How to Monitor a Website with Distill.io on Chrome Without Keeping a Tab Open

To monitor a website with Distill.io in Chrome without opening a visible tab for each check, open the Distill extension’s Settings → Advanced and select Background. This works for static pages; Distill says background checks do not work for dynamic content. If you need monitoring to continue after Chrome closes or your computer turns off, configure a cloud monitor in Distill’s Web App instead.

These are two different goals: avoiding a tab while Chrome is running, and running checks when your computer is unavailable. Choose the option that matches the one you need.

1. Choose where the checks should run

Option	Opens a browser tab?	Must your computer be available?	Best fit
Chrome extension, Background mode	No visible check tab	Yes; Chrome and the computer must be available	Static pages when you want checks without a tab opening
Chrome extension, other check modes	Usually; Tab is the documented default and closes when the check finishes	Yes	Pages that need browser rendering or another supported mode
Distill cloud monitor	No local tab is needed	No; checks run on Distill’s servers	Monitoring while Chrome is closed or the computer is off
Distill Desktop App	No browser tab	Yes; it is a local option	Local checks without browser tabs; Distill currently describes the app as public beta

Distill documents the distinction between local and cloud monitors, and says local monitors depend on the browser or computer being available. Its Chrome extension guide describes Background as suitable for static pages.

2. Set up background checks in the Chrome extension

Open the page you want to monitor in Chrome and use the Distill extension to add it as a monitor. Select the whole page or the specific area whose changes matter. Distill documents this workflow in its browser extension monitoring guide.
Open the extension’s settings, then go to Advanced.
Choose Background as the check mode.
Save the monitor and run a check. Confirm that it detects the kind of change you care about and does not open a visible tab.
Configure alert actions if needed. Distill says email and SMS require sign-in, and availability depends on the subscription plan.

Settings names can move as the extension changes. If the menu differs, check Distill’s current extension documentation.

Know the static-page limitation

Background mode is not a general-purpose way to load every page without a tab. Distill states: “Background checks only work for static web pages.” A page that fills in content after JavaScript runs, requires interaction, or depends on a signed-in browser session may not produce the content you expect in background mode. Check the monitor’s captured content and detected changes before relying on alerts.

If background checks miss content, try a different supported extension check mode, such as the default Tab mode or another mode described in Distill’s extension settings. The default Tab mode opens a tab for the check and closes it when the check finishes. If you need the computer to be off, a local extension mode will not meet that requirement; use a cloud monitor.

3. Use a cloud monitor when Chrome can be closed

To have checks run independently of your browser and computer, create a cloud monitor in Distill’s Web App. Cloud monitors run on Distill’s servers, so your own Chrome session does not need to remain open and your computer can be off. Configure the target page, the content to watch, the check interval available to your plan, and the alerts you want.

Cloud checks have plan-specific monitor quotas and minimum intervals. Those limits and prices can change, so review Distill’s current pricing page before choosing a plan. Some sites block requests from Distill’s cloud servers. Distill identifies proxies as a possible option on applicable plans; check its documentation and plan details if the target site cannot be reached from the cloud.

4. Consider the Desktop App for local checks without tabs

Distill also offers a Desktop App that runs checks locally without opening browser tabs. Distill currently describes it as public beta. It is useful to consider if you want local monitoring and a tab-free workflow, but it still depends on your local computer being available. It is not a substitute for cloud monitoring when the computer is shut down. See Distill’s supported platforms information for its current app options.

5. Choose the right mode for common edge cases

The page is static and Chrome stays open: Start with Background mode and verify that the monitored content is captured correctly.
The page is dynamic or needs browser interaction: Background mode may fail to show the relevant content. Try a different documented extension mode or the Desktop App, then confirm that the result includes the content you need.
You need checks while Chrome is closed: Configure a cloud monitor.
You need checks while the computer is off: Configure a cloud monitor; local extension and desktop checks rely on your device.
The cloud monitor cannot access the page: The site may block cloud requests. Check Distill’s guidance on cloud monitor profiles and whether a proxy is available on your plan.
You only want to avoid a tab briefly opening: The extension’s default Tab mode closes its check tab when the check completes. Use Background only when the page is compatible with its static-page limitation.

6. Troubleshooting

Symptom	Likely cause	What to do
The monitor opens a tab during each check	The extension is using its default Tab mode or another tab-based mode	Open Settings → Advanced and select Background for a static page, or choose cloud monitoring if checks should not depend on Chrome.
Background checks miss part of the page	The page relies on dynamic content that Background mode does not support	Try another extension mode or the Desktop App, and inspect the captured content before relying on alerts.
Checks stop when Chrome or the computer closes	The monitor is local	Use a cloud monitor for checks that must continue when the browser is closed or the computer is off.
A cloud monitor cannot reach the website	The website may block requests from Distill’s cloud servers	Review Distill’s cloud profile guidance and check whether a proxy option is available for your plan.
Email or SMS alerts are unavailable	The alert method may require a signed-in account or a qualifying subscription	Sign in and check the alert methods included in your current plan.
Cloud checks run less often than expected	The plan has a minimum interval or usage allowance	Check the current pricing page for the plan’s interval and monitor limits.

7. Performance, reliability, and cost

Performance: Background mode avoids opening a visible check tab, but its static-page limitation can make it unsuitable for pages that need dynamic rendering. Cloud checks avoid using your local browser and computer, but their interval and available capacity depend on the plan.

Reliability: Local monitoring depends on the local browser or computer being available. Cloud monitoring removes that dependency, though a target site can still block cloud requests. For important changes, confirm that the monitor captures the right content and that its alert method is configured and available to your account.

Cost: Local extension and Desktop App use do not provide checks while the computer is off. Cloud monitoring is the relevant option for that requirement, and Distill’s plans have different cloud limits and minimum intervals. Verify current prices and allowances on Distill’s pricing page; the figures change over time.

Or skip the browser setup

If your goal is to capture a page as an image or PDF rather than monitor changes over time, ScreenshotNeo is a website screenshot API and MCP server for developers. It accepts a URL in one request and returns a screenshot or PDF. The API can also wait for a selector, a delay, or network idle, and supports options such as full-page capture and element capture.

Cookie banners are accepted and removed before capture, along with known newsletter popups and chat widgets. Bot checks, blank pages, failed loads, timeouts, and cache hits are not billed; response headers report the page verdict and billing status. Its MCP server provides screenshot tools for AI agents.

For the full request options, see the ScreenshotNeo API documentation.

curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webp

import requests

r = requests.get(
    "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot",
    params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://stripe.com"},
    timeout=90,
)
open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)

const q = new URLSearchParams({ access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', url: 'https://stripe.com' });
const res = await fetch(`https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot?${q}`);
if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Screenshot request failed: ${res.status}`);
await Bun.write('shot.webp', res);

ScreenshotNeo includes 1,000 screenshots a month free with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000. Try it with the free ScreenshotNeo sign-up.

FAQ

Does Background mode keep monitoring after I quit Chrome?

No. Background mode avoids a visible tab for supported checks while Chrome is available. Use a cloud monitor to run checks when Chrome is closed.

Can I use Background mode on any website?

No. Distill documents it for static pages; dynamic content may not work.

Does the Desktop App run when my computer is off?

No. It is a local app. Use a cloud monitor when checks must continue with the computer off.

Will cloud monitoring work on every site?

Not necessarily. Some sites block requests from Distill’s cloud servers. Check Distill’s guidance and any proxy options available for your plan.

Is a screenshot API a replacement for a change monitor?

No. ScreenshotNeo captures a page as an image or PDF; this Distill workflow monitors a page for changes over time.