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# Parallel Monitor pricing: $3 per 1,000 checks, paid on every run

Compared on Nov 12, 2026. The page: https://specstream.ai/parallel-monitor-pricing

Parallel's Monitor API costs $3 per 1,000 checks on `lite` and $10 on `base`. Each execution counts as one check, with or without a new event. The webhook carries an `event_group_id`, and a second call fetches the events.

SpecStream is the live web data engine for teams and agents. Write what you watch for in plain words. A saved request reruns hourly to yearly, charges each new match as a row from 5¢, and posts it to your signed webhook.

[Get an API key](https://specstream.ai/signup?src=alternatives-parallel-monitor-pricing&utm_source=alternatives-md&utm_campaign=parallel-monitor-pricing&returnTo=%2Fworkspace%2Fagents%3Ftab%3Dkeys) New accounts get $10 of credit, no card. At 5¢ a row, that is up to 200 new matches.

## Parallel Monitor and SpecStream, price and event feed side by side

| | SpecStream | Parallel Monitor |
|---|---|---|
| What you define | One request in plain words: the conditions every match must meet and the facts to bring back. SpecStream reads it into parts you can edit and chooses the sources | A `query` in natural language, a `frequency` from `1h` to `30d`, a processor and an optional webhook. A snapshot monitor reruns one completed Task Run on the schedule |
| What you pay for | Each new match delivered, at 5¢, 15¢ or $1 a row by how much the row needs, plus 5¢ for an email and 15¢ for a phone. A run that finds nothing costs nothing | Every execution: $3 per 1,000 on `lite`, $10 per 1,000 on `base`. Each execution counts as one check |
| A month of hourly checks | Nothing for the 720 runs. 20 new matches at 5¢ cost $1 | 720 executions for each monitor: $2.16 on `lite`, $7.20 on `base`. 1,000 monitors cost $2,160 or $7,200 |
| What an event holds | Only the new and changed records. Each value carries its source URL and the time it was read, and each record is labeled new, changed or no longer a match | `output.content` as text or JSON, an `event_date`, and a `basis` with citations, reasoning and a confidence level. Fields such as company, amount and round come from a follow-up Task run |
| How the event feed arrives | A signed webhook (`monitor.found`), a Slack channel, the workspace, or a connected tool such as Google Sheets or HubSpot | A webhook (`monitor.event.detected`) that names the `event_group_id`, then `GET /v1/monitors/{id}/events` to read the events. The list returns about the 300 most recent executions |
| How often it runs | Hourly to yearly, in your timezone, with a maximum per run and a maximum per period | From `1h` to `30d`. The monitor runs once at creation, then on the schedule |
| Matches from before today | One request returns the rows that exist today, and the schedule then adds the new ones. Rows you already own are never charged again | Monitor tracks new updates from the time of creation. Parallel's docs send historical questions to Deep Research on the Task API, at $5 to $2,400 per 1,000 runs |
| Records you already track | A refresh rechecks each row you own and labels it changed, unchanged or no longer matching. A changed row costs half its rate and an unchanged row 1¢ | A snapshot monitor compares each new Task output with the previous one and returns the fields that changed with the `previous_output` |
| How you pay | A balance you top up. Credit you buy never expires | Published rates as you go, or Scale at $1,000 a month for $1,000 in credits. Unused monthly credits expire at the end of each paid month |
| Free to start | $10 of credit on a new account, no card | $5 free monthly with a card on file, plus up to $80 at signup |
| Search on your own schedule | `GET /v1/web-search` at $5 per 1,000 searches, or $1 per 1,000 with `speed=fast`. A search that returns no results costs nothing | Search API at $1 to $5 per 1,000 requests by mode, 10 results included |

## Why teams move a web monitor to SpecStream

### You pay for matches, and a quiet run is free

Parallel prices Monitor per execution. An hourly monitor runs 720 times in 30 days, and each run is a check whether it detects an event or ends as `monitor.execution.completed` with none. Parallel's own best practices list cancelling unused monitors to reduce usage costs.

A SpecStream schedule charges for what it delivers. 20 new matches in a month at 5¢ cost $1, and an hourly run that finds nothing costs nothing. You set a maximum per run and per period when you create the schedule.

### The alert arrives as a finished row

A Parallel webhook carries the monitor's ID and an `event_group_id`. Your code calls the events endpoint, reads `output.content`, and for fields such as `company`, `amount` and `round` starts a follow-up Task run, at $10 per 1,000 runs on `base`.

A SpecStream match arrives as the row: each fact you asked for, with its source URL and the time it was read. It meets every condition you wrote, so a funding round, a new executive or a new tender lands in your sheet or your CRM ready to use.

### History and new matches from one request

A Parallel monitor starts at its creation date, and the docs say not to use it for historical research. The backfill is a separate Task run.

On SpecStream the same request does both. Run it once and read the rows that exist today, then choose Watch for new ones. Rows you already own are never charged again, and each new row costs its rate once.

### Or run the check yourself for $1 per 1,000

When you want to keep the loop in your own code, the Search API answers `GET /v1/web-search` at $1 per 1,000 searches with `speed=fast`. An hourly check for 30 days is 720 searches, $0.72, and a search that returns no results costs nothing.

### The most accurate web search API

The SpecStream Search API scores 97.9 F-score on all 1,000 official SimpleQA Verified questions, 978 of them correct, and 64.0 item F1 and 43.4 row F1 on all 200 official WideSearch tasks. Every score and its method are on the [benchmarks](https://specstream.ai/benchmarks?utm_source=alternatives&utm_campaign=parallel-monitor-pricing) page.

## Other web monitoring APIs priced next to Parallel Monitor

### SpecStream

The live web data engine for teams and agents. A saved request reruns hourly to yearly and sends only new and changed records, each value with its source URL and read time, to a signed webhook, Slack or a connected tool. New matches cost 5¢, 15¢ or $1 a row, and new accounts get $10 of credit, no card.

### Exa Monitors

Runs an Exa search on a recurring schedule and sends the results to a webhook, at $2 per 1,000 requests of up to 10 results and $1 per 1,000 results above 10. SpecStream sends each new match as a row with the facts you asked for.

### Firecrawl /monitor

Runs your search queries on a schedule and bills every check: 2 credits per 10 results, plus 1 credit per result judged. Standard sells 100,000 credits for $99 a month. SpecStream charges for the matches it delivers, and a run that finds nothing costs nothing.

### Visualping

Watches pages you name, sold by checks a month: 1,000 checks for $14 on Personal 1K and 20,000 for $140 on Business 20K, and checks do not roll over. SpecStream watches for new matches anywhere on the web, and for changes on the rows you own.

## How to move a Parallel monitor to SpecStream

1. Create a key under Agents & API in the workspace, and register your endpoint for `monitor.found`. Each delivery is signed in the `Specstream-Signature` header with the secret the call returns. Webhooks cost nothing.

```
curl https://api.specstream.ai/v1/account/webhooks \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $SPECSTREAM_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "url": "https://example.com/webhooks/specstream",
    "events": ["find.completed", "monitor.found"]
  }'
```

2. Write the monitor's `query` as one request in plain words, and add the facts you want on each match in place of a follow-up Task. Run it once and read the rows, then choose Watch for new ones under the list's name and set the cadence, the timezone and a maximum per run and per period.

3. On the API, the same schedule is `POST /v1/capacity/schedules` with the request's `scope`, `cadence_seconds` from 3600 (hourly, Parallel's `1h`), `first_due_at`, `per_run_cents`, `period_cents`, `valid_until` and an `idempotency_key`. Every route and the delivery format are in the [webhooks](https://specstream.ai/docs/webhooks?utm_source=alternatives&utm_campaign=parallel-monitor-pricing) and [schedules](https://specstream.ai/docs/schedules?utm_source=alternatives&utm_campaign=parallel-monitor-pricing) docs.

Your handler receives only the new and changed records. Each value carries `source_url` and `observed_at`, so one delivery replaces the webhook, the events call and the follow-up Task. On MCP, an agent does the same at `https://api.specstream.ai/mcp`.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does Parallel Monitor cost?

$3 per 1,000 checks on the `lite` processor and $10 per 1,000 on `base`, read on Parallel's pricing docs on Nov 12, 2026. Each execution counts as one check, so one hourly monitor costs $2.16 on `lite` or $7.20 on `base` for 30 days.

### What counts as a check on Parallel Monitor?

One execution of one monitor. Parallel's formula is the cost per 1,000 times the number of executions, divided by 1,000. A run with no new event still executes and reports `monitor.execution.completed`.

### What is in Parallel Monitor's event feed?

Each event has an `event_id`, an `event_group_id`, an `event_date` and an `output` with `content` and a `basis` of citations, reasoning and a confidence level. The webhook names the `event_group_id`, and a `GET` on the monitor's events returns them, for about the 300 most recent executions.

### How often can a Parallel monitor run?

From once an hour (`1h`) to once every 30 days (`30d`). A SpecStream schedule runs hourly to yearly, in your timezone, and charges for the new matches it delivers, from 5¢ a row.

### What is the best Parallel Monitor alternative?

SpecStream, when the alert has to be data. Each new match arrives as a row with the facts you asked for, each with its source URL and read time, by signed webhook, Slack, Google Sheets or HubSpot. New accounts get $10 of credit, no card.

### Does SpecStream charge for a run that finds nothing?

No. A run that finds nothing costs nothing. Each run spends inside the maximum per run and per period you set, and when the balance or the permission is not there, the run is blocked and nothing is charged.

### Does SpecStream have an API and an MCP server?

Yes. The Search API is `GET https://api.specstream.ai/v1/web-search` at $5 per 1,000 searches, or $1 with `speed=fast`, and the MCP server is at `https://api.specstream.ai/mcp` over Streamable HTTP, with OAuth or an API key.

## Sources

SpecStream wrote this page. Each Parallel fact comes from Parallel's own product page, pricing page and docs, read on Nov 12, 2026.

- [SpecStream pricing](https://specstream.ai/pricing), read Nov 12, 2026
- [SpecStream schedules](https://specstream.ai/docs/schedules), read Nov 12, 2026
- [SpecStream webhooks](https://specstream.ai/docs/webhooks), read Nov 12, 2026
- [SpecStream benchmarks](https://specstream.ai/benchmarks), read Nov 12, 2026
- [Parallel Monitor product page](https://parallel.ai/products/monitor), read Nov 12, 2026
- [Parallel pricing docs](https://docs.parallel.ai/getting-started/pricing.md), read Nov 12, 2026
- [Parallel Monitor quickstart](https://docs.parallel.ai/monitor-api/monitor-quickstart.md), read Nov 12, 2026
- [Parallel Monitor events](https://docs.parallel.ai/monitor-api/monitor-events.md), read Nov 12, 2026
- [Parallel Monitor webhooks](https://docs.parallel.ai/monitor-api/monitor-webhooks.md), read Nov 12, 2026
- [Parallel snapshot monitor](https://docs.parallel.ai/monitor-api/quickstart-snapshot.md), read Nov 12, 2026
- [Parallel follow-up tasks](https://docs.parallel.ai/monitor-api/monitor-task.md), read Nov 12, 2026
- [Parallel create monitor reference](https://docs.parallel.ai/api-reference/monitor/create-monitor.md), read Nov 12, 2026
- [Parallel rate limits](https://docs.parallel.ai/getting-started/rate-limits.md), read Nov 12, 2026
- [Parallel plans](https://parallel.ai/pricing), read Nov 12, 2026
- [Exa pricing](https://exa.ai/docs/admin/pricing.md), read Nov 12, 2026
- [Exa Monitors](https://exa.ai/docs/monitors/quickstart.md), read Nov 12, 2026
- [Firecrawl web-scale monitoring docs](https://docs.firecrawl.dev/features/monitoring-web-scale.md), read Nov 12, 2026
- [Firecrawl pricing](https://www.firecrawl.dev/pricing.md), read Nov 12, 2026
- [Visualping pricing](https://visualping.io/pricing), read Nov 12, 2026