Comparison

ntfy vs VimKey

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

Head to head
About

ntfy

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
Read full description

Send push notifications to your phone from any Bash or PowerShell script, or from your own app using PUT/POST requests, e.g. via curl on Linux or Invoke-WebRequest. ntfy is a client for https://ntfy.sh, a free and open source HTTP-based pub-sub service. You can subscribe to topics in this app, and then publish messages via a simple HTTP API. Uses: * Notify yourself when a long-running process is done * Ping your phone when a backup has failed * Alerts when someone logs into your server Example: $ curl -d "Your backup is done" ntfy.sh/mytopic Find more examples and usage instructions here: https://ntfy.sh/docs

About

VimKey

Enhance your mobile editing experience with Vim-style navigation and dedicated arrow keys. This app offers precise cursor control for developers and power users on iOS devices, bringing desktop-level efficiency to your fingertips.

Highlights
  • Vim-style HJKL navigation
  • Dedicated directional arrow keys
  • Dual layout switching
  • Privacy-focused data handling
  • Haptic feedback and click sounds
Features
Read full description

【Master Your Cursor on iOS】 As a developer, I was frustrated with editing code and managing SSH sessions on my iPhone. The native "magnifying glass" cursor is slow, and my fingers often blocked the text I was trying to select. I built VimKey to scratch my own itch. It brings the precision of desktop editing to your mobile device. Key Features: * Vim-Style Navigation: Use the legendary HJKL (←↓↑→) keys to move the cursor. Keep your hands on the keyboard and fly through text. * Dedicated Arrow Keys: Includes a standard directional pad for precise control without blocking the screen. * Dual Layouts: Seamlessly switch between the navigation layout and a standard QWERTY keyboard (Unlock QWERTY for 30 minutes by watching a short ad, or unlock forever with a one-time purchase). * Privacy First: We respect your data. "Full Access" is requested ONLY to provide haptic feedback and click sounds. We strictly do NOT collect, store, or transmit your keystrokes. Important Note: * Due to browser limitations on iOS, special keys (Esc, Tab, Ctrl) and arrow keys do NOT work in browser-based WebSSH clients. For the best experience, please use a native Terminal app. Contact: I'm actively improving this app based on user feedback. Email: mozhenbear@zodic.dev

Screenshots

ntfy2 screens
VimKey3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ntfy at none against VimKey's 1. ntfy also leads on ratings volume (452 vs 3). VimKey's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 78%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, update cadence, ads 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. VimKey sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. ntfy asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

VimKey holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ntfy has 452 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of ntfy's written reviews are positive against 100% of VimKey's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ntfy ships an update fortnightly, VimKey every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
ntfy versus VimKey: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterntfyVimKey
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (452 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews78.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings452 — better3
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPhilipp Heckelchuncheng su

Customer experience

ntfy

All ratings452 ratings
Positive93.8%
Neutral1.5%
Negative4.6%
Written reviews171 reviews
Positive78.4%
Neutral5.8%
Negative15.8%

VimKey

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

ntfy

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

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

VimKey

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

ntfy

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

VimKey

One-time1
  • qwert Layout$2.99

Questions

Is ntfy free?
ntfy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is VimKey free?
VimKey is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ntfy or VimKey?
VimKey is rated higher. ntfy averages 4.8 out of 5 from 452 ratings, while VimKey averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do ntfy or VimKey have ads?
Neither ntfy nor VimKey shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ntfy or VimKey?
ntfy ships an update fortnightly, and VimKey every 10 days. Most recently, ntfy was updated on October 13, 2026 and VimKey on September 30, 2026.

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