How to Self-Host Uptime Kuma (And When You Should Use Something Better)

Uptime Kuma is a great open-source tool — simple, fast, and easy to run on your own server.

If you’re just getting started with monitoring or want something lightweight for internal use, it’s an awesome choice.

But if you’re running production infrastructure, working with SLAs, or need real visibility and compliance, you’ll eventually hit its limits.

Let’s start by showing you how to set it up — and then we’ll explain where it stops short 👇

🧰 What You’ll Need

• Linux server (Ubuntu, Debian, etc.)

• Docker + Docker Compose

• Optional: domain + SSL

• 5 minutes

🚀 Step 1: Project Setup

mkdir uptime-kuma && cd uptime-kuma

⚙️ Step 2: Docker Compose Config

version: '3.3'

services:
  uptime-kuma:
    image: louislam/uptime-kuma:1
    container_name: uptime-kuma
    restart: always
    ports:
      - "3001:3001"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data

🧱 Step 3: Deploy It

docker compose up -d

Now access Kuma at:

http://your-server-ip:3001

Create an admin user and you’re ready to go.

📊 Step 4: Add Monitors

Kuma supports:

• HTTP(s), Ping, Port, DNS, Keyword

• Alerts via Email, Telegram, Discord, Slack & more

🌐 Step 5: Optional – Add a Custom Domain

Point status.yourdomain.com to your server.

Use a reverse proxy with Let’s Encrypt for HTTPS.

🤔 But Here’s the Catch

Uptime Kuma is self-hosted monitoring.

It only works as long as your server works.

Which means:

• ❌ No alerts if the entire server is offline

• ❌ No geo-distributed checks

• ❌ No SLA reports or compliance features

• ❌ No multi-tenant team management

• ❌ No support, no guarantees, no roadmap

• ❌ No easy public status pages or incident comms

✅ The Better Alternative: Garmingo Status

If you need real monitoring that:

• 🌍 Checks from multiple global locations

• 📈 Tracks uptime history & SLA targets

• 🧾 Generates automated PDF reports

• 🔐 Supports compliance & access control

• 💬 Offers status pages (public or private)

• 📣 Sends alerts via Slack, Email, Telegram, Webhooks, etc.

• 🙌 Has a responsive support team & active roadmap

• 💡 Stays online even when your infra crashes

Then Garmingo Status is the better choice — full stop.

And yes: there’s a forever free plan, no credit card needed.

👉 Try it free here

🧘 TL;DR

• 🟢 Uptime Kuma is a great open-source tool for small setups

• 🔴 But self-hosted monitoring can’t monitor itself

• 🔥 Garmingo Status gives you external, reliable, production-ready monitoring

If your uptime actually matters — Garmingo is what you want watching it.

👉 Start your free monitoring stack today