ntfy
ntfy is an HTTP-based publish-subscribe notification service for sending alerts from scripts or REST API requests to phones and desktops.
What ntfy is
ntfy is an HTTP-based publish-subscribe notification service for sending alerts from scripts or REST API requests to phones and desktops. Publishers send messages with HTTP PUT or POST requests, and topics are created when someone publishes to or subscribes to them. Notifications can include priorities, attachments, action buttons, tags, and emojis. The web app can subscribe to topics and display incoming messages as browser notifications; open-source Android and iOS apps provide mobile notifications. Listed integrations include Home Assistant, Healthchecks.io, changedetection.io, Uptime Kuma, and Netdata, while Android intents connect the app to automation tools such as MacroDroid and Tasker. The service can also be self-hosted, with installation options including binaries, packages, tarballs, and a Docker image. Anonymous use is supported. By default, messages are cached for 12 hours and attachments for 3 hours. The documentation warns that ntfy.sh topics are public unless access control is configured; without it, an unguessable topic name functions as the password.
Good
- Accepts messages through HTTP PUT or POST.
- Supports mobile and browser notifications.
- Offers Android and iOS apps.
- Can be self-hosted.
- Integrates with listed monitoring and automation tools.
Watch out
- ntfy.sh topics are public unless access control is configured.
- Messages are limited to 4,096 bytes before longer ones become attachments.
- Desktop push is marked unavailable.
- Messages and attachments are cached by default.
Who it suits
ntfy suits people who want alerts from scripts, completed commands, or home automation events on a phone or in a browser. It also fits users who want API access, automation integrations, or a self-hosted option.
Verdict
ntfy combines a straightforward HTTP publishing model with mobile and browser notifications, integrations, and self-hosting. Before using public topics, account for their visibility and configure access control where needed.
Plans and prices
From ntfy's own pricing page, checked 5 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Supporter | $5 a month | 2,500 daily messages · 3 reserved topics · 3 phone calls · 50 daily emails · 25 MB per attachment · Monthly/Annually selector shown; page displays $6$5/ month |
| Pro | $10 a month | 20k daily messages · 10 reserved topics · 20 phone calls · 250 daily emails · 250 MB per attachment · Email support · Monthly/Annually selector shown; page displays $12$10/ month |
| Business | $20 a month | 50k daily messages · 50 reserved topics · 50 phone calls · 500 daily emails · 1 GB per attachment · Email & chat support · Monthly/Annually selector shown; page displays $25$20/ month |
The facts
Each one read from ntfy's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- API access
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- API limit
- The documentation states that each message can be up to 4,096 bytes long, with longer messages treated as attachments.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Automation
- The Android app integrates with automation apps such as MacroDroid and Tasker using Android intents.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Automation workflows
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Desktop push
- Nochecked 20 Sep 2026
- Desktop web
- The web app can subscribe to topics and show incoming messages as browser notifications.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Officially listed integrations include Home Assistant, Healthchecks.io, changedetection.io, Uptime Kuma, and Netdata.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Intended audience
- The site describes using ntfy to receive alerts about script failures, completed long-running commands, and home automation events.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Mobile push
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Notifications
- Notifications support priorities, attachments, action buttons, tags, and emojis.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Paid from
- 5checked 20 Sep 2026
- Privacy
- The privacy policy says anonymous use is supported, messages are cached by default for 12 hours, and attachments for 3 hours.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Product
- ntfy is an HTTP-based publish-subscribe notification service for sending notifications to phones or desktops from scripts or through a REST API.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Public topics
- The documentation warns that ntfy.sh topics are public and that an unguessable topic name functions as the password when access control is not configured.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Publishing
- Messages can be published with HTTP PUT or POST requests, and topics are created when subscribed to or published to.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Security
- The privacy policy states that connections to ntfy.sh use TLS/HTTPS, passwords are stored as bcrypt hashes, and message content is not logged by default.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Self-hosting
- The ntfy server can be self-hosted, and the installation documentation lists binary, tarball, deb/rpm package, and Docker image options.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Support
- The Pro plan includes email support and the Business plan includes email and chat support.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Web push
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Mobile apps
- ntfy provides open-source Android and iOS apps, and Android is also available through F-Droid and GitHub APKs.checked 5 Oct 2026
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