API status checker and website uptime test
Test whether a website, API, or service is currently reachable. Enter a URL and Ping Now will make a live request, report the HTTP status code, response time, final URL, and any redirects.
Use this as a quick external uptime check when your browser, customer support, or monitoring alert suggests something is wrong. It can help separate local network issues from public website downtime.
Check if a website or service is up:
What this status check tests
Ping Now sends a live request from our monitoring service and reports whether the target responds successfully. It is useful for confirming a homepage, API health endpoint, webhook URL, status page, or customer-facing service from outside your own network.
A one-off check can confirm a current incident. For production services, create a monitor so Ping Now keeps checking the URL and sends email plus optional Slack alerts when the endpoint stops responding.
The check is useful before and after DNS changes, deploys, domain migrations, certificate renewals, and redirect changes. It gives you a public view of the URL, including redirect hops and the final HTTP status code, instead of relying only on a local browser cache.
Good URLs to test
- Public homepages and landing pages
- API health endpoints that return a 2xx response
- Status pages and customer-visible dashboards
- HTTPS certificate endpoints after renewal or DNS changes
Common reasons a site looks down
The server is reachable, but returns an error status
A 500-level response usually means the server accepted the request but the application failed. A 400-level response can mean the URL requires authentication, blocks automated requests, or expects a different path.
DNS, redirects, or TLS are misconfigured
New domains and migrations can fail because DNS has not propagated, HTTP redirects point to the wrong host, or the HTTPS certificate does not cover the requested domain.
Your local network differs from public access
A site can load from your laptop while public monitoring fails because of firewall rules, region-specific routing, private IP addresses, or origin server allowlists.
How to read the HTTP status result
2xx responses usually mean the endpoint is up
A 200, 204, or other successful status code means the server answered the request. For APIs, a lightweight health endpoint is often better than a full application page.
3xx responses mean the URL redirects
Redirects are common for HTTP to HTTPS and www to non-www canonical hosts. Long redirect chains can slow crawlers, API clients, and users, so the best setup reaches the final URL in one hop.
4xx and 5xx responses need context
A 404 can be expected for a missing page, but it is downtime for a required endpoint. A 500-level response usually means the service is reachable but unhealthy.
API status checks
For APIs, test a stable health endpoint that returns a 2xx status when dependencies are healthy. A public status check is useful before wiring the endpoint into recurring uptime monitoring, incident alerts, or deployment checks.
Website uptime check FAQ
Is this different from opening the site in my browser?
Yes. Your browser may use cached DNS, cached pages, saved sessions, or a different network path. An external check gives another signal closer to what new visitors see.
What URL should I test?
Test the exact URL users depend on, such as a homepage, API health endpoint, checkout path, status page, or webhook receiver. Include HTTPS when that is the canonical URL.
When should I create a monitor?
Use this page for a one-time check. Create a monitor when you need repeated checks and email and optional Slack alerts for production websites, APIs, or customer-facing services.