Service and server status pages are intended to provide real-time transparency during outages, performance issues, or scheduled maintenance. They serve as a single source of truth for customers who expect clarity, speed, and accuracy when problems arise. However, many organisations make the mistake of building or hosting these pages on the same infrastructure that powers their services. This approach introduces serious risks that undermine credibility, compliance, and operational resilience.
The primary purpose of a status page is to:
When functioning correctly, a status page is not just a technical tool. It is a critical communications asset that can preserve confidence during moments of disruption.
Running a status page on the same infrastructure that delivers core services creates risks that undermine its fundamental purpose of providing independent and reliable communication during outages.
If the infrastructure goes down, the status page fails with it. Customers are left without access to critical updates at the moment they need them most.
Internal monitoring can create blind spots. Systems may appear operational when customers are experiencing downtime, resulting in inaccurate or misleading updates.
For organisations subject to disclosure obligations, such as incident reporting requirements in the Australian Privacy Act or market rules under the Corporations Act, an inaccessible or inaccurate status page is not just inconvenient. It may expose the organisation to regulatory scrutiny.
The consequences of a self-hosted status page extend beyond technical inconvenience:
Independent third-party solutions are designed to eliminate the risks created by self-hosting. These platforms:
| Platform | Hosting | Status Pages | Features | Customisation | Integrations | Pricing | Strengths | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Better Stack | SaaS | Public & private pages, incident history | 30s intervals, global checks, logs, incident workflows | Custom domain, strong design | Email, Slack, Teams, on-call tools | Free tier + paid plans | Modern UI, strong integrations | Advanced features need higher tier |
| Instatus | SaaS | Public & private pages | Basic native checks, integrations available | Clean design, custom domain on paid | Email, Slack, Teams, webhook, RSS | Free tier + paid plans | Modern, fast setup, free forever plan | Custom domains/private pages require upgrade |
| UptimeRobot | SaaS | Public & private pages | HTTP(s), ping, port, keyword, SSL expiry | Branding on paid plans | Email, SMS, Slack, webhooks | Free tier + paid plans | Reliable, simple setup | Free plan limited, dated UI |
| Uptime Kuma | Self-hosted | Customisable pages | HTTP(s), TCP, ICMP, DNS, push checks | Full control, self-branded | 70+ channels (Slack, Discord, Telegram) | Free (hosting costs apply) | Flexible, no subscription fees | Hosting burden, same infra risk |
| Pulsetic | SaaS | Public pages with uptime badges | HTTP(s), SSL, global checks | Custom domains, clear reports | Email, SMS, voice, Slack | Free tier + paid plans | Polished UI, SMB-friendly | Free tier limited, costs scale |
| Site24x7 | SaaS (enterprise) | Public status pages, SLA reporting | Full-stack (apps, servers, networks) | Advanced dashboards, branding | Email, SMS, ITSM & chat tools | Paid tiers, enterprise pricing | Enterprise-grade, broad monitoring | Complex, higher cost |
| DownNotifier | SaaS | Minimal public reporting | HTTP(s), keywords | Very limited customisation | Email, SMS | Free tier + paid plans | Simple, easy start | Feature-light, minimal branding |
| Hyperping | SaaS | Unlimited public/private pages | HTTP(s), ping, SSL, cron jobs | Full branding, clean design | Email, Slack, Teams, SMS | Paid tiers | Modern look, simple pricing | Smaller ecosystem |
| StatusCake | SaaS | Public pages with SLA data | HTTP(s), DNS, SSL, domain expiry | Custom domains, branding | Email, SMS, chat apps | Free tier + paid plans | Established, rich reporting | Some features locked to enterprise |
| Uptime.com | SaaS (enterprise) | Public pages, SLA & compliance tools | Synthetic checks, API monitoring, global probes | Full branding & SLA reporting | PagerDuty, Opsgenie, Slack, webhooks | Enterprise pricing | Compliance-ready, SLA focus | Expensive, complex for SMBs |
When comparing platforms, several stand out for their balance of reliability, design, and accessibility. Based on practical advantages and user value, the following five represent the preferred options.
Selected for its generous free tier, Instatus is ideal for startups and small businesses seeking a modern design without upfront cost. It allows quick setup, subscriber notifications, and clean status communication. Paid upgrades unlock custom domains and private pages, making it a scalable option.
Instatus
Chosen for its modern design, detailed incident workflows, and process maturity. Better Stack integrates monitoring, logging, and alerting into one platform, making it a strong choice for businesses that value both transparency and operational efficiency.
Better StackAlthough self-hosted, Uptime Kuma earns its place due to its open-source flexibility and unlimited configuration. When deployed on infrastructure separate from production systems, it can serve as a cost-free, customisable solution for organisations with the technical capacity to manage it securely.
Uptime Kuma
Hyperping is included for its sleek design and unlimited public or private pages. Its focus on simplicity and straightforward pricing makes it attractive to companies seeking a professional, modern customer-facing status page with minimal overhead.
HyperpingAs one of the most established tools in the market, UptimeRobot remains a preferred option for reliability and ease of setup. Its free tier offers essential monitoring and status page functionality, while paid plans unlock faster intervals and better branding.
UptimeRobotA self-hosted status page undermines the very trust it is meant to build. Outages are when businesses must communicate clearly and reliably, not when they should expose gaps in planning. By investing in an independent service, companies gain credibility, reduce operational risk, and reassure customers that transparency is more than a promise.
