Sentry vs Checkly
Sentry is application monitoring platform focused on error tracking, performance monitoring, and session replay, while Checkly is API and browser monitoring with Playwright tests, deployed via code. The biggest difference up front: Checkly is free, while Sentry starts at $26/mo. Sentry is built for development teams that need to catch, triage, and fix errors quickly, whereas Checkly targets devops teams wanting monitoring as code.
| Feature | Sentry | Checkly |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | ✓ | — |
| API Checks | — | ✓ |
| Alerts | ✓ | ✓ |
| Error Tracking | ✓ | — |
| Monitoring as Code | — | ✓ |
| Performance Monitoring | ✓ | — |
| Playwright | — | ✓ |
| Release Tracking | ✓ | — |
| Session Replay | ✓ | — |
Pricing: Checkly is completely free (Free for 5 checks), which makes it the obvious pick if budget is the top concern. Sentry starts at $26/mo, but Free for 5K errors and 10K performance events/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: Sentry offers Error Tracking, Performance Monitoring and Release Tracking that Checkly lacks. Checkly brings API Checks, Monitoring as Code and Playwright that Sentry does not have. Both share Alerts.
Team fit: Sentry is geared toward any size teams, while Checkly is aimed at small teams teams. Pick the one that matches where your team is today and where it is headed — migrating tools later is always painful.
Open source: Sentry is open source, meaning you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in. Checkly is proprietary — you are trusting the vendor with your data and uptime.
Where each tool shines: Sentry's biggest strengths are: best-in-class error tracking with detailed stack traces. session replay shows exactly what users experienced. 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.
Watch out for: With Sentry, users commonly note that event-based pricing can get expensive with noisy apps. With Checkly, the main complaint is that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade.
choose Sentry if
- You need a tool built for development teams that need to catch, triage, and fix errors quickly
- You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code
- You specifically need Error Tracking and Performance Monitoring
- You care about session replay shows exactly what users experienced
- Your team size fits the any size profile Sentry is designed for
choose Checkly if
- You need a tool built for devops teams wanting monitoring as code
- Budget is a hard constraint — Checkly is free, Sentry is not
- You specifically need API Checks and Monitoring as Code
- 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
frequently asked
What is the difference between Sentry and Checkly?
Sentry is application monitoring platform focused on error tracking, performance monitoring, and session replay, while Checkly is API and browser monitoring with Playwright tests, deployed via code. The biggest difference up front: Checkly is free, while Sentry starts at $26/mo. Sentry is built for development teams that need to catch, triage, and fix errors quickly, whereas Checkly targets devops teams wanting monitoring as code.
Should I use Sentry or Checkly?
Checkly is the free option; Sentry charges $26/mo but may offer more polish. Here is how they compare.
When should I choose Sentry over Checkly?
Choose Sentry if You need a tool built for development teams that need to catch, triage, and fix errors quickly; You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code; You specifically need Error Tracking and Performance Monitoring; You care about session replay shows exactly what users experienced; Your team size fits the any size profile Sentry is designed for.
When should I choose Checkly over Sentry?
Choose Checkly if You need a tool built for devops teams wanting monitoring as code; Budget is a hard constraint — Checkly is free, Sentry is not; You specifically need API Checks and Monitoring as Code; 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.
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