Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)¶
Quick answers to common questions about Notifer.
Can't find your question?
Check our Troubleshooting Guide or contact support at support@notifer.io.
General¶
What is Notifer?¶
Notifer is a simple HTTP-based notification service. Send push notifications to your devices via HTTP requests - no SDKs required. Perfect for: - Server monitoring alerts - CI/CD pipeline notifications - IoT device notifications - Personal reminders and automation
How is Notifer different from ntfy.sh?¶
Notifer is inspired by ntfy.sh but is a completely independent project with additional features: - ✅ User accounts and authentication - ✅ Private topics with access control - ✅ Native mobile apps (iOS & Android) - ✅ Topic access tokens for secure integrations - ✅ User API keys for multi-topic automation - ✅ Email forwarding and webhooks - ✅ Subscription tiers with different limits
Is Notifer free?¶
Yes! Notifer offers a generous free tier: - 1,000 messages per month - 5 topics maximum - 7-day message retention - Basic email support
Paid plans (Pro, Business) offer higher limits and additional features. See Pricing.
Is Notifer open source?¶
Not currently. Notifer is a commercial hosted service. We may consider open-sourcing components in the future.
Can I self-host Notifer?¶
No, Notifer is designed as a hosted service only. We don't support self-hosting to ensure consistent user experience, security, and feature updates.
Accounts¶
Do I need an account to use Notifer?¶
Yes, authentication is required to publish messages and create topics. This ensures: - Accountability and spam prevention - Topic ownership and management - Message history tracking - Better security and compliance
You can subscribe to public topics without an account, but publishing requires authentication.
How do I create an account?¶
- Visit app.notifer.io/register
- Enter email and password, or sign up with Google
- Verify your email
- Start using Notifer
See Account Setup Guide for details.
Can I change my email address?¶
Yes: 1. Go to Settings → Profile 2. Click "Change email" 3. Enter new email address 4. Verify via confirmation link sent to new email
How do I delete my account?¶
- Go to Settings → Account
- Scroll to "Danger Zone"
- Click "Delete Account"
- Confirm by entering password and typing "DELETE"
Permanent Action
Account deletion is permanent. All your topics, messages, and settings will be lost.
What happens to my topics if I delete my account?¶
- Topics you own: Permanently deleted
- Topics you're subscribed to: Your subscription is removed, topics remain active
Topics¶
What's the difference between public and private topics?¶
| Feature | Public Topics | Private Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication to publish | Not required ⚠️ | Required (JWT/API key/token) |
| Who can publish | Anyone who knows the topic name | Owner + token holders only |
| Who can subscribe | Anyone | Owner + token holders only |
| Access control | ❌ None (IP rate limiting only) | ✅ Full control via tokens |
| Discoverable | Yes (optional, in Browse Topics) | No (hidden) |
| Best for | Open communities, non-sensitive data | Production systems, sensitive data |
| Security | ⚠️ Use unpredictable names | 🔒 Full access control |
PUBLIC Topic Security Warning
Anyone who knows a PUBLIC topic name can publish to it - no authentication required. This means:
- No way to block specific users or IPs
- Only basic IP rate limiting (100 req/min per IP)
- Anyone can spam if they discover the name
For production or sensitive systems, always use PRIVATE topics (requires ESSENTIALS plan).
See Creating Topics Guide for detailed security recommendations.
How do I create a topic?¶
Via web dashboard: 1. Go to app.notifer.io (no account needed for public topics) 2. Click "+ New Topic" or "Create Topic" 3. Enter topic name and choose visibility (Public/Private) 4. Click "Create"
Via API (requires authentication):
curl -X POST https://app.notifer.io/api/topics \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_JWT_TOKEN" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"name": "my-topic-name",
"access_level": "public",
"is_discoverable": true
}'
Important: Topics must be created explicitly before publishing messages. Publishing to non-existent topics will fail with a 404 error.
Are topic names unique globally?¶
Yes, topic names are globally unique across all users. If a name is taken, try:
- Adding a prefix: myapp-alerts
- Adding your username: john-reminders
- Using more specific names: server-prod-alerts
Can I rename a topic?¶
No, topic names cannot be changed after creation. You can: - Change the display name (shown in UI) - Delete and recreate with new name (lose message history)
How long are messages stored?¶
| Plan | Default Retention | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 7 days | 7 days |
| Pro | 30 days | 90 days |
| Business | 90 days | 365 days |
Messages are automatically deleted after the retention period.
Can I export my messages?¶
Yes: 1. Open topic 2. Click More (•••) → Export Messages 3. Select format (JSON or CSV) 4. Choose date range 5. Download file
Publishing¶
How do I send a notification?¶
Simple publish (requires authentication):
curl -d "Hello from Notifer" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_JWT_TOKEN" \
https://app.notifer.io/my-topic
With title and priority:
curl -d "Server is down!" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_JWT_TOKEN" \
-H "X-Title: Critical Alert" \
-H "X-Priority: 5" \
https://app.notifer.io/alerts
See HTTP Publishing Guide for more examples.
What are the message size limits?¶
| Plan | Max Message Size |
|---|---|
| Free | 4 KB |
| Pro | 16 KB |
| Business | 64 KB |
What are the rate limits?¶
| Plan | Messages/Hour | Messages/Month |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 60 | 1,000 |
| Pro | 600 | 50,000 |
| Business | 6,000 | Unlimited |
Burst limit is 2x hourly rate for short spikes.
How do I publish to a private topic?¶
Publishing requires authentication. For private topics, you also need appropriate access:
Option 1: JWT Token (if you're the owner)
curl -d "Private message" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_JWT_TOKEN" \
https://app.notifer.io/private-topic
Option 2: Topic Access Token (recommended for integrations)
curl -d "Private message" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_JWT_TOKEN" \
-H "X-Topic-Token: tk_your_token_here" \
https://app.notifer.io/private-topic
Option 3: User API Key (for multi-topic automation)
curl -d "Private message" \
-H "X-API-Key: noti_your_key_here" \
https://app.notifer.io/private-topic
See Topic Access Tokens Guide.
Can I schedule messages for later?¶
Not currently. Scheduled messages are planned for v1.2. You can: - Use cron jobs to publish at specific times - Use CI/CD scheduled pipelines - Use external scheduling services
Authentication¶
What's the difference between API keys and topic access tokens?¶
| Feature | User API Key (noti_...) |
Topic Access Token (tk_...) |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | All your topics | Single topic only |
| Header | X-API-Key |
X-Topic-Token |
| Best for | Multi-topic automation | Topic-specific integrations |
| Sharing | ❌ Risky (full access) | ✅ Safe (limited scope) |
Rule of thumb: - Use topic access tokens for external integrations (CI/CD, monitoring) - Use API keys for your own scripts that need multi-topic access
See API Keys Guide and Topic Access Tokens Guide.
How do I create an API key?¶
- Go to Settings → API Keys
- Click "Create API Key"
- Enter name and select scopes
- Copy the key (shown only once!)
How do I create a topic access token?¶
- Open topic settings (gear icon)
- Go to Access Tokens tab
- Click "Create Token"
- Enter name and permissions
- Copy the token (shown only once!)
What if I lose my API key or token?¶
API keys and tokens are shown only once during creation. If lost: 1. Revoke the lost key/token 2. Create a new one 3. Update your integrations with new key/token
There is no way to retrieve lost keys.
Notifications¶
How do I enable desktop notifications?¶
- Subscribe to a topic
- Browser prompts for notification permission
- Click "Allow"
- You'll receive notifications when new messages arrive
See Notifications Guide for details.
Why am I not receiving mobile push notifications?¶
Common causes: 1. Permission not granted - Check app settings 2. Battery optimization (Android) - Disable for Notifer 3. Priority threshold - Lower to 1 to receive all messages 4. Tag filters - Remove filters temporarily to test
See Mobile App Troubleshooting.
Can I customize notification sounds?¶
Web: Limited - Uses browser/system default sound
Mobile: Yes - Configure per topic: 1. Open topic in app 2. Tap notification settings 3. Select custom sound
Email: No sound (email notifications)
How do I stop notifications without unsubscribing?¶
Temporary disable: 1. Settings → Notifications 2. Toggle off "Enable notifications" 3. Or set priority threshold to 5 (only critical)
Quiet hours: 1. Settings → Notifications → Quiet Hours 2. Set time range (e.g., 22:00 - 08:00) 3. No notifications during this time
Mobile App¶
Is there a mobile app?¶
Yes! Native apps for iOS and Android: - iOS: App Store (search "Notifer") - Coming soon - Android: Google Play (search "Notifer") - Coming soon
Currently in beta testing. See Mobile App Guide.
Do I need the mobile app?¶
Not required, but recommended for: - Native push notifications (more reliable than web) - Offline message access - Better battery efficiency - Deep linking (tap notification → open topic)
You can use Notifer fully from web browser without the app.
Can I use the same account on web and mobile?¶
Yes! Sign in with the same account on all devices. Subscriptions and settings sync automatically.
Pricing & Billing¶
What's included in the free plan?¶
- 1,000 messages per month
- 5 topics maximum
- 7-day message retention
- Desktop & mobile notifications
- Email support (community)
- All core features
When should I upgrade to Pro?¶
Upgrade when you need: - More than 1,000 messages/month - More than 5 topics - Longer message retention (30-90 days) - Email forwarding - Priority support
See Pricing for comparison.
Can I upgrade/downgrade anytime?¶
Yes: - Upgrade: Immediate effect, charged pro-rated - Downgrade: Takes effect at end of billing period
What payment methods do you accept?¶
- Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex)
- Debit cards
- Payment processed securely via Stripe
Can I get a refund?¶
- Pro plan: 30-day money-back guarantee
- Business plan: Contact sales for terms
- Refunds processed within 5-7 business days
Security & Privacy¶
Is my data secure?¶
Yes: - All connections over HTTPS (TLS 1.3) - Passwords hashed with bcrypt - API keys and tokens encrypted at rest - Regular security audits - GDPR compliant
Who can see my messages?¶
- Public topics: Anyone can subscribe and see messages
- Private topics: Only you (topic owner)
- Notifer staff: Only for debugging with your explicit permission
Do you sell my data?¶
No. We never sell user data. See Privacy Policy.
Where are servers located?¶
- Primary: Europe (France - OVH)
- Backups: Europe (GDPR-compliant locations)
- Data stays in EU for GDPR compliance
How do I report a security issue?¶
Email security@notifer.io with: - Description of vulnerability - Steps to reproduce - Your contact information
We take security seriously and will respond within 24 hours.
Integrations¶
Can I integrate Notifer with my CI/CD pipeline?¶
Yes! Notifer works great with: - GitHub Actions - Notify on builds, deployments - GitLab CI - Pipeline status notifications - Jenkins - Build notifications - Circle CI - Test results
See Integrations for examples.
Does Notifer have webhooks?¶
Yes! Configure webhooks in Topic Settings → Notifications. Notifer will POST to your URL when messages arrive.
See Webhooks Guide.
Can I forward messages to email?¶
Yes: 1. Topic Settings → Notifications 2. Enable "Email Forwarding" 3. Enter email address(es) 4. Configure filters (optional)
Limits: - Free: 10 emails/day - Pro: 100 emails/day - Business: 1,000 emails/day
Is there an API?¶
Yes! Notifer is API-first. Publishing is via simple HTTP (requires authentication):
Full REST API for topic management, message history, etc. See API Documentation.
Getting Help¶
How do I get support?¶
Free plan: - Community forum: community.notifer.io - Documentation: docs.notifer.io - Email: support@notifer.io (best effort)
Pro plan: - Email support (24-48 hour response) - Priority in forum
Business plan: - Priority email support (4-8 hour response) - Optional: Dedicated Slack channel
Where can I request features?¶
- GitHub Discussions: github.com/notifer/discussions
- Community forum: community.notifer.io/feature-requests
- Email: feature-requests@notifer.io
We actively review and consider all feature requests.
How can I report a bug?¶
- GitHub Issues: github.com/notifer/issues
- Email: support@notifer.io
- Include: Steps to reproduce, expected vs actual behavior, screenshots
Is there a status page?¶
Yes: status.notifer.io
Shows: - Current system status - Uptime statistics - Ongoing incidents - Planned maintenance
Next Steps¶
- Account Setup - Create your account
- Creating Topics - Start organizing notifications
- Publishing Messages - Send your first notification
- Troubleshooting - Solve common issues