Until this release, sending a push notification from WordPress with NotifReach meant clearing a hurdle many users never got past: create a Google Cloud project, enable Firebase Cloud Messaging, generate a service account, and copy a handful of credentials into the settings. Free in theory. Off-putting in practice.
NotifReach 1.3.0 removes that step. The managed notification service, previously a Pro-only feature, is now available in the free version with a licence you get in one click.
Two methods, your choice
The Connection tab now offers two authentication methods, and the first one is selected by default:
- The managed notification service — we take care of the sending infrastructure. There is nothing for you to configure.
- Your own Google Cloud and Firebase credentials — you stay in control end to end, exactly as before.
The second option has not changed in the slightest. If you have already connected your own Firebase project, this update leaves your installation alone: your configuration is preserved as-is, and the plugin never contacts our service.
Getting your free licence
One email address, one button. That is the whole journey.
Note the sentence under the email field. It spells out exactly what will be sent, to which server, and when: nothing leaves your site until you click. We would rather state that plainly in the interface than bury it in a privacy policy.
After the click, the key is issued, stored, and the site is connected:
No Google account to create, no Cloud project, no service account, no JSON file to upload. The monthly send counter stays visible under the status.
What the free licence covers
- 5,000 notifications sent per calendar month, reset on the 1st of each month.
- One site. The licence is tied to the site that requested it.
- No expiry date. The licence does not lapse.
- Unlimited subscribers. Only the sending volume is capped, never the size of your audience.
Let us be straightforward about that cap, because a number stated plainly beats an unpleasant surprise: if you reach 5,000 sends, sending stops with a clear message. Your site is not blocked, your subscribers are not lost, and everything resumes at the start of the next month.
For a sense of scale: with 500 subscribers, that is ten campaigns in a month. The vast majority of editorial and brochure sites will never come close to the ceiling.
What stays in NotifReach Pro
Moving the managed service into the free version does not hollow out Pro. Pro adds:
- No monthly sending cap.
- The premium template catalog, to compose polished notifications without starting from a blank page.
- Push Schedule, scheduled sending through a distributed CRON.
- Multi-site licences, for agencies and networks.
Changing your mind later
The choice is not final. You can switch from the managed service to your own credentials, or back again, whenever you like. Your subscribers are migrated automatically on their next visit: they do nothing, and you do not start over.
Updating
NotifReach 1.3.0 is available from the official WordPress.org repository. Once updated, head to NotifReach → Settings → Connection.
Running a small business and mainly wondering what push notifications can actually earn you? Our French-language sister blog covers the business angle in this article on Fais Mon Site Pro.