diff --git a/web/components/nav/sidebar.tsx b/web/components/nav/sidebar.tsx
index b9449ea0..0739da75 100644
--- a/web/components/nav/sidebar.tsx
+++ b/web/components/nav/sidebar.tsx
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import {
 import clsx from 'clsx'
 import Link from 'next/link'
 import { useRouter } from 'next/router'
-import { useUser } from 'web/hooks/use-user'
+import { usePrivateUser, useUser } from 'web/hooks/use-user'
 import { firebaseLogout, User } from 'web/lib/firebase/users'
 import { ManifoldLogo } from './manifold-logo'
 import { MenuButton } from './menu'
@@ -26,8 +26,9 @@ import { groupPath } from 'web/lib/firebase/groups'
 import { trackCallback, withTracking } from 'web/lib/service/analytics'
 import { Group } from 'common/group'
 import { Spacer } from '../layout/spacer'
-import { usePreferredNotifications } from 'web/hooks/use-notifications'
+import { useUnseenPreferredNotifications } from 'web/hooks/use-notifications'
 import { setNotificationsAsSeen } from 'web/pages/notifications'
+import { PrivateUser } from 'common/lib/user'
 
 function getNavigation() {
   return [
@@ -186,6 +187,7 @@ export default function Sidebar(props: { className?: string }) {
   const currentPage = router.pathname
 
   const user = useUser()
+  const privateUser = usePrivateUser(user?.id)
   const navigationOptions = !user ? signedOutNavigation : getNavigation()
   const mobileNavigationOptions = !user
     ? signedOutMobileNavigation
@@ -220,11 +222,13 @@ export default function Sidebar(props: { className?: string }) {
           />
         )}
 
-        <GroupsList
-          currentPage={router.asPath}
-          memberItems={memberItems}
-          user={user}
-        />
+        {privateUser && (
+          <GroupsList
+            currentPage={router.asPath}
+            memberItems={memberItems}
+            privateUser={privateUser}
+          />
+        )}
       </div>
 
       {/* Desktop navigation */}
@@ -243,11 +247,13 @@ export default function Sidebar(props: { className?: string }) {
             <div className="h-[1px] bg-gray-300" />
           </div>
         )}
-        <GroupsList
-          currentPage={router.asPath}
-          memberItems={memberItems}
-          user={user}
-        />
+        {privateUser && (
+          <GroupsList
+            currentPage={router.asPath}
+            memberItems={memberItems}
+            privateUser={privateUser}
+          />
+        )}
       </div>
     </nav>
   )
@@ -256,11 +262,10 @@ export default function Sidebar(props: { className?: string }) {
 function GroupsList(props: {
   currentPage: string
   memberItems: Item[]
-  user: User | null | undefined
+  privateUser: PrivateUser
 }) {
-  const { currentPage, memberItems, user } = props
-  const preferredNotifications = usePreferredNotifications(user?.id, {
-    unseenOnly: true,
+  const { currentPage, memberItems, privateUser } = props
+  const preferredNotifications = useUnseenPreferredNotifications(privateUser, {
     customHref: '/group/',
   })
 
diff --git a/web/components/notifications-icon.tsx b/web/components/notifications-icon.tsx
index 8f45a054..5f36bb46 100644
--- a/web/components/notifications-icon.tsx
+++ b/web/components/notifications-icon.tsx
@@ -4,45 +4,57 @@ import { Row } from 'web/components/layout/row'
 import { useEffect, useState } from 'react'
 import { usePrivateUser, useUser } from 'web/hooks/use-user'
 import { useRouter } from 'next/router'
-import { usePreferredGroupedNotifications } from 'web/hooks/use-notifications'
+import { useUnseenPreferredNotificationGroups } from 'web/hooks/use-notifications'
 import { NOTIFICATIONS_PER_PAGE } from 'web/pages/notifications'
 import { requestBonuses } from 'web/lib/firebase/api-call'
+import { PrivateUser } from 'common/lib/user'
 
 export default function NotificationsIcon(props: { className?: string }) {
   const user = useUser()
   const privateUser = usePrivateUser(user?.id)
-  const notifications = usePreferredGroupedNotifications(privateUser?.id, {
-    unseenOnly: true,
-  })
-  const [seen, setSeen] = useState(false)
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (!privateUser) return
-
-    if (Date.now() - (privateUser.lastTimeCheckedBonuses ?? 0) > 65 * 1000)
-      requestBonuses({}).catch((error) => {
-        console.log("couldn't get bonuses:", error.message)
-      })
-  }, [privateUser])
-
-  const router = useRouter()
-  useEffect(() => {
-    if (router.pathname.endsWith('notifications')) return setSeen(true)
-    else setSeen(false)
-  }, [router.pathname])
+    if (user) {
+      const bonusChecker = setTimeout(() => {
+        requestBonuses({}).catch((error) => {
+          console.log("couldn't get bonuses:", error.message)
+        })
+        return () => {
+          clearInterval(bonusChecker)
+        }
+      }, 1000 * 120)
+    }
+  }, [user])
 
   return (
     <Row className={clsx('justify-center')}>
       <div className={'relative'}>
-        {!seen && notifications && notifications.length > 0 && (
-          <div className="-mt-0.75 absolute ml-3.5 min-w-[15px] rounded-full bg-indigo-500 p-[2px] text-center text-[10px] leading-3 text-white lg:-mt-1 lg:ml-2">
-            {notifications.length > NOTIFICATIONS_PER_PAGE
-              ? `${NOTIFICATIONS_PER_PAGE}+`
-              : notifications.length}
-          </div>
-        )}
+        {privateUser && <UnseenNotificationsBubble privateUser={privateUser} />}
         <BellIcon className={clsx(props.className)} />
       </div>
     </Row>
   )
 }
+function UnseenNotificationsBubble(props: { privateUser: PrivateUser }) {
+  const router = useRouter()
+  const { privateUser } = props
+  const [seen, setSeen] = useState(false)
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (router.pathname.endsWith('notifications')) return setSeen(true)
+    else setSeen(false)
+  }, [router.pathname])
+
+  const notifications = useUnseenPreferredNotificationGroups(privateUser)
+  if (!notifications || notifications.length === 0 || seen) {
+    return <div />
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <div className="-mt-0.75 absolute ml-3.5 min-w-[15px] rounded-full bg-indigo-500 p-[2px] text-center text-[10px] leading-3 text-white lg:-mt-1 lg:ml-2">
+      {notifications.length > NOTIFICATIONS_PER_PAGE
+        ? `${NOTIFICATIONS_PER_PAGE}+`
+        : notifications.length}
+    </div>
+  )
+}
diff --git a/web/hooks/use-notifications.ts b/web/hooks/use-notifications.ts
index 98b0f2fd..8e68fdcb 100644
--- a/web/hooks/use-notifications.ts
+++ b/web/hooks/use-notifications.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 import { useEffect, useState } from 'react'
-import { listenForPrivateUser } from 'web/lib/firebase/users'
 import { notification_subscribe_types, PrivateUser } from 'common/user'
 import { Notification } from 'common/notification'
-import { listenForNotifications } from 'web/lib/firebase/notifications'
+import {
+  getNotificationsQuery,
+  listenForNotifications,
+} from 'web/lib/firebase/notifications'
 import { groupBy, map } from 'lodash'
+import { useFirestoreQuery } from '@react-query-firebase/firestore'
 
 export type NotificationGroup = {
   notifications: Notification[]
@@ -13,15 +16,36 @@ export type NotificationGroup = {
   type: 'income' | 'normal'
 }
 
-export function usePreferredGroupedNotifications(
-  userId: string | undefined,
-  options: { unseenOnly: boolean }
-) {
+// This doesn't listen for new notifications, use firebase listener for that
+export function usePreferredGroupedNotifications(privateUser: PrivateUser) {
   const [notificationGroups, setNotificationGroups] = useState<
     NotificationGroup[] | undefined
   >(undefined)
+  const [notifications, setNotifications] = useState<Notification[]>([])
+  const key = `notifications-${privateUser.id}-all`
+
+  const result = useFirestoreQuery(
+    [key],
+    getNotificationsQuery(privateUser.id, false),
+    {
+      // subscribe: false,
+      // includeMetadataChanges: true,
+    }
+  )
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (result.isLoading) return
+    if (!result.data) return setNotifications([])
+    const notifications = result.data.docs.map(
+      (doc) => doc.data() as Notification
+    )
+
+    const notificationsToShow = getAppropriateNotifications(
+      notifications,
+      privateUser.notificationPreferences
+    ).filter((n) => !n.isSeenOnHref)
+    setNotifications(notificationsToShow)
+  }, [privateUser.notificationPreferences, result.data, result.isLoading])
 
-  const notifications = usePreferredNotifications(userId, options)
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!notifications) return
 
@@ -32,6 +56,20 @@ export function usePreferredGroupedNotifications(
   return notificationGroups
 }
 
+export function useUnseenPreferredNotificationGroups(privateUser: PrivateUser) {
+  const notifications = useUnseenPreferredNotifications(privateUser, {})
+  const [notificationGroups, setNotificationGroups] = useState<
+    NotificationGroup[] | undefined
+  >(undefined)
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!notifications) return
+
+    const groupedNotifications = groupNotifications(notifications)
+    setNotificationGroups(groupedNotifications)
+  }, [notifications])
+  return notificationGroups
+}
+
 export function groupNotifications(notifications: Notification[]) {
   let notificationGroups: NotificationGroup[] = []
   const notificationGroupsByDay = groupBy(notifications, (notification) =>
@@ -85,32 +123,17 @@ export function groupNotifications(notifications: Notification[]) {
   return notificationGroups
 }
 
-export function usePreferredNotifications(
-  userId: string | undefined,
-  options: { unseenOnly: boolean; customHref?: string }
+export function useUnseenPreferredNotifications(
+  privateUser: PrivateUser,
+  options: { customHref?: string }
 ) {
-  const { unseenOnly, customHref } = options
-  const [privateUser, setPrivateUser] = useState<PrivateUser | null>(null)
+  const { customHref } = options
   const [notifications, setNotifications] = useState<Notification[]>([])
   const [userAppropriateNotifications, setUserAppropriateNotifications] =
     useState<Notification[]>([])
+  listenForNotifications(privateUser.id, setNotifications, true)
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (userId) listenForPrivateUser(userId, setPrivateUser)
-  }, [userId])
-
-  useEffect(() => {
-    if (privateUser)
-      return listenForNotifications(
-        privateUser.id,
-        setNotifications,
-        unseenOnly
-      )
-  }, [privateUser, unseenOnly])
-
-  useEffect(() => {
-    if (!privateUser) return
-
     const notificationsToShow = getAppropriateNotifications(
       notifications,
       privateUser.notificationPreferences
@@ -118,7 +141,7 @@ export function usePreferredNotifications(
       customHref ? n.isSeenOnHref?.includes(customHref) : !n.isSeenOnHref
     )
     setUserAppropriateNotifications(notificationsToShow)
-  }, [privateUser, notifications, customHref])
+  }, [notifications, customHref, privateUser.notificationPreferences])
 
   return userAppropriateNotifications
 }
@@ -131,7 +154,7 @@ const lessPriorityReasons = [
   // 'on_contract_with_users_shares_in',
 ]
 
-function getAppropriateNotifications(
+export function getAppropriateNotifications(
   notifications: Notification[],
   notificationPreferences?: notification_subscribe_types
 ) {
diff --git a/web/lib/firebase/notifications.ts b/web/lib/firebase/notifications.ts
index c0dca8be..302c4d55 100644
--- a/web/lib/firebase/notifications.ts
+++ b/web/lib/firebase/notifications.ts
@@ -1,12 +1,17 @@
-import { collection, query, where } from 'firebase/firestore'
+import { collection, orderBy, query, where } from 'firebase/firestore'
 import { Notification } from 'common/notification'
 import { db } from 'web/lib/firebase/init'
 import { listenForValues } from 'web/lib/firebase/utils'
 
-function getNotificationsQuery(userId: string, unseenOnly?: boolean) {
+export function getNotificationsQuery(userId: string, unseenOnly?: boolean) {
   const notifsCollection = collection(db, `/users/${userId}/notifications`)
-  if (unseenOnly) return query(notifsCollection, where('isSeen', '==', false))
-  return query(notifsCollection)
+  if (unseenOnly)
+    return query(
+      notifsCollection,
+      where('isSeen', '==', false),
+      orderBy('createdTime', 'desc')
+    )
+  return query(notifsCollection, orderBy('createdTime', 'desc'))
 }
 
 export function listenForNotifications(
@@ -19,6 +24,7 @@ export function listenForNotifications(
     (notifs) => {
       notifs.sort((n1, n2) => n2.createdTime - n1.createdTime)
       setNotifications(notifs)
-    }
+    },
+    true
   )
 }
diff --git a/web/lib/firebase/utils.ts b/web/lib/firebase/utils.ts
index e63c2d96..38bcb493 100644
--- a/web/lib/firebase/utils.ts
+++ b/web/lib/firebase/utils.ts
@@ -39,12 +39,13 @@ export function listenForValue<T>(
 
 export function listenForValues<T>(
   query: Query,
-  setValues: (values: T[]) => void
+  setValues: (values: T[]) => void,
+  enableCache?: boolean
 ) {
   // Exclude cached snapshots so we only trigger on fresh data.
   // includeMetadataChanges ensures listener is called even when server data is the same as cached data.
   return onSnapshot(query, { includeMetadataChanges: true }, (snapshot) => {
-    if (snapshot.metadata.fromCache) return
+    if (snapshot.metadata.fromCache && !enableCache) return
 
     const values = snapshot.docs.map((doc) => doc.data() as T)
     setValues(values)
diff --git a/web/pages/notifications.tsx b/web/pages/notifications.tsx
index 08ef9bb8..c9c8ace5 100644
--- a/web/pages/notifications.tsx
+++ b/web/pages/notifications.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { Tabs } from 'web/components/layout/tabs'
-import { useUser } from 'web/hooks/use-user'
+import { usePrivateUser, useUser } from 'web/hooks/use-user'
 import React, { useEffect, useState } from 'react'
 import { Notification, notification_source_types } from 'common/notification'
 import { Avatar, EmptyAvatar } from 'web/components/avatar'
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import { Title } from 'web/components/title'
 import { doc, updateDoc } from 'firebase/firestore'
 import { db } from 'web/lib/firebase/init'
 import { CopyLinkDateTimeComponent } from 'web/components/feed/copy-link-date-time'
-import Custom404 from 'web/pages/404'
 import { UserLink } from 'web/components/user-page'
 import { notification_subscribe_types, PrivateUser } from 'common/user'
 import { Contract } from 'common/contract'
@@ -35,137 +34,144 @@ import { formatMoney } from 'common/util/format'
 import { groupPath } from 'web/lib/firebase/groups'
 import { UNIQUE_BETTOR_BONUS_AMOUNT } from 'common/numeric-constants'
 import { groupBy, sum, uniq } from 'lodash'
+import Custom404 from 'web/pages/404'
+import { Col } from 'web/components/layout/col'
 
 export const NOTIFICATIONS_PER_PAGE = 30
 const MULTIPLE_USERS_KEY = 'multipleUsers'
 
 export default function Notifications() {
   const user = useUser()
-  const [page, setPage] = useState(1)
-
-  const groupedNotifications = usePreferredGroupedNotifications(user?.id, {
-    unseenOnly: false,
-  })
-  const [paginatedNotificationGroups, setPaginatedNotificationGroups] =
-    useState<NotificationGroup[]>([])
-  useEffect(() => {
-    if (!groupedNotifications) return
-    const start = (page - 1) * NOTIFICATIONS_PER_PAGE
-    const end = start + NOTIFICATIONS_PER_PAGE
-    const maxNotificationsToShow = groupedNotifications.slice(start, end)
-    const remainingNotification = groupedNotifications.slice(end)
-    for (const notification of remainingNotification) {
-      if (notification.isSeen) break
-      else setNotificationsAsSeen(notification.notifications)
-    }
-    setPaginatedNotificationGroups(maxNotificationsToShow)
-  }, [groupedNotifications, page])
-
-  if (user === undefined) {
-    return <LoadingIndicator />
-  }
-  if (user === null) {
-    return <Custom404 />
-  }
+  const privateUser = usePrivateUser(user?.id)
 
+  if (!user) return <Custom404 />
   return (
     <Page>
       <div className={'p-2 sm:p-4'}>
         <Title text={'Notifications'} className={'hidden md:block'} />
-        <Tabs
-          labelClassName={'pb-2 pt-1 '}
-          defaultIndex={0}
-          tabs={[
-            {
-              title: 'Notifications',
-              content: groupedNotifications ? (
-                <div className={''}>
-                  {paginatedNotificationGroups.length === 0 &&
-                    "You don't have any notifications. Try changing your settings to see more."}
-                  {paginatedNotificationGroups.map((notification) =>
-                    notification.type === 'income' ? (
-                      <IncomeNotificationGroupItem
-                        notificationGroup={notification}
-                        key={notification.groupedById + notification.timePeriod}
-                      />
-                    ) : notification.notifications.length === 1 ? (
-                      <NotificationItem
-                        notification={notification.notifications[0]}
-                        key={notification.notifications[0].id}
-                      />
-                    ) : (
-                      <NotificationGroupItem
-                        notificationGroup={notification}
-                        key={notification.groupedById + notification.timePeriod}
-                      />
-                    )
-                  )}
-                  {groupedNotifications.length > NOTIFICATIONS_PER_PAGE && (
-                    <nav
-                      className="flex items-center justify-between border-t border-gray-200 bg-white px-4 py-3 sm:px-6"
-                      aria-label="Pagination"
-                    >
-                      <div className="hidden sm:block">
-                        <p className="text-sm text-gray-700">
-                          Showing{' '}
-                          <span className="font-medium">
-                            {page === 1
-                              ? page
-                              : (page - 1) * NOTIFICATIONS_PER_PAGE}
-                          </span>{' '}
-                          to{' '}
-                          <span className="font-medium">
-                            {page * NOTIFICATIONS_PER_PAGE}
-                          </span>{' '}
-                          of{' '}
-                          <span className="font-medium">
-                            {groupedNotifications.length}
-                          </span>{' '}
-                          results
-                        </p>
-                      </div>
-                      <div className="flex flex-1 justify-between sm:justify-end">
-                        <a
-                          href="#"
-                          className="relative inline-flex items-center rounded-md border border-gray-300 bg-white px-4 py-2 text-sm font-medium text-gray-700 hover:bg-gray-50"
-                          onClick={() => page > 1 && setPage(page - 1)}
-                        >
-                          Previous
-                        </a>
-                        <a
-                          href="#"
-                          className="relative ml-3 inline-flex items-center rounded-md border border-gray-300 bg-white px-4 py-2 text-sm font-medium text-gray-700 hover:bg-gray-50"
-                          onClick={() =>
-                            page <
-                              groupedNotifications?.length /
-                                NOTIFICATIONS_PER_PAGE && setPage(page + 1)
-                          }
-                        >
-                          Next
-                        </a>
-                      </div>
-                    </nav>
-                  )}
-                </div>
-              ) : (
-                <LoadingIndicator />
-              ),
-            },
-            {
-              title: 'Settings',
-              content: (
-                <div className={''}>
-                  <NotificationSettings />
-                </div>
-              ),
-            },
-          ]}
-        />
+        <div>
+          <Tabs
+            labelClassName={'pb-2 pt-1 '}
+            className={'mb-0 sm:mb-2'}
+            defaultIndex={0}
+            tabs={[
+              {
+                title: 'Notifications',
+                content: privateUser ? (
+                  <NotificationsList privateUser={privateUser} />
+                ) : (
+                  <LoadingIndicator />
+                ),
+              },
+              {
+                title: 'Settings',
+                content: (
+                  <div className={''}>
+                    <NotificationSettings />
+                  </div>
+                ),
+              },
+            ]}
+          />
+        </div>
       </div>
     </Page>
   )
 }
 
+function NotificationsList(props: { privateUser: PrivateUser }) {
+  const { privateUser } = props
+  const [page, setPage] = useState(1)
+  const allGroupedNotifications = usePreferredGroupedNotifications(privateUser)
+  const [paginatedGroupedNotifications, setPaginatedGroupedNotifications] =
+    useState<NotificationGroup[] | undefined>(undefined)
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!allGroupedNotifications) return
+    const start = (page - 1) * NOTIFICATIONS_PER_PAGE
+    const end = start + NOTIFICATIONS_PER_PAGE
+    const maxNotificationsToShow = allGroupedNotifications.slice(start, end)
+    const remainingNotification = allGroupedNotifications.slice(end)
+    for (const notification of remainingNotification) {
+      if (notification.isSeen) break
+      else setNotificationsAsSeen(notification.notifications)
+    }
+    setPaginatedGroupedNotifications(maxNotificationsToShow)
+  }, [allGroupedNotifications, page])
+
+  if (!paginatedGroupedNotifications) return <LoadingIndicator />
+
+  return (
+    <Col className={'min-h-screen'}>
+      {paginatedGroupedNotifications.length === 0 &&
+        "You don't have any notifications. Try changing your settings to see more."}
+      {paginatedGroupedNotifications.map((notification) =>
+        notification.type === 'income' ? (
+          <IncomeNotificationGroupItem
+            notificationGroup={notification}
+            key={notification.groupedById + notification.timePeriod}
+          />
+        ) : notification.notifications.length === 1 ? (
+          <NotificationItem
+            notification={notification.notifications[0]}
+            key={notification.notifications[0].id}
+          />
+        ) : (
+          <NotificationGroupItem
+            notificationGroup={notification}
+            key={notification.groupedById + notification.timePeriod}
+          />
+        )
+      )}
+      {allGroupedNotifications &&
+        allGroupedNotifications.length > NOTIFICATIONS_PER_PAGE && (
+          <nav
+            className="flex items-center justify-between border-t border-gray-200 bg-white px-4 py-3 sm:px-6"
+            aria-label="Pagination"
+          >
+            <div className="hidden sm:block">
+              <p className="text-sm text-gray-700">
+                Showing{' '}
+                <span className="font-medium">
+                  {page === 1 ? page : (page - 1) * NOTIFICATIONS_PER_PAGE}
+                </span>{' '}
+                to{' '}
+                <span className="font-medium">
+                  {page * NOTIFICATIONS_PER_PAGE}
+                </span>{' '}
+                of{' '}
+                <span className="font-medium">
+                  {allGroupedNotifications.length}
+                </span>{' '}
+                results
+              </p>
+            </div>
+            <div className="flex flex-1 justify-between sm:justify-end">
+              <a
+                href="#"
+                className="relative inline-flex items-center rounded-md border border-gray-300 bg-white px-4 py-2 text-sm font-medium text-gray-700 hover:bg-gray-50"
+                onClick={() => page > 1 && setPage(page - 1)}
+              >
+                Previous
+              </a>
+              <a
+                href="#"
+                className="relative ml-3 inline-flex items-center rounded-md border border-gray-300 bg-white px-4 py-2 text-sm font-medium text-gray-700 hover:bg-gray-50"
+                onClick={() =>
+                  page <
+                    allGroupedNotifications?.length / NOTIFICATIONS_PER_PAGE &&
+                  setPage(page + 1)
+                }
+              >
+                Next
+              </a>
+            </div>
+          </nav>
+        )}
+    </Col>
+  )
+}
+
 function IncomeNotificationGroupItem(props: {
   notificationGroup: NotificationGroup
   className?: string