ntfy vs VimKey
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Send notifications via REST API
- Subscribe to topics
- Publish messages via HTTP
- Integrates with Bash/PowerShell
- Free and open source client
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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
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.
- Vim-style HJKL navigation
- Dedicated directional arrow keys
- Dual layout switching
- Privacy-focused data handling
- Haptic feedback and click sounds
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Master Your Cursor on iOS Editing code and managing SSH sessions on a mobile device can be painful. The default magnifying glass cursor is imprecise, and fingers often block the exact characters you need to select. VimKey brings desktop level cursor precision to your iPhone and iPad. Key Features Dedicated Arrow Keys and Joystick Navigation Move the cursor step by step with dedicated arrow keys or the touch joystick pad. Navigate across lines effortlessly without obscuring the screen. Vim Style Navigation Fly through documents with classic Vim navigation and essential modifier keys designed for developers and terminal users. Select Mode and Quick Copy Toggle Select Mode on and navigate with directional keys to highlight text with ease. Copy selected text straight to the clipboard with one tap. Dual Layouts Switch seamlessly between the navigation layout and a standard QWERTY keyboard. Unlock QWERTY temporarily by watching a short ad, or unlock forever with a one-time purchase. Privacy First Your input belongs to you. Full Access is requested exclusively for haptic feedback and click sounds. We never collect, store, or transmit your keystrokes. Important Note Due to iOS browser limitations, modifier keys such as Esc, Tab, Ctrl, and arrow keys do not function in browser-based WebSSH clients. For the best experience, please use a native Terminal app. Contact Feedback and suggestions are welcome. Email: mozhenbear@zodic.dev
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: ntfy at 4.8 against VimKey's 3.4. ntfy also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (474 vs 5). VimKey's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs fortnightly). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. VimKey sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. ntfy asks for nothing beyond the download.
ntfy holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ntfy has 474 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of ntfy's written reviews are positive against 67% of VimKey's.
ntfy ships an update fortnightly, VimKey every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ntfy | VimKey |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (474 ratings) — better | 3.4 (5 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 78.9% of reviews — better | 66.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 474 — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Philipp Heckel | chuncheng su |
Customer experience
ntfy
VimKey
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
ntfy
No in-app purchases
VimKey
- qwert Layout$2.99
