BoxWatch vs NIXStats
NIXStats was a Linux and Windows server monitoring SaaS with a large plugin library, built-in log management, and per-server pricing starting at $0.99/server per month. It was acquired by WebPros in 2021 and its infrastructure was sunset on September 30, 2025. BoxWatch is a flat-rate Linux server monitoring SaaS covering host metrics, synthetic uptime checks, cron/heartbeat monitoring, and status pages without any per-host billing.
The two products overlapped heavily on core server metrics, process monitoring, and multi-channel alerting. NIXStats had a meaningful edge in log management and ICMP ping checks. BoxWatch has a meaningful edge in cron/heartbeat monitoring, disk-full prediction, maintenance windows, incident management, scheduled reports, and predictable flat pricing.
Quick verdict
If you needed log management (live tail, search) bundled into your server monitor, NIXStats was a strong fit. However, NIXStats is now defunct (sunset September 2025), so it is not a viable choice for new deployments. BoxWatch is the actively developed option here, with flat pricing, cron monitoring, status pages, and no per-host cost penalties as your fleet grows.
Pricing
| Plan | NIXStats | BoxWatch |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Free (limited servers) | Free (up to 100 servers) |
| Entry paid | ~$0.99/server/mo | Free (up to 100 servers) |
| 25 servers | ~$25/mo | Free |
| 100 servers | ~$99/mo | Free |
| Unlimited servers | Custom / scales linearly | Free |
| Pricing model | Per-server metered | Free |
NIXStats pricing scaled with fleet size. BoxWatch is free regardless of how many servers you add.
Feature comparison
When NIXStats was the better choice
NIXStats included built-in log management with live tail and advanced search, a capability BoxWatch does not have. Its open-source agent (Apache-licensed on GitHub) gave operators full visibility into what ran on their servers. It also supported ICMP ping endpoint checks, which BoxWatch does not offer.
When BoxWatch is the better choice
- Cron and heartbeat (dead-man's switch) monitoring: BoxWatch includes it natively; NIXStats had no equivalent.
- Free pricing: BoxWatch is free for up to 100 servers, while NIXStats billed per server.
- Active product: NIXStats was sunset in September 2025 and is no longer available; BoxWatch is actively developed.
- Disk-full prediction, maintenance windows, incident management, scheduled reports, and uptime badges are all in BoxWatch and were absent from NIXStats.
FAQ
Is NIXStats still available?
No. WebPros acquired NIXStats in 2021 and sunset the NIXStats infrastructure on September 30, 2025. The nixstats.com domain now redirects to the WebPros login portal. Existing NIXStats customers were migrated to 360 Monitoring.
Did NIXStats support cron job monitoring?
No. NIXStats focused on server metrics, uptime endpoint checks, and log monitoring. It did not offer dead-man's-switch heartbeat checks for cron jobs. BoxWatch includes cron/heartbeat monitoring for every account.
How did NIXStats pricing compare to BoxWatch for a fleet of 50 servers?
NIXStats charged approximately $49.50/month for 50 servers at $0.99/server. BoxWatch is free for up to 100 servers. At 50 servers NIXStats cost roughly 70 percent more, and the gap widened with fleet size.