ChangeDetection.io Free vs Hosted
Self-host for control and cost, or pay for a hosted instance and skip the maintenance. A practical comparison.
By AyeWatch Team3 min read
Short answer: changedetection.io is free to self-host and around $8.99/mo for a hosted instance. Self-hosting gives you control and no subscription; hosting gives you less maintenance. Choose based on whether you want to run a server.
AyeWatch is a hosted AI monitor for public pages and topics. It sends a summary to push, email, Slack, Discord, or a webhook.
What changedetection.io is
An open-source page monitor. It fetches pages, diffs the HTML, and sends alerts. It supports selectors, filters, proxies, and a REST API.
It is a strong tool for technical users who want control over the fetch and the diff.
Self-hosted
Free software, your server, your data. You handle updates, backups, browser dependencies, and scraping maintenance. A Docker container makes the setup manageable.
The cost is time, not a subscription. For a developer, that trade is often good.
Hosted
A hosted instance removes the server maintenance. Pricing is around $8.99/mo for a basic plan, with limits on watches and checks.
It is the better fit for a non-technical user who wants the tool without the ops.
The tradeoffs
Self-hosted wins on cost and control. Hosted wins on time and reliability. The diff is still HTML, so neither gives you a plain-English summary.
If you need a summary, use a semantic monitor.
The alternative
AyeWatch is hosted and summary-first. Pro is $9/mo with 50 topics and hourly checks; Pro+ is $19/mo with 200 topics and ASAP mode. It does not give you raw HTML diffs.
The changedetection.io alternative guide covers the options.
| Option | Cost | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|
| Self-hosted | Free software + server | You |
| Hosted | About $8.99/mo | Vendor |
| AyeWatch | $9/mo | Vendor |
Start a monitor in under a minute
Describe a topic or paste a URL. Cancel before the trial ends and you pay nothing.
Try it free for 7 daysThe bottom line
Decide whether you want to run a server. If yes, self-host. If no, pay for hosting or use a summary-first monitor. The diff type is the second decision.
FAQ
Is changedetection.io free?
The software is free to self-host. A hosted instance costs around $8.99/mo.
Do I need Docker?
It is the easiest way to self-host. You can also run it directly with Python.
What do I give up with hosting?
Some control over the server and the data. You gain time and reliability.
Does it provide a summary?
No. It provides HTML diffs. Use a semantic monitor for a plain-English summary.