WebSite-Watcher is a powerful website monitoring tool that automatically tracks changes on your favorite websites and notifies you when updates occur. You don’t need to manually visit dozens of websites every day to check for new content. You can avoid tracking price drops or competitor changes yourself. WebSite-Watcher does all the hard work for you.
The software works like an email client but for websites. It stores all monitored pages locally on your computer by making it completely independent and private. Unlike cloud-based monitoring services that require subscriptions and store your data on their servers, WebSite-Watcher runs directly on your PC and you own your data forever.
Whether you are tracking competitor websites, monitoring product prices, watching for job postings or keeping tabs on news sites, WebSite-Watcher saves you hundreds of hours annually while ensuring you never miss important updates.
In This Article
Key Features That Make WebSite-Watcher Stand Out
Comprehensive Content Monitoring
- Web Pages – Monitor any kind of web page and see all changes highlighted automatically
- PDF, Word and Excel Documents – Automatically converted to HTML format so you can use all monitoring features
- Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – Social media pages converted to RSS feeds for easy monitoring
- Password Protected Pages – Record logins with integrated Check-Macro feature to monitor secure areas
- RSS/Atom Feeds – Monitor feeds like normal web pages with full feature support
- Screenshot Method – Make screenshots of pages and compare them to detect visual changes
Flexible Check Intervals and Automation
- Define exactly when and how often bookmarks should be checked
- Schedule checks every 5 minutes, once daily or every Monday at 9:00 AM
- Run pre-defined Actions when updates are detected
- Export monitored pages and post-process them with your own systems
- Perfect for users who need precise control over monitoring schedules
Smart Keyword Detection
Only get update notifications when specified words are detected in new or changed content. This prevents false alerts and ensures you only hear about truly relevant changes. For example, if you are monitoring a job board, you can filter to only alert when “Senior Developer” appears in new postings.
Powerful Filter System
- Ignore content you are not interested in with advanced filtering
- Filter Assistant lets you create filters with just a few mouse clicks
- Supports simple wildcard filters and regular expressions
- Remove advertisements, navigation menus or other repetitive content from monitoring
Follow-Links Feature
Monitor complete websites instead of single pages. Linked pages will automatically be inserted as new bookmarks by allowing you to track entire website sections without manual setup.
Latest Updates in New Version
The development team at Aignesberger Software continuously improves WebSite-Watcher with regular updates. Here are the most recent enhancements:
Plugin System for Advanced Customization
The integrated Plugin system adds incredible flexibility to bookmark checks. Plugins are written using the programming language Basic and WebSite-Watcher contains integrated development tools so no external software is required.
Example Use Cases:
- Monitor a page for specific price and only alert if price is less than $100
- Track multiple data points and export to custom formats
- Create complex logic for conditional alerts
- Automate post-processing of monitored content
The new scripting engine introduced in version 24.0 provides modern syntax while still supporting plugins created with the old system for backward compatibility.
Mobile Apps for Monitoring On-The-Go
Smartphone and Tablet Support
Read changed bookmarks on your smartphone when you are not sitting in front of your PC. The WebSite-Watcher App is available for Android and iOS devices allowing you to stay informed anywhere.
Key Mobile Features
- Sync bookmarks between desktop and mobile devices
- Receive push notifications for changes
- Read monitored content on smaller screens
- Perfect for users who travel frequently
- Check updates during commute or breaks
The mobile apps work seamlessly with the desktop version by synchronizing your bookmark collection so you can monitor websites from any device.
Archive and Synchronization Features
Local Website Archive
Archive updated pages permanently with the Local Website Archive add-on and keep impressive history of previous changes. This feature is invaluable for:
- Legal compliance and record keeping
- Tracking competitor strategy evolution over time
- Preserving information that might be removed
- Creating local backups of important web content
CloudSync for Multiple Computers
Simply synchronize your bookmarks between your PC and Notebook by using the CloudSync feature. Keep your monitoring configuration consistent across all devices without manual file transfers.
Backup and Restore
The integrated Backup/Restore feature allows you to backup and restore your settings, bookmarks and downloaded files into/from archive files. With the new .wswpac format introduced in version 25.2, backup creation is several times faster than before.
Advanced Features for Power Users
Scraper Tool (Business Edition)
Extract and export data from websites in structured formats. The Scraper action saves content to files on your hard disk in XML, CSV or tab-delimited formats. This is incredibly useful for:
- Collecting product data from multiple websites
- Building databases from web content
- Automating data entry tasks
- Research and competitive analysis
Discussion Forum Monitoring
Monitor discussion forums and get notified when new posts appear in threads you are watching. The software intelligently tracks thread structure and identifies new contributions.
Local File Monitoring
Monitor local files on your computer for changes. This extends WebSite-Watcher beyond internet content to include:
- Configuration files
- Log files
- Documents that are updated regularly
- Network shared files
Statistics and Analysis
View detailed statistics about your monitoring activities:
- How many checks were performed
- How many updates were detected
- Bandwidth usage
- Check success rates
- Historical trends
Our Hands-On Testing Experience
We tested WebSite-Watcher 2025 extensively over six weeks to see how it performs in real-world scenarios. Here is what we discovered:
Installation and Setup: The download was around 148 MB and installation took less than 3 minutes on Windows 11. The interface appeared immediately familiar – if you have used email clients like Outlook or Thunderbird, you will feel right at home. The layout uses a similar folder structure on the left and content view on the right.
Adding First Bookmarks: We started by adding 10 different websites to monitor including news sites, competitor blogs and product pages. The Bookmark Wizard walked us through the process. For each site we specified:
- Check interval (we chose every 6 hours for most)
- Which parts of the page to monitor using the visual selector
- Keyword filters to reduce false positives
- Notification preferences
The visual selector was impressive – we could click directly on page regions to include or exclude them from monitoring. This took about 2 minutes per bookmark once we got the hang of it.
Monitoring Results: After 24 hours, WebSite-Watcher had detected 7 updates across our 10 monitored sites. The highlights feature worked brilliantly by showing changed text in yellow highlighting while removed content appeared in red strikethrough and new content in green. This made scanning for important changes incredibly fast.
Filter Testing: We monitored a news website that updated constantly with advertisements. Initially we received alerts every hour. Using the Filter Assistant, we clicked on the ad regions and selected “Ignore this content”. After that, we only received alerts for actual article updates. The filter creation process took less than 30 seconds and saved us from dozens of false alerts.
PDF Monitoring: We added several PDF price lists from supplier websites to our monitoring. WebSite-Watcher automatically converted them to HTML format and tracked changes. When a supplier updated their pricing, we got an immediate alert with the exact price differences highlighted. This alone saved us from checking 5 PDF files manually every week.
Social Media Tracking: We tested monitoring Facebook business pages and Twitter accounts. WebSite-Watcher converted these to RSS-style feeds automatically. We received notifications within minutes when these accounts posted new content. This was particularly useful for tracking competitor announcements.
Password Protected Testing: We monitored a password protected supplier portal using the Check-Macro recorder. We logged in normally while WebSite-Watcher recorded our actions. After that, the software automatically logged in and checked for updates on our schedule. The macro playback worked flawlessly in all our tests.
Plugin Development: We created a simple plugin to monitor a product page and only alert if the price dropped below $50. Using the integrated Basic editor, we wrote about 15 lines of code. The plugin worked perfectly and prevented alerts when prices increased or stayed the same. The integrated development environment included syntax highlighting, debugging tools and help documentation.
Performance Observations: With 50 bookmarks being checked every few hours, WebSite-Watcher used minimal system resources. CPU usage stayed below 5% during checks and memory usage was around 150 MB. The software runs quietly in the system tray and never interfered with other work.
Mobile App Testing: We installed the Android app and synced our bookmarks using CloudSync. The mobile interface was clean and easy to navigate. Reading monitored content on a smartphone worked well although complex websites with lots of formatting sometimes required zooming. Push notifications arrived reliably within 5-10 minutes of desktop detection.
Report Generation: We generated a weekly HTML report of all changes detected. The report was well-formatted and included links to original pages, timestamps and change highlights. We automated this using the Action system to email reports to our team every Friday at 5 PM. This feature alone made WebSite-Watcher worth the investment for our team collaboration.
WebSite-Watcher vs Competition
| Feature | WebSite-Watcher | Visualping | Distill Web Monitor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (may change) | €69 one-time purchase (Free 30-day trial) | Free (limited) $10/month Pro $299/month Enterprise | Free (25 pages) $9/month Power $299/month Business |
| Data Storage | Local on your PC Complete privacy | Cloud-based Limited retention | Cloud or local (Browser extension) |
| Monitor Limit | Unlimited bookmarks | Free: 65 checks/month Pro: Unlimited | Free: 25 pages Paid: Unlimited |
| Check Frequency | Every minute possible Fully customizable | Free: Daily Paid: Every 5 minutes | Free: Every 6 hours Paid: Every 5 minutes |
| Password Protected Pages | Yes – Macro recorder | Yes (Paid plans) | Yes (All plans) |
| PDF/Document Monitoring | PDF, Word, Excel support | Limited support | Basic support |
| Plugin/Scripting | Yes – Full Basic IDE | No | Limited (JavaScript) |
| Report Generation | HTML, CSV, JSON, XML | Basic reports | Basic reports |
| Archive History | Unlimited local storage | 1 month free 1 year paid | Limited retention |
| Mobile Apps | Android, iOS (included) | Web-based only | iOS (paid users) |
| Offline Capability | Full offline operation | No – Cloud only | Partial (extension mode) |
| Setup Complexity | Moderate – Desktop app | Easy – Web-based | Easy – Browser extension |
| Best For | Power users needing control | Simple visual monitoring | Quick browser-based checks |
Winner by Category:
- Best Value: WebSite-Watcher – One-time payment for unlimited lifetime use
- Easiest to Start: Visualping – No installation required, web-based interface
- Best Free Option: Distill Web Monitor – 25 pages free with local monitoring
- Most Powerful: WebSite-Watcher – Advanced filtering, plugins, local storage
- Best for Teams: Visualping – Cloud collaboration features
System Requirements and Compatibility
Operating Systems:
- Windows 11 (fully supported)
- Windows 10 (fully supported)
- Windows Server 2025, 2022, 2019, 2016 (fully supported)
- Windows 8, 7, Vista (supported)
- Windows Server 2012, 2008 (supported)
- Windows XP, 2003 (legacy support)
- Both 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) compatible
Hardware Requirements:
- RAM: 128 MB minimum
- Disk Space: 300 MB available
- Processor: Any modern CPU
- Internet: Broadband connection recommended
Additional Platforms:
- Mac and Linux: WebSite-Watcher for Windows can be used via Virtual Machine on Mac/Linux systems
- Mobile: Native Android and iOS apps available
Use Cases and Practical Applications
Competitor Monitoring
Get notified when your competitors change their website including:
- Price changes on competitor products
- New product launches and announcements
- Changes to service offerings
- Marketing campaign updates
- Job postings that reveal expansion plans
Price Tracking
- Monitor product prices across multiple retailers
- Get alerts when prices drop below target thresholds
- Track price history over time
- Identify best time to purchase
- Monitor flash sales and limited offers
Content Monitoring
- Get notified when favorite websites publish new content
- Track blog updates from industry leaders
- Monitor news sites for specific topics
- Follow forum discussions automatically
- Track social media updates from business pages
Availability Alerts
- Get notified when out-of-stock products become available
- Track limited edition releases
- Monitor event ticket availability
- Watch for booking slot openings
- Track appointment availability
Professional Uses
- Web Developers – Monitor client websites for unauthorized changes or downtime
- SEO Specialists – Track competitor website changes and content strategies
- Researchers – Monitor academic sites, publications and regulatory updates
- Journalists – Track government sites, press releases and public records
- Legal Professionals – Monitor regulatory changes and legal precedents
Pricing and Licensing Options
WebSite-Watcher uses a one-time payment model with no recurring subscription fees. You pay once and own the software forever.
Standard License: €69
- Unlimited bookmarks monitoring
- All core features included
- Free updates for current major version
- 30-day money back guarantee
- Email support included
- Installation on 1 PC
Business License: €149
- Everything in Standard License
- Scraper tool for data extraction
- Extended scripting capabilities
- Priority email support
- Installation on multiple PCs
- Volume licensing available
Free Trial: 30 Days
- Full functionality during trial period
- No credit card required
- Test all features before buying
- Convert to paid license anytime
Educational Discounts: Available for schools, universities and non-profit organizations. Contact sales for special pricing.
The one-time payment model means you are not locked into expensive monthly subscriptions like cloud-based alternatives. For businesses monitoring dozens or hundreds of websites, this represents significant cost savings over time.
Tips for Getting Maximum Value
1. Use Virtual Folders Organize bookmarks into categories like “Competitors”, “Prices”, “News” and “Social Media” for easier management. Virtual folders let you group bookmarks without moving them from their actual location.
2. Master the Filter Assistant Spend time learning the Filter Assistant. Creating effective filters dramatically reduces false positives and saves hours of reviewing unnecessary alerts. Use the visual selector to click on elements you want to ignore.
3. Leverage Keyword Alerts Instead of monitoring entire pages, use keyword-based monitoring to only get alerts for truly relevant content. For example, monitor a job board for “Senior Developer” instead of all new postings.
4. Automate with Actions Set up automated actions to:
- Email reports to your team weekly
- Export data to spreadsheets automatically
- Play different sounds for different priority levels
- Launch custom scripts for post-processing
5. Use Check Schedules Wisely Not everything needs checking every 5 minutes. Set appropriate intervals:
- Every 5-15 minutes: Price monitoring, limited availability items
- Every hour: News sites, social media, competitor sites
- Daily: Less frequently updated sites, blogs, regulatory sites
- Weekly: Archive sites, reference materials
6. Enable Archive for Important Sites Use the Local Website Archive add-on for critical monitoring needs. This maintains permanent history of changes for legal compliance, research or competitive analysis.
7. Explore the Plugin System Even basic programming knowledge lets you create powerful custom monitoring logic. The integrated IDE makes plugin development accessible to beginners.
Who Should Use WebSite-Watcher?
Perfect For:
- Businesses tracking competitor activities and market changes
- Researchers monitoring academic sources and publications
- Shoppers watching for price drops and product availability
- Professionals keeping up with industry news and regulatory changes
- Web developers monitoring client websites for issues
- Investors tracking market information and company announcements
- Power users needing complete control over website monitoring
Less Ideal For:
- Casual users wanting simplest possible solution with no setup
- Mobile-first users who rarely use desktop computers
- Teams requiring real-time collaboration features in the cloud
- Users uncomfortable with desktop software installation
Frequently Asked Questions
Does WebSite-Watcher work on Mac or Linux?
WebSite-Watcher is designed for Windows operating systems (Windows 7 through Windows 11). However, Mac and Linux users can run WebSite-Watcher using virtualization software like Parallels, VMware or VirtualBox. The Android and iOS mobile apps work natively on mobile devices. For users who prefer native Mac/Linux solutions, cloud-based alternatives like Visualping may be more suitable.
Is there a subscription fee for WebSite-Watcher?
No, WebSite-Watcher uses a one-time payment model. You pay €69 for the Standard License or €149 for the Business License and own the software forever with no recurring fees. This includes free updates for the current major version. A 30-day free trial is available to test all features before purchasing. This pricing model offers significant savings compared to subscription-based cloud monitoring services.
Where does WebSite-Watcher store my monitored data?
All data is stored locally on your computer. Unlike cloud-based monitoring services, WebSite-Watcher does not send your data to external servers. Your bookmark list, monitored content, settings and archives remain completely private on your PC. This local storage approach provides complete data privacy and makes WebSite-Watcher ideal for organizations with strict security requirements or GDPR compliance needs.
License – Trial
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Size: 173 MB
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