ntfy

ntfy sends push notifications with a plain HTTP request, no account and no signup required. It is open source, so you can either use the hosted version or run your own instance.

A simple HTTP based pub sub service, pronounced notify. You PUT or POST to a topic and your phone or desktop gets a push. The README's selling point is that any script on any computer can do this without an account or a fee, and because the server is open source, self hosting is always on the table.

The free hosted version runs at ntfy.sh. There is an open source Android app on Google Play and F-Droid, plus an open source iOS app on the App Store. For teams that do not want a third party in the middle, running your own instance is covered, which is the whole point of the open source side.

Paid plans exist for ntfy.sh for people who would rather not self host or want to fund development, starting around five dollars a month. Donations also flow through GitHub Sponsors and Liberapay. The README is straightforward about costs, which keeps the free tier honest.

Discord and a Matrix room, bridged from Discord, handle discussion, with GitHub issues for questions, features, and bugs. Release announcements go out on a dedicated ntfy topic, iOS testers can join TestFlight, and Android betas live in Discord or Matrix. Contributions are welcome, though larger features should be floated on Discord or Matrix first.

A code of conduct lays out expectations for participation, framed around keeping the community harassment free. Translations are coordinated through Hosted Weblate. The licensing is dual, Apache License 2.0 and GPLv2, with the third party library list spelled out in detail, down to the fonts and notification sounds used.

The genius is how little there is to learn. One HTTP call, one topic, one push. The README stays in that spirit, keeping setup and rules short enough to actually read.

• Source 1 · Project repository
• Source 2 · README