# Fajita vs Checkly
Checkly is a code-first active reliability layer: Playwright checks, monitors as JS/TS or Terraform, traces, and an AI-native workflow. Fajita is a no-agent uptime product: URLs, heartbeats, confirmed incidents, and status pages. Confirm current Checkly packaging on their site.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-18
Version: 1
Canonical: https://fajita.io/compare/fajita-vs-checkly
Methodology: https://fajita.io/compare/comparison-methodology
Best for Fajita: Founders who want a monitor to be a URL, a schedule, and the people to tell, without writing Playwright or owning an observability stack.
Best for other: Engineering teams that want monitoring as code, browser checks, and agent-driven setup.
Fajita limitations:
- Fajita does not offer Playwright transaction checks or monitoring as code.
- Fajita does not collect traces or OpenTelemetry.
- Fajita does not offer a free forever monitoring plan.
## Direct summary

Choose Checkly when you want monitors as code, Playwright flows, and an AI-native reliability workflow as described on their site today. Choose Fajita when you want external checks, failure confirmation, heartbeats, and a status page without writing tests or installing agents.

## Best fit

| Choose Fajita when | Choose Checkly when |
| --- | --- |
| A monitor should be a URL and a schedule | You want Playwright or API checks in git |
| You want confirmed incidents and a public status page | You want agents or CLI to create monitors from prompts |
| You do not want traces, OTel, or a reliability platform | You already treat monitoring as part of the deploy pipeline |

## Feature areas (qualitative)

| Area | Fajita | Checkly (public positioning) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| HTTP/API monitors | Yes | Yes, including code-defined API checks |
| Browser / Playwright checks | No | Yes, advertised as a core workflow |
| Failure confirmation | Yes, verification before incident | Confirm current retry and alert behavior in their docs |
| Heartbeat / cron | Yes | Heartbeat checks advertised |
| Status pages | Yes | Advertised status pages |
| Monitoring as code | No | JS/TS, Terraform, Pulumi advertised |
| Traces / OTel | No | Advertised OpenTelemetry traces |
| Free start | No free forever plan | Start for free advertised; confirm limits |

> NOTE: Exact numeric limits and prices for Checkly are not quoted here because they change. See https://www.checklyhq.com/ for current plans.

## Pricing

Fajita plans are listed on /pricing. Checkly pricing should be confirmed on their official site. We do not invent promotional rates.

## Important limitations

- Fajita authors this comparison.
- Checkly is a testing and reliability platform. Fajita is not trying to replace Playwright or monitoring as code.
- Teams that already own Checkly checks in git will feel switching cost in the repo, not just the UI.

## Who should choose each

If your team wants monitors beside application code and browser flows, start with official Checkly docs. If you want four external checks, one heartbeat, and a status page without a new programming workflow, evaluate Fajita.
Checkly is a trademark of its respective owner. This page is authored by Fajita and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Checkly.