the most usable free plan, SweetUptime wins. If you want the cheapest upgrade, Servervana wins.
Servervana vs SweetUptime free tier, side by side
| ServervanaFTV 50 | SweetUptimeFTV 47 | |
|---|---|---|
| HTTP / uptime monitorsServervana frames these as HTTP monitors; SweetUptime calls them uptime monitors. | 10 HTTP monitors | 20 uptime monitors |
| DNS / domain & SSL monitoringSweetUptime bundles domain and SSL checks together. | 1 DNS monitor | 20 domain and SSL monitors |
| Status pagesSweetUptime gives more public-facing pages on the free tier. | 1 status page | 5 status pages |
| Monitoring intervalSweetUptime checks more frequently on the free tier. | 3 minute intervals | 1 minute monitor interval |
| Server monitoringServervana’s free plan does not list server checks. | Not included in the free tier | 10 servers |
| Credit card requiredBoth free tiers explicitly say no credit card is required. | No | No |
After you outgrow the free tier
Both products use flat monthly pricing for their first meaningful paid tiers, but SweetUptime’s ladder is much steeper. Servervana starts at about $3 to $4 per month, with the next paid option adding browser monitoring and alerting features without a big jump in entry price. SweetUptime starts at $9/month, then steps to $19 and $29 before custom and dedicated plans. For a small team that just needs to get past the free cap, Servervana is cheaper; SweetUptime costs more but gives much more free capacity before you reach that paid threshold.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | Servervana | SweetUptime |
|---|---|---|
| 10 HTTP monitors, 1 DNS check, 1 status pageBoth fit within the free limits, though SweetUptime has far more unused capacity. | Free (within tier) | Free (within tier) |
| 15 monitors with 1-minute checksServervana’s free plan tops out at 10 HTTP monitors and 3-minute intervals; SweetUptime covers this inside the free tier. | ~$3 to $4/mo | Free (within tier) |
| 20 uptime monitors, 20 domain/SSL checks, 5 status pagesServervana would need a paid plan here, while SweetUptime still stays free. | ~$3 to $4/mo | Free (within tier) |
| 50 uptime monitors, 50 domain/SSL checks, 20 serversSweetUptime’s ADVANCED plan includes 100 uptime monitors, 100 domain & SSL checks, and 50 servers, so 50/50/20 fits below that tier. | No priced plan provided for this exact bundle | $19/mo |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick Servervana when…
- You only need up to 10 HTTP checks and one DNS monitor, and you value custom HTTP requests.
- You expect to upgrade soon and want the first paid tier to stay around $3 to $4 per month.
- You specifically want browser monitoring, Slack integrations, or webhooks, which are in the paid Flexible plan.
- You are building a small status page and do not need many separate monitors yet.
Pick SweetUptime when…
- You want the larger free allowance for uptime and domain checks before paying.
- You need 1-minute monitoring intervals on the free plan.
- You are tracking several servers or multiple public status pages, since the free plan includes 10 servers and 5 status pages.
- You want free downtime alerts across a broader bundle of monitors and checks.
- You expect to grow into a higher-monitoring plan and are okay with a $9/month starting point.
Bottom line
For the most common builder case, SweetUptime is the better free-tier choice because it gives more monitors, more status pages, and 1-minute checks before you pay. Servervana is the better option if you are likely to upgrade quickly and want the cheaper entry point, especially if browser monitoring, Slack, or webhooks matter. In short: pick SweetUptime for the broadest free coverage, and pick Servervana if your first paid step needs to stay very cheap.
Read the full listings: Servervana and SweetUptime. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.