There are two ways to add push notifications to a website. A hosted service sends everything from its own servers. A self-hosted plugin sends from the server you already pay for. Neither is right for everyone, so here is an honest comparison.
How each one works
Hosted: your visitors subscribe through the provider, which stores the list and sends each message. You log in to the provider’s dashboard to write and send.
Self-hosted: a plugin on your own site stores subscribers in your own WordPress database, encrypts each notification and sends it straight to the browsers’ push services. You write and send from your WordPress dashboard. The only thing that reaches us is a license check.
Side by side
| What to compare | Self-hosted (WP Push Notify) | A typical hosted service |
|---|---|---|
| Where subscribers live | In your own WordPress database | On the provider’s servers |
| Who sends | Your own server | The provider’s servers |
| How the price works | One flat price: $9.99 a month or $90 a year | Often tiers that rise with your list size |
| Free plan | The whole plugin, each notification reaching up to 200 subscribers | Usually limited by list size or campaigns |
| Segments | Country, device, browser, sign-up date and subscribe page | Included on many plans |
| A/B tests and drip campaigns | Not included | Included on many plans |
| Support | Email, from a single developer | Often live chat |
Hosted prices and plans change often, so check current pricing before you decide. We do not name other products on purpose.
Self-hosted is a good fit if you
- Run a WordPress site or a WooCommerce shop.
- Want your subscriber list to stay on your own hosting.
- Prefer one predictable price over tiers.
- Send to everyone or to simple segments: new posts, new products, price drops and cart reminders.
Look at a hosted service if you need
- A/B tests or multi-step drip campaigns.
- Push for a native mobile app, or email and SMS in the same tool.
- Live chat support.
A note on hosting limits
Because the plugin sends from your server, it reads your hosting’s memory and time limits and chooses a sending speed to match, from 50 per batch on shared hosting up to 1,000 on a dedicated server. It slows itself down if your server starts to struggle, and it is built for lists up to 1,000,000 subscribers.
See the table on the main site for how we compare, or try the free version first. If you already have subscribers elsewhere, read how to move your subscribers.
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