# Notify NYC vs POPLIGHT

The clearest difference is rating: Notify NYC at 3.3 against POPLIGHT's 1.7. Notify NYC also leads on review sentiment (25% vs 7%). POPLIGHT's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ratings volume, 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.

Notify NYC holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 1.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 88 and 113 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Notify NYC's written reviews are positive against 7% of POPLIGHT's.

Notify NYC ships an update every 2 months, POPLIGHT every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notify NYC | POPLIGHT |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.3 (88 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notify-nyc/id1121367950/reviews)** | [1.7 (113 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/poplight/id6484317705/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 88 | **113** |
| Positive reviews | **25.5% of reviews** | 7.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 13 MB | 117 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Department of Information Technology And Telecomm](https://appshunter.io/developer/324897622) | [Poplight LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1740591008) |

## 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


### POPLIGHT

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/poplight/id6484317705)

This app provides a convenient and affordable way to achieve the look of wall lighting without the complexities of traditional installation. It's ideal for renters concerned about damage and homeowners seeking a simpler, less expensive alternative.

**Highlights:** Easy installation, No mess or expense, Removable for renters, Cost-effective for homeowners, Protects security deposits

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Cute lights concept
- 👍 Easy setup
- ✅ App works sometimes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App is buggy and unreliable
- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🐛 Lights turn off unexpectedly
- 🐛 App is not intuitive
- 🐛 Controls are not easily accessible

**Reported bugs**

- Lights not turning on/off
- App losing connection frequently
- Lights turning off by themselves
- Timer not working
- Grouping lights not working correctly

**Requested features**

- Apple HomeKit integration
- Widget for quick control
- Remote control accessory
- Darker light temperature option
- Improved timer functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notify NYC free?

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

### Is POPLIGHT free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Notify NYC or POPLIGHT?

Notify NYC is rated higher. Notify NYC averages 3.3 out of 5 from 88 ratings, while POPLIGHT averages 1.7 from 113 ratings.

### Do Notify NYC or POPLIGHT have ads?

Neither Notify NYC nor POPLIGHT shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Notify NYC or POPLIGHT?

Notify NYC ships an update every 2 months, and POPLIGHT every 3 weeks. Most recently, Notify NYC was updated on October 7, 2026 and POPLIGHT on October 13, 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.*