Prowl: Easy Push Notifications Reviews

by Baconbitz

Not very often do you find an app that does what it says "easily". I think it's better for a developer to assume the person using it has no or some knowledge of computers but, not assume that the person knows everything. In theory this is a great app but, on the surface it's convaluted mess.
1. There should be a simple server you can download on your Mac/PC to get notifications sent to your iPhone and, not have to pay for a seperate app.
2. The whole API system is not simple. I know of APIs but, don't have the clearest grasp of what it actually is. So, forcing someone to enter API keys is not the best way to go about things.
3. If you want to use it with your browser that's another download.

by Scottjl

I like this app, and I’ve been using it for years. But I’d really like to see an update for it. I’d even be willing to pay an upgrade fee or, gasp, a yearly subscription if it received regular updates. Prowl works just fine but looks completely dated and doesn’t take advantage of newer screen sizes or any new iOS features. It’s too bad because it’s my favorite push notification service, but maybe it’s time for me to move on to one that doesn’t feel abandoned. ☹️

Two stars because it still works, but 3 off because of lack of development. Who knows if this has a future.

by Notification Time

I use this app to notify me about local air quality in realtime. It’s great!

Apple ought to allow custom sounds for third party app notification. Would be perfect to have arbitrary number of types and user custom sound based on message contents. This change would allow very versatile notifications like voice announcing data inside message etc.

Can select 5 different sounds from a preset list of 6. Defaults are solid, but would greatly benefit from even purchased ringtones being available.

by XavierBklyn

It’s simple and does what you need it to do. But Prowl seems to be abandoned over five years ago. I’m doubtful this app will be around much longer.

by Leo Of BORG

Update: still works, still relevant even on iOS 9.3. Has been in my iPhone's dock since forever, and migrated from old iPhone to new iPhone. Everything I said below in a review from years ago still applies.

***

I've been using this app since forever. It's indispensable for keeping track of two Macs — one across the room and another 250 miles away. You need Growl but that's easy to set up.
Never had any problems with downtime (that I can remember).

If you want to know what your machines are doing get Prowl!

by Bhima

Been using it for years. My doorbell sends a this app notification to me iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.

Push notifications can now include images. Please add support for that to this app! I’ve had to write my own app for that, so that my raspberry pi can show me who rang my doorbell.

by Ahwman

I've been using Prowl for years and it just plain works! The developer does a great job of communication. In the event there are any issues, they are quickly addressed. If you're looking for a reliable push notification service/app that's proven in the real world, look no further...

by Alan925

I always have my iPhone handy and I wanted to push notifications of critical server events to my phone. Using the this app API, my programs and scripts send notifications to my phone in real-time. Prowl is well worth it for any system administrator. Period.

by Rxvt°

Though Prowl hasn't seen an update in a while it works perfectly and easily. Getting push alerts from my Linux and macOS systems is easier here than other apps.

by Caleban

I need to send alerts via email to this app. This was very simple to set up and it works perfectly. I had been using another app for this use case but that app stopped working well so I searched and found this app. Thanks!

by Zorkguy

I’ve been using Prowl for a number of years with my Indigo home automation system. It’s almost indispensable. I’m glad it’s still being maintained.

by Sewish

Love Prowl! It does exactly what it says and probably one of the best use of push notification on Prowl Store for me. However, I’d wish they’d upgrade to the iPhone X screen and also maybe a slightly cleaner interface with new fonts etc

by EarlCecil

Works like a charm....
And anyone who says anything else is not reading the docs.
Very simple to implement and then your imagination is the limit. I am using it as a common route for communications from my home automation. Ties so many different types of servers together. Output my wife can actually use (the real test).
Thanks so much to the team that developed and now maintains Prowl.

by Velcrokitty

I was able to set it up so that I would receive monitoring alerts (nagios) via IOS notifications using this app. So far notifications have arrived as quickly (or better) than email->sms.

by TheDelayFish

Needed a simple way to send notifications to my phone from my Arduino. With this app, I had it working in less than 5 minutes. Well worth a few bucks!

by Westek

I use this to receive alerts from my home automation system(isy994i) and from a myriad of scripts running on servers I administer. I even have a couple of IoT projects that use it(Arduino, ESP8266). Easy to setup and use. (Dead. Simple. API.)

by Aoeu321

this app makes it dead easy to sent push notifications to myself from scripts. I've been using it for years and it's a great app and service.

by ZeeJae

I've been using this for a few years now. Works every time flawlessly. One feature I'd like to see is that high priority and emergency alerts make sound even if "do not disturb " mode is on, or quiet mode is on, or phone is muted.

by Sarpent

I use Prowl to redirect specific email selected by AppleMail rules to an email address provided by this app. This pushes the email to the this app app on my iPhone and notifies me by sound/vibration on my iPhone and AppleWatch. It was drop-dead simple to set up, and this app provides as many email addresses as you need.

I’m using this to replace similar functionality of Boxcar, which has disappeared from Prowl Store. Do note that this app is much more capable than what I’m using it for.

by Jay Goodman Tamboli

I use this app for all kinds of things: notification of new emails from important people, notifications of keywords in chat rooms, notifications of events on my computers, and more. It has a dead-simple API, So it's very easy to set up notifications with all kinds of custom scripts and monitors. I use it multiple times daily to send notifications to multiple devices. It's wonderful.

by Benhomie

I've been using this app for years. Very stable, easy to use. No brainer download if you want to receive any push notifications you want on your iPhone.