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
Both free tiers now give you 50 monitors, so the comparison comes down to depth. 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 1,000 monitors and 15-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 | 5 | 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
- 5
- 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 | 1,000 | 100 |
| Minimum check interval | 15 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 | 50 | |
| REST API | ||
| MCP (Claude, Cursor, Windsurf) | ||
| CSV bulk export | ||
| Log retention | 3 years | 24 months |
- Monitors included
- 1,000
- Minimum check interval
- 15 sec
- Multi-region checks
- Protocols
- HTTP, TCP, UDP, ICMP, WebSocket
- SSL certificate monitoring
- SMS alerts
- 50 / month included
- Slack / Discord / Teams
- Webhooks
- 50
- REST API
- MCP (Claude, Cursor, Windsurf)
- CSV bulk export
- Log retention
- 3 years
- 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.
- 1,000 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 5 — the most generous free monitor count in the category.
- Comparable paid log retention (24 months vs our 3 years 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. Both free tiers give 50 monitors, but exit1.dev's covers TCP, UDP, ICMP, and WebSocket checks plus SSL, a status page and API access — and Pro gives you 1,000 monitors with 15-second checks at $24/mo.
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 50 across every protocol, with SSL monitoring, JSON/header validation, a webhook, a status page, and an API key with MCP access included. Same count, more capability per monitor.
Is exit1.dev cheaper than UptimeRobot?
At the paid tier, yes. exit1.dev Pro is $24/mo ($20 annually) for 1,000 monitors and 15-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
50 monitors, every protocol, SSL monitoring, and instant alerts on the free plan. Scale to 1,000 monitors and 15-second checks on Pro whenever you're ready.
Read the full guide: UptimeRobot Free Plan: Limits, Pricing & the Best Free Alternative →