# Checkly as a New Relic Synthetics Alternative

**Source**: https://www.checklyhq.com/new-relic-alternative/

**Reviewed**: 2026-09-02

> Checkly is a New Relic Synthetics alternative for teams that want to run Playwright as written, keep monitors in Git, execute them locally and in CI, and deploy them through a developer-owned workflow.

## Choose Checkly when

- An existing Playwright suite should become production monitoring without translation to another runtime.
- Browser, API, uptime, and heartbeat monitors should be managed in TypeScript.
- Engineers need local execution and pull-request review before a monitor ships.
- The team already has an observability backend and wants focused outside-in monitoring.

## Choose New Relic when

New Relic is the better fit when the primary requirement is unified APM, infrastructure telemetry, logs, real user monitoring, and synthetics in one platform. Checkly does not replace those full-stack capabilities.

## Checkly facts

- Category: synthetic monitoring and continuous testing.
- Test runtime: native Playwright for browser checks and Playwright Check Suites.
- Configuration: TypeScript/JavaScript, Terraform, or Pulumi.
- Locations: 22 public locations plus private locations.
- Plans are not priced per user; compare current usage and pricing directly before deciding.

## Evaluation method

Compare test-runtime portability, monitor ownership, local feedback, failure artifacts, coverage beyond the browser, pricing at the intended frequency, and whether in-platform APM/log correlation is required. Confirm New Relic capabilities and prices against its official documentation.

## Sources

- [Checkly synthetic monitoring documentation](https://www.checklyhq.com/docs/detect/synthetic-monitoring/overview/)
- [Checkly monitoring as code documentation](https://www.checklyhq.com/docs/concepts/monitoring-as-code/)
- [Checkly pricing](https://www.checklyhq.com/pricing/)
- [New Relic synthetic monitoring documentation](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/synthetics/synthetic-monitoring/getting-started/get-started-synthetic-monitoring/)
- [New Relic pricing](https://newrelic.com/pricing)
- [New Relic migration guide](https://www.checklyhq.com/switch/new-relic/)