Skip to content
English
Contact us
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

How to use OneSignal: Push notifications and In-app messages

Customer engagement is no longer optional, it’s essential. OneSignal is one of the most popular tools for reaching users directly through push notifications and in-app messages, helping businesses improve retention, conversions, and user experience. This guide explains how to use OneSignal to send push notifications and in-app messages to engage users and drive conversions.

What is OneSignal?

    OneSignal is a messaging platform that allows you to reach users via:

    • Push notifications (mobile & web)
    • In-app messages
    • Email and SMS (optional)

    This guide focuses on push and in-app messaging.

    1. Push Notifications
    What are push notifications?

    Messages sent directly to a user’s device—even when they’re not using your app.

    Setup

    1. Create a OneSignal app

    • Sign up
    • Create app
    • Select platform

    2. Install the SDK

    • Web: JavaScript snippet
    • Mobile: iOS/Android SDK

    3. Configure permissions

    • Ask after user interaction
    • Avoid showing immediately on load

    Send a notification

    1. Go to Messages → Push
    2. Click New Push
    3. Select audience
    4. Add title and message
    5. Send or schedule

    Targeting

    Use:

    • Tags
    • Location
    • Device type
    • Activity

    Example: target users inactive for 7 days.

    Best practices

      • Keep messages short
      • Personalise where possible
      • Don’t over-send
      • Test timing and content

    Here we also have a video you can watch:

     

    2. In-app Messages
    What are in-app messages?

    Messages shown while users are active in your app or site.

    • No permission needed
    • Less intrusive
    • Context-driven

    Use cases

    • Onboarding
    • Feature announcements
    • Upsells
    • Feedback requests

    Setup

    1. Go to messages → In-app
    2. Create new message
    3. Choose a template (modal, banner, full-screen)

    Triggers

    • Time-based
    • Event-based
    • Behavior or tags

    Example: show offer after viewing 3 products

    Best practices

    • Match user behavior
    • Avoid interrupting key actions
    • Use clear CTAs
    • Limit frequency

    Recommended flow

    1. Send a push notification to bring users back
    2. Use in-app messaging to guide them
    Example:
    • Push: “Flash sale starts now”
    • In-app: “Get 20% off—tap here”Also check our video: