Side by side
ntfy vs OneSignal
Both stand on push notification services. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+2
Choose ntfy if you want to send alerts from scripts or APIs to mobile apps or browser notifications, with a self-hosting option. Look elsewhere if desktop push is required or if you need guarantees beyond the stated public-topic safeguards.
Visit ntfy
Free plan WebWindowsMac+2
OneSignal brings several messaging channels, segmentation and automation into one platform, with a free plan and month-to-month Growth option. Verify the applicable free email limit and usage fees before settling on a plan.
Visit OneSignalThe facts
| ntfy | OneSignal | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Android, API, iPhone, Self-hosted, Web | Web, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android |
| Lowest paid plan | Pro: $10 a month | Growth: $19 a month |
| Plans published | 3 | 4 |
| Maker | Not published | OneSignal |
| Website | ntfy.sh | onesignal.com |
| On push notification services | #5 of 31 | #1 of 31 |
ntfy: what it does well
- Publishes messages through HTTP PUT or POST requests.
- Open-source Android and iOS apps provide mobile notifications.
- Supports priorities, attachments, buttons, tags, and emojis.
- Can be self-hosted with several installation routes.
- Lists integrations including Home Assistant and Uptime Kuma.
What to know first
- Desktop push is marked unavailable.
- Messages are limited to 4,096 bytes before longer content becomes an attachment.
- Public topics need access control or an unguessable name.
- Free plan limits are not described here.
OneSignal: what it does well
- Free plan includes basic automation and analytics.
- Supports push, email, in-app messaging, RCS and SMS.
- SDKs cover Android, iOS, Flutter, React Native, Expo and Unity.
- Message-delivery API sends are available across plans.
What to know first
- Growth has usage fees in addition to its platform fee.
- Professional and Enterprise require annual contracts.
- Free email limit is stated as both 10,000 and 20,000 monthly sends.
- Web push is limited to 10,000 subscribers per send.
Alternatives to ntfy Alternatives to OneSignal The whole list