4WP Notifications
In-app notifications for logged-in users — bell block, inbox list, WooCommerce events, admin broadcasts, and a developer REST send API.
Use with caution
4WP Notifications works, but test it on a staging site before relying on it in 2026. Was last updated 4 months ago, and scores 49/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (<10 active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where 4WP Notifications stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| bell | #43 |
| gutenberg | >100 |
| inbox | >100 |
| Notifications | >100 |
| woocommerce | >100 |
About 4WP Notifications
From the official readme · v1.2.0Description
4WP Notifications delivers a unified in-app notification inbox for logged-in WordPress users: a header bell with unread badge, a full notifications page, optional WooCommerce order alerts, and tools for developers to fire notifications from custom code.
A plugin by 4wp.dev. 4WP is our project brand; the letters “WP” appear only as part of that brand name, not as a reference to WordPress. This plugin is not affiliated with, endorsed, or sponsored by WordPress.
Source code: github.com/4wpdev/4wp-notifications
Key features
- Notifications Bell block — dropdown with unread count; add inside a Navigation block (header menu)
- Notifications List block — full inbox page with mark read/unread and live polling
- Shortcodes —
[forwp_notifications_bell]and[forwp_notifications]for classic themes - Direct notifications — admins broadcast to roles and/or individual users
- WooCommerce — optional alerts for new orders and status changes
- Developer hooks —
forwp_notification_event/4wp_notification_eventfrom PHP - REST API — list, unread count, mark read/unread, and send notifications (authenticated)
Privacy
Notifications are stored in your WordPress database and shown only to the logged-in recipient. Read endpoints require an authenticated user session. Send endpoints require administrator capability (default: manage_options). No data is sent to 4wp.dev.
Development
Human-readable PHP source is in the public GitHub repository above. No npm build step — block editor scripts ship as plain JS in assets/blocks/.
Run tests: composer install && composer test && composer run lint
Blocks
This plugin provides 2 blocks.
- 4WP Notifications Bell (
forwp/notifications-bell) — bell icon and recent notifications dropdown (Navigation child block). - 4WP Notifications List (
forwp/notifications) — full notification list for a page.
Installation
- Upload the plugin to
/wp-content/plugins/4wp-notifications/or install from the Plugins screen. - Activate 4WP Notifications.
- Open 4WP Notifications → Display and choose the page for “View all notifications”.
- Add the Notifications List block to that page (or save Display settings to auto-insert it).
- Add the Notifications Bell block inside your header Navigation block.
- Optional: enable WooCommerce notification types under Notification types.
Frequently asked questions
Do visitors see notifications?
No. The bell and list render only for logged-in users.
Can I send a message to all customers?
Yes. Use Direct notifications, select the Customer role (or any role), and send.
Can developers send notifications from custom code?
Yes. Use the PHP hook forwp_notification_event or POST to /wp-json/forwp/v1/notifications (requires manage_options by default). See Documentation in the admin app.
Does WooCommerce require extra setup?
Install WooCommerce, then enable event types under Notification types.
Are shortcodes still supported?
Yes. Blocks are recommended for block themes; shortcodes remain for classic content and menus.
Changelog
Developer send API, PHP hooks, block editor fixes, and bell list sync improvements.
1.2.0
- REST API POST — send notifications to
user_idoruser_ids(default capability:manage_options). - Developer hooks:
forwp_notification_eventand legacy4wp_notification_event. - Block editor assets for Bell and List blocks (inserter visibility and previews).
- Auto-insert Notifications List block on the configured page.
- Bell dropdown list refreshes on poll and when opening the menu.
1.1.0
- Unified admin app (Display, Direct, Types, Documentation) aligned with 4WP Drive / Weather.
- Notifications Bell block (
forwp/notifications-bell) for headers and navigation. - Shared frontend renderers for blocks and shortcodes.
- Role-based recipient targeting for direct admin notifications.
- WooCommerce notification type toggles in settings.
1.0.4
- Tabbed settings shell and notification type cards.
1.0.0
- Initial release: shortcodes, list block, WooCommerce adapter, REST read API.
For developers
Is this your plugin? Show off the numbers.
Add a live badge to your site, docs or GitHub README. It updates on its own — no account needed.
FAQ
4WP Notifications: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 16, 2026
Is 4WP Notifications free?
Yes. 4WP Notifications is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is 4WP Notifications safe to use in 2026?
4WP Notifications works, but test it on a staging site before relying on it in 2026. Was last updated 4 months ago, and scores 49/100 on our health check.
How many websites use 4WP Notifications?
4WP Notifications is active on <10 WordPress websites and has been downloaded 319 times since it launched in June 2026. It was downloaded 63 times in the last 30 days.
Does 4WP Notifications work with WordPress 7.1?
4WP Notifications is officially tested up to WordPress 7.0.7, while the latest release is 7.1.3. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
What PHP version does 4WP Notifications need?
4WP Notifications requires PHP 7.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was 4WP Notifications last updated?
The latest version, 1.2.0, was released on June 19, 2026 (4 months ago).
Who makes 4WP Notifications?
4WP Notifications is developed and maintained by 4WP.dev.
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