Comparison

Bark vs Push Bark

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Bark

Send custom push notifications to your iPhone via an HTTP API. Supports advanced features like custom icons, grouping, and critical alerts. Offers privacy-protected, end-to-end encrypted pushes with self-deployable server options.

Highlights
  • HTTP API for push notifications
  • Custom icons and grouping
  • Continuous and critical alerts
  • End-to-end push encryption
  • Self-deployable server options
  • Privacy-protected notifications
Features
Read full description

You can send push notifications to your iPhone by simply calling an HTTP API. Bark supports many advanced iOS push features, such as custom icons, notification grouping, custom ringtones, continuous alerts, critical alerts, and encrypted pushes. Bark does not consume device battery, as its core functionality relies on system push services and push extensions, and the app itself does not need to be running. Bark ensures your privacy and security with high reliability. Bark supports self-deploying the server, which can be deployed via Docker, Serverless, or Cloudflare Worker. The bark-server supports most operating systems, and you can also run it manually. The app is compiled and uploaded through Github Action, ensuring that the version you’re using is compiled from open-source code, without any modifications by anyone (including the author). Bark supports end-to-end push encryption with a custom key, ensuring that the push content is not accessed or leaked by the Bark server or Apple’s APNs server during transmission. The notification message history saved locally by Bark is also very secure. Using the NotificationServiceExtension, the push message is only stored on the device when the push is received. Feedback email: to@day.app Privacy Policy: https://api.day.app/privacy User Agreement: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Push Bark

Features
Read full description

Deeply integrated with Apple APNS push service for applications developed for Apple devices. Can receive push messages normally even without running the app, with no delay in delivery, not resident in the background, energy-saving and user-friendly. At the same time, we provide developers with push APIs, which can be integrated into their own servers or apps to push messages to devices that have installed this software. The cloud synchronization function of the software can be used between different devices. Featured features: 1. The software integrates push function, and the pushed messages will be encrypted, and private information cannot be decrypted. It also provides an external push URL, which can be opened through any browser to push messages to oneself or others (supports: text, images, audio) 2. Multi channel push function, the software can open the channels you want to receive push messages through, and then send a message. The opened channels will receive the message content synchronously (1. Use the push page in the APP to send the message 2. Send the message through the push address 3. Send the message through the push API) 3. Providing a channel square, this is a vibrant information hub that carefully gathers a rich and diverse range of content channels for you. Here, you can easily browse and follow various channels that interest you, receive the latest news, professional insights, or interesting information from different fields in real-time, ensuring that you are always at the forefront of information and do not miss any exciting content. Not only that, the Channel Square is also an excellent stage for you to express yourself and connect with like-minded people! We encourage you to create your own personal channel and become a creator and sharer of content. Whether sharing interesting insights from life, unique observations in professional fields, or publishing the freshest and hottest hot news and in-depth interpretations, you can find like-minded audiences here. 4. Support the creation of public and private channels (encrypted subscriptions can be set). Private channels are not displayed in the software, and subscriptions require entering the channel name and password. You can also create personal paid channels to earn revenue 5. Support forwarding SMS messages from other mobile phones to this software, with built-in operation tutorials 6. Provide push APIs to developers that can be integrated into their respective applications, with usage scenarios such as event alerts and reminders 7. Message cloud synchronization function, supporting message synchronization across different devices for seamless flow If you have any questions, you can contact us by checking the contact information in the 'Me' app

Screenshots

Bark3 screens
Push Bark4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Push Bark at every 3 days against Bark's every 3 weeks. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Bark sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.69 per year and Push Bark sells 12 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bark ships an update every 3 weeks, Push Bark every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Bark versus Push Bark: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBarkPush Bark
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (105 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews98.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings105 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS13.0 — better14
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB37 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer丰 黄Foshan Qizhizhu Technology Co., Ltd.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Bark

Subscriptions1
  • Continuous support$2.691 Year
One-time1
  • One-time donation$2.69
12 purchases

Push Bark

One-time12
  • 1-month Standard Member$0.99
  • Recharge subscription balance ¥1$0.99
  • Recharge subscription balance ¥5$0.99
Show 9 more
  • Recharge subscription balance ¥100$0.99
  • Monthly Premium Member$1.99
  • Recharge subscription balance ¥30$3.99
  • 1-year Standard Member$4.99
  • Recharge subscription balance ¥50$6.99
  • 2-year Standard Member$8.99
  • 1-year Premium Member$8.99
  • 2-year Premium Member$14.99
  • Recharge subscription balance ¥100$14.99

Questions

Is Bark free?
Bark is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Push Bark free?
Push Bark is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Bark or Push Bark have ads?
Neither Bark nor Push Bark shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bark or Push Bark?
Bark ships an update every 3 weeks, and Push Bark every 3 days. Most recently, Bark was updated on September 21, 2026 and Push Bark on September 19, 2026.

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