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Distill.io’s Free plan allows 25 local monitors and 5 cloud monitors, but its pricing table shows “25” in the combined monitor row with “(5 in cloud)” alongside it. The distinction matters: local checks can run as often as every five seconds but require your computer and browser or app to be active; cloud checks run while your device is off, but Free cloud checks have a six-hour minimum interval and share a monthly allowance of 1,000 checks.
Distill.io Free limits at a glance
These are the Free-plan limits listed on Distill’s pricing page, checked October 3, 2026. Plan limits can change, so confirm the live page before choosing a plan.
| Resource | Free allowance | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Local monitors | 25 | Checks run through your browser or computer; local checks are unlimited. |
| Cloud monitors | 5 | Run on Distill’s servers, including while your device is off. |
| Monitor-count display | Pricing table shows 25, with “(5 in cloud)” | Distill’s homepage and features page describe 25 local plus 5 cloud. Read the allocation by type rather than assuming the table’s “25” is the full combined total. |
| Minimum cloud interval | 6 hours | Free cloud monitors cannot be scheduled more frequently than this. |
| Cloud checks | 1,000 per month | Only cloud checks count against this allowance. |
| Devices | 2 | Distill’s pricing comparison defines devices to include local and dedicated cloud devices. |
| Email alerts | 30 per month | Includes email actions from both cloud monitors and browser extensions. |
| Browser push notifications | 100 per month | A separate monthly limit from email alerts. |
Unused resources expire at the end of the current billing period. Distill’s pricing page does not establish one universal calendar-month reset date for every account.
How the cloud-check allowance is counted
The 1,000-check cap is for cloud monitoring, not local checks. Distill counts cloud check usage in ten-second units: a check lasting up to 10 seconds uses one unit; a check lasting over 10 and under 20 seconds uses two. Distill’s pricing FAQ defines a check as each time it checks a cloud monitor for changes. See its cloud and local monitor documentation for the accounting explanation.
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Local checks are unlimited and do not consume the cloud allowance, according to Distill. Email notifications are still capped even when generated by local checks, so unlimited local checking does not mean unlimited email alerts.
Choose local or cloud monitoring
Use a local monitor for faster checks
Distill’s local monitoring can run as frequently as every five seconds. The trade-off is that the browser or computer must be running and the browser extension or desktop app must remain active for checks to happen. This is appropriate when you need a faster cadence and can keep the device available.
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Use a cloud monitor for unattended checks
Cloud monitoring runs on Distill’s servers, so checks can continue when your computer is off. On Free, however, the minimum interval is six hours and all cloud checks draw from the 1,000-check monthly budget. Choose cloud monitors for pages you need checked without relying on your own device, and reserve the allowance for the changes that matter most.
These operating differences and limits are documented by Distill in its overview of the service and features page.
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What happens when you reach a limit?
The official Free-plan comparison lists the monthly caps for cloud checks, email alerts and browser push notifications, but does not specify in the cited plan information exactly what account behavior occurs at the moment each cap is reached. Do not assume that excess usage will be carried forward: Distill says unused resources expire at the end of the billing period. Check the current plan details or account interface for the behavior that applies to your account.
When to compare paid plans
If six-hour cloud checks or the monthly cloud-check budget are too restrictive, compare Distill’s paid tiers using the same criteria as Free: local and cloud monitor allocation, minimum cloud interval, cloud-check budget, devices, email alerts and push notifications. The current pricing page lists higher allowances for paid tiers; check Distill’s live pricing comparison for current figures and prices rather than relying on an outdated plan snapshot.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Distill’s Free plan include 30 monitors?
Distill describes the allowance as 25 local monitors plus 5 cloud monitors, while its pricing table displays 25 with “(5 in cloud).” Treat the local and cloud allocations separately and verify the current page.
Do local checks use the 1,000 cloud checks?
No. Distill says local checks are unlimited and do not count against the cloud-check allowance.
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