# ntfy vs SmartHomeQR

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ntfy at none against SmartHomeQR's 1. ntfy also leads on ratings volume (488 vs 3) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). SmartHomeQR's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs fortnightly) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SmartHomeQR sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. ntfy asks for nothing beyond the download.

SmartHomeQR holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ntfy has 488 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

ntfy ships an update fortnightly, SmartHomeQR every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ntfy | SmartHomeQR |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (488 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ntfy/id1625396347/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smarthomeqr/id6756529233/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **488** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 78.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 3 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Philipp Heckel](https://appshunter.io/developer/1625396349) | [Vishut Dhar](https://appshunter.io/developer/1823939798) |

## What reviewers say

### ntfy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ntfy/id1625396347)

This app allows you to send push notifications to your phone from scripts or other applications using simple HTTP requests. It acts as a client for a free, open-source pub-sub service, enabling you to receive alerts and updates directly on your device.

**Highlights:** Send notifications via REST API, Subscribe to topics, Publish messages via HTTP, Integrates with Bash/PowerShell, Free and open source client

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Simple and easy to use
- 🔒 Great for self-hosting
- 👍 Reliable and works as expected
- 🚀 Quick and easy to set up
- 🚀 Lightweight and functional

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Notification issues on iOS
- 🔍 Limited features compared to other platforms
- 🔍 Lacks customization options
- 🐛 Occasional crashes or delivery issues

**Reported bugs**

- Notifications not working on iOS
- Broken click URLs in notifications
- Compatibility issues with iOS notification summarizing

**Requested features**

- Ability to change notification sounds
- Support for Apple Watch
- Customizable topic names/aliases
- Improved iOS notification handling
- All topics view and read/unread indicators


### SmartHomeQR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smarthomeqr/id6756529233)

Effortlessly manage smart home device QR codes and setup information. Automatically parse codes, organize devices by home and room, and quickly find what you need for setup or re-pairing. Works offline and syncs via iCloud for secure, private access.

**Highlights:** Smart QR code parsing, Organize by home and room, Capture and store QR codes, Instant device search, Offline functionality, iCloud sync

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Unlock | $6.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ntfy free?

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

### Is SmartHomeQR free?

SmartHomeQR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, ntfy or SmartHomeQR?

SmartHomeQR is rated higher. ntfy averages 4.8 out of 5 from 488 ratings, while SmartHomeQR averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do ntfy or SmartHomeQR have ads?

Neither ntfy nor SmartHomeQR shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ntfy or SmartHomeQR?

ntfy ships an update fortnightly, and SmartHomeQR every 4 days. Most recently, ntfy was updated on November 3, 2026 and SmartHomeQR on October 30, 2026.

---

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