
Checkly
Programmable API and browser monitoring for developers — a German alternative to Pingdom.
Overview
Checkly is a Berlin, Germany-based European company building developer tools and monitoring software since 2018. As an EU-headquartered provider, Checkly operates under GDPR and is outside the reach of the US CLOUD Act, making it a privacy-friendly alternative to GitHub, Atlassian, and JetBrains's US-distributed peers for European teams.
Why European teams pick Checkly
Teams in Europe pick Checkly when they want a developer tools provider that bills in EUR, supports their local data-protection officer requirements, and keeps customer data under Germany law, operating since 2018. Compared with GitHub, Atlassian, and JetBrains's US-distributed peers, Checkly avoids cross-border data transfers under Schrems II and the US CLOUD Act, which is often the deciding factor for European procurement and legal teams.
See more EU developer tools tools or browse other startups from Germany.
About
Checkly is a Netherlands-based monitoring and testing platform that combines synthetic monitoring (always-on API and browser checks) with end-to-end test execution. It uses Playwright for browser automation and runs checks from multiple global locations, including EU data centres. Development teams use Checkly to test API endpoints, user flows, and deployments before and after they go live — a practice called monitoring as code. Checks are defined in JavaScript or TypeScript and live alongside application code in version control. Checkly integrates with GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Vercel, and other CI/CD tools. Being EU-headquartered, it processes monitoring data under GDPR and offers a standard DPA.
Details
- Founded
- 2018
- Headquarters
- Berlin, Germany
Categories
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Frequently asked questions
What is Checkly?
Checkly is a Netherlands-based monitoring and testing platform that combines synthetic monitoring (always-on API and browser checks) with end-to-end test execution. It uses Playwright for browser automation and runs checks from multiple global locations, including EU data centres. Development teams use Checkly to test API endpoints, user flows, and deployments before and after they go live — a practice called monitoring as code. Checks are defined in JavaScript or TypeScript and live alongside application code in version control. Checkly integrates with GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Vercel, and other CI/CD tools. Being EU-headquartered, it processes monitoring data under GDPR and offers a standard DPA.
What does Checkly do?
Checkly is programmable api and browser monitoring for developers — a german alternative to pingdom. It is listed under developer tools and monitoring on EU Alts because its core functionality serves teams looking for a European developer tools tool with EU data residency, typically as a switch away from GitHub, Atlassian, and JetBrains's US-distributed peers.
Is Checkly a good European developer tools alternative?
Checkly is a fit for European businesses evaluating developer tools options where data residency and GDPR alignment matter — typical buyers include EU-based SaaS teams, public-sector projects, regulated industries (healthcare, finance, legal), and any organisation that needs to demonstrate that customer data does not leave the EU. It also overlaps with monitoring use cases.
Is Checkly GDPR compliant?
Checkly is headquartered in Berlin, Germany and falls under EU jurisdiction, so it processes user data under the GDPR by default. Customer data processing is supervised by Germany's data protection authority, the Bundesbeauftragte für den Datenschutz und die Informationsfreiheit (BfDI). Because the company is not US-incorporated, it is not subject to the US CLOUD Act — meaning US authorities cannot compel Checkly to disclose customer data the way they can with GitHub, Atlassian, and JetBrains's US-distributed peers. For European buyers, that often simplifies DPIA paperwork and standard contractual clauses.
How do teams switch from GitHub to Checkly?
Most teams move to Checkly from GitHub, Atlassian, and JetBrains's US-distributed peers because they want EU data residency without giving up the core developer tools workflow. Checkly's Germany base means a single jurisdiction for both the company and (typically) its hosting infrastructure, so you can drop Schrems II transfer impact assessments for this part of your stack. Plan the migration in stages: export your data from the US incumbent, pilot Checkly with a small team, then move the rest once the integration coverage you need is confirmed.
Where is Checkly based?
Checkly is headquartered in Berlin, Germany. The company was founded in 2018. Its main website is https://www.checklyhq.com.