Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Update Scanner VS ChangeTower

Compare Update Scanner VS ChangeTower and see what are their differences

Update Scanner logo Update Scanner

Update Scanner is a Firefox extension to monitor web pages for updates.

ChangeTower logo ChangeTower

ChangeTower offers website monitoring tools for new content and content changes.
  • Update Scanner Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-10-23
  • ChangeTower Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-09-20

Update Scanner features and specs

  • Free to Use
    Update Scanner is an open-source tool that is completely free to use, making it accessible to users without any financial constraints.
  • Easy Installation
    The scanner is available as a browser extension, which makes it easy to install and integrate into your web browser.
  • Customizable Scan Intervals
    Users can customize the frequency of scans, allowing them to monitor changes as often or as infrequently as needed.
  • Notifications
    The tool provides notifications for detected updates, ensuring users are promptly alerted to changes on their monitored web pages.
  • Simple Interface
    Update Scanner features an intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it easy to set up and manage monitored sites.

Possible disadvantages of Update Scanner

  • Limited to Browser Use
    Being a browser extension, Update Scanner is only available within your web browser and cannot be used as a standalone application.
  • Resource Consumption
    Frequent scans can consume significant amounts of browser resources, which could potentially slow down performance.
  • Dependency on Browser
    The extension is dependent on the stability and updates of the web browser, which could impact its functionality if there are compatibility issues.
  • No Mobile App
    As of now, there is no dedicated mobile app for Update Scanner, limiting its use to desktop environments.
  • Basic Features
    While functional, Update Scanner lacks some advanced features found in more robust monitoring tools, such as detailed change logs or integration with other software.

ChangeTower features and specs

  • Real-time Monitoring
    ChangeTower offers real-time monitoring of web pages, allowing users to track changes as they happen, which is crucial for staying updated with important modifications.
  • Custom Alerts
    Users can set up custom alerts to be notified of specific changes, providing a tailored monitoring experience that meets individual needs.
  • Comprehensive Reporting
    The platform provides detailed reports and logs of changes, aiding in analysis and record-keeping.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    ChangeTower's interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, making it accessible to users with varying levels of technical expertise.
  • Multi-Source Monitoring
    Capable of monitoring a variety of sources including web pages, HTML elements, and even keywords, offering versatile monitoring capabilities.

Possible disadvantages of ChangeTower

  • Pricing
    The cost of using ChangeTower can be relatively high, especially for small businesses or individual users.
  • Limited Free Plan
    The free plan has limitations on the number of pages and frequency of monitoring, which might not be sufficient for heavy users.
  • Learning Curve
    While the interface is user-friendly, there is a learning curve to fully utilize all the advanced features and customization options.
  • Dependence on Web Page Structure
    Changes in the structure of monitored web pages can impact the monitoring process, requiring adjustments and reconfiguration.
  • Alert Overload
    Users may experience alert fatigue if not carefully setting up filters and criteria, potentially leading to the overlooking of important changes.

Analysis of Update Scanner

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Update Scanner is a well-regarded tool within its niche, offering reliable performance for those who need to keep track of changes on various web pages. Its ease of use and practical features make it a good choice for users needing such functionality.

Why this product is good

  • Update Scanner (sneakypete81.github.io) is a browser extension designed to monitor web pages for changes. It is particularly useful for users who need to track changes on websites that do not offer RSS feeds or notifications. The extension is straightforward to use and offers customizable options for monitoring, such as frequency and specific sections of a webpage. Users appreciate its simplicity and effectiveness in ensuring they don't miss important updates without needing to manually revisit sites.

Recommended for

    Update Scanner is recommended for individuals who regularly need to monitor websites for updates without RSS feeds. It is especially suitable for journalists, researchers, price-watchers, and others who rely on timely updates from web pages that don't provide built-in notifications.

Analysis of ChangeTower

Overall verdict

  • ChangeTower is a good tool if you are looking for a reliable and customizable way to track changes on websites. Its robust feature set and flexible alert system cater to a wide range of monitoring needs.

Why this product is good

  • ChangeTower is recognized for its ability to monitor website changes effectively. It offers a variety of monitoring options, including content changes, keyword tracking, and visual changes, which can be highly beneficial for businesses needing to keep track of their competitors, receive alerts on web compliance, or monitor their own content for updates. The platform's user-friendly interface and custom alert settings make it accessible for users of varying technical expertise.

Recommended for

    ChangeTower is recommended for businesses and professionals who need to monitor competitor websites, track changes in legislation or compliance on relevant websites, or manage brand consistency by keeping tabs on multiple pages across the web. It's also suitable for researchers and analysts who require up-to-date information from specific websites.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Update Scanner and ChangeTower)
Monitoring Tools
36 36%
64% 64
Uptime Monitoring
60 60%
40% 40
Website Monitoring
43 43%
57% 57
Automation
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, ChangeTower seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 3 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Update Scanner mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Update Scanner yet. Tracking of Update Scanner recommendations started around Mar 2021.

ChangeTower mentions (3)

  • Is there any sort of centralized service that can ping you with an eMail or an SMS whenever your OSS of choice punts a new release?
    I've used this, but currently I'm using https://changetower.com/ for this purpose. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Picked up my 2023 Tucson Ultra Hybrid today
    Never had Husky's so I cannot compare. However, the front and rear Tuxmats fit perfectly my Tucson but they were hard to buy - always out of stock. Still have a changetower on the trunk mat for when they become available. Source: over 2 years ago
  • RAF Photographer applicants
    If the role you are intersted in is currently closed you can set up a backup notification method to spot if it opens by using a website monitoring site like https://uptimerobot.com/keyword-monitoring/, https://changetower.com/ or https://visualping.io/ (others are available, some will monitor more often than others on the free plans - do your own research) to monitor the role page for changes - e.g. For certain... Source: over 2 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Update Scanner and ChangeTower, you can also consider the following products

Distill Web Monitor - Distill is a web monitoring tool. It can monitor RSS feeds, a webpage or a part of webpage. Alerts in the form of pop-up, audio or emails can be received.

Visualping - Visualping is the easiest to use website checker, webpage change monitoring, website change detector and website change alert software of the web. Read more about Visualping.

Distill.io - Distill.io is one of the advanced page monitoring tools used by professionals to monitor dynamic pages, feeds, and iframes.

WebSite-Watcher - WebSite-Watcher detects website updates and highlights all changes in the text. WebSite-Watcher monitors web pages, password protected pages, disucssion forums and much more.

Wachete - Track web page changes and get notified. Free Sign-up. Have all data in one place

Monity.ai - Monitor website changes in real time with Monity.ai – Stay informed with AI-powered alerts and never miss anything happening on the internet.