If you like games that run in a browser tab with no download, you probably want the same from your other tools. changedetection.io is free, but the free version means installing it yourself with Docker or Python and keeping a computer on to run it. This piece looks for a changedetection io free alternative that needs nothing installed at all, and explains what each free plan actually gets you.
What changedetection.io asks of you
changedetection.io is a well-built open source project. It watches pages and tells you when they change, and it handles restock alerts and price drops for shopping pages. The software costs nothing. The catch is where it runs. To use it free you start a Docker container or a Python app on your own machine or server, and it only checks pages while that machine is up.
The makers also sell a hosted version for $8.99 a month, which removes the setup. That is a fair price, but it is not free.
The option with nothing to install: AyeWatch
AyeWatch runs in the cloud. You sign up on the web, or in the iOS or Android app, paste a link and say in normal words what you want to hear about. For example:
Tell me when this console is back in stock or the price drops.
When the page changes in a way that fits that sentence, you get a push notification with a short summary. Changes that do not fit, like a new banner or a reshuffled review section, do not ping you.
It can follow more than single pages. You can also watch a topic across the web, a subreddit, an X account or a YouTube channel, which is handy when news about a release shows up on social media before the store page updates.
What the free plans give you
| Tool | Install needed | Free allowance | Paid from |
|---|---|---|---|
| AyeWatch | No | Free Preview: three runs across up to three topics, Daily or slower checks | $9 a month (Pro, hourly) |
| changedetection.io | Yes, Docker or Python | Unlimited if you host it | $8.99 a month hosted |
| Visualping | No | 5 pages, 150 checks a month | $14 a month |
| PageCrawl.io | No | 6 pages, 220 checks a month | $13.33 a month, billed yearly |
| Distill | Extension or app for local checks | 25 monitors, 5 of them in the cloud every 6 hours | $15 a month |
Two notes on that table. AyeWatch's free runs are a trial: three in total, and they do not refill. They are there so you can see whether the alerts are useful before paying. Visualping and PageCrawl.io keep a small free plan going month after month, but they check by schedule and count every check.
So which is the free alternative?
It depends on what "free" has to mean for you.
- Free forever, and you are fine installing things: keep changedetection.io. Nothing beats it on price.
- Free forever, no install, a handful of pages: Visualping or PageCrawl.io's free tiers work for light use.
- Try free, then pay a little for alerts that make sense: AyeWatch. Pro is $9 a month for hourly checks, and the rule-based alerts mean fewer pings about nothing.
For most people who landed here because they did not want to run a server, AyeWatch is the better fit. You trade a small monthly fee for not thinking about the setup again.
Whichever you pick, start with one page you already check by hand every few days. If the alerts save you those visits, add more.
Getting started
Open ayewatch.ai on your phone or laptop, paste the page you keep refreshing, and write the sentence. It takes about a minute. If you want the full rundown first, AyeWatch's write-up on six changedetection.io alternatives covers the field.