Checkly vs Incident.io
Checkly is API and browser monitoring with Playwright tests, deployed via code, while Incident.io is incident management platform with Slack-native workflows and post-incident learning. The biggest difference up front: Checkly is free, while Incident.io starts at $16/user/mo. Checkly is built for devops teams wanting monitoring as code, whereas Incident.io targets engineering teams wanting structured incident management.
| Feature | Checkly | Incident.io |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier available | ✓ | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| API Checks | ✓ | — |
| Alerts | ✓ | — |
| Monitoring as Code | ✓ | — |
| On-Call | — | ✓ |
| Playwright | ✓ | — |
| Post-Mortems | — | ✓ |
| Slack-Native | — | ✓ |
| Workflows | — | ✓ |
Pricing: Checkly is completely free (Free for 5 checks), which makes it the obvious pick if budget is the top concern. Incident.io starts at $16/user/mo. That cost buys you a more polished or feature-rich experience, so it comes down to whether the extras justify the spend.
Feature gaps: Checkly offers API Checks, Alerts and Monitoring as Code that Incident.io lacks. Incident.io brings On-Call, Post-Mortems and Slack-Native that Checkly does not have.
Team fit: Checkly is geared toward small teams teams, while Incident.io is aimed at mid-size teams teams. Pick the one that matches where your team is today and where it is headed — migrating tools later is always painful.
Where each tool shines: Checkly's biggest strengths are: includes monitoring as code as a core feature, purpose-built for monitoring workflows. includes playwright as a core feature, purpose-built for monitoring workflows. Incident.io's biggest strengths are: includes slack-native as a core feature, purpose-built for monitoring workflows. includes workflows as a core feature, purpose-built for monitoring workflows.
Watch out for: With Checkly, users commonly note that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade. With Incident.io, the main complaint is that starts at $16/user/mo — on the expensive side, especially for small teams or solo users.
choose Checkly if
- You need a tool built for devops teams wanting monitoring as code
- Budget is a hard constraint — Checkly is free, Incident.io is not
- You specifically need API Checks and Alerts
- You care about includes playwright as a core feature, purpose-built for monitoring workflows
- Your team size fits the small teams profile Checkly is designed for
choose Incident.io if
- You need a tool built for engineering teams wanting structured incident management
- You specifically need On-Call and Post-Mortems
- You care about includes workflows as a core feature, purpose-built for monitoring workflows
- Your team size fits the mid-size teams profile Incident.io is designed for
frequently asked
What is the difference between Checkly and Incident.io?
Checkly is API and browser monitoring with Playwright tests, deployed via code, while Incident.io is incident management platform with Slack-native workflows and post-incident learning. The biggest difference up front: Checkly is free, while Incident.io starts at $16/user/mo. Checkly is built for devops teams wanting monitoring as code, whereas Incident.io targets engineering teams wanting structured incident management.
Should I use Checkly or Incident.io?
Checkly is the free option; Incident.io charges $16/user/mo but may offer more polish. Here is how they compare.
When should I choose Checkly over Incident.io?
Choose Checkly if You need a tool built for devops teams wanting monitoring as code; Budget is a hard constraint — Checkly is free, Incident.io is not; You specifically need API Checks and Alerts; You care about includes playwright as a core feature, purpose-built for monitoring workflows; Your team size fits the small teams profile Checkly is designed for.
When should I choose Incident.io over Checkly?
Choose Incident.io if You need a tool built for engineering teams wanting structured incident management; You specifically need On-Call and Post-Mortems; You care about includes workflows as a core feature, purpose-built for monitoring workflows; Your team size fits the mid-size teams profile Incident.io is designed for.
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