Push Notifications vs In-App Notifications: What’s the Difference and Which One Should You Use?

Push Notifications vs In-App Notifications: In today’s world of fastest growing business, engagement is everything. Successful or any small or big business looks for such a medium through which the customer can be reached with the right message, at the right time, on the right channel. There are 2 very powerful tools available in the market which include push notifications and in-app notifications.

Both of them seem like push notifications because they are related to the term, but they serve different purposes, work in different contexts, and influence user behavior differently.

In this article we will see in detail What are push notifications? What are in-app notifications?, Key differences between push and in-app notifications, Pros and cons of each, When to use push notifications vs in-app notifications, Best practices for maximizing engagement with both etc. 

Push Notifications vs In-App Notifications

Push notifications and In-App Notifications are both types of notifications, but their functionality is different. There are other different types of notifications too but in today’s article we will see Push Notifications vs In-App Notifications.

Before knowing the difference between the two, let us understand both types in brief. After this we will compare both.

What Are Push Notifications?

Push notification means a message sent from a website or app to the user’s device, even if the user’s app is open or not. Push notifications appear on the lock screen, notification tray, or browser depending on device and platform.

Examples:

• A news app sends a “Breaking News: Market hits all-time high” alert.
• An e-commerce app sends “Flash Sale: 20% off for the next 2 hours!”
• A ride-sharing app alerts you “Your driver is arriving in 2 minutes.”

Key features of push notifications

• Appear outside the app (on lock screen or browser).
• Require user permission (opt-in).
• Great for re-engagement and bringing users back into the app.
• Can be personalized using user data like location, behavior, or preferences.

What Are In-App Notifications?

In-app notifications are messages displayed inside the app while the user is actively using it. Such as push notifications do not appear on the user’s device if the user is offline or not active on the app.

Examples:

• A fitness app shows “Congrats! You just hit your 10,000-step goal today.”
• A banking app displays “Your transaction was successful.”
• A music streaming app highlights “New playlist created for you: Chill Vibes.”

Key features of in-app notifications

• Only visible when the user is inside the app.
• No opt-in required.
• More contextual, guiding users toward desired actions.
• Great for onboarding, feature discovery, and real-time engagement.

Push Notifications vs In-App Notifications

The difference between Push Notifications vs In-App Notifications can be easily understood through the table given below. There are key differences between the Push Notifications and In-App Notifications.

Feature	Push Notifications	In-App Notifications
Visibility	Appear on lock screen, home screen, or browser (outside app)	Visible only inside the app
User State	Can reach users even when app is closed	Works only when app is open
Permission	Require user opt-in	No opt-in required
Primary Goal	Bring users back into the app (re-engagement)	Improve experience inside the app (guidance, engagement)
Best For	Promotions, reminders, breaking news, updates	Onboarding, tutorials, confirmations, nudges
Risk	Can be seen as intrusive if overused	Limited reach (only active users)

Pros and Cons of Push Notifications

Let’s understand some advantages and disadvantages of push notifications through the points given below, which will help you to knowing the benefits of push notifications.

Advantages

• Reach users outside the app.
• Drive traffic and re-engagement.
• Real-time updates (news, sales, alerts).
• High visibility on lock screen.

Disadvantages

• Requires opt-in (users may decline).
• Can be intrusive if not relevant.
• Higher unsubscribe/uninstall risk if spammy.

Pros and Cons of In-App Notifications

Le’s understand some advantages and disadvantages of in-app notifications from the points given below, so that we can know about in-app notifications.

Advantages

• No opt-in required.
• Seamless part of the app experience.
• Perfect for onboarding and educating users.
• Less intrusive compared to push.

Disadvantages

• Limited to active users (no re-engagement).
• Easily ignored if poorly designed.
• Can clutter UI if overused.

When to Use Push Notifications vs In-App Notifications

Push notifications make it easy to increase user engagement and it is the cheapest way. But you should know when and where to use Push Notifications and In-App Notifications. The correct implementation of both will help in taking the business to a new height. So let us understand When to Use Push Notifications vs In-App Notifications.

Use Push Notifications for

• Re-engagement: Remind inactive users to come back.
• Time-sensitive alerts: Flash sales, breaking news, reminders.
• Transactional updates: Order shipped, ride arriving, payment confirmation.
• Personalized offers: Discounts based on browsing or purchase history.

Use In-App Notifications for

• Onboarding: Help new users learn app features.
• Feature discovery: Highlight new updates or functionality.
• Guided actions: Nudge users to complete profiles, enable settings, or finish transactions.
• Feedback: Ask for ratings, reviews, or surveys inside the app.

Best Practices for Using Both

Below are best practices for using push notifications and in-app notifications.

• Segment your audience – Don’t send the same notification to everyone. Use behavior, location, and preferences to personalize.
• Don’t overdo it – Too many push notifications can lead to uninstalls. too many in-app notifications can frustrate active users.
• Time it right – Send push notifications when users are most active (e.g., lunchtime, evenings).
• Deliver in-app notifications at logical points (e.g., after completing an action).
• Keep it short & clear – Both types of notifications should be concise, actionable, and easy to understand.
• A/B test messages – Experiment with wording, timing, and call-to-actions to see what resonates. Measure results – Track metrics like CTR, open rates, retention, and conversions to refine your strategy.

Both push notifications and in-app notifications are powerful tools, but both work in different scenarios. Push notifications are best for user engagement if you want to have live communication with the user whether the user is active on the app or not. In-app notifications help guide the user and improve the app experience.

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