What is Dotcom-Monitor?
Dotcom-Monitor is a US-based digital experience monitoring platform founded 1998, offering synthetic monitoring across web, API, transaction, streaming, and DNS, plus the LoadView load-testing arm. Strong enterprise track record with broad protocol coverage. Where it falls short for many teams: multi-SKU pricing means you pay separately for synthetic monitoring + LoadView load testing + per-feature add-ons, and total cost adds up fast when bundling multiple Dotcom-Monitor products.
When Dotcom-Monitor is the right pick
- You need broad protocol coverage: DNS, streaming media, FTP, mainframe-adjacent protocols Dotcom-Monitor covers from its 1998-era roots.
- You're already on multiple Dotcom-Monitor SKUs and want consolidated vendor billing.
- You need EveryStep real-Chrome scripting from their LoadView arm.
Where Dotcom-Monitor leaves gaps
- Multi-SKU pricing. Synthetic monitoring + LoadView load testing + per-feature charges accumulate quickly.
- No flat-pricing path. Costs scale with the number of checks, locations, and product modules.
- Core Web Vitals depth is basic. Synthetic monitoring covers page-load but not full Lighthouse-grade SEO audits.
- Setup overhead. Multiple products configured separately; consolidated dashboards require manual work.
LoadFocus vs. Dotcom-Monitor: comparison
| Feature | LoadFocus | Dotcom-Monitor |
|---|---|---|
| Synthetic web/API monitoring | Yes, single product | Yes (Dotcom-Monitor's core) |
| JMeter cloud load testing | Yes, .jmx unchanged | Via LoadView (separate SKU) |
| k6 cloud load testing | Yes, .js scripts | No |
| Core Web Vitals depth | Full Lighthouse | Basic page-load |
| DNS/streaming/FTP monitoring | HTTP-focused | Yes (Dotcom-Monitor specialty) |
| EveryStep real-Chrome scripting | Playwright browser checks in API monitoring (paid plans); no browser-level load | Yes |
| Pricing model | Single flat SaaS tier | Multi-SKU; per-check + per-product |
| Entry price | ~$19/mo | ~$25/mo per product (stacks fast) |
| Free tier | Forever | Yes, Forever free plan (25 targets, 5-minute checks, 2 locations), plus a 30-day trial |
Prices from the Dotcom-Monitor pricing page, checked October 2026.
When LoadFocus is the right pick
- You need HTTP/web/API monitoring + load testing + CWV in one product, not 3 Dotcom-Monitor SKUs.
- You want flat predictable pricing: no per-feature SKU stacking.
- You don't need exotic protocols (DNS, streaming, FTP) that Dotcom-Monitor specializes in.
- You want a permanent free tier with load testing in the same account. Dotcom-Monitor now has a Forever free plan too (up to 25 targets, 5-minute checks, 2 locations, email alerts, 21-day retention), but its load testing is LoadView, a separate product.
Migrating from Dotcom-Monitor
- Inventory existing Dotcom-Monitor SKUs: synthetic monitoring, LoadView load testing, exotic-protocol checks.
- For HTTP/web/API synthetic monitoring: recreate as LoadFocus multi-step monitors. Most settings map cleanly.
- For LoadView load tests: see the dedicated LoadView alternative migration guide. JMeter (.jmx) files port directly; EveryStep scripts don't carry over: LoadFocus load tests are protocol-level HTTP, so rebuild the flow as HTTP requests in JMeter or k6, or keep LoadView if you need real-browser load.
- For exotic protocols (DNS, streaming, FTP): LoadFocus doesn't cover these. Keep Dotcom-Monitor for those specific checks if you actually use them.
- Cancel the SKUs you're replacing at renewal, keep only what LoadFocus genuinely doesn't cover.
FAQ: LoadFocus vs Dotcom-Monitor
Can LoadFocus replace all Dotcom-Monitor products?
For HTTP/web/API monitoring + load testing, yes. For exotic protocols (DNS, streaming media, FTP, mainframe-adjacent), Dotcom-Monitor's specialization wins. Keep Dotcom-Monitor for those specific checks; LoadFocus replaces the synthetic + load slice.
Is LoadFocus cheaper than Dotcom-Monitor?
Yes when you account for SKU stacking. LoadFocus at $19/mo consolidates the slice.
Does LoadFocus do EveryStep-style real-Chrome scripting?
Not for load testing. LoadFocus load tests are protocol-level (HTTP/1.1 and HTTP/2); if real-browser load is a hard requirement, LoadView is the better fit. For browser journeys as monitoring, LoadFocus API monitoring runs Playwright browser checks in headless Chromium on a schedule, one browser per run, with screenshots, per-step timings and a Playwright trace (paid plans). EveryStep records flows; Playwright checks are written as code.
What about DNS/streaming/FTP monitoring?
LoadFocus doesn't cover those. Dotcom-Monitor specializes in exotic protocols from its 1998-era roots. If you need DNS/streaming/FTP, keep Dotcom-Monitor for those.
Can I run JMeter scripts on LoadFocus that I currently run on LoadView?
Yes. JMeter .jmx files port directly. Both LoadFocus and LoadView (Dotcom-Monitor's load arm) use upstream Apache JMeter.
Can both Dotcom-Monitor and LoadFocus coexist?
Yes, common pattern. Many teams keep Dotcom-Monitor for exotic protocols + add LoadFocus for modern HTTP/web/API + load + CWV workflows.
Get started with LoadFocus
Sign up free and create your first API monitor or scheduled Lighthouse audit, consolidate Dotcom-Monitor's HTTP slice into one flat-pricing tool.
