Gatus vs Oh Dear: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Gatus and Oh Dear comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Oh Dear wins this matchup. Our overall Monitoring pick is Better Uptime. Our free Monitoring pick is Spiceworks. Pick Gatus if you need a fully free option.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Gatus
Monitor your services and applications with a powerful, customizable status page.
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Oh Dear requires payment)
- • You want open-source and free to use
- • You want highly customizable for specific needs
Oh Dear
Website health monitoring for your entire site, not just the homepage.
Best for you if:
- • You want whole-site website health monitoring, not just homepage uptime
- • You want every feature on every plan
| At a Glance | Gatus | Oh Dear |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | $15/monthSolo (EUR) |
Best For | Monitoring | Monitoring |
Rating | - | 4.5/5 |
Free plan | Yes | No |
Choose Gatus or Oh Dear?
Choose Gatus if
Monitor your services and applications with a powerful, customizable status page.
- You want a fully free tool (Oh Dear requires payment)
- You want open-source and free to use
- You want highly customizable for specific needs
Choose Oh Dear if
Website health monitoring for your entire site, not just the homepage.
- You want whole-site website health monitoring, not just homepage uptime
- You want every feature on every plan
| Feature | Gatus | Oh Dear |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Paid |
| User Rating | No ratings yet | ★4.5/5 100 reviews |
| Categories | MonitoringStatus Pages | MonitoringTesting & QA |
In-Depth Analysis
Gatus
Monitor your services and applications with a powerful, customizable status page.
Strengths
- +Open-source and free to use
- +Highly customizable for specific needs
- +Proactive alerting helps prevent extended downtime
Weaknesses
- -Requires some technical knowledge to set up and configure
- -May require self-hosting infrastructure
Key features
Oh Dear
Website health monitoring for your entire site, not just the homepage.
Strengths
- +Whole-site website health monitoring, not just homepage uptime
- +Every feature on every plan
- +One-minute checks from multiple locations
- +Branded status pages and client-ready reports
- +Unlimited users
Weaknesses
- -No permanent free tier (10-day trial only)
- -Not a full infrastructure observability suite
- -Priced by number of sites
Key features
Pricing: Gatus vs Oh Dear
| Plan | Gatus | Oh Dear |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | N/A | $15 month Solo (EUR) |
| Tier 2 | N/A | $49 month Freelance (EUR) |
| Tier 3 | N/A | $99 month Studio (EUR) |
| Tier 4 | N/A | $149 month Agency (EUR) |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Gatus pricing and Oh Dear pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Gatus is free. Oh Dear is paid.
Go with: Gatus
Want the highest-rated option?
Oh Dear is rated 4.5/5. Gatus has no ratings yet.
Go with: Oh Dear
Value user reviews?
Gatus: no ratings yet. Oh Dear: 100 reviews (4.5/5).
Go with: Oh Dear
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Gatus is free. Oh Dear is paid. Go with Gatus if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Both are monitoring tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Oh Dear is rated 4.5/5; Gatus has no ratings yet.
Key Takeaways
Oh Dear
- Our pick for this comparison
Gatus
- Completely free
The Bottom Line
Oh Dear wins this matchup. Our overall Monitoring pick is Better Uptime. Our free Monitoring pick is Spiceworks. That said, Gatus is free, hard to beat on price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gatus or Oh Dear better?
Oh Dear is rated in our evaluation. Gatus is free and Oh Dear is paid.
What are Gatus and Oh Dear used for?
Gatus: Monitor your services and applications with a powerful, customizable status page.. Oh Dear: Website health monitoring for your entire site, not just the homepage..
What does Gatus cost vs Oh Dear?
Gatus is completely free. Oh Dear is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.