- \n
- Uptime monitoring consists of frequent checks on your website\u2019s server and provides alerts if your site goes offline. This is crucial for a quick response to a site outage. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Frequent downtime harms User Experience (UX), sales and revenue, and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) rankings, which is why it\u2019s so important for businesses to have reliable uptime. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The best tools for proactive uptime monitoring provide short check intervals, send alerts, and leverage multi-location verification to avoid false downtime reports. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- WP Engine Site Monitoring and other tools provide alerts, give visibility into site outages, uptime, and response time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What Is uptime monitoring?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Uptime monitoring is a monitoring service that keeps tabs on whether your website is online. An uptime monitoring tool will check your website\u2019s server at a regular frequency (determined by the service and your plan), and alert you when your website goes offline for any reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why uptime monitoring is important<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The frequency with which your website is offline (i.e. experiencing \u2018downtime\u2019) will have a major impact on your website\u2019s (and business\u2019) success. This is why it\u2019s important to ascertain the current status of your website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Frequent downtime can lead to several negative consequences, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Negative impact on your search engine rankings<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Poor User Experience (UX), which can lead to decreased customer loyalty and a damaged brand reputation <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Loss of profits and income (including sales and ad revenue)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
How does uptime monitoring work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When you visit a website, a short \u2018discussion\u2019 occurs between your web browser and the site\u2019s server. The site will then return a HTTP status code<\/a>, which determines whether you can either gain access (online) or not (offline).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Uptime monitoring services do the same, though they \u2018ping\u2019 the server instead of visiting with a browser. The monitoring service then reads the HTTP code, and will alert you if downtime is detected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s more, website monitoring services will typically use multiple locations to ping the server. This ensures there are no false alarms when you\u2019re notified of downtime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
WordPress uptime monitoring plugins<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There are a few features to look for in uptime monitoring plugins and software when considering your options. The more frequent the monitoring, the better. However, you also want to consider whether the plugin offers website performance reports, downtime alerts, and multiple location server checks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s look at some example solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. WP Engine Site Monitoring<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"WP](\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/WP-SiteMonitoring-StayAhead-2-540x355.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nGet the insights you need to keep your sites up and performing. WP Engine Site Monitoring<\/a> alerts you to errors and provides critical visibility into outages, server<\/span> uptime, and average response times across all of your websites, and includes the ability to link to site-specific access logs when an outage is detected.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Price:<\/b> Starting at just $5 <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pros: <\/b>Site Monitoring helps you stay on top of site status and alerts you via email immediately when issues inevitably come up. Take action right away with detailed access logs to quickly resolve issues before they become more serious.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cons: <\/b>Site Monitoring is currently only available for sites hosted on WP Engine\u2019s platform.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. ManageWP Worker<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"wordpress](\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Uptime2.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nManageWP Worker<\/a> is a WordPress management plugin that includes cloud backups<\/a>, automated updates<\/a>, client reports, and performance and security checks<\/a>. The plugin also offers pro add-ons, including Advanced Client Report<\/a> and Uptime Monitor<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Price<\/strong>: The Lite plugin is free, but uptime website monitoring requires you to purchase the add-on for $1 per website per month<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pros<\/strong>: You get instantaneous downtime alerts (both via email and SMS), plus the ability to manage an almost unlimited number of websites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cons<\/strong>: The Uptime Monitor is a paid feature only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Jetpack<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"wordpress](\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Uptime3.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nJetpack<\/a> is a multi-module design, marketing, and security plugin created by Automattic, the developers of WordPress. Most pertinently, it includes real-time site backups (branded as VaultPress) and downtime monitoring<\/a>, among a number of other useful features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Price<\/strong>: The base plugin is free (which includes downtime monitoring), but you can upgrade to the Pro version starting at $3.50 per month<\/a>, which (of course) gives you more features to play with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pros<\/strong>: Frequent server checks, and instantaneous downtime notifications via email and SMS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cons<\/strong>: Downtime monitoring is just one module of many, so it isn\u2019t as feature-intensive as other solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Uptime Robot<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"wordpress](\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Uptime4.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nUptime Robot<\/a> is an online uptime monitor. The software enables you to integrate its API into your website, then receive frequent server monitoring updates. You also have access to downtime statistics (either two months or 12 months of logs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Price<\/strong>: The free account includes five-minute interval monitoring, but you can upgrade to a premium version with one-minute interval monitoring starting at $4.50 per month<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pros<\/strong>: Multiple website checks, frequent server checks, and server uptime and downtime statistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cons<\/strong>: Unfortunately, SMS alerts are limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Internet Vista<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Internet](\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Uptime5.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nInternet Vista<\/a> is another online uptime monitor, that includes cloud-based monitoring tool, along with its own REST API (handy for developers) There\u2019s also top-notch customer support on-hand to help you if you get stuck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Price<\/strong>: Plans start at $2.48 per month<\/a>, with varying uptime checks from one minute (on the pricier end) to 60 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pros<\/strong>: Website performance reports, real-time alerts, and great customer support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cons<\/strong>: The software has pricier monitoring plans than other solutions, and we\u2019d like to see more flexibility between monitoring intervals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. Super Monitoring<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"WordPress](\"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Uptime6.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOffering both a WordPress plugin<\/a> and Google Analytics integration<\/a>, Super Monitoring<\/a> offers minute-by-minute server monitoring. The software uses multiple location checks to ensure no false alarms are raised, and provides real-time notifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Price<\/strong>: Plans start at $5.99 per month<\/a>, though you may have to purchase additional SMS credits<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pros<\/strong>: One-minute interval monitoring, as well as real-time notifications (email and SMS) and multiple location server checks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cons<\/strong>: Plans are on the pricier side, and the additional cost of SMS alerts mean you may not always be kept up-to-date on downtime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
WordPress uptime monitoring plugins overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
As reacting to downtimes is crucial for website success, it\u2019s important to select the right plugin for your needs. Here\u2019s a more concise look at the solutions we\u2019ve mentioned, as ranked by us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A-Grade<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Uptime Robot<\/a> is one of the fuller-featured uptime monitoring solutions on our list. The free plan offers five-minute monitoring intervals, as well as both email and SMS alerts. You also have access to uptime\/downtime statistics (two months for the free plan, and 12 months for premium ones). By upgrading, you have access to more frequent monitoring (every one minute).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Super Monitoring<\/a> is another non-plugin solution on our list, though there is no free plan available. Your server will be checked every minute from multiple locations to prevent false downtime alarms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
B-Grade<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- ManageWP Worker<\/a> has just about all you\u2019d need to monitor your website\u2019s server. This includes instantaneous downtime alerts via email and SMS, and you can also monitor an unlimited number of websites (depending on your plan). For an all-around management plugin, it\u2019s a good solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Jetpack<\/strong><\/a> is a multi-purpose plugin that provides solid website uptime monitoring features for WordPress users. The free plan provides you with the complete set of downtime monitoring features, including five-minute interval server checks and instantaneous alerts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
C-Grade<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Internet Vista<\/a> is one of the pricier options with less frequent website downtime monitoring. Longer intervals may be okay for smaller websites, but even just a few minutes of unnoticed downtime can be disastrous for larger ones. Of course, you can pay for shorter intervals, but it comes at a cost.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
With so much at stake, it\u2019s vital you choose a WordPress hosting<\/a> service with high reliability, wide website availability, and low downtime. That\u2019s where WP Engine<\/a> comes in. To learn more about WP Engine\u2019s features and our offerings, take a look at our managed hosting plans<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAQs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What is Uptime Monitoring and How Does It Work?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Uptime monitoring is a monitoring service that regularly checks to see if your website is online, and will alert you if website downtime is detected. To determine if your website is online, the uptime monitor \u2018pings\u2019 your server, which results in an HTTP status code response that will indicate if the site is online or offline. If the site is determined to be offline, a notification will be sent to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why is Uptime Monitoring Important for Businesses?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Businesses must have reliable uptime or run the risk of negative consequences like poor User Experience (UX), loss of sales and revenue, and negative impacts to search engine rankings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Uptime monitoring services help business owners quickly identify site downtime, allowing them to respond quickly to the problem and avoid the issues associated with downtime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How Often Should You Monitor Uptime? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Uptime monitoring should be done frequently to ensure a quick resolution to site downtime. Five-minute interval checks are common amongst free plans, but one-minute intervals are typical for paid uptime monitoring plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What are the Common Causes of WordPress Downtime?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many common causes on WordPress downtime, including SSL certificate problems, host\/server issues, plugin or theme conflicts, PHP database errors, traffic slikes and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Jetpack<\/strong><\/a> is a multi-purpose plugin that provides solid website uptime monitoring features for WordPress users. The free plan provides you with the complete set of downtime monitoring features, including five-minute interval server checks and instantaneous alerts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Super Monitoring<\/a> is another non-plugin solution on our list, though there is no free plan available. Your server will be checked every minute from multiple locations to prevent false downtime alarms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Uptime Robot<\/a> is one of the fuller-featured uptime monitoring solutions on our list. The free plan offers five-minute monitoring intervals, as well as both email and SMS alerts. You also have access to uptime\/downtime statistics (two months for the free plan, and 12 months for premium ones). By upgrading, you have access to more frequent monitoring (every one minute).<\/li>\n\n\n\n