How to get notified when a website changes
Waiting for an appointment slot, a job post, a restock or an exam result? Instead of refreshing manually, let a tool watch the page and alert you.
Two kinds of tools
| Cloud page monitors | Browser extension (e.g. Vigilo) | |
|---|---|---|
| Runs when your computer is off | Yes | No, Chrome must be open |
| Pages behind a login | Often difficult | Yes, uses your normal session |
| Account needed | Usually | No |
| Your data | On the provider's servers | Stays in your browser |
Set up a change or keyword alert with Vigilo
- Install Vigilo and open the page you want to watch.
- Click the Vigilo icon and allow access to that site (Vigilo asks per site).
- Choose an alert: keyword (e.g. “available”, “Open”) or any change on the page.
- Set a refresh interval and start. You'll get a desktop notification when it triggers.
Get better alerts
- Keyword alerts are less noisy than “any change” on pages with ads, clocks or rotating content.
- Make sure Chrome notifications are allowed in your operating system settings.
- Pick a reasonable interval and respect the site's terms of use.