Guides
How to set up an alert when a webpage changes
The direct answer, the rule that keeps alerts useful, and free options, with AyeWatch as the quickest setup.
To set up an alert when a webpage changes, use a page monitor: paste the page's URL, say what kind of change you want to hear about, pick how often it checks and choose where the alert goes. AyeWatch does all four in one screen and only alerts you when the change matches your description.
That is the short answer. The rest of this page covers the steps, what to write in the rule, and the cases where a different tool makes more sense.
The four steps
- Open a monitor. Create a free AyeWatch account. The free preview needs no card.
- Add the URL. Paste the exact page, not the home page. A pricing page, a job listing or a policy page works best.
- Write the rule. Describe the change in one sentence, the way you would ask a colleague to keep an eye on it.
- Set timing and delivery. Leave the interval on Auto or choose your own, then pick a channel. Push and the in-app feed are on every plan; email, Slack, Discord and webhooks need a paid plan.
When the page changes in a way that fits your rule, you get an alert with a short summary of what is different.
What to write in the rule
The rule is what separates a useful alert from noise. Compare these:
| Weak rule | Better rule |
|---|---|
| "Any change" | "Alert me if the monthly price changes" |
| "Watch this job page" | "Tell me when a remote engineering role is posted" |
| "Monitor the terms" | "Alert me if the refund or cancellation section changes" |
| "Check the listing" | "Tell me if the asking price drops or the listing is removed" |
A specific rule means the monitor can ignore cookie banners, footer dates and rotating promos. A vague one turns it back into a plain diff tool.
If you are not sure what to write, start broad for a week, read the alerts you get, then tighten the sentence to the ones you would have acted on. You can edit, pause or mute a monitor at any time.
How often should it check?
It depends on how fast you need to act. A regulator's guidance page rarely needs more than a daily check. A limited product drop or a fast-moving price may need faster checks, which AyeWatch offers on its higher plans. Auto mode is a sensible default: it checks more often when a page is busy and less when it is quiet.
Free ways to do it
- AyeWatch free preview: a quick way to try semantic alerts without paying. Paid plans start at $9 a month, billed in monitoring credits.
- changedetection.io: open source and free if you host it yourself. Expect to configure selectors and filters to cut noise.
- Distill: a browser extension with a free plan. Local monitors stop when the browser is closed.
Google Alerts is often suggested, but it reports new search results for keywords. It does not watch a particular page for edits.
When something else is better
If you want a screenshot that highlights exactly which pixels moved, a visual tool such as Visualping fits that job better, since AyeWatch sends a written summary instead. If the page sits behind a login, check whether your monitor supports it before relying on it.
For most people who just want to know when a page changes in a way that matters, the four steps above take a few minutes. The AyeWatch walkthrough on page change alerts has more example rules.