Pulsy vs Datadog Synthetics
The open-source alternative when you only need availability
Datadog Synthetics is one component of a very large observability platform, and it is priced accordingly. If you are already all-in on Datadog it makes sense to keep availability there. If you are considering Datadog mainly to answer "is the site up?", Pulsy answers that as open-source software — free forever self-hosted, or flat plans on Pulsy Cloud.
Where Pulsy differs from Datadog Synthetics
- Open source (AGPL-3.0) — self-host free forever instead of adding test runs to a platform bill.
- Predictable cost: no bill self-hosted, flat plans on Cloud, no per-test-run metering.
- Scoped to uptime, response time, TLS expiry, incidents, and status pages — no platform to adopt.
- Localized dashboard in five languages with full right-to-left support.
Datadog Synthetics vs Pulsy, side by side
| Feature | Pulsy (self-hosted) | Pulsy Cloud | Datadog Synthetics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free forever — you run it (AGPL-3.0) | Free tier, paid plans from $12/mo | Priced per test run, on top of a platform bill |
| Source code | Open source, AGPL-3.0 | The same AGPL-3.0 code, managed for you | Proprietary |
| Where your data lives | Your own infrastructure | Hosted by Pulsy, exportable any time | Hosted by Datadog |
| Pricing model | No bill | Flat plans | Metered by test runs and locations |
| Correlation with metrics, traces, logs | Not included | Not included | Core strength of the platform |
| Browser / multistep API checks | Not included | Not included | Included |
| Status pages | Included, custom domains | Included, custom domains | Not a built-in feature |
| Dashboard | Localized (5 languages, RTL) | Localized (5 languages, RTL) | Localized |
Switching from Datadog Synthetics is painless
Only worth doing if Synthetics is a line item you cannot justify. Re-create the HTTP tests in Pulsy against the same URLs and thresholds and route alerts to the same channels. If your on-call workflow depends on correlating a failing check with traces and logs in one place, staying put is the right call.
Frequently asked questions
- Can Pulsy replace Datadog Synthetics?
- For uptime and TLS monitoring of endpoints, yes. For browser tests, multistep API tests, or correlating a failure with metrics, traces, and logs in one platform, no.
- Is there an open-source Datadog Synthetics alternative?
- Pulsy covers the availability slice as AGPL-3.0 software you can self-host for free. Nothing open source replicates the full Datadog platform, and Pulsy does not try.
- How does the cost compare?
- Self-hosted Pulsy costs whatever your host costs. Pulsy Cloud is flat plans from $12/mo. Synthetics is metered by test run and location, so the comparison depends entirely on your check volume.
- Does Pulsy have public status pages?
- Yes, with custom domains, on every plan and in the self-hosted build — which Datadog Synthetics does not provide.
Compare Pulsy with other monitors
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