Comparison

ntfy vs TextTags

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

TextTags

This app allows you to create custom QR code tags for your belongings. Anyone scanning the tag can send you a notification without needing an app, and you receive alerts instantly. It offers safety features and options to order physical tags.

Highlights
  • Custom QR code tag creation
  • Instant notifications from scanners
  • No app required for senders
  • AI safety filter for content
  • Order physical stickers and merchandise
  • Per-tag safety and reply controls
Features
Read full description

Your car. Your gate. Your bike. A package on the porch, a tool on the job site. TextTags puts a Tag on the things you care about — a QR code that lets anyone nearby give you a heads-up the moment something needs your attention. Design your Tag in the app, download and print it for free, or order it as a sticker, magnet, pin, or luggage tag. Then stick it wherever life happens. When someone scans your Tag, they can notify you straight from their phone's camera — no app to install, no account to create, no chat service to join. You get a notification instantly and reply right from TextTags. No phone numbers, no emails, nothing exchanged but the message itself. And one Tag handles it all: every person who scans it gets their own separate thread with you. WHAT PEOPLE TAG • Cars & trucks — your lights are on, you're blocked in, the alarm's going off, a tire looks flat • Bikes & scooters — the lock's broken, it tipped over, it's been sitting there a while • Keys, wallets & bags — the moment they turn up, the finder can tell you • Pets — someone spots your dog before you even knew they were gone • Packages & mail — a delivery is sitting at the door, unattended • Tools & equipment — left behind on site, damaged, or in the way • Property & access — the gate's open, the driveway's blocked, something needs service • For-sale signs — questions and offers, without your number living in a stranger's phone forever BUILT-IN SAFETY • Every message, intro, display name, and piece of uploaded artwork passes through an AI safety filter before it's delivered or printed — abusive or inappropriate content never reaches you • Only someone who scans your specific physical Tag can notify you — there's no directory, no browsing, no matching with strangers • A scan is a heads-up, not an open line — you decide whether a conversation is worth having • Block or report any conversation with a tap — or pause or delete the entire Tag • Set the safety filter and reply rules per Tag — you're in control of every Tag you create DESIGN IT, ORDER IT, DONE Every Tag starts as a QR code you can download and print for free. Want something sturdier? Design real merchandise around it right in the app — stickers, magnets, pins, and luggage tags — previewed exactly as they'll print. Check out securely with Apple Pay or card, and it ships straight to your door. Your first Tag is free. Need more? Grab a pack. Every thing has a person behind it. Message them.

Screenshots

ntfy2 screens
TextTags4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ntfy at none against TextTags's 4. ntfy also leads on ratings volume (469 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). TextTags's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, 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. TextTags sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. ntfy asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TextTags holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ntfy has 469 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
ntfy versus TextTags: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterntfyTextTags
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (469 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews78.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings469 — better1
Update frequencyFortnightly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB18 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperPhilipp HeckelDaedalus onWing

Customer experience

ntfy

All ratings469 ratings
Positive93.6%
Neutral1.7%
Negative4.7%
Written reviews175 reviews
Positive78.9%
Neutral5.7%
Negative15.4%

TextTags

All ratings1 ratings
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

TextTags

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

ntfy

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

TextTags

One-time4
  • 3 TextTags$5.99
  • 5 TextTags$8.99
  • 10 TextTags$14.99
Show 1 more
  • 20 TextTags$24.99

Questions

Is ntfy free?
ntfy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is TextTags free?
TextTags is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ntfy or TextTags?
TextTags is rated higher. ntfy averages 4.8 out of 5 from 469 ratings, while TextTags averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do ntfy or TextTags have ads?
Neither ntfy nor TextTags shows ads.

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