Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Gotify VS OpenVPN

Compare Gotify VS OpenVPN and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Gotify logo Gotify

a simple self-hosted server for sending and receiving messages

OpenVPN logo OpenVPN

OpenVPN - The Open Source VPN
  • Gotify Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-13
  • OpenVPN Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-19

Gotify features and specs

  • Open Source
    Gotify is open-source software, meaning its source code is publicly available. This allows users to inspect, modify, and distribute the software freely.
  • Self-Hosting Capable
    Users can self-host Gotify on their own servers, giving them full control over their data and message delivery.
  • Real-Time Notifications
    Gotify provides real-time notifications, ensuring that messages are delivered promptly.
  • Web UI and API
    Includes a web-based user interface for ease of management and a comprehensive API for integration with other systems.
  • Customizable
    Gotify supports message customization, including priority levels and message formatting, enabling users to tailor notifications to their needs.
  • Lightweight
    Gotify is designed to be lightweight, with minimal resource usage, making it suitable for a wide range of hosting environments.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Gotify offers clients for multiple platforms, including mobile apps for both iOS and Android.

Possible disadvantages of Gotify

  • Requires Server Knowledge
    Setting up and maintaining a self-hosted instance of Gotify requires a certain level of technical knowledge and server management skills.
  • Maintenance Overhead
    Self-hosting Gotify means that users are responsible for keeping the software up-to-date and secure, potentially requiring ongoing attention.
  • Limited Ecosystem
    Compared to more established notification systems, Gotify has a smaller ecosystem in terms of plugins, integrations, and community support.
  • Message Delivery
    Since Gotify relies on self-hosting, the reliability of message delivery is dependent on the stability and performance of the user's server infrastructure.
  • Scalability Concerns
    Running Gotify on a small server might not scale well for high volumes of notifications, potentially requiring more complex infrastructure for larger use cases.

OpenVPN features and specs

  • Security
    OpenVPN uses robust encryption standards like AES-256, providing a high level of security for data transmission.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source, OpenVPN allows users to verify its code for vulnerabilities, ensuring transparency and reliability.
  • Flexibility
    OpenVPN can run on various platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android, offering extensive compatibility.
  • Customizability
    Users can configure OpenVPN according to their specific needs, allowing advanced network setups and policies.
  • Performance
    OpenVPN offers strong performance with efficient handling of large data transmissions and support for high and stable speeds.
  • Community Support
    A large and active community provides ample resources, including tutorials, forums, and user support.
  • Cost
    As a free and open-source solution, OpenVPN significantly reduces the cost compared to many commercial VPN offerings.

Possible disadvantages of OpenVPN

  • Complex Setup
    Setting up OpenVPN can be complex and may require technical expertise, particularly for advanced configurations.
  • Resource Intensive
    OpenVPN can be resource-intensive compared to some other VPN protocols, potentially impacting the performance of older or lower-spec hardware.
  • Client Software
    The official OpenVPN client software has a less user-friendly interface compared to some commercial VPNs, possibly deterring less tech-savvy users.
  • Mobile Experience
    Although OpenVPN supports mobile devices, the user experience on mobile can be less streamlined compared to desktop environments.
  • Initial Learning Curve
    New users may find the initial learning curve steep due to the multitude of configuration options and the need for understanding networking concepts.
  • Support
    While community support is strong, there may not be as much immediate or personalized support as found with some commercial VPN services.

Analysis of Gotify

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Gotify is considered a solid choice for individuals or organizations looking for a simple, self-hosted push notification system without the complexities and costs of third-party services. Its focus on privacy, control, and ease of use make it especially attractive to tech-savvy users or those with specific requirements for data hosting.

Why this product is good

  • Gotify is often praised for its simplicity and open-source nature, making it appealing for users who need straightforward server-side push notification solutions. It supports self-hosting, which allows for greater control over data privacy and server customization. Additionally, Gotify is known for its ease of integration, thanks to its REST API, and the flexibility it offers in terms of notification management and customization.

Recommended for

  • Developers and tech enthusiasts seeking a self-hosted push notification solution.
  • Organizations that prioritize data privacy and need greater control over their notification infrastructure.
  • Users looking for an uncomplicated and easily customizable push notification service.

Analysis of OpenVPN

Overall verdict

  • OpenVPN is generally regarded as a good option for both personal and enterprise-level VPN needs. Its strong encryption, adaptability, and community support make it a preferred choice for those who need secure and reliable virtual private network services.

Why this product is good

  • OpenVPN is considered a reliable and secure VPN solution due to its strong encryption standards, open-source nature, and flexibility. It supports a variety of operating systems and devices, and can be configured to meet different security requirements. Its open-source nature allows the community to inspect, modify, and enhance the code, ensuring transparency and continuous improvement. Additionally, it offers robust support for different authentication methods and network configurations.

Recommended for

  • Individuals seeking enhanced online privacy and security.
  • Businesses looking for a scalable and secure VPN solution.
  • IT professionals who require customizable and flexible VPN configurations.
  • Users who prefer open-source software with an active development community.

Gotify videos

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OpenVPN videos

OpenVPN Overview

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to setup OpenVPN on Windows | macOS | Android | iOS - Smart DNS Proxy

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Gotify and OpenVPN)
Push Notifications
100 100%
0% 0
VPN
0 0%
100% 100
Web Push Notifications
100 100%
0% 0
Security & Privacy
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Gotify and OpenVPN

Gotify Reviews

Self Hosting Like Its 2025
Gotify is a notification management software. You can install the app on your phone and receive notifications, which can be triggered by a simple web request. There are also integrations with lots of other self-hosted software like Uptime Kuma. Really handy.
Source: kiranet.org
35 Best Free Push Notification Services and Tools (+ Open Source Push Notification Services to Consider)
Gotify is an open-source notification solution written in the Go programming language. The service can be self-hosted without incurring any charges for notifications, and it also has API-support, making development easier. Detailed documentation for the application is available at the Gotify website.

OpenVPN Reviews

The top 10 alternatives to OpenVPN
OpenVPN is an open-source software application that provides virtual private network (VPN) services. It allows the creation of secure network connections over the internet, using a custom security protocol that utilizes SSL/TLS for key exchange. OpenVPN is capable of traversing network address translators (NATs) and firewalls, providing users with the ability to securely...
Best Top 20 OpenVPN Alternatives (Pros and Cons)
OpenVPN is a virtual private network system used to create trusted end-to-end connection configuration and remote access services. As with any other VPN service, OpenVPN also has its own drawbacks. For instance, its inability to bypass particular proxy servers and complexities in user journeys lead to less user-friendliness. Therefore, we will be discussing a few...
6 Types of VPN Protocols, Compared: Which is the Best to Use?
In most cases, OpenVPN or WireGuard will be your best bet. PPTP is a protocol we donโ€™t recommend using because of its relatively low-level encryption. However, you could try this protocol when privacy and security are not your highest priorities, such as for unblocking streams. If OpenVPN is not supported or does not work well for whatever reason, you could consider using...
Source: vpnoverview.com
OpenVPN vs WireGuard: Which protocol is best?
OpenVPN was first released in May 2001. Although the PPTP protocol had been around for five years already at this point, OpenVPN became popular because it offered stronger encryption without too much of a drop in speed. Over the years, vulnerabilities were patched and new clients were developed that brought OpenVPN support to a greater range of devices. This previously...
9 Best NordVPN Alternatives You Must Use In 2022
The next alternative to NordVPN on our list is OpenVPN. OpenVPN allows you to establish a point-to-point secure connection between your device and the Internet. It is a flexible VPN solution that can cater to business needs as well.
Source: wethegeek.com

Social recommendations and mentions

OpenVPN might be a bit more popular than Gotify. We know about 40 links to it since March 2021 and only 39 links to Gotify. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Gotify mentions (39)

  • Ntfy โ€“ open-source Push to Mobile
    I've been using Gotify [1] for a very long time and have been quite happy with it. Basically no impact on battery life. For devs - there are mature libraries like shoutrr [2] and apprise [3] that let you support multiple notification systems with no extra work. 1. https://gotify.net/. - Source: Hacker News / 12 days ago
  • Ntfy.sh โ€“ Send push notifications to your phone via PUT/POST
    I do use gotify [1] which seems to be pretty much the same, and does the job quite well. Not sure how they compare, does ntfy goes through Google / Apple network or it's directly connected to your server instance? [1] https://gotify.net/. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Pushover
    Gotify is a self-hosted notification server with a clean web UI for managing applications and messages. Each application gets its own token, and messages arrive via WebSocket โ€” no polling, no push service dependency. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • The EU could be scanning your chats by October 2025
    I was reflecting on the whole chat apps and protocols the other day and felt we might just have trapped ourselves artificially. If I want to casually keep in touch with a friend, I am supposed to have the following options: - SMS/RCS: no need for an app but is controlled - WhatsApp: no good to many reasons - Signal: how can you believe it is not controlled once it becomes the mandatory app in the US Gov. - Matrix:... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • How to start a background service in Flutter that runs forever and listens on a WebSocket?
    You can self-host a notification service using https://gotify.net/ for example, but you may need to ask the user to disable battery usage restrictions if you don't want the OS to kill the background process. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

OpenVPN mentions (40)

  • Ask HN: Who is hiring? (October 2023)
    OpenVPN is hiring! https://openvpn.net/ C++ Developer in the United States. Full-time| Fully remote| Flexible work schedules Link to look at vacancy details and apply:. - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • Are there any work arounds for the Netflix new "household" system?
    How you connect to your modem will depend on the device you are using, but for windows laptops as an example you download the OpenVPN program and input your modem details there, much like you would any other vpn service. I think there would be some guides on youtube. https://openvpn.net/. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Can i use PFSense to control incoming user connections (without a vpn?)
    I just started playing with CloudConnexa for remotely managing my second pFSense. Really nice and is free for up to 3 concurrent users. https://openvpn.net. Can also self-host OpenVPN access server with a free 2 concurrent license. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Is the 7spotlight Markle family interview airing now? Is anyone watching and can provide comment? ๐Ÿ‘€๐Ÿ“บ
    If anyone is being blocked check out free OpenVPN. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Is it possible for a sysadmin to block only some packets from a VPN connection ?
    I too haven't used the client-nat directive in some years (I currently implement 1:1 NAT with pfsense to access my network because I'm too lazy to change the networks subnet from the default) so I decided to retest and it does appear that OpenVPN Connect clients do not properly support the client-nat directive but the traditional OpenVPN server/clients still do. I've just tested this on OpenVPN 2.6.3 Server,... Source: over 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Gotify and OpenVPN, you can also consider the following products

Pushover - Real-time notifications on your Android, iPhone, iPad, and Desktop

Hotspot Shield - Hotspot Shield is a software application developed by AnchorFree, Inc.

Ntfy - Send notifications to your phone via HTTP

ProtonVPN - ProtonVPN is a security focused FREE VPN service, developed by CERN and MIT scientists. Use the web anonymously, unblock websites & encrypt your connection.

Pushbullet - Pushbullet - Your devices working better together

TunnelBear - Really simple VPN to browse the web privately & anonymously.