Gatus vs Uptime Kuma: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Gatus and Uptime Kuma 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: Uptime Kuma 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 open-source and free to use
- • You want highly customizable for specific needs
Uptime Kuma
Self-hosted uptime monitoring with beautiful status pages
Best for you if:
- • You want self-hosted uptime monitoring
- • You want clean UI
| At a Glance | Gatus | Uptime Kuma |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Monitoring | Monitoring |
Rating | - | 4.6/5 |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Gatus or Uptime Kuma?
Choose Gatus if
Monitor your services and applications with a powerful, customizable status page.
- You want open-source and free to use
- You want highly customizable for specific needs
Choose Uptime Kuma if
Self-hosted uptime monitoring with beautiful status pages
- You want self-hosted uptime monitoring
- You want clean UI
| Feature | Gatus | Uptime Kuma |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Free |
| User Rating | No ratings yet | ★4.6/5 348 reviews |
| Categories | MonitoringStatus Pages | MonitoringStatus Pages |
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
Uptime Kuma
Self-hosted uptime monitoring with beautiful status pages
Uptime Kuma's pricing is exceptionally generous, being entirely free.
Strengths
- +Self-hosted uptime monitoring
- +Clean UI
- +Many check types
- +Free and open source
- +Easy Docker setup
Weaknesses
- -Requires self-hosting
- -Single instance only
- -Limited scalability
- -No team features
- -Basic compared to paid
Key features
Pricing: Gatus vs Uptime Kuma
| Plan | Gatus | Uptime Kuma |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | N/A | Free Open Source |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Gatus pricing and Uptime Kuma pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are free. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Gatus
Want the highest-rated option?
Uptime Kuma is rated 4.6/5. Gatus has no ratings yet.
Go with: Uptime Kuma
Value user reviews?
Gatus: no ratings yet. Uptime Kuma: 348 reviews (4.6/5).
Go with: Uptime Kuma
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are free. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Both are monitoring tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Uptime Kuma is rated 4.6/5; Gatus has no ratings yet.
Key Takeaways
Uptime Kuma
- Completely free
- Our pick for this comparison
Gatus
- Choose if you want monitor your services and applications with a powerful, customizable status page
The Bottom Line
Uptime Kuma wins this matchup. Our overall Monitoring pick is Better Uptime. Our free Monitoring pick is Spiceworks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gatus or Uptime Kuma better?
Uptime Kuma is rated in our evaluation. Both are free.
What are Gatus and Uptime Kuma used for?
Gatus: Monitor your services and applications with a powerful, customizable status page.. Uptime Kuma: Self-hosted uptime monitoring with beautiful status pages.
What does Gatus cost vs Uptime Kuma?
Gatus is completely free. Uptime Kuma is completely free. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.