Uptime Kuma

Uptime Kuma is a popular open-source, self-hostable uptime monitor with a clean UI, many notification integrations and status pages — the go-to free option if you are happy to run it yourself (e.g. on a cheap VPS).

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Uptime Kuma is a popular open-source, self-hosted uptime-monitoring tool. It offers a clean dashboard, many monitor types and notification integrations, and public status pages — all running on your own server, typically a small VPS or container.

Key features

Specs

CategoryMonitoring / Uptime
Pricing modelfree-open-source
Free tierYes — Free and open source — you self-host it (a $5/mo VPS is plenty); no per-monitor fees.
Managed databaseNo
Regionsself-hosted
Self-hostableYes
Docker-nativeYes
Git deployNo
Open sourceYes

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

  • Completely free — no per-monitor fees
  • Full data control (self-hosted)
  • Actively developed with a large community
  • Runs on a cheap VPS or container

Cons

  • You run and maintain it (updates; the monitor's own uptime)
  • No global check locations out of the box
  • Requires a server to host it

Pricing

Free and open source; your only cost is the server you run it on — a $5/mo VPS is plenty. No per-monitor or seat fees. Because it is self-hosted, there is no vendor pricing to normalize.

Who should use Uptime Kuma?

Developers and homelabbers who want free, private uptime monitoring and are comfortable self-hosting it — it pairs naturally with a cheap VPS.

Frequently asked questions

Does Uptime Kuma have a free tier?
Yes. Free and open source — you self-host it (a $5/mo VPS is plenty); no per-monitor fees.
How much does Uptime Kuma cost?
Free and open source; your only cost is the server you run it on — a $5/mo VPS is plenty. No per-monitor or seat fees. Because it is self-hosted, there is no vendor pricing to normalize.
Who should use Uptime Kuma?
Developers and homelabbers who want free, private uptime monitoring and are comfortable self-hosting it — it pairs naturally with a cheap VPS.

Uptime Kuma alternatives

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Better Stack

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Free tier*
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UptimeRobot

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Checkly

Programmable API + browser checks, as code

Free tier*
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Pingdom

Established uptime + real-user monitoring (SolarWinds)

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