CertFleet vs Datadog for SSL monitoring

Datadog's SSL monitoring is delivered through Synthetic Tests — an APM feature that requires provisioning a Synthetic monitor, configuring test locations, and paying for Synthetic API test runs on top of the base Datadog subscription. Entry-level Datadog plans for observability start at $15/host/month and scale rapidly with usage. For a team that only wants SSL certificate monitoring, buying into the full Datadog stack is significant overbuying.

CertFleet is priced for certificate monitoring alone. The free tier covers 10 SSL domains and 10 uptime monitors with no platform subscription. The entry paid tier at $15/mo includes webhooks, REST API, and 25 domains — a total that would cost hundreds of dollars per month inside Datadog when Synthetic tests, data retention, and alert routing are factored in.

Datadog's SSL checks are primarily focused on expiry detection and basic chain validation. Certificate Transparency monitoring — watching CT logs for new issuances and mis-issuance — is not a Datadog feature. This means Datadog users do not get proactive alerts when an unexpected certificate is issued for their domain, a gap that matters for security-sensitive environments.

Setup time is materially different. CertFleet takes under a minute: add a domain, configure alert channels, done. Datadog SSL monitoring requires configuring Synthetic tests, setting up monitors with alert conditions, wiring alert routing through Datadog's notification policy system, and potentially configuring private locations for internal certificates. None of this is difficult, but it all takes time and Datadog expertise to maintain.

For teams already invested in Datadog for APM, logs and infrastructure monitoring, adding Synthetic SSL checks makes sense — the data lives in one place. For teams that only want certificate monitoring, or that want to keep certificate monitoring separate from their observability stack, CertFleet is the simpler and cheaper option. It also adds uptime monitoring without additional cost, covering the HTTP availability dimension that Synthetics would otherwise handle.

The free no-login SSL checker lets you see immediately what a real TLS probe returns for any domain. Create a free account to add continuous monitoring with 30/14/7/1-day expiry alerts and CT log tracking. Compare plans — the entry tier is $15/mo with no per-host or per-test pricing.