Distill.io Local vs Cloud Monitors: What's the Difference?

Distill.io runs monitors in two places: local monitors execute inside the browser extension on your own device, while cloud monitors run on Distill.io's servers 24/7. The practical difference is that local monitors only check a page while your browser is open and the extension is active, whereas cloud monitors keep checking whether your computer is on or not. If you need reliable, around-the-clock alerts, cloud is the option that fits; if you're casually watching a few pages while you work, local monitors are usually enough.

How each type actually works

Local monitors

A local monitor is created and executed by the Distill.io browser extension (available for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera). The check happens on your machine, using your browser session.

• Input: you select the part of the page you want to track, and the extension stores that selection.
• Action: while the browser is running, the extension re-fetches the page on your chosen schedule and compares it against the last saved version.
• Expected result: when the tracked content differs, you get an alert through the extension — a desktop notification, sound, or email depending on your settings.

Because the check runs locally, it stops when the browser is closed or the device is asleep. It also uses your own logged-in session, which is why local monitors are the practical way to track pages behind a login.

Cloud monitors

A cloud monitor runs on Distill.io's servers instead of your device. The site states it offers "24/7 Monitoring on the Cloud" and reports 99.99% standard cloud up-time.

• Input: you configure the monitor in your Distill.io dashboard, the same way you would a local one.
• Action: Distill.io's servers fetch the page on your schedule and compare versions, independent of whether your browser or computer is on.
• Expected result: alerts arrive by email, SMS, push notification, or app integration (the site mentions notification, email, SMS, and apps) whenever the page changes.

The trade-off is that cloud checks come from Distill.io's servers, not your browser, so they can't rely on a personal login session the way a local monitor can. The site does list monitoring of password-protected pages and private pages as a feature, but for anything tied to your own authenticated session, local monitoring is the more direct fit.

Side-by-side comparison

The free tier numbers above come directly from the site: 25 local monitors, 5 cloud monitors, 6-hour alert frequency, 1,000 checks/month, and 30 email alerts. Anything beyond that points to the paid plans, which the site links to but does not detail on this page — so check the pricing page for current limits and prices rather than assuming the free allowances scale.

How to choose

Pick local monitors when:

• You're tracking a handful of pages and you're at your computer most of the time you care about.
• The page sits behind a login you have in your browser.
• You want to stay within the larger free local allowance (25 monitors).

Pick cloud monitors when:

• You need checks to continue overnight, on weekends, or while your laptop is closed.
• You want alerts to reach your phone or email without depending on your browser being open.
• The page is public and doesn't need your personal session.

A common approach is to mix them: use cloud monitors for the few pages where missing a change would be costly, and local monitors for the broader set of pages you check casually. The dashboard lets you manage all monitors — local and cloud — in one place, and keeps a version history of changes for each.

Practical notes and common snags

• Local monitors silently stop when the browser closes. If you set one up and then shut your laptop, you won't get alerts until it's open again — this is the single most common source of "why didn't I get notified?"
• Cloud monitors are capped lower on the free plan (5 vs 25), so if you have many pages to watch continuously, you'll hit the paid tier faster.
• Alert frequency is a plan setting. The free plan lists a 6-hour alert frequency, so even a cloud monitor won't ping you instantly on the free tier — factor that in if you need near-real-time alerts.
• PDFs and private pages are both listed as supported, which is useful for documents that change without a visible page update.

If your goal is simply "tell me when this page changes and I'm usually at my desk," local monitors cover it for free. If your goal is "tell me the moment this changes, even at 3 a.m.," that's what cloud monitors are for.