Checkly vs Better Stack
Both Checkly and Better Stack are European-built, GDPR-compliant solutions in the monitoring & observability space. This comparison breaks down their features, pricing, compliance posture, and data residency so you can make an informed choice for your team.
Quick Overview
Checkly
EU- Headquarters
- Berlin, DE
- Pricing
- Free
- Open Source
- Yes
Better Stack
EU- Headquarters
- Prague, CZ
- Pricing
- Free
- Open Source
- No
Key Differences
- Checkly is open source, meaning you can audit the code, self-host, and avoid vendor lock-in. Better Stack is proprietary, which often means a more polished out-of-the-box experience and dedicated support, but less flexibility for customisation.
- Checkly was founded in 2018, giving it a 3-year head start over Better Stack (founded 2021). More time in market often means a larger user community and more mature integrations, though newer entrants may offer more modern architectures.
- Each product has unique strengths: Checkly offers Synthetic monitoring and API checks, while Better Stack provides Uptime monitoring and Log management. Your choice depends on which capabilities matter most for your workflow.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Checkly | Better Stack |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Checkly | Better Stack |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Free Tier | ||
| GDPR | ||
| ISO 27001 | ||
| Open Source | ||
| Headquarters | Berlin, DE | Prague, CZ |
| Data Centers | EU | EU |
| Synthetic monitoring | ||
| API checks | ||
| Browser checks (Playwright) | ||
| Alerting | ||
| Dashboards | ||
| Monitoring as code | ||
| CLI | ||
| Private locations | ||
| Multi-location | ||
| Terraform provider | ||
| Uptime monitoring | ||
| Log management | ||
| Incident management | ||
| Status pages | ||
| On-call scheduling | ||
| Integrations | ||
| API | ||
| Heartbeat monitoring |
Pricing Comparison
Checkly
Freefreemium
Better Stack
Freefreemium
Compliance Comparison
Checkly
GDPRDPA
Better Stack
GDPRDPA
Get Started
Try Better Stack
Czech all-in-one observability platform for uptime, logs, and incidents
Visit Better StackCategories
How to Choose
You need code transparency or self-hosting
Choose Checkly
You want a fully managed, turnkey solution
Choose Better Stack
Checkly vs Better Stack — FAQ
What is the main difference between Checkly and Better Stack?
Both Checkly and Better Stack are European monitoring & observability solutions with full GDPR compliance. The key differences lie in their approach: Checkly is open source while Better Stack is proprietary. Checkly is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, while Better Stack is based in Prague, Czechia. Your choice should depend on your specific requirements for features, pricing, and data residency.
Which is more affordable, Checkly or Better Stack?
Both Checkly and Better Stack offer free tiers, so you can try either without cost. Both use freemium pricing, so compare the tiers that match your team size and feature needs.
Are both Checkly and Better Stack GDPR compliant?
Yes. Both Checkly and Better Stack are European companies that store data within the EU/EEA and offer Data Processing Agreements. Neither is subject to the US CLOUD Act or FISA surveillance. For GDPR purposes, either option eliminates the legal risks associated with using US-based services.