Shopwatchr
Setting up push notifications with ntfy
Shopwatchr can alert you on your phone the instant something's back in stock. Those phone alerts go through ntfy — a free, open-source notification app. There's no account to create: you subscribe to your own private topic, and only Shopwatchr can send to it.
What is ntfy, and why do we use it?
ntfy (pronounced "notify") is a simple, privacy-friendly way to send push notifications to your phone. It's free, there's no sign-up and no tracking, and it works on both iPhone and Android. Your Shopwatchr topic has a long, random name, so it's effectively a private channel just for your alerts — think of it like a secret address only you and the app know.
On iPhone or iPad
- Install ntfy from the App Store and open it once.
- In Shopwatchr, go to Notifications — you'll see your built-in push channel with a server and a topic name.
- In the ntfy app tap +, turn on Use another server, then copy in the server and topic shown in Shopwatchr (or tap the "open in Safari" link to view the topic).
- Tap Subscribe, and allow notifications when asked.
Tip: on iOS, open the ntfy app once after subscribing so it can register for notifications. Adding the topic page to your Home Screen also enables alerts in Safari.
On Android
- Install ntfy from Google Play or F-Droid and open it.
- In Shopwatchr, open Notifications and tap Subscribe in the ntfy app — or scan the QR code there with your phone's camera.
- Allow notifications when prompted. That's it.
Test that it works
Back in Shopwatchr, press Send test next to your push channel. A notification should arrive within a few seconds. If nothing comes through, check that the ntfy app has permission to send notifications on your phone, and that you subscribed to the exact topic Shopwatchr shows.
Keeping your topic private
Anyone who knows your topic name could read your alerts, so keep it to yourself. If it's ever shared by accident, Shopwatchr can move you to a brand-new private topic in one tap — just re-subscribe to the new one in the app.