# Watchgoose

Watchgoose provides cron job monitoring for backups, scheduled tasks, and recurring background workflows that can send a signal. It alerts when a heartbeat is late or missing.

## Key Links

- [Website](https://watchgoose.com/)
- [Start free](https://watchgoose.com/accounts/signup/)
- [Pricing](https://watchgoose.com/pricing/)
- [Enterprise](https://watchgoose.com/pricing/enterprise/)
- [Documentation](https://watchgoose.com/docs/)
- [Comparisons](https://watchgoose.com/compare/)
- [Open-source program](https://watchgoose.com/open-source/)

Every indexable content page is available as Markdown at its existing URL: send `Accept: text/markdown`. Interactive pages stay HTML-only, including the cron syntax cheatsheet at `/docs/cron/` and any free tools published under `/tools/`.

## Product Overview

- Add a check, set its schedule and grace time, then send a heartbeat when the job runs.
- The dashboard shows current status, expected schedule, and last signal for each check.
- Supports intervals, cron and OnCalendar schedules, plan-limited history, durations, and exit codes.
- Includes 12+ alert channels, projects, paid-plan team access, badges, and a project-scoped API.

## Pricing

- Free: 10 checks, no credit card required.
- Trial: 14-day Business trial, no card.
- Startup: EUR 17/month, USD 18/month, GBP 15/month.
- Business: EUR 73/month, USD 78/month, GBP 65/month.
- Enterprise: contact sales, invoiced billing, and dedicated support.

## Quickstart

```sh
curl -fsS -m 10 --retry 5 -o /dev/null https://watchgoose.com/ping/your-uuid-here
```

## Documentation

- [Watchgoose Documentation](https://watchgoose.com/docs/)
- [Management API v3](https://watchgoose.com/docs/api/)
- [Arduino](https://watchgoose.com/docs/arduino/)
- [Attaching Logs](https://watchgoose.com/docs/attaching_logs/)
- [Auto Provisioning](https://watchgoose.com/docs/autoprovisioning/)
- [Status Badges](https://watchgoose.com/docs/badges/)
- [Shell Scripts](https://watchgoose.com/docs/bash/)
- [Cloning Checks](https://watchgoose.com/docs/cloning_checks/)
- [Configuring Checks](https://watchgoose.com/docs/configuring_checks/)
- [Configuring Notifications](https://watchgoose.com/docs/configuring_notifications/)
- [Configuring Prometheus](https://watchgoose.com/docs/configuring_prometheus/)
- [C#](https://watchgoose.com/docs/csharp/)
- [Email](https://watchgoose.com/docs/email/)
- [GitHub Actions](https://watchgoose.com/docs/github_actions/)
- [Go](https://watchgoose.com/docs/go/)
- [Pinging API](https://watchgoose.com/docs/http_api/)
- [Javascript](https://watchgoose.com/docs/javascript/)
- [Measuring Script Run Time](https://watchgoose.com/docs/measuring_script_run_time/)
- [How to Monitor Cron Jobs with Watchgoose](https://watchgoose.com/docs/monitoring_cron_jobs/)
- [How to Monitor Systemd Tasks with Watchgoose](https://watchgoose.com/docs/monitoring_systemd_tasks/)
- [Network Routers](https://watchgoose.com/docs/network_routers/)
- [PHP](https://watchgoose.com/docs/php/)
- [PowerShell](https://watchgoose.com/docs/powershell/)
- [Projects and Teams](https://watchgoose.com/docs/projects_teams/)
- [Python](https://watchgoose.com/docs/python/)
- [Pinging Reliability Tips](https://watchgoose.com/docs/reliability_tips/)
- [Third-Party Resources](https://watchgoose.com/docs/resources/)
- [Ruby](https://watchgoose.com/docs/ruby/)
- [Signaling failures](https://watchgoose.com/docs/signaling_failures/)
- [Slug URLs](https://watchgoose.com/docs/slug_urls/)
- [Public Status Pages](https://watchgoose.com/docs/status_pages/)
- [Cron syntax cheatsheet](https://watchgoose.com/docs/cron/)

## Comparisons

- [Comparison hub](https://watchgoose.com/compare/)
- [Watchgoose vs Better Stack](https://watchgoose.com/compare/better-stack/)
- [Watchgoose vs Cronitor](https://watchgoose.com/compare/cronitor/)
- [Watchgoose vs Dead Man's Snitch](https://watchgoose.com/compare/dead-mans-snitch/)
- [Watchgoose vs Healthchecks.io](https://watchgoose.com/compare/healthchecks-io/)
- [Watchgoose vs Uptime Kuma](https://watchgoose.com/compare/uptime-kuma/)

## Open Source Support

Approved projects receive any paid plan for free, matched to the project's needs. Grants have no scheduled end while the project remains eligible. We review eligibility annually; approved projects do not need to renew or redeem another code.
- Business-tier example for qualifying projects: 1,000 checks, unlimited projects and team access, and 3,000 ping log entries.
- [FreeBSD](https://freebsdfoundation.org/our-donors/donors/)

## Guides

- [Guide library](https://watchgoose.com/guides/)

## Implementation Guides

- [Monitor cron jobs](https://watchgoose.com/docs/monitoring_cron_jobs/) - Schedules, grace periods, and failure signals
- [Monitor systemd timers](https://watchgoose.com/docs/monitoring_systemd_tasks/) - OnCalendar timers and service lifecycle hooks
- [Monitor GitHub Actions](https://watchgoose.com/docs/github_actions/) - Add heartbeat monitoring to CI workflows
- [Monitor shell scripts](https://watchgoose.com/docs/bash/) - Reliable curl patterns for Bash and other shells

## Operational Evidence

- [12+ alert channels](https://watchgoose.com/docs/configuring_notifications/) - Configure how your team gets notified
- [Open Source support](https://watchgoose.com/open-source/) - 5% of profit pledged to Open Source projects
- [Europe hosted, operated & owned](https://watchgoose.com/legal/privacy/) - Read how Watchgoose handles your data
- [Public service status](https://status.watchgoose.com) - See current platform availability