CloudQA vs Dynatrace: Synthetic Monitoring Compared
Last updated: October 2026
Dynatrace is a full observability platform: application performance monitoring, infrastructure, logs, real-user monitoring and synthetic monitoring in one product. CloudQA is a codeless test automation platform; its synthetic monitoring replays the same recorded user journeys you use for regression tests, on a schedule, against your live site. If you need synthetic checks inside a complete observability stack, Dynatrace covers far more ground. If you mainly want reliable monitoring of complex user journeys without coding, built from tests you already maintain, CloudQA is the simpler fit.
CloudQA vs Dynatrace at a glance
| Factor | CloudQA | Dynatrace |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Codeless test automation platform; monitoring reuses recorded tests | Observability platform (APM, infrastructure, logs, real-user and synthetic monitoring) |
| Synthetic monitor types | Recorded multi-step user journeys | Single-URL browser monitors, multi-step browser clickpaths, HTTP monitors and NAM monitors |
| How journeys are created | Record in the browser, then edit steps visually and add variables and assertions | Dynatrace Synthetic Recorder for Google Chrome, or script mode |
| Reuse of tests | The same tests run as regression tests before release and as monitors in production | Monitors are created and managed for monitoring |
| Where checks run | CloudQA cloud, with private runs for applications behind a firewall | Global public locations, or private locations through an ActiveGate |
| Frequency | On the schedule you set | Browser monitors as often as every 5 minutes |
| Pricing model | Set up with our team for CloudQA customers | Consumption-based: browser monitors are billed per synthetic action (each step that triggers a web request), whether the step passes or fails |
| Best for | QA teams that want to monitor complex user flows using the tests they already maintain | Organizations that want synthetic monitoring inside a full observability stack |
When CloudQA is the better fit
- You already test your web application with CloudQA, or want one tool for regression testing and monitoring.
- Your critical journeys are long and dynamic (logins, multi-step forms, carts, checkouts) and you want to build them without code.
- You want to run one journey with different data sets instead of maintaining a separate monitor for each.
- You need predictable execution: CloudQA runs your recorded steps exactly, with no AI in the execution path.
When Dynatrace is the better fit
- You need application performance monitoring, infrastructure and log monitoring as well as synthetic checks.
- You want synthetic results correlated with back-end traces in one platform.
- You monitor many single URLs and APIs from many global locations.
Read more about synthetic monitoring with CloudQA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CloudQA a replacement for Dynatrace?
Not as a whole. Dynatrace is a full observability platform. CloudQA replaces the synthetic-monitoring part for teams that want to monitor complex user journeys built from their CloudQA tests.
How does Dynatrace bill synthetic browser monitors?
Under Dynatrace consumption-based pricing, browser monitors and clickpaths are billed per synthetic action: each executed step that triggers at least one web request, whether it passes or fails.
Can CloudQA monitor applications behind a firewall?
Yes. CloudQA supports private runs for applications that are not publicly reachable.
How is CloudQA synthetic monitoring set up?
Synthetic monitoring is set up with our team for CloudQA customers. Your recorded journeys run on a schedule against your live site, with alerts when a flow breaks or slows down.