Datadog's pricing for synthetic browser checks is not as affordable as it initially seems, with costs quickly adding up when considering real-world requirements such as monitoring multiple routes and checking from different regions. The cost can escalate to over $12,000 per month for a basic API setup, making it unaffordable for many startups. In contrast, Checkly's pricing is roughly half that of Datadog, offering a more cost-effective solution with comprehensive testing strategies and tools such as Playwright support and capture trace files. By embracing synthetic monitoring and implementing effective testing strategies, teams can enhance their observability and deliver a better experience to users.