Best Push Notification Services Providers in 2023

Push notifications are the most important and easy channel for your apps to communicate with you, even when your device does not have the said app opened and running. In simple terms, the push notification is the message that you will see in your notification bar about your app. For instance, you are playing a farming game and each life takes 30 minutes to replenish. Once all the lives are replenished, you would receive a message that your ‘lives are full’ in the notification bar of your device, even when you are not playing the game. This is called a push notification.

Push notifications are used for a convenience factor for the user. It is not just about games. You can get updated scores on your favorite sport, traffic details, flight check-in, dating apps and so on. To receive a push notification, your device should have the app installed on it and you should have registered it with an account. For instance, you should have the Facebook app and should have logged in with your account to receive push notifications about any messages you have.

It is the service provided by certain companies like Apple, Microsoft, Google and others in your device, which enables your device to receive a push notification. In most cases, you can manually disable or enable the push notification services in your device to avoid or start getting push notifications. In certain devices, you might have to run codes to avail this service. However, all the recent models of various brands have this service in-built. 

Receiving a push notification requires three elements in work. 

• Your device’s OS. It could be iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows or others. 
• An app developer - The app developer is the origin of the message. In most cases, it is a server that sends automated information. 
• Client app - this is the service you have installed in your device. This enables your device to receive the information.

The app publisher will register his application with push notification service and the service will provide an API, which is called an application programming interface. This interface will help the app developer to send messages. The app publisher will add a code library, which is unique to the notification service provider before uploading his app in the store.

Once you download and install the app, your device gets registered for the service of push notification. When you start using it, a unique code is sent from your device to the push notification server. This helps the publisher to store unique details about your device (there are just identification details and nothing to be worried about the security of your data). 

Now, your device, app publisher service, and the push notification software service provider are all linked. Whenever the app publisher decides to send a message to a specific population (for instance, a notification has to be sent to all users whose game progress has reached a certain level or, traffic indications to users in that geographic area), he would type the message or it would be automatically typed and scheduled (in case of most of the applications) and it will be sent to your device. The service will send the notification to your device when it is powered ‘on’ with no regard to whether you are using the said-application or not. If your device is not powered ‘on’, the server will wait and re-send the message in regular intervals, until your device receives it.

It basically depends on the OS and your requirements. If you have an android device, it is best to choose any android push notification software service provider like Google, Microsoft, and others. In the case of Apple devices, people always stick with Apple products. However, it is not the same case with every user. There are numerous services provides like Amazon, Firebase Cloud Messaging, Urban Airship, Google push notification system and so on. Each service provider has different requirements, advantages, and other features. For instance, the Android push notification service provider and Fire OS service provider do not allow users to opt-out of it. On the other hand, the Apple push notification service will give you that option. 

Surf the internet to learn about the best options for your device based on your OS. Once you have shortlisted the top service providers, it is best to check reviews on each service provider, compare and contrast the requirements before choosing the right one. Some service of push notifications are free and some apps will charge you with a premium plan. You need to choose the developer based on your requirements.

Update notification: This push alert provides information about any updates. For instance, if there is a new version of the app you have, you will receive an update notification. This notification is available for mobile OS too.

Reminder notification: This is custom-made or automated notification received in certain circumstances. For instance, if there is a traffic jam in your route home, you would be reminded. If you add a meeting detail to the calendar, your phone will send a reminder notification to remind you at that specified time.

Alert notification: These push notifications are usually available for social media apps. These notifications indicate comments, likes, a message or other activities in your social media site or messaging site. For instance, when someone likes your photo on Facebook, you will receive a notification.

Geolocation notification: This style of notification can help you to sync with a travel app to provide details of near-by stores, hotels, and others.

Re-engaging notification: This is a time-based notification. In the case of inactivity in the said app and the app is still installed on your device, this notification will be sent. For instance, if you haven’t opened your game app for a day, there will be a message to bond with the user or just to remind them to re-engage.

Promotional notification: This is the most common of all. This notification provides promotional content with or without an action key. For instance, if there is a new feature available in the app, you will receive notification with or without a button to install it (the action key). Certain travel apps also send personalized notification based on your last search about destinations and packages.

Apple push notification service is a type of notification service received in apple devices and as the name indicates, it is developed by Apple Inc. It enables app developers to communicate with your device. For instance, your game app can send notifications to your device even when you are not playing the game. The notification may incorporate sounds, badges, custom text alerts, and newsstand updates, etc. In 2009, this service was launched. The main objective of using apple push notification service is the ability to save battery time while sending new updates.

To receive the notification service, it is necessary to configure and register the app with the APNs Service. The service delivers the notifications via an API that is embraced in all Mac OS as well as IOS devices and Android devices. By altering the required settings, one may start to receive the push notification in no time. 

How Does it Work?

The push notification is becoming more popular on mobile devices as they consume less battery life and helps users to receive information instantaneously even when they are not using a specific app. For this, push notification of your device have to communicate with developer servers every minute (or in periodic intervals) to sync with the availability of information. When working with push notification, the cloud service acts on behalf of the mobile app and connect to the mobile device when it finds new notifications. If the app is not running but the device is properly powered on, then the server will forward the notification otherwise, the service will hold on to the messages and try to send it later. 

Apple Push Notification Platform

Apple push notification service can be received on the devices of the apple which sends specific services. This service is available in many devices of Apple like Apple Laptop, Apple Phone, Apple Tablets, etc. Inbuilt settings of the devices assist in receiving the Push Notification. In some cases, you might have to manually change settings on your device to avail this service. You can surf the internet to learn about the steps for the same, for each style of devices.

As the name suggests, the windows push notification service, it is a service that you receive on the window-based platforms. This is developed by the Microsoft Windows platform. This assists in sending push notification data to universal windows as well as windows platform applications that implement the features.  

How does it work?

Windows push notification service consists of servers and interfaces which create, store, maintain as well as authenticate unique identifiers for the devices which are registered to use the services. When it is about to be received by the enrolled device, the WNS sends a registration request to the network. After it acknowledges the request, it responds along with unique identifiers. The device will communicate the identifiers to the server which may be sent immediately or stored and sent later.

Windows Push Notification Platform

It can be received using the devices which are based on windows. The window push notification service can be received on a laptop, PC or Windows phone. But the service can be activated only with a specific app that should be installed in the device manually. These app push notification services are the best way to receive the push services if you are using window-based devices.

Google Push Notification system is a mobile notification service which is developed by Google in 2009. It enables the 3rd party to send data from server to applications which target Google enabled apps. It is available free of cost. Google push notification service uses the android platform to send push notification. It is one of the best push notification software services which can deliver information in any form like images, text, videos, etc.  

This app push notification service runs on devices with OS like Android, IOS, and windows. Enhance the battery life of mobile devices, this is the main use of it. The notification may incorporate sounds, badges, custom text alerts, newsstand updates, and many others. One of the main benefits is that it does not require specific applications to open on mobile for the message to be received, unlike other similar push notification options. Messages can be received as alerts even if your phone is locked.

How does it work?

The device will communicate with the developer server continuously to identify new information. While a piece of new information exists, the cloud service will proxy the app and will communicate with the device. Even if the said app is not running but the device is powered, the device will receive the information. If the case of the device being switched off, the message will be stored and sent later. 

The bottom line is that the device has to configured and registered to send and receive the push notification for that specific app for receiving the information. It (service of push notification) is app-based, which means, for receiving the push notifications one needs to have that app. For instance, for a user to receive notifications from the FaceBook app, he should have installed the FaceBook app on his phone.

Google Push Notification Platform

It uses the Google acquired app to pop up push notifications. The notification services are sent to only those platforms which are Google-owned. This app push notification service is highly efficient in terms of size, formats or accessibility. 

Android push notification service is an application that sends push notification about an app, which runs on Android OS. There are numerous types of Android Push Notification Services in the market, like the Samsung Push Service. It pops up to display a new message when there is an update or information available. The main objective of this service is to allow the 3rd party publishers to make message requests to convey particular information to targeted users.

Some of the features of the Android push notification service are:

• Displayed a new message in the pop-up window.
• For new messages, it displays a badge on the application icon. The badge is usually a small dot (the symbol varies with devices) on top of the application’s icon just to indicate that there is a new message pertaining to that application.
• Displays the message on the notification bar, so that one can read it even when the phone is locked.

Although Apple products are more popular, the population of Android users is much higher and thus, the number of users availing this service is also much higher. Just like any other push notification, a specific app should be installed in the device to receive the push notification messages. 

How does it work?

To make it workable some settings need to be altered. The settings are almost similar in all Android devices. Here is the list of changes to be done.

Step 1: enable of your android device

Step 2: set up a configuration file

Step 3: create a dependencies file

Step 4: Edit the manifest of the app

Step 5: upload API key

Step 6: in the access token, add the API credential.

There are numerous service providers who can help you through this process. There are many video tutorials for the same too, on the internet. 

Android Push Notification Platform

Android provides a long range of apps to send push notification to targeted users. Some of the top examples are OneSignal, Leanplum, PushBots, Kumulos, Urban airship, etc. The main reason for using these platforms is that they are trying to provide the best app push notification service in real-time with no latency. Although all of them claim to be the best push notification software service in the market, you need to choose the right one by reading reviews and understanding the system and service requirements. It assists you by providing information within a matter of seconds. If you are planning to avail this service, choose the best notification service for your devices. 

It is a kind of message which pops up on a mobile phone. These mobile app push notification service messages are sent by the app publishers to your device. And to receive them, the users don't need to use any specific app or software in their device. In 2009, apple push notification service launched its first mobile app push notification service. One of the main benefits of mobile push notification service is that it does not require specific applications to be installed on mobile for the message to be received. It assists the smartphone to display and receive the text and media messages alert, even your phone is locked.  

How does it work?

Mobile push notification service generally provides a voice to the app. It is a permission-based mobile messaging channel that supplies crucial information to elite users wherever and whenever they want it. Also, this strategy has the potential to boost user engagement in a very efficient way. This is the trending way to make aware of things just by push notification enabled by APNs. 

Mobile Push Notification Platform

The mobile push notification service is available for devices that run on different OS like IOS, Android, and Windows. Android push notification service is available based on the installed apps which have app push notification service for its user. There is no possible identification to know which apps on your device have the push notification advance service for its users and which doesn’t. Based on the current study, almost all leading apps have this service to stay ahead in the market by providing instant information to the user, even when they are not using their application at that moment.

Ans: It is the method of engaging users to applications. A particular set of information is sent to targeted users which may be very informational. 

Ans: It is one component of a product's wider user engagement strategy. It generally displays in-app messages rather than email or text messages. It is intended to be succinct and short as on opening will direct the user to the promoted content.

Ans: It supports IOS, Android, and window-based platforms to receive and send push notifications. It generally changes between different types of push notification app services.

Ans: Push notifications provide an interface to enter details for sending messages and after typing, you will see a preview of the message and can edit as required before sending it.

Ans: It depends on the networks. At times, it takes a few seconds to be delivered and sometimes, it takes longer. Also, it depends upon the size of the message. 

Ans: It supports texts, images, videos, and audio files. In the case of IOS, the file size may be 5 MB, 10 MB, and 50 MB. But in the case of android, it does not have such limits. 

Ans: For IOS, it is 2048 and for android, it is 4096. But many firms are now working on enhancing the limits to make it more flexible as well as proficient in terms of message.

Ans: Usually, a large population of the app users would receive the notification. However, there is a probability that users might have manually uninstalled the service. If the app is uninstalled, the user might not receive the notification.  

Ans: Yes, it supports. You may send push notifications along varying geo-locations.