Pushbullet Pro and free version limitations
Pushbullet is a popular service for various operating systems and browsers that bridges the gap that exists between multiple devices that you use.
The service lets you send files or links between devices for instance, see your phone's notifications on your desktop or in your browser, or to send text messages.
Pushbullet was free up until now but if you visit the service's website right now, you may notice a new Pro entry in the main navigation bar.
Update: The blog post announcing the new Pro version is up as well now.
It highlights the new Pro version of Pushbullet, the price that you have to pay for it and the features that go along with it.
As far as price is concerned, Pushbullet Pro is available for $4.99 per month if you pay monthly, or $3.33 per month if you pay for a year in advance.
Pushbullet vs. Pushbullet Pro
| Feature | Pushbullet Free | Pushbullet Pro |
| Send links | yes | yes |
| Follow interesting channels | yes | yes |
| Optional end-to-end encryption | yes | yes |
| API access | yes | yes |
| Mirror phone notifications | yes | yes |
| Send files | up to 25MB | up to 1GB |
| File storage | 2GB | 100GB |
| Send messages | 100/month | unlimited |
| Mirrored notifications actions | no | yes |
| Universal copy and paste | no | yes |
| Priority support | no | yes |
Free and paid versions of Pushbullet share several features such as the ability to send links, mirror your phone's notifications or following "interesting things with channels".
While both support the sending of files as well, the size of individual files is limited to 25 Megabytes in the free version while you may send files up to 1 Gigabyte in the Pro version. The free version is also limited to 2 Gigabyte of storage space while Pro users get 100 Gigabyte instead.
Message sending, including SMS, Whatsapp and others, is limited to 100 per month in the free version and unlimited in the Pro version.
What else? Only Pro users may use universal copy and paste, a feature that has been available in the free version before, and mirrored notifications support which lets you to use quick actions such as archiving email messages.
Pro users get priority support on top of that.
Pushbullet alternatives
If you are looking to replace Pushbullet, you may want to check out the following alternatives first:
- Airdroid supports file transfers, sending and receiving of SMS, notification mirror and as a beta root requiring feature complete Android control and use of apps.
- MightyText may be an alternative when it comes to sending SMS messages
Verdict
The introduction of Pushbullet Pro impacts marks an important milestone. Free users may be impacted by the introduction negatively however as features are either removed completely from the free version or limited. It is likely that there will be user outcry about this.
Now you: are you using Pushbullet? What's your take on this?
Alternatives?
I have added two, Airdroid may be suitable for many users.
I have been very happy w/ AirDroid….
Tried this, finding AirMore works pretty good
http://airmore.com/
I was using it. I won’t now.
I liked the functionality of Pushbullet but the desktop app has always been extremely buggy and notification mirror has been wonky as well. Time to switch to Airdroid.
Same for me. You can use Chrome app, it’s less buggy.
Well, it was nice while it lasted… Guess i’m back to only texting on my fone. I’ve tried the two alternatives, but they never worked as I hoped.
I uninstalled their app after using their service since they launched.
They have lost their mind asking for $5 a month… no way an hell would I pay that, especially since they haven’t grown their feature set.
Blocking previously free features was the last straw.
Pushover maybe? not free but seems more solid and richer in terms of features – never tried though
if not: https://boxcar.io/client?
Interesting. I’ve liked pushbullet, but their proxy handling is non-existant, so if my laptop is at work on the corporate network, no-go at all, if my laptop is connected to my home network it works fine.
I could deal with that as a free app, but no chance of paying for it I’m afraid.