Checkly

Checkly is developer-focused monitoring built around Playwright browser checks and API checks defined as code, with a free tier — good for teams that want synthetic monitoring in version control and CI.

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Checkly is a developer-focused monitoring platform centered on 'monitoring as code' — API checks and Playwright-powered browser checks defined in code and version-controlled. It targets teams that want synthetic monitoring integrated with their CI/CD.

Key features

API checks and Playwright browser checks
Monitoring defined as code (CLI, Terraform)
Global check locations
Alerting and dashboards with a free tier

Specs

Category	Monitoring / Uptime
Pricing model	tiered
Free tier	Yes — Free tier includes a monthly allowance of API and browser check runs; paid plans scale runs, retention and seats.
Managed database	No
Regions	global
Self-hostable	No
Docker-native	No
Git deploy	No
Open source	No

Last reviewed 2026-07-16 — see our methodology. Specs, pricing and free tiers change often, so confirm current details on the provider before deciding.

Pros & cons

Our editorial assessment — not vendor-stated facts.

Pros

Checks live in version control and CI
Real browser (Playwright) synthetic monitoring
Developer-friendly workflow
Free tier to start

Cons

Overkill for simple ping-only uptime
Check-run costs scale with frequency/complexity
Learning curve vs a click-to-add monitor

Pricing

Tiered subscription based on check runs and seats. A free tier includes a monthly allowance of API and browser check runs; paid plans scale runs, retention and seats. Usage/seat-based, so no normalized monthly instance estimate applies.

Who should use Checkly?

Engineering teams that want synthetic monitoring — API and real browser flows — defined as code and wired into their CI/CD pipeline.

Frequently asked questions

Does Checkly have a free tier?: Yes. Free tier includes a monthly allowance of API and browser check runs; paid plans scale runs, retention and seats.
How much does Checkly cost?: Tiered subscription based on check runs and seats. A free tier includes a monthly allowance of API and browser check runs; paid plans scale runs, retention and seats. Usage/seat-based, so no normalized monthly instance estimate applies.
Who should use Checkly?: Engineering teams that want synthetic monitoring — API and real browser flows — defined as code and wired into their CI/CD pipeline.