We stopped an app three times for 10 minutes (5 Oct 2026). Uptime Kuma, checking every 20 seconds, noticed in 9 to 14 seconds. UptimeRobot's free plan, checking every 5 minutes, took 1:27 to 5:49, and logged one 10-minute outage as 5 minutes 5 seconds.
The setup we use
- Uptime Kuma on your server for fast checks of every app, with a notification channel set up and tested on day one.
- One outside monitor (UptimeRobot free) on the server itself, so you still hear about it when the whole box is down.
- Pay for 1-minute outside checks only when a few minutes of silent downtime costs more than about $9 a month.