- Visual Page Selection: Select specific elements or sections of a webpage to monitor instead of tracking the entire page.
- Custom Check Frequency: Set monitoring intervals from seconds to hours based on how critical the page updates are.
- Local & Cloud Monitoring: Run monitors in the browser locally or use 24/7 cloud-based tracking for continuous checks.
- Instant Multi-Channel Alerts: Receive notifications via email, SMS, push notifications, or integrations when changes occur.
- Version History & Change Comparison: View and compare previous versions of a page to see exactly what changed.
- Password-Protected Page Monitoring: Track updates on private or login-required pages securely.
- PDF & File Monitoring: Monitor changes in online PDFs and document files.
- Single Dashboard Management: Manage and organize all monitors from one centralized dashboard.
- Browser Extensions & Apps: Available on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, desktop apps, and mobile platforms.
Distill.io
Monitor website changes with real-time alerts and cloud tracking
Updated March 5, 2026
Distill.io Overview
Distill.io is a website change monitoring tool that tracks updates on web pages, PDFs, and password-protected content. Users can select specific page elements to monitor and receive alerts via email, SMS, push notifications, or apps.
It supports both local browser-based checks and 24/7 cloud monitoring, making it suitable for individuals, businesses, and teams that need timely change detection.
Key Features
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 (Billed Annually) | 25 monitors (5 in cloud); 1,000 checks/month in cloud; 6 hours minimum cloud interval |
| Starter | $15/month (Billed Annually) | 50 monitors; 30,000 checks/month in cloud; 10 minutes minimum cloud interval |
| Professional | $35/month (Billed Annually) | 150 monitors; 100,000 checks/month in cloud; 5 minutes minimum cloud interval |
| Flexi | $80+/month (Billed Annually) | 500+ monitors; 200,000+ checks/month in cloud; 2 minutes minimum cloud interval |
| Enterprise | Contact Sales | Shared watchlist; Centralized billing; Team usage |
Price details: https://distill.io/pricing/
Pros
Competitor |
Pros |
|---|---|
| Visualping | Distill.io offers both free local monitoring and affordable paid plans starting around $12/month, which is more flexible for individuals and small teams. It allows precise element selection and faster custom intervals, while Visualping often limits frequency and advanced options to higher-priced tiers. |
| ChangeTower | Compared to ChangeTower, Distill.io provides browser-based local monitoring alongside cloud tracking, giving users more control. It supports password-protected pages and PDF monitoring without requiring enterprise pricing, making it more accessible for startups and technical users. |
| Wachete | Distill.io stands out with its visual selector and granular monitoring of specific elements. Users can define smart conditions for alerts and manage monitors in a clean dashboard, which many find easier to configure than Wachete’s more text-focused setup. |
| Hexowatch | Unlike Hexowatch, which focuses heavily on marketing use cases, Distill.io works well for general monitoring like product availability, legal updates, and competitive intelligence. It combines browser extensions and cloud uptime, offering flexibility without locking users into complex automation workflows. |
| PageCrawl.io | Distill.io supports high-frequency checks, local runs, and broader browser compatibility. Its free tier and extension-based model make it more affordable for individuals, while still offering cloud monitoring and version history features that rival PageCrawl.io’s business-focused plans. |
Cons
Competitor |
Cons |
|---|---|
| Visualping | Visualping provides a more beginner-friendly onboarding flow and cleaner UI for non-technical users. Distill.io’s interface can feel complex at first, especially when configuring advanced conditions or switching between local and cloud monitors. |
| ChangeTower | ChangeTower emphasizes enterprise reporting and structured alerts, which may appeal to compliance teams. Distill.io focuses more on flexibility and extensions, so organizations seeking detailed audit-style reporting may find fewer built-in compliance templates. |
| Wachete | Wachete offers a simpler web-based experience without relying heavily on browser extensions. Distill.io’s strongest features often depend on extensions or app installations, which may not suit users who prefer a fully cloud-only setup. |
| Hexowatch | Hexowatch includes visual AI-based change detection and broader automation triggers in its higher plans. Distill.io focuses more on direct page monitoring and may require manual configuration for complex automation workflows. |
| PageCrawl.io | PageCrawl.io provides structured team collaboration and reporting features tailored for larger organizations. Distill.io supports teams, but its dashboard and permissions system are less enterprise-oriented compared to PageCrawl.io’s collaboration-first approach. |
Reviews
- TechRadar Review (Rating: 4.2/5): Distill.io makes it easy to track complex web pages, especially with its macro support. The ability to monitor only specific parts of a page instead of the whole site stood out as a practical way to keep tabs on detailed or dynamic content.
- G2 Review (Rating: 4.6/5): Distill.io earns high marks for real-time site change monitoring, with one SOC Manager calling it “The BEST Real-Time site change monitoring ever!” After two years of use, the reviewer highlighted reliable email alerts and the fact that it can send notifications when other software cannot. Occasional issues with detecting or saving the correct page section led to wrong alerts, but re-adjusting the monitored area usually fixed it.
- Trustpilot Review (Rating: 3.2/5): One recent reviewer warned about unexpected subscription charges, claiming nearly $100 was taken without clear notice and that a refund was refused. The complaint centers on not being informed about the subscription before the credit card was billed.
- apple.com Review: One user called it “by far the best way to track websites for changes,” especially for monitoring product availability. They run monitoring on a Mac through Chrome with a VPN extension and rely on push notifications when a button switches from “out of stock” or “auto-notify” to “add to cart,” saying the upgraded version is worth the price.