UptimeRobot vs exit1.dev
The 50-monitor free plan vs multi-protocol checks, bundled SMS, and AI-native monitoring.
UptimeRobot is the default name in cheap uptime monitoring — its free plan hands you 50 HTTP monitors and everyone knows it. exit1.dev trades raw free-monitor count for depth: every protocol on the free tier, bundled SMS instead of prepaid credits, and MCP so you can query checks from Claude or Cursor. Here's the tier-by-tier reality.
Best known for: 50 free HTTP monitors and a huge install base.
The short version
If you just need 50 basic HTTP pings for free, UptimeRobot's free tier is hard to beat on monitor count. If you monitor TCP/UDP/ICMP/WebSocket endpoints, want SMS without metered credits, or run 100+ monitors, exit1.dev is cheaper and deeper — Pro gives you 500 monitors and 30-second checks at $24/mo versus UptimeRobot Team's 100 monitors at $34/mo.
Free tier
What each gives you for $0, no credit card.
| Feature | exit1.devFree | UptimeRobotFree |
|---|---|---|
| Monitors | 10 | 50 |
| Check interval | 5 min | 5 min |
| Protocols | HTTP, TCP, UDP, ICMP, WebSocket | HTTP, ping, port, keyword |
| Multi-region checks | ||
| SSL certificate monitoring | ||
| Domain expiry alerts | ||
| Response validation (JSON, headers, body) | Keyword only | |
| Webhooks | 1 | |
| Slack / Discord / Teams | Slack only | |
| Public status page | 1 | 1 |
| Log retention | 60 days | 90 days |
- Monitors
- 10
- Check interval
- 5 min
- Protocols
- HTTP, TCP, UDP, ICMP, WebSocket
- Multi-region checks
- SSL certificate monitoring
- Domain expiry alerts
- Response validation (JSON, headers, body)
- Webhooks
- 1
- Slack / Discord / Teams
- Public status page
- 1
- Log retention
- 60 days
- Monitors
- 50
- Check interval
- 5 min
- Protocols
- HTTP, ping, port, keyword
- Multi-region checks
- SSL certificate monitoring
- Domain expiry alerts
- Response validation (JSON, headers, body)
- Keyword only
- Webhooks
- Slack / Discord / Teams
- Slack only
- Public status page
- 1
- Log retention
- 90 days
Paid tier
exit1.dev Pro ($24/mo, $20 annual) vs the cheapest real UptimeRobot paid plan.
| Feature | exit1.devPro — $24/mo | UptimeRobotTeam — $34/mo |
|---|---|---|
| Monitors included | 500 | 100 |
| Minimum check interval | 30 sec | 60 sec |
| Multi-region checks | ||
| Protocols | HTTP, TCP, UDP, ICMP, WebSocket | HTTP + keyword |
| SSL certificate monitoring | ||
| SMS alerts | 50 / month included | Prepaid credits, $0.03+ each |
| Slack / Discord / Teams | ||
| Webhooks | 25 | |
| REST API | ||
| MCP (Claude, Cursor, Windsurf) | ||
| CSV bulk export | ||
| Log retention | 365 days | 24 months |
- Monitors included
- 500
- Minimum check interval
- 30 sec
- Multi-region checks
- Protocols
- HTTP, TCP, UDP, ICMP, WebSocket
- SSL certificate monitoring
- SMS alerts
- 50 / month included
- Slack / Discord / Teams
- Webhooks
- 25
- REST API
- MCP (Claude, Cursor, Windsurf)
- CSV bulk export
- Log retention
- 365 days
- Monitors included
- 100
- Minimum check interval
- 60 sec
- Multi-region checks
- Protocols
- HTTP + keyword
- SSL certificate monitoring
- SMS alerts
- Prepaid credits, $0.03+ each
- Slack / Discord / Teams
- Webhooks
- REST API
- MCP (Claude, Cursor, Windsurf)
- CSV bulk export
- Log retention
- 24 months
UptimeRobot prices SMS as prepaid credits (roughly $0.03 per message) rather than a monthly allowance, so real-world costs run above the sticker price once you enable SMS alerts.
Where exit1.dev wins
- TCP, UDP, ICMP, and WebSocket checks on the free tier — not just HTTP pings.
- 500 monitors on Pro ($24/mo) vs 100 on UptimeRobot Team ($34/mo).
- 50 SMS bundled every month instead of prepaid credits at $0.03+ each.
- MCP access — query your checks straight from Claude, Cursor, or Windsurf. UptimeRobot has no equivalent.
Where UptimeRobot wins
- 50 free monitors vs our 10 — the most generous free monitor count in the category.
- Longer paid log retention (24 months vs our 365 days on Pro).
- A larger brand and community, and integrations built up over a decade.
UptimeRobot vs exit1.dev — FAQ
Is exit1.dev a good UptimeRobot alternative?
Yes, especially if you monitor more than HTTP. exit1.dev's free tier covers TCP, UDP, ICMP, and WebSocket checks, and Pro gives you 500 monitors with 30-second checks at $24/mo. UptimeRobot's free plan still wins on raw monitor count (50 vs 10), so the right pick depends on whether you value count or depth.
How does UptimeRobot's free plan compare to exit1.dev's?
UptimeRobot free gives 50 HTTP/ping/port monitors at 5-minute intervals. exit1.dev free gives 10 monitors but across every protocol, with SSL monitoring, JSON/header validation, and a webhook included. Fewer monitors, more capability per monitor.
Is exit1.dev cheaper than UptimeRobot?
At the paid tier, yes. exit1.dev Pro is $24/mo ($20 annually) for 500 monitors and 30-second checks. UptimeRobot Team is $34/mo for 100 monitors at 60-second checks, with SMS billed as prepaid credits on top.
Can I migrate from UptimeRobot to exit1.dev?
Yes. Bulk-import your URLs, point your existing alert endpoints (Slack, webhooks, email) at exit1.dev, and you're running. The migration checklist walks through it step by step.
Try exit1.dev free — no credit card
10 monitors, every protocol, SSL monitoring, and instant alerts on the free plan. Scale to 500 monitors and 30-second checks on Pro whenever you're ready.
Read the full guide: UptimeRobot Free Plan: Limits, Pricing & the Best Free Alternative →