The Best Free Push Notifications Plugin for WordPress, 100% open source, 100% FREE

Hey there, fellow WordPress developer! If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve been on the same frustrating journey I was just a few months ago. You know the drill – you install OneSignal, get excited about push notifications, start growing your subscriber base, and then BAM! You hit those dreaded pricing tiers that make your wallet cry.

Trust me, I’ve been there. I tested OneSignal, LaraPush, PushEngage, and several other “freemium” services, only to realize that once you start getting real traffic; Even one plugin used my website as a ad platform for their partner websites to integrate their push notification services, i won’t mention the name. these platforms become expensive fast. That’s when I discovered Perfecty Push Notifications – and honestly, it’s been a game-changer for my WordPress projects.

What Makes Perfecty Push notification plugin different?

Let me be straight with you – Perfecty Push isn’t trying to compete with the big players on features. Instead, it’s open source, meaning it’s stored on your own servers and you control it and it focuses on what actually matters: sending push notifications reliably, for free, forever.

Completely Free & Open Source

No hidden costs, no subscriber limits, no monthly fees. Ever. The source code is available on GitHub, so you know exactly what you’re getting.

Self-Hosted = You Own Your Data

Your subscriber data stays on YOUR server. No third-party dependencies, no privacy concerns, no GDPR headaches.

Zero API Keys Required

Remember setting up OneSignal with all those API keys and configurations? Forget all that complexity. Perfecty Push works right out of the box.

WordPress Native

Built specifically for WordPress, it integrates seamlessly with your existing setup. No external dashboards to manage.

Why I Made the Switch?

I’ve been switching to free/open source model of softwares, apps and tools for my persona uses. and i’m not fond of paying for the tool in the future incase traffic increases and i’m unable to export my existing database due to a proprietary tool. That’s where I searched for an open source tool, and found this ‘Perfecty Push notifications plugin’

As you can see, while other services offer more advanced features, they come with limitations and costs that add up quickly. For most WordPress sites, especially blogs and small businesses, Perfecty Push provides everything you need without the financial burden.

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Ready to get started? Here’s how I set up Perfecty Push on my WordPress sites:

Step 1: Install the Plugin

1. Go to your WordPress Dashboard
2. Navigate to Plugins → Add New
3. Search for “Perfecty Push Notifications”
4. Click Install Now and then Activate

That’s it! No API keys, no external account setup required.

Step 2: Configure Your First Notification

1. In your WordPress admin, you’ll see a new Perfecty Push menu
2. Click on Perfecty Push → Dashboard
3. Visit your website’s front page – you should see a notification permission popup
4. Allow notifications when prompted

Step 3: Send Your First Push Notification

1. Go to Perfecty Push → Send Notification
2. Fill in your title and message
3. Click Send Notification
4. Check your browser – you should receive the notification instantly!

Note: as of now this plugin doesn't support Push API on Apple devices

Step 4: Set Up Automatic Post Notifications

This is where the magic happens:

1. Go to Perfecty Push → Settings
2. Enable “Send notification on post publishing”
3. Customize your notification template
4. Save your changes

Now, every time you publish a new post, your subscribers will automatically get notified!

What You Get (And What You Don’t)

Let’s be honest about what Perfecty Push offers:

✅ What You Get:

• Unlimited subscribers (seriously!)
• Automatic post notifications
• Basic analytics dashboard
• Full data ownership
• GDPR compliance by design
• Migration tools from other services
• PWA and AMP compatibility

❌ What You Don’t Get:

• Advanced segmentation
• Detailed analytics like conversion tracking
• A/B testing capabilities
• Multi-platform support (just web browsers)
• Safari support (not yet supported) (No support for push api on apple devices)

Real Talk: Is Perfecty Push Right for You?

Here’s my honest assessment of who should use this plugin:

Perfect for:

• Bloggers who want to engage readers without ongoing costs
• Small business websites focused on customer retention
• WordPress developers building sites for budget-conscious clients
• Privacy-conscious users like me who want full data control
• Anyone tired of freemium limitations and surprise billing

Not ideal for:

• Large enterprises needing advanced analytics and segmentation
• Multi-platform businesses requiring mobile app notifications
• Heavy Safari users (since Safari isn’t supported yet)

Security and Privacy Benefits of Self-Hosting

One aspect I really appreciate about Perfecty Push is the security advantage. When you use third-party services, your notification data passes through external servers. With Perfecty Push notification plugin:

• All data stays on your WordPress server
• No external API calls for sending notifications
• Built-in encryption for message security
• Complete compliance with data protection regulations
• No risk of service discontinuation affecting your notifications

The Technical Advantages

From a developer’s perspective, here’s why I love working with Perfecty Push:

• Performance: The plugin can handle up to 10,000 notifications per minute on a basic 2GB, 1vCPU server. That’s impressive for a self-hosted solution.
• Integration: It includes a clean Perfecty_Push_Integration class that other plugins can use, making it perfect for custom WordPress development projects.
• Reliability: Since everything runs on your server, you’re not dependent on external service uptime or API limitations.

Final Thoughts

Look, I’m not saying Perfecty Push is perfect for everyone. If you need advanced features like detailed segmentation, A/B testing, or comprehensive analytics, you might need to stick with premium services.

But for the majority of WordPress sites – blogs, small businesses, portfolios websites like this, and local services – Perfecty Push offers everything you need without the ongoing costs or privacy concerns.

The best part? Since it’s open source, you’re not locked into any proprietary system. You can always switch to something else later if your needs change, but you won’t lose your subscriber data or face any vendor lock-in issues.

Why This Matters for WordPress Developers

As someone who builds websites for clients, I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to offer push notifications without adding another monthly expense to their budget. Most small business owners I work with are already paying for:

• WordPress hosting
• Premium themes/plugins
• Email marketing tools
• Analytics platforms

Adding another $12-50/month for push notifications often pushes them over budget. With Perfecty Push, I can offer the same core functionality at zero ongoing cost.

Ready to Try It?

If you’re curious about trying Perfecty Push, here’s what I recommend:

1. Install it on a test site first to see how it works
2. Compare the notification delivery with your current service
3. Check the analytics to see if they meet your needs
4. Consider the long-term cost savings

Remember, every rupee you save on tools is a rupee you can invest back into creating better content and growing your audience.

The plugin is actively maintained, well-documented, and has a growing community of users who appreciate having full control over their push notification system.

For WordPress developers, bloggers, and small business owners who want push notifications without the premium price tag, Perfecty Push is a no-brainer. It’s reliable, secure, and completely free – what more could you ask for?

Give it a try and let me know how it works for your projects in the comment form below. I have a feeling you’ll be as impressed as I was when I made the switch.