Checkly starts at $30/mo with usage-based billing that can spike. CronAlert gives you 100 monitors for a flat $5/mo. Predictable pricing, no surprises.
Side-by-side breakdown of what you get
| Feature | Checkly | CronAlert |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Trial only | 25 monitors, forever free |
| Pricing model | Usage-based | Flat rate |
| Cheapest paid plan | ~$30/mo (usage-based) | $5/mo (100 monitors) |
| Browser checks (Playwright) | Core feature | Not included |
| HTTP uptime monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| Paid check interval | 1 minute | 1 minute |
| Email alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Slack alerts | Yes | Free |
| Discord alerts | No | Free |
| Webhook alerts | Yes | Free |
| Status pages | No | Included free |
| SSL monitoring | Yes | Free |
| Heartbeat / cron monitoring | No | Yes |
| MCP server (AI-native) | No | Yes |
| API access | Yes | Yes |
Checkly's usage-based model can spike — CronAlert's flat pricing never surprises you
| Plan | Checkly | CronAlert |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Trial only (no permanent free tier) | 25 monitors, 3-min interval, forever |
| Entry paid | ~$30/mo (usage-based) | $5/mo — 100 monitors, flat |
| 100 monitors, 1-min | ~$50+/mo (varies by check type) | $5/mo |
| 500 monitors | ~$200+/mo | $20/mo |
| Bill predictability | Variable — scales with usage | Fixed — same every month |
Teams that only need uptime monitoring save an average of $25+/mo switching from Checkly
Checkly's usage-based pricing means your bill can spike as you add monitors or increase frequency. CronAlert's flat $5/mo gives you 100 monitors — predictable every month.
Checkly only offers a trial. CronAlert gives you 25 monitors forever free — no credit card, no time limit, no catch.
Checkly is great for E2E testing. But if you just need uptime monitoring, you're paying for complexity you don't use. CronAlert focuses on uptime monitoring and does it exceptionally well.
CronAlert includes an MCP server for AI-native workflows. Manage monitors, check status, and investigate incidents directly from Claude, Cursor, or any AI assistant.
Two ways to move your monitors to CronAlert
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer TOKEN" https://api.checklyhq.com/v1/checksYes. Export your API checks via the Checkly API, then paste the JSON into CronAlert's Import Tool. Note: browser checks (Playwright scripts) are not importable since CronAlert focuses on HTTP monitoring. Most users migrate in under 5 minutes.
CronAlert monitors HTTP/HTTPS endpoints and alerts you on non-200 responses. For complex API test scripts with assertions, Checkly is more suited. CronAlert focuses on uptime monitoring, keyword checks, and SSL monitoring at a fraction of the cost.
With Checkly's usage-based pricing, your bill can spike unexpectedly as you add monitors or increase check frequency. CronAlert's flat $5/mo gives you 100 monitors with 1-minute intervals — your bill is predictable every month.
No. CronAlert focuses on HTTP uptime monitoring, heartbeat monitoring, SSL checks, and keyword monitoring. If you need Playwright-based browser checks, Checkly is a better fit for that specific use case. Many teams use CronAlert for uptime + Checkly for E2E tests.
Yes. CronAlert offers an MCP server for AI-native monitoring management. Manage monitors, check status, and investigate incidents directly from Claude, Cursor, or any AI assistant. Checkly does not offer this.
25 monitors free forever. No credit card required.
Start free — 25 monitors, no credit card