This is the whole setup, in order, with the one step people skip and the five checks that tell you it’s working. Plan on ten minutes.
If you’re still deciding whether push is worth it for your site, read how web push notifications actually work first.
Before you start
You need WordPress 5.8 or newer, PHP 7.4 or newer, and HTTPS. Browsers refuse push on plain HTTP, so this won’t work without it. Your host also needs the OpenSSL extension, which almost all do.
Step 1: Install
Download easypush.zip from the EasyPush page. In WordPress go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin, choose the zip, install and activate.
Step 2: Save your permalinks (don’t skip this)
Go to Settings → Permalinks and press Save Changes. You don’t need to change anything.
EasyPush serves its service worker file through a rewrite rule, and WordPress only learns about new rules when permalinks are saved. If you skip this, the file isn’t found, the browser can’t register for push, and nobody ever subscribes. It’s the number one reason a new install seems to do nothing.
Step 3: Run Diagnostics
Open EasyPush → Diagnostics. There are seven checks. They should all be green. If “Service worker reachable” is red, repeat step 2. If you use a caching plugin, purge it now.
Step 4: Subscribe yourself
Open your site in a normal window and scroll about halfway down a post. A small opt-in box appears. Click Allow, then accept the browser’s own permission dialog.
Step 5: Send a test
Go to EasyPush → Send New, write a title and message, and press Send test to me. A notification pops up on your screen. That’s the whole chain working, from your site to the browser maker’s push service and back.
Make the opt-in prompt earn its keep
In EasyPush → Settings → Opt-in prompt:
- Keep the custom prompt switched on. If you ask with the browser’s own dialog straight away, most people hit Block, and a block is permanent.
- Pick when it appears: after scrolling, after a delay, on exit intent, on load, or when a certain button is clicked.
- Write the message yourself. “New tutorials, about twice a week” tells people what they’re agreeing to. “Get updates” doesn’t.
- Use Preview this prompt to see it without saving.
Give people a way out
This one is easy to forget. If someone can’t find an unsubscribe option, they’ll hit the browser’s Block button instead, and you can never reach them again. Add one of these to every page:
[[easypush_link]]in your footer or sidebar for a text link.[[easypush_button]]on a page for a button.- The Notification subscribe button block in the block editor.
Sending notifications
- Send New is for one-off notifications. Write for the corner of someone’s screen, not for Google. Send a test to yourself first.
- Settings → Auto push can notify subscribers whenever you publish a new post.
- Schedule lets you pick a time in your site’s timezone.
- Analytics shows click rate against notifications displayed, not just sent. That’s the honest number.
When your list grows
Past a few thousand subscribers, WordPress’s built-in scheduler can fall behind, because it only runs when someone visits your site. Add a real cron job and turn off WP-Cron. Settings → Delivery shows the exact line for your site.
If something’s not working
- The prompt doesn’t show. You may have already answered the browser’s question on that device, pressed “No thanks” earlier, or the site isn’t on HTTPS. Try a private window.
- A setting change has no effect. Purge your caching or optimisation plugin.
- Nothing arrives. Check Diagnostics, then confirm you appear under Subscribers. On an iPhone, push only works for sites added to the home screen.
- Your subscriber count drops after a send. Normal. When a push service says a device is gone, EasyPush removes it.
When to consider Pro
Free covers unlimited subscribers and sends. Pro adds segmenting by browser, device, country and more, welcome drip sequences, A/B testing, frequency caps and quiet hours, RSS auto-push, and WooCommerce features including abandoned-cart reminders and revenue attribution. It’s a yearly licence, not a per-subscriber fee. See the details.
Frequently asked questions
Is EasyPush really free?
Yes. The free plugin has unlimited subscribers and unlimited notifications. The Pro add-on is optional and adds revenue-focused features.
Do I need an account with Google, Firebase or OneSignal?
No. EasyPush creates its own keys and sends directly from your server. There’s no external service to sign up for.
Why does nobody subscribe after I install it?
Most often the permalinks weren’t re-saved, so the service worker file isn’t reachable. Go to Settings → Permalinks, press Save, then recheck Diagnostics.
Does it work on iPhones?
Only for sites that the visitor has added to their home screen. That’s Apple’s rule, and no plugin can change it.
Will it work on shared hosting?
Usually, yes, as long as you have HTTPS, PHP 7.4+ and OpenSSL. For lists beyond a few thousand, set up a real cron job.
Can I send automatically when I publish a post?
Yes. Turn on Auto push in the settings and choose the post types.
Does it send my subscriber data anywhere?
The free plugin makes no outbound requests of its own beyond delivering notifications to the browsers’ push services. Your list stays in your own WordPress database.