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Checkly is a hosted monitoring platform for teams writing Playwright end-to-end checks, code-first API and browser monitoring, and services in private networks. Its listed price starts at $24, with a free plan. The alternatives below range from free, self-run metrics and infrastructure monitoring to broader hosted observability platforms. They are not all direct replacements for managed Playwright checks: verify API and SDK support, test execution, and migration options before moving checks.
01Why people leave Checkly
Need a self-hosted option
A Reddit thread asks for a self-hosted Checkly-style service that can run involved Playwright tests and keep historical successes and failures.
Playwright depth matters
Checkly targets teams writing Playwright checks; alternatives focused on metrics or infrastructure monitoring may not preserve those checks.
Entry price is not total cost
Checkly starts at $24 with a free plan. Compare usage charges, seats, and commitments before treating another vendor’s starting price as a saving.
02The alternatives, ranked by fit
- Self-run metrics
PrometheusPrometheusPrometheus is a fit if the main goal is free metrics monitoring and your team can run and scale the servers itself. That changes the operating model from Checkly’s managed platform, but it does not establish a replacement for Playwright checks. Check the project documentation for the APIs, integrations, and test execution your codebase needs before planning a migration.
Trade-off: You take on server operations, and Playwright coverage is not established.
7.8/10from
Freefree plan - Self-hosted infrastructure
ZabbixZabbixZabbix suits teams avoiding per-device license fees that need self-hosted infrastructure monitoring. It is free and flexible, but setup and tuning are part of the deal. Compared with Checkly, treat it as a change in monitoring scope, not a confirmed home for existing Playwright checks; verify API and integration support before moving workflows.
Trade-off: Setup and tuning replace Checkly’s managed approach.
7.8/10from
Freefree plan - Telemetry consolidation
GrafanaGrafanaGrafana Cloud is worth considering if you want to consolidate telemetry signals or already use OpenTelemetry and Prometheus. It has a free plan and starts at $19, but costs rise as telemetry usage grows. Check the pricing and docs against your expected usage and Playwright workflow; the listed coverage does not establish a direct browser-check replacement.
Trade-off: Telemetry costs can grow, and Playwright support needs verification.
7.6/10from
$19/mofree plan - Broad observability
New RelicNew RelicNew Relic is a candidate for teams consolidating observability signals, instrumenting with OpenTelemetry, or combining application monitoring with incident response. It has a free tier and starts at $10, but ingest and seat costs need tracking. Before switching from Checkly, verify the APIs, SDKs, and support for your existing Playwright checks rather than assuming observability coverage includes them.
Trade-off: Ingest and seat costs need close tracking.
7.2/10from
$10/mofree plan - Monitoring consolidation
DatadogDatadogDatadog fits organizations trying to consolidate hosted monitoring and security coverage. Its listed starting price is $500, so compare the actual plan and expected usage with Checkly’s $24 starting point before treating it as cheaper. The available coverage description does not confirm Playwright support or migration paths; verify integrations and API details with Datadog before committing.
Trade-off: The listed starting price is higher than Checkly’s.
6.2/10from
$500/mo - Tracing and topology
DynatraceDynatraceDynatrace is an option for teams consolidating observability or needing tracing, topology, and user monitoring. It starts at $7, but an annual commitment and usage charges make that figure a limited cost comparison with Checkly. Ask the vendor to model your expected usage, and confirm whether its APIs and integrations cover the Playwright checks you plan to move.
Trade-off: Annual commitment and usage charges complicate cost comparisons.
7.1/10from
$7/mo
03Side by side
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Checkly Checkly (current) | 7.6 | $24/mo | Yes | Teams writing Playwright end-to-end checks |
| Prometheus Prometheus | 7.8 | Free | Yes | Teams monitoring systems and services |
| Zabbix Zabbix | 7.8 | Free | Yes | Teams with self-hosting capacity |
| Grafana Grafana | 7.6 | $19/mo | Yes | Teams consolidating telemetry signals |
| New Relic New Relic | 7.2 | $10/mo | Yes | Teams consolidating observability tools |
| Datadog Datadog | 6.2 | $500/mo | No | Teams consolidating observability and security |
| Dynatrace Dynatrace | 7.1 | $7/mo | No | Teams consolidating observability tools |
Questions people ask
Which Checkly alternative can I self-host?
Prometheus and Zabbix are the clearest fits in this list for teams that want to run monitoring themselves. Prometheus offers free metrics monitoring, while Zabbix is free infrastructure monitoring. Neither description confirms managed Playwright checks, so verify test execution and history requirements before moving checks.
Which Checkly alternative is cheapest?
The listed starting prices are $0 for Prometheus, $10 for New Relic, $19 for Grafana, and $24 for Checkly; Zabbix has a free plan. These figures do not settle total cost. Compare expected usage, seats, server operations, and any commitment before choosing.
Can I move my Playwright checks to these alternatives?
Checkly is described as a platform for managed Playwright end-to-end checks. The alternatives listed here focus on metrics, infrastructure monitoring, or broader observability, and their listed coverage does not confirm a direct migration path. Check each vendor’s API, SDK, and execution documentation before planning a move.