How Pointsman compares
Notes on four other tools, including when one of them is the better choice. The rivals here are invented for this template.
Pointsman vs Lampline
Lampline is a simple pinger. Pointsman adds schedules, incidents and status pages.
Pointsman vs Watchpost
Watchpost covers full observability. Pointsman does the uptime part with far less setup.
Pointsman vs Pingyard
Pingyard is free to start. Pointsman costs a little and retries before it pages.
Pointsman vs Statusmill
Statusmill makes status pages. Pointsman also runs the checks behind them.
What to check when you compare
Four questions to ask of any uptime tool.
How often does it wake you?
Ask how a failure is confirmed. A single failed check from one place should not page anyone.
Who pays for the team?
Per-seat pricing pushes people to share logins, and then nobody knows who acknowledged a page.
Is the status page included?
A separate tool has to be updated by hand during the incident.
How long is setup?
Ask how long it takes to add a new service.
Switching takes an afternoon
Run both side by side for a week, then turn the old one off.
1
Import your monitors
Upload a CSV, use the API, or add the Terraform provider.
2
Rebuild the rota
Add people, set handovers and connect Slack or phone.
3
Move the status page
Point your domain across. Subscribers carry over.
