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Automation

Self-host ntfy on a VPS

Simple pub-sub push notifications over HTTP.

Publish notifications with a curl command and receive them on phones, desktops and scripts.

Why self-host ntfy?

ntfy is the simplest way to get alerts from your systems onto your devices, self-hosted.

How to install ntfy

  1. 1

    Provision a VPS

    Choose a plan with room for your data as well as the app.

  2. 2

    Install the stack

    Install Single Go binary.

  3. 3

    Deploy the application

    Follow the project’s official install guide for your distribution.

  4. 4

    Enable HTTPS

    Serve it on your own domain behind a reverse proxy with a certificate.

  5. 5

    Back it up

    Schedule a database dump plus a copy of any uploaded files to an off-box location.

Practical tips

  • Give ntfy its own database user with rights only on its own schema.
  • Reverse-proxy ntfy and terminate TLS at the proxy so certificates are managed in one place.
  • Take a VPS snapshot before major upgrades so you can roll back cleanly.
  • Keep ntfy patched — most self-hosting incidents are unpatched software.

Frequently asked questions

How much RAM does ntfy need?
Plan on 256 MB–512 MB for typical use; add headroom if you expect many concurrent users.
What stack does ntfy run on?
Single Go binary.
Can I run other things on the same VPS?
Yes — size the plan so ntfy plus your other workloads fit in RAM with room to spare.

Looking for something else? Popular alternatives include Gotify, Apprise, Pushover (hosted) — browse all app guides.