What is mobile push vs web push

You have a website but no app. Your competitor has both. Should you invest in app push notifications, or can web push handle the same job at lower cost?

Mobile push vs web push is one of the first decisions businesses face when adding alerts to their engagement strategy. The answer depends on your audience, your budget, and how people interact with your brand. Here is how the two compare.

What are mobile push notifications?

Mobile push notifications are alerts sent from an installed app on a phone or tablet. The user downloads the app, grants notification permission, and receives messages on their lock screen or notification tray.

App push notifications require building and maintaining a mobile app. They also require developer credentials from the app store and the mobile operating system to send messages at scale.

What are web push notifications?

Web push notifications are alerts sent from a website through the user's browser. No app download is required. The visitor opts in while browsing and receives messages on desktop or mobile browsers that support the feature.

Web push is faster to launch because it connects to your existing website. Read what are web push notifications for the full explanation.

Mobile push vs web push notifications

Both channels deliver short alerts to opted in users. The differences show up in setup, reach, and engagement depth.

1. Setup and cost

Web push connects to your website with a service and a code snippet. Mobile push requires an app build, app store approval, and ongoing maintenance. Web push is significantly cheaper to start.

2. Audience reach

Web push reaches anyone who visits your site and opts in. Mobile push only reaches app users. If most of your audience interacts through a browser, web push covers more people.

3. Engagement depth

Apps support richer experiences like offline access, in-app messaging, and deeper personalization. Mobile push pairs with these features for a more integrated experience.

4. Permission rates

App users who download your product often grant notification permission at install. Website visitors grant permission less frequently but the pool of potential subscribers is much larger.

5. Message delivery

Both channels deliver alerts within seconds. Mobile push tends to have slightly higher click rates because app users are more committed. Web push compensates with a broader subscriber base.

Many businesses start with web push and add mobile push later if app usage justifies the investment. See how to set up web push notifications to get started.

Frequently asked questions