# Notify NYC vs Hercules CyclePay

The clearest difference is rating: Hercules CyclePay at 4.3 against Notify NYC's 3.3. Hercules CyclePay also leads on ratings volume (2.3K vs 88) and review sentiment (42% vs 25%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Hercules CyclePay holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hercules CyclePay has 2.3K ratings behind it against 88, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Notify NYC's written reviews are positive against 42% of Hercules CyclePay's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notify NYC | Hercules CyclePay |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (88 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notify-nyc/id1121367950/reviews) | **[4.3 (2.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hercules-cyclepay/id1520002517/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 88 | **2.3K** |
| Positive reviews | 25.5% of reviews | **41.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 13 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Department of Information Technology And Telecomm](https://appshunter.io/developer/324897622) | [Hercules Corp](https://appshunter.io/developer/1520002519) |

## What reviewers say

### Notify NYC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notify-nyc/id1121367950)

Receive official emergency alerts and information about important City services directly from New York City. This app provides location-based updates to keep you informed about emergency events.

**Highlights:** Official emergency communications, Location-based alerts, Information on emergency events, Updates on City services, Privacy-focused location tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Useful app for emergencies
- 👍 Good for staying informed
- 👍 Replaces email alerts
- 👍 Official emergency notification system
- 👍 Synthesized notifications from multiple agencies

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Endless pop-up notifications
- 🐛 Cannot dismiss old alerts
- 🐛 Required missing person alerts
- 🐛 Overwhelms with too many alerts
- 🔋 Drains battery significantly

**Reported bugs**

- Pop-up notifications repeat endlessly and cannot be dismissed
- Notification preferences cannot be saved
- App randomly closes when in use
- Cannot get past the Terms of Use agreement
- No accept button to press on terms of service

**Requested features**

- Allow deactivation of missing person alerts
- Include pictures in missing person alerts
- Add a share button for alerts
- Allow users to choose which alerts they receive (without mandatory ones)
- More granular alert controls


### Hercules CyclePay

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hercules-cyclepay/id1520002517)

Easily start washing machine and dryer cycles using your phone at participating laundry locations. Send service requests directly through the app for any issues encountered.

**Highlights:** Start washer and dryer cycles, Phone-based cycle activation, Send service requests, Real-time machine status (select locations)

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient app
- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Useful features like notifications

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🐛 Unreliable machine status
- 🐛 Slow performance
- 💰 Overcharging issues
- 🤖 Buggy and glitchy

**Reported bugs**

- Machines not connecting to app
- Incorrect cycle time reporting
- Charges without starting machines
- Frequent app crashes

**Requested features**

- Allow manual time input for dryers
- Improve machine status visibility
- Implement remote machine control
- Save payment information


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notify NYC free?

Notify NYC is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Hercules CyclePay free?

Hercules CyclePay is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Notify NYC or Hercules CyclePay?

Hercules CyclePay is rated higher. Notify NYC averages 3.3 out of 5 from 88 ratings, while Hercules CyclePay averages 4.3 from 2.3K ratings.

### Do Notify NYC or Hercules CyclePay have ads?

Neither Notify NYC nor Hercules CyclePay shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Notify NYC or Hercules CyclePay?

Notify NYC ships an update every 2 months, and Hercules CyclePay every 2 months. Most recently, Notify NYC was updated on September 21, 2026 and Hercules CyclePay on September 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*