Android notification apps for Mac: which one fits what you need to see

We cannot name a best app for Android notifications on a Mac, because we have not tested them side by side and what counts as good depends on whether you want everything or just your texts. KDE Connect is the free option that lists notifications, with a catch on newer Android. Pushbullet and AirDroid do it through an account. Google Messages for web covers texts only. The Relay shows the phone's notifications as Mac notifications, in a paid app. Each option below has a "choose it if" line, and there is a short test for the two things that go wrong most.

Publisher note: The Relay publishes this guide and is one of the products discussed. Details about other products come from each maker's own pages, checked on 26 October 2026. Prices and features change, so confirm before you buy.

What does an iPhone owner get, and what is the Android equivalent?

Apple's iPhone Mirroring page says that once iPhone Mirroring has connected a Mac to an iPhone, the Mac "automatically receives notifications and Live Activities from your iPhone". It requires macOS Sequoia 15 or later, the same Apple Account on both devices, and it is not available in the European Union. None of that applies to Android. Android notifications reach a Mac only through an app you install on both sides, and that app needs permission on the phone to read notifications.

What gets in the way on newer Android?

Two things, and both decide which app will feel reliable.

First, notification access. An app has to be granted it in the phone's settings before it can see anything. Our guide what is notification access on Android explains the screen.

Second, one-time codes. Google's Android 15 behaviour changes say Android "will stop untrusted apps that implement a NotificationListenerService from reading unredacted content from notifications where an OTP has been detected." KDE's wiki matches this: on Android 15 and later, KDE Connect may show "Sensitive notification content hidden" instead of the text, and the wiki describes granting a RECEIVE_SENSITIVE_NOTIFICATIONS permission through ADB as the recommended fix, adding that it may not work on every manufacturer's devices. If login codes matter to you, check how each option handles them on your phone's Android version. The Relay's own feature is described below as it is.

Which option should I choose?

When is KDE Connect the right choice?

Choose it if you want free and will tolerate setup. The wiki's Receive Notifications plugin text reads: "Show your phone notifications on your computer and keep them in sync." It adds that some notifications from instant messengers "can be replied on the fly through the computer notification itself". The download page lists a stable macOS release, and the README says platforms other than Linux are not officially supported. Treat it as something to try on your Mac for a week. See KDE Connect on a Mac.

When do Pushbullet or AirDroid make sense?

Choose Pushbullet if you already use it. Its API documentation describes notifications "mirrored from an Android device" and says the apps use ephemeral messages for notification mirroring. It works through a Pushbullet account, and the docs say free accounts are limited to 500 pushes per month. That limit is for pushes, and the page does not say whether mirrored notifications count, so check before assuming. We could not confirm a current Mac app from its pages. See Pushbullet alternatives for Mac.

Choose AirDroid Personal if you also want its remote tools. Its product page lists "Notifications Management" and SMS management alongside file transfer, remote control, and screen mirroring, with "Local & remote network access". That reach is the reason to pick it: it can work when the phone is not on your network. The cost is an account and a plan with limits; see AirDroid free vs premium.

What about Google Messages for web?

Choose it if the notifications you care about are texts. Google's help page says the browser tab icon shows a red notification and the number of unread messages, and that you can send and receive from the computer. It pairs through your Google Account, works in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge, and needs Android 5.0 or higher on the phone. It does not show other apps' notifications. More in Android messages on a Mac.

Where does The Relay fit?

The Relay shows the phone's notifications as Mac notifications, and an incoming call on the phone shows on the Mac, where you can accept or decline it. An SMS that arrives on the phone shows up on the Mac, and a login code in it is copied to the Mac's clipboard so you can paste it. That is all we claim; see the notifications page. Your notifications travel directly between your phone and your Mac over your local network and are not uploaded to The Relay's servers. See the privacy policy.

It is not the right tool if you need notifications while the phone is somewhere else, since it does not work across the internet. It does not send texts from the Mac, so keep Google Messages for web for replies. If you want free and a single job, KDE Connect or Google Messages for web may be enough. If you want notifications alongside clipboard, files, and calls on your own network, The Relay is one subscription through Google Play that covers your phone and your Mac, with a 7-day free trial at /download.

How do I test notification sync before committing?

1. Pair the app, then lock the phone and leave it for ten minutes.
2. Have someone message you in an app you use. Note how long you wait, by your own count, and whether the text is readable.
3. Send yourself a text with a fake code such as "Your code is 482915". Check whether the Mac shows the number or a hidden-content notice.
4. Dismiss the notification on the Mac and see whether it clears on the phone.
5. Put the Mac to sleep, wake it, and check the connection returned without re-pairing.

Questions people ask

Can I get Android notifications on a Mac without an account?

Yes, with The Relay, which has no account or sign-up, and KDE Connect, whose pages describe pairing devices on a network. Pushbullet and AirDroid are account-based, and Google Messages for web pairs through your Google Account.

Why do my Android notifications show hidden content on the Mac?

Android 15 hides content from notifications that contain a detected one-time code from ordinary notification-listener apps. KDE's wiki describes the effect and one workaround. Check the app's own page for what it does on your Android version.

Can I choose which apps reach the Mac?

Check the app's settings. We cover the idea in silencing Android notifications on a Mac. We do not claim per-app filtering for The Relay, so check the app's settings during the trial.

Do notifications work when the Mac is asleep?

We have not tested it for any option here. Run step 5 of the test on your own Mac.