The Pushover alternative with no app to buy
PushPiper speaks Pushover's API and delivers to a web app that installs on any phone or desktop. It's free for 10,000 messages a month on 10 devices, with no fee per platform.
PushPiper, Pushover, ntfy and Gotify compared
| PushPiper | Pushover | ntfy | Gotify | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 10,000 messages a month on 10 devices | 10,000 messages a month per account | 250 messages a day on ntfy.sh | Free and open source, you host it |
| App price | None, the web app installs from your browser | $4.99 once per platform after a 30-day trial | Free apps | Free Android app, no official iOS app |
| More messages | Pro: 50,000 a month for €4 a month. Packs: 10,000 for €20 | One-time packs: 10,000 for $25, 50,000 for $100 | Paid plans from $6 a month for 2,500 messages a day | Whatever your server handles |
| End-to-end encryption | Yes, decrypted in the PushPiper app on each device | Yes, in the iOS and Android apps | Not yet, requested since 2021 | Not built in |
| API | Pushover-compatible | Pushover API | Its own HTTP API | Its own REST API |
| Native mobile apps | Not yet, Web Push through the installed web app | iOS and Android | iOS and Android | Android |
| Self-hosting | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Looking beyond these four? Nine free push notification services compares Pushbullet, Telegram bots, Simplepush, Pushsafer and Bark too.
Where PushPiper wins
- No license per platform. Pushover charges $4.99 each for iOS, Android and desktop after a 30-day trial. PushPiper is free on all of them.
- A monthly plan for busy senders. Pro gives you 50,000 messages every month for €4. On Pushover, 50,000 extra messages is a one-time $100 pack.
- Encryption on every screen. Pushover documents end-to-end encryption for its iOS and Android apps. PushPiper decrypts inside its web app, so encrypted messages work on desktops too.
- An inbox that follows you. Messages stay on our servers for 30 days, so a new device shows your recent history. Pushover deletes messages once your device has them.
- The same API. Scripts, libraries and tools that let you set the API host work after a hostname swap and a new set of keys.
When Pushover is the better pick
Pushover is the better fit if you need native iOS and Android apps, or iOS critical alerts that break through Do Not Disturb. PushPiper delivers through Web Push in an installable web app and doesn't have native apps yet.
When ntfy or Gotify fit better
Pick ntfy or Gotify when you want to run the server yourself or need an open-source stack. Both use their own APIs, so tools built for Pushover need a separate integration. Gotify has no official iOS app.
Switching takes a few minutes
Sign in, create an app, change api.pushover.net to api.pushpiper.com and swap in your new token and user key. The migration guide walks through groups, subscribers and tools that hardcode the Pushover host.
Questions and answers
Is PushPiper a drop-in replacement for Pushover?
For the API, yes: same endpoints, parameters, responses and key formats. You need a PushPiper app token and user key, and your tool has to let you change the API host.
Is PushPiper free?
Yes, for 10,000 messages a month on up to 10 devices, with every feature. Pro is €4 a month or €40 a year for 50,000 messages.
Does PushPiper work on iPhone?
Yes. Add pushpiper.com/app to your home screen from Safari and allow notifications. It needs iOS 16.4 or later.
Can I keep my Pushover encryption key?
Yes. PushPiper uses Pushover's encryption format, so your 64-character key works once you add it to the PushPiper app on your devices.
Same API. Every screen. Free to start.
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