Checkly
Synthetic monitoring for APIs and browser workflows. Run Playwright-based checks to catch regressions before your users do.
Best for developers who want to monitor API endpoints and user flows with code-defined synthetic checks.
Use Cases
Free Tier
10 monitors, 1K browser check runs, 10K API check runs/month
How to Maximize the Free Tier
The Hobby plan's 1K browser check runs go fast — use API checks (10K runs) for simple endpoints and reserve browser checks for critical user journeys only. Set check intervals to 5 minutes instead of 1 to stretch your quota. Bundle related checks into groups to keep your dashboard organized and reduce alert fatigue. Combine with a free UptimeRobot tier for basic uptime and use Checkly only for the checks that need Playwright assertions.
Getting Started
Sign up for free Hobby plan → create an API check (paste endpoint URL, set expected status/headers) → set check interval to 1 minute → add to a check group for bundled reporting → view results in the dashboard and set up email/Slack alerts.
Pros
- Code-first checks: Define checks in TypeScript with Playwright — version control your monitoring alongside your application code
- Generous free tier: 10 monitors with 1-minute intervals on the free plan covers most side projects and small APIs
- Real browser checks: Playwright-based browser checks test actual user journeys, not just HTTP status codes
Cons
- Limited free runs: 1K browser check runs/month can burn through quickly if you have complex multi-step flows at 1-minute intervals
- Playwright knowledge required: Browser checks require writing Playwright scripts — no point-and-click recorder on the free tier
- 6 locations only: Free plan limits check locations to 6 global regions, missing some geographic coverage