changedetection.io is self-hosted software that tracks changes to web pages and sends notifications. Its official project instructions provide Docker Compose and standalone Docker launch methods—not a verified provider-specific one-click VPS image. The Compose route offers a short launch command, but a public VPS deployment also needs deliberate decisions about persistence, network exposure, and secure access.
What changedetection.io does
changedetection.io lets you create “watches” for web content and receive alerts when it changes. The project describes uses such as following product prices or stock, changes in PDFs, government updates, and software releases or security advisories. You can focus a watch on relevant page content and configure notifications through services including Discord, email, Slack, Telegram, or custom APIs. The project repository documents these features.
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What a VPS Docker setup involves
A VPS is a server you can keep running independently of your own computer. Docker runs changedetection.io in a container; the application’s datastore must be kept on persistent storage so its data survives container replacement. The project’s standalone example mounts a named volume at /datastore.
That example binds port 5000 to 127.0.0.1, which makes the service listen on the server’s loopback interface rather than directly on all network interfaces. It is an example container launch, not a complete guide to remote access, TLS encryption, or access control. Do not assume that starting the container alone securely publishes a VPS website.
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Choose Compose or a standalone container
| Method | What the project documents | Useful when |
|---|---|---|
| Docker Compose | Start the project’s Compose configuration with docker compose up -d. |
You want Docker to manage the application through a Compose configuration, especially if your setup includes multiple services. |
| Standalone Docker | The repository gives a dgtlmoon/changedetection.io image example with a named volume mounted at /datastore and port 5000 bound to 127.0.0.1. |
You want to see the container options explicitly in a Docker launch command. |
These are project-documented launch approaches, not provider-specific VPS templates. Consult the repository’s current Docker instructions for the exact Compose configuration or standalone command before deploying; image tags and project instructions can change.
Launch the Compose setup
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Choose a VPS where Docker and Docker Compose are available, or use an existing server that meets your needs. The project material does not establish a particular provider, minimum server size, or VPS sizing recommendation.
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On the server, follow the repository’s current instructions to obtain the Compose configuration. Check what services, ports, volumes, and environment settings it defines before starting it.
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From the directory containing the Compose configuration, run
docker compose up -d. This starts the configured services in the background. -
Review the configuration’s network exposure and plan how you will reach the application. The project’s standalone example binds to loopback; it does not supply a full public-access, TLS, or authentication recipe. Do not expose an administrative web application to the public internet without arranging appropriate access controls and encrypted access.
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Confirm that the datastore is stored persistently, then open the application using the access method you configured. Add a watch and configure its notification URL or URLs.
Pick a fetcher that matches the page
The fetcher determines how changedetection.io retrieves a page. Start with the built-in HTTP fetcher when it can retrieve the content you need. For pages whose meaningful content depends on JavaScript or browser interaction, consider the browser-based fetcher. The API documentation identifies that browser fetcher as html_webdriver. The project’s API documentation describes the fetcher option.
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| Fetcher | Consider it when | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in HTTP | The page content is available through an ordinary HTTP request. | It may not retrieve content that only appears after JavaScript runs or browser interaction. |
Browser-based (html_webdriver) |
The page depends on JavaScript or browser behavior to show the content you want to monitor. | It entails additional browser-based setup; the project does not establish that every site will work. |
Fetcher choice is practical, not a guarantee: a particular website may still resist or fail to provide the content you want to watch.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Set up watches and notifications
Create a watch for each page or document you want to monitor, then configure one or more notification URLs for that watch. The repository lists services such as Discord, email, Slack, and Telegram, along with custom APIs, and describes notification templates. Choose the alert destination and content that suit the changes you care about—for example, a price change, a revised PDF, or a software security advisory.
Update the container
For a Compose deployment, the project documents this update command:
docker compose pull && docker compose up -d
The repository describes :latest as its latest stable release and :dev as its bleeding-edge master branch. Those tag meanings and release practices can change, so check the current project instructions before selecting a tag or updating a production instance.
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Not on the evidence of the project’s Docker instructions alone. They document a short Compose launch path and a standalone container example, but do not establish an official one-click image or marketplace template for a particular VPS provider. A provider may offer its own template, but its existence and behavior need to be checked with that provider. Without one, this is a streamlined Docker deployment—not a verified provider-specific one-click installation.
Quick Recap
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