# ChangeDetection.io MCP for AI Agents MCP > ChangeDetection.io monitors websites automatically to track visual and text updates across any URL. It lets you manage multiple 'watches' for competitors or documentation sites, retrieving historical snapshots so you can compare differences exactly. Use it through your AI client to get alerts on price drops, content changes, or broken links without checking pages manually. ## Overview - **Category:** data-management - **Price:** Free - **Tags:** web-monitoring, change-detection, automation, data-tracking, notifications ## Description Use this MCP to automate web monitoring and data extraction simply by talking to your AI agent. You connect your ChangeDetection.io instance once via Vinkius's catalog, giving your agent access to powerful tools for tracking external websites. Instead of clicking into multiple competitor sites or documentation pages just to see if something changed, you tell your agent what to watch. It monitors the URLs and takes historical snapshots. When you need answers, the agent can retrieve those snapshots and run a comparison (a diff) showing exactly what text or visual element was added or modified. This process lets data analysts track price movements across competitors automatically, while developers monitor API documentation for breaking changes before they happen. You manage everything from setting up new watches to organizing them with tags, all through natural conversation. It’s about getting timely, actionable intelligence without the manual overhead. ## Tools ### create_tag Creates a new category tag for your monitoring watches. ### create_watch Sets up a new monitor to track changes on a specific website URL. ### delete_watch Removes an existing web monitor from your list of watches. ### get_snapshot_diff Compares two snapshots (using 'previous' and 'latest') to show exactly what changed on a page. ### get_snapshot Retrieves the most recent snapshot of a watch for immediate review. ### get_tag Fetches details about a single tag you've created or used. ### get_watch_favicon Retrieves the small icon (favicon) associated with a specific monitored website. ### get_watch_history Pulls all recorded data and historical versions for a given watch monitor. ### get_watch Retrieves the general details of a single monitored watch, including its status and URL. ### import_urls Imports multiple URLs into your monitoring system via an API process. ### list_tags Generates a list of every tag currently in use across all your watches. ### list_watches Provides a complete list of all web pages you are currently monitoring. ### search_watches Allows you to search for specific watches by criteria like tags or keywords. ### update_watch Modifies the settings, URL, or schedule of an existing web monitor. ## Prompt Examples **Prompt:** ``` Show me the difference between the last two snapshots for the competitor's main pricing page. ``` **Response:** ``` **Pricing Comparison Report: Competitor X** * **Original Price (Snapshot 1):** $49.99 (Displayed in red text) * **New Price (Snapshot 2):** $39.99 (Displayed in green text) * **Status:** Price reduced by $10.00. Additionally, the 'Buy Now' button added a new warning badge: *Limited Stock*. ``` **Prompt:** ``` List all my active watches and tell me which ones are related to our Q3 marketing campaign. ``` **Response:** ``` **Active Web Monitors** | Watch Name | URL | Last Check | Tags | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Competitor Pricing | example.com/price | 2 hours ago | #pricing, #competitors | | API Docs | docs.example.com/api | Yesterday | #dev-docs | | Campaign Landing | campaign.com | 30 minutes ago | #Q3_marketing | You have 3 active monitors. ``` **Prompt:** ``` What was the favicon for the API documentation site last week? ``` **Response:** ``` The favicon for `docs.example.com/api` (UUID: 123e4567) is available. It's a simple black and white shield icon. If you need to use this image, I can provide the direct link. ``` ## Capabilities ### Monitor and Manage Websites Create, update, or delete specific web pages (watches) you need to monitor for changes. ### Analyze Content Differences Retrieve historical snapshots of a page and compare them against each other to see exactly what text or element changed. ### Review Web History Access the full history of any watch, allowing you to analyze trends in content over time. ### Organize Monitoring Projects Apply tags and categories to your watches, helping manage large-scale monitoring efforts across many URLs. ### Retrieve Specific Page Data Get the most recent snapshot of a watch or retrieve historical data for deep analysis. ## Use Cases ### Competitor Price Tracking A data analyst wants to know if three key competitors changed their flagship product price overnight. They ask their agent to run a comparison on the relevant URLs, using `get_snapshot_diff` to receive an immediate report showing only the dollar amount changes. ### Broken Documentation Monitoring A developer needs to know if an external API documentation page has been updated or broken. They set up a watch and ask their agent to run `get_watch_history` on that URL, allowing them to confirm the integrity of the latest version. ### Marketing Campaign Audit An SEO specialist runs into an unexpected change on a competitor's main landing page. They ask their agent to check the differences using `get_snapshot_diff` and find that a new promotional badge was added, giving them actionable intelligence. ### Project Scale Management A team has hundreds of URLs they need to track across different business units. They use the agent to first `list_watches`, then apply specific tags using `create_tag` and `search_watches` to isolate only 'Q3 Marketing' pages for review. ## Benefits - Stop manually checking websites. Use the `get_snapshot_diff` tool to instantly compare two pages and see precisely what changed, whether it's a price or a paragraph. - Manage your entire monitoring portfolio with ease. You can use `list_watches` and then apply organization using `create_tag`, keeping large projects structured. - Get historical context that simple checks miss. The `get_watch_history` tool lets you analyze trends, seeing how content has evolved over months or years. - Maintain control over your data sources. Use `list_watches` to audit all active monitors and use `update_watch` if a URL needs adjusting. - Quickly check specific pages without digging through history. The `get_snapshot` tool gives you the most up-to-date information immediately. ## How It Works The bottom line is that you talk to your agent about web monitoring tasks—like 'compare yesterday's pricing page to today's'—and it handles all the data retrieval. 1. First, subscribe to this MCP on Vinkius and provide your ChangeDetection.io Instance URL and API Key. 2. Next, you instruct your AI client via natural conversation, telling it which URLs need monitoring or what data history you want to compare. 3. Finally, the agent uses the connected tools to pull the necessary historical snapshots and deliver a clean summary of changes. ## Frequently Asked Questions **How does ChangeDetection.io help me track price changes across multiple websites?** It sets up automatic monitors on specific product pages. When you ask for a comparison, it retrieves historical snapshots and highlights only the changed prices or promotional text, saving you hours of manual checking. **Can I use ChangeDetection.io to monitor API documentation changes?** Yes. You can set up watches on your documentation URLs. By viewing the history, you'll see exactly when a parameter was added or if a required field was deprecated. **Is ChangeDetection.io better than just using Google Alerts?** Yes. Google Alerts track keywords mentioned in articles; this MCP tracks the actual content and visual elements on specific, live web pages, giving you much deeper structural data. **What happens if a website changes its structure completely?** The system will still capture the change. When you run `get_snapshot_diff`, it shows what was there before and what is there now, even if the page layout looks totally different. **How do I keep my monitoring projects organized with ChangeDetection.io?** You use tags to group watches by project or client. You can list all available tags and then apply new ones using `create_tag` to categorize your entire portfolio.