Getting Started with WebChange Detector

WebChange Detector catches these problems automatically. It takes screenshots of your web pages, compares them over time, and tells you exactly what changed. Whether it’s a plugin update, a content edit, or something breaking, you’ll know before your visitors do.

This guide walks you through your first steps: creating an account, understanding your dashboard, and choosing the right detection method for your workflow.

Two Ways to Use WebChange Detector

WebChange Detector offers two interfaces depending on your needs:

The Plugin for WordPress installs directly on your WordPress site. It syncs your pages automatically, integrates with WordPress auto-updates, and gives you change detection right from your WordPress admin dashboard. Best for site owners managing their own website. WebChange Detector plugin

The WebApp is a centralized control panel where you connect and manage multiple client WordPress sites from one place. You can configure monitoring, trigger manual checks, review changes across all sites, and control what each client can see and do. Best for agencies and freelancers managing multiple sites.

Both interfaces connect to the same system. You can use the plugin on individual sites and manage them all from the agency dashboard at the same time.

Creating Your Account

From the WordPress Plugin

1. Install the WebChange Detector plugin from the WordPress plugin directory
2. Navigate to WebChange Detector in your WordPress admin sidebar
3. You’ll see two options: – Create Free Account: Enter your first name, last name, email, and password. The free plan includes 1,000 checks in your first month and 50 checks per month after that. – Use Existing API Token: If you already have a WebChange Detector account (e.g., from the agency dashboard), paste your API token here instead.
4. After creating your account, check your email for an activation link
5. Click the activation link, then return to your WordPress dashboard
6. The plugin automatically sets up your website: it syncs your pages, creates monitoring and manual detection groups, and prepares everything for your first check

From the Agency Dashboard

1. Go to webchangedetector.com and register for an account
2. After email verification, log in to your dashboard
3. Add your first website from the WordPress Websites tab
4. Install the plugin on your client site or connect via the WordPress REST API

Understanding Credits (Checks)

WebChange Detector uses a credit-based system. Each screenshot comparison costs 1 check. A check is consumed when the system takes a screenshot and compares it against a previous version.

How credits are used:

• Each URL/device combination = 1 check per comparison
• Monitoring a page on desktop and mobile = 2 checks per monitoring cycle
• A manual check of 10 pages on both devices = 20 checks

Your dashboard shows your current usage as “Used checks: X / Y” with a visual progress bar. When you’re running low, a warning appears.

The Three Detection Methods

WebChange Detector offers three ways to detect changes. Each serves a different purpose:

1. Manual Checks

What: A guided before/after workflow you trigger manually.

When to use: Before applying WordPress updates, deploying code changes, editing content, or any planned change.

How it works:

1. Select the pages you want to check
2. Take “before” screenshots
3. Make your updates
4. Take “after” screenshots
5. Review the comparison results

Manual checks do not send email alerts. You review results directly in the dashboard.

Full guide: How to Run Manual Checks on Your WordPress Website

2. Monitoring

What: Automated screenshots taken at regular intervals, compared against the previous run.

When to use: To catch unexpected changes on live sites: content edits by team members, third-party script changes, plugin updates you didn’t trigger, or anything that changes without your knowledge.

How it works:

1. Configure a monitoring group with your desired pages
2. Set the check interval (every 1 to 24 hours) and the days when the checks should run
3. WebChange Detector takes screenshots automatically
4. If something changes beyond your threshold, you get an email alert
5. AI verification filters out false positives from dynamic content (rotating banners, ads, cookie variations)

Full guide: How Website Monitoring Works

3. Auto-Update Checks

What: Fully automated interception of WordPress auto-updates.

When to use: To catch visual regressions caused by plugin, theme, or core auto-updates without any manual steps.

How it works:

1. Enable auto-update checks in the plugin settings
2. When WordPress detects an available auto-update, WebChange Detector intercepts it
3. Screenshots are taken before the update runs
4. WordPress applies the update
5. Screenshots are taken after the update
6. You receive an email with the comparison results

The Auto-Update-Checks require the WebChange Detector plugin installed on the site.

Full guide: How to Automatically Check After Every Update

Choosing Your Detection Method

You can also combine all three methods: monitoring for passive protection, auto-update checks for automated safety nets, and manual checks for planned maintenance.

What’s Next?

• Run your first manual check: Manual Checks Guide
• Enable auto-update checks: Auto-Update Checks Guide
• Understand AI analysis: AI Change Analysis Guide