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Griffin vs Checkly

Checkly is a popular API and browser monitoring platform. Here’s how Griffin compares:
FeatureGriffinCheckly
Open sourceYes — MIT licenseNo (proprietary)
Self-hostingFull self-hosted optionNo
Test languageTypeScript DSLPlaywright / Node.js scripts
Test paradigmDeclarative graph-based flowsImperative scripts
Multi-step API testsBuilt-in with graph/sequential buildersSupported via scripts
Type safetyCompile-time graph validationStandard TypeScript
SchedulingPer-monitor frequency (minutes, hours, days)Per-check frequency
AssertionsFluent assertion DSL on status, body, headers, latencyStandard JS assertions
Secret managementBuilt-in (env vars, AWS Secrets Manager, Vault)Environment variables
NotificationsSlack, email, webhooksSlack, email, PagerDuty, and more
Multi-locationSupported (self-hosted or cloud)20+ global locations
Browser checksNot supported (API-focused)Full Playwright support
PricingFree (self-hosted), usage-based (cloud)Free tier + paid plans

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When to choose Griffin

  • You want an open-source solution you can self-host
  • You prefer declarative, type-safe monitor definitions over imperative scripts
  • You need built-in secret management with multiple provider backends
  • Your focus is API monitoring, not browser testing
  • You want to define monitors as code in your repository alongside your application

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When to choose Checkly

  • You need browser monitoring with Playwright
  • You want a large number of built-in global locations
  • You need a mature ecosystem with extensive integrations
  • You prefer writing imperative test scripts over declarative builders