Comparison

ntfy vs Soda Player

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
Currently charting
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

Soda Player

Features
Read full description

Soda Player is a sleek, powerful stream player built for iOS. Whether you have a direct video URL, an HLS stream, or an AceStream content link, Soda Player handles it all with a clean, intuitive interface. STREAM ANYTHING Paste any HTTP, HTTPS, or HLS video URL and start watching instantly. Enter AceStream content IDs or acestream:// links to connect through your own self-hosted AceStream engine. Soda Player gives you full control over your streaming setup. IMPORT PLAYLISTS Load M3U and M3U8 playlists from a URL or paste them directly. Soda Player parses channel names, groups, and metadata automatically, organising hundreds of channels into searchable, grouped lists. Refresh playlists from their source URL at any time to stay up to date. SAVE YOUR CHANNELS Found a stream you love? Save it to your Channels library with one tap. Organise channels into groups, mark favourites for quick access, and search across your entire collection. Swipe to favourite or delete — managing your library is fast and fluid. FULL-FEATURED PLAYBACK Soda Player uses the native iOS video player, giving you full playback controls, AirPlay support, and Picture-in-Picture. Watch in portrait or landscape — the player adapts to your content automatically. RETRO-INSPIRED DESIGN Enjoy a distinctive dark interface with a retro VHS-tape themed launch screen and animated spinning reels. The app features a striking pink-to-purple colour palette that looks great on any device. PRIVACY FIRST Soda Player does not collect any personal data. Your channels, playlists, and preferences are stored locally on your device. No accounts, no tracking, no ads. KEY FEATURES Play HTTP, HTTPS, and HLS video streams AceStream support via self-hosted backend Import M3U/M3U8 playlists from URL or clipboard Save and organise channels with groups and favourites Search across channels and playlists Native iOS video player with full controls Picture-in-Picture support AirPlay compatible Dark mode interface ACESTREAM SUPPORT Soda Player includes built-in AceStream support. Simply paste an AceStream content ID or acestream:// link and start watching. The app connects securely to deliver your stream as standard video playback — no extra setup required. Soda Player is designed for users who want a simple, elegant way to watch their streams without clutter or complexity. Download now and start streaming.No ads, no tracking, no accounts required

Screenshots

ntfy2 screens
Soda Player4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is chart position: ntfy at #185 against Soda Player's unranked. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ntfy ships an update fortnightly, Soda Player every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 10 level
ntfy versus Soda Player: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterntfySoda Player
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (477 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews78.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings477 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
Best chart rank#185 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB3 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperPhilipp HeckelTrademark Applications

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

Soda Player

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

ntfy

No in-app purchases

None

Soda Player

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ntfy free?
ntfy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Soda Player free?
Soda Player is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do ntfy or Soda Player have ads?
Neither ntfy nor Soda Player shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ntfy or Soda Player?
ntfy ships an update fortnightly, and Soda Player every 3 weeks. Most recently, ntfy was updated on October 27, 2026 and Soda Player on October 25, 2026.

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