# ntfy vs Maccess

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ntfy at none against Maccess's 2. ntfy also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). Maccess's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs fortnightly) and review sentiment (100% vs 78%). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Maccess sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. ntfy asks for nothing beyond the download.

ntfy ships an update fortnightly, Maccess every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ntfy | Maccess |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (452 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ntfy/id1625396347/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **452** | — |
| Positive reviews | 78.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 3 MB | 106 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Philipp Heckel](https://appshunter.io/developer/1625396349) | [Maira Akram](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896429720) |

## 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


### Maccess

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/maccess/id6774586700)

Control your Mac remotely from your iPhone. Manage files, control media, and even use an AI assistant to perform tasks on your computer, all through an encrypted connection. Essential features are free locally, with advanced options available via subscription.

**Highlights:** Remote trackpad and keyboard control, Live screen mirroring, AI assistant for task execution, File browsing and management, Media and volume control, Send files from iPhone to Mac, Spotlight search on Mac

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Maccess Pro Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Maccess Pro Yearly | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ntfy free?

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

### Is Maccess free?

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

### Do ntfy or Maccess have ads?

Neither ntfy nor Maccess shows ads.

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

ntfy ships an update fortnightly, and Maccess every 2 days. Most recently, ntfy was updated on October 18, 2026 and Maccess on October 14, 2026.

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