# OneSignal alternatives OneSignal now caps free mobile push and in-app at 1,000 MAU. Here's what else to consider, from free delivery pipes to full engagement platforms, and when staying is the better call. Canonical URL: https://tappd.io/alternatives/onesignal Last updated: 2026-11-05 Vendor facts last checked: 2026-11-05 Tappd publishes this page and is one of the options listed. See [how we compare tools](https://tappd.io/how-we-compare). ## Why compare OneSignal alternatives - **The free plan now has a limit**: Since September 2026 for new customers and October 2026 for existing ones, free mobile push and in-app need fewer than 1,000 MAU. Above that, sending pauses until you upgrade. - **MAU billing counts more than subscribers**: Growth charges $0.012 per MAU, and OneSignal counts active devices whether or not they opted in to push. So $19 + 10,000 × $0.012 comes to roughly $139/mo at 10,000 MAU. - **Custom events start on paid plans**: Journeys are on every plan, with 3 active on Free and 5 on Growth. Custom events start on Growth, which matters if your flows depend on product behavior. ## OneSignal alternatives ### Tappd Best for: product and growth teams that want event-triggered journeys without per-MAU fees Push, in-app, and email run from one live profile, and journeys start from product events. Push and in-app stay included as MAU grows, so email volume is the main cost. The tradeoff: Tappd was founded in 2026, so it has a younger ecosystem and fewer third-party tutorials than established tools. WhatsApp and other messengers aren't available. - Pricing: $0/mo with 3,000 emails a month included, then $1.50 per 1,000. Push and in-app are included with no per-MAU fee. SMS is an optional add-on at $15 per 1,000. - Channels: mobilePush, webPush, inApp, email, sms - Flows: Journeys, with event triggers, waits, branches, and exit criteria. ### Pushwoosh Best for: teams that want a published MAU price and messenger channels Pushwoosh is the closest like-for-like option: a similar MAU model and free threshold, with WhatsApp and other messengers on its Omnichannel plan. The tradeoff: You still pay per MAU, so cost grows with your active base. The lower Push only rate is listed as a limited offer. - Pricing: Free within 1,000 MAU. Omnichannel is $13 per 1,000 MAU. Push only is listed at $7 per 1,000 MAU as a limited offer until Dec 31. Third-party messaging fees are separate. - Channels: mobilePush, webPush, inApp, email, sms, whatsapp - Flows: Customer Journey Builder, a visual tool for cross-channel journeys. ### Firebase Cloud Messaging Best for: developers who only need delivery and will build the rest FCM sends to Android, iOS, and web at no cost. It suits teams whose backend already decides who gets what, and when. The tradeoff: You own targeting, scheduling, and flow logic. In-app messaging is a separate Firebase product, and email and SMS aren't part of FCM. - Pricing: Listed as a no-cost Firebase product. - Channels: mobilePush, webPush - Flows: Not described in the FCM docs. It's a delivery service, so you build targeting and flow logic yourself. ### Customer.io Best for: teams whose lifecycle program is led by email and event data Customer.io pairs a visual journey builder with real-time event triggers across email, push, in-app, SMS, and WhatsApp. The tradeoff: It bills by profile rather than MAU, starting at $100/mo, and profiles include both people and objects. - Pricing: Essentials starts at $100/mo for 5,000 profiles and 1 million emails, then $0.009 per additional profile. Premium starts at $1,000/mo, billed yearly. Companies that raised under $10M can apply for a free year. - Channels: mobilePush, webPush, inApp, email, sms, whatsapp - Flows: Journeys, a visual workflow builder with real-time event triggers. ### CleverTap Best for: consumer apps that want analytics and engagement together CleverTap's Core plan publishes a price and targets growing teams, with room to move up to Pro and Ultimate. The tradeoff: Pro and Ultimate prices aren't published, and email and WhatsApp are listed as add-ons, so check the full cost before committing. - Pricing: Core is $85/mo at up to 5,000 MAU, after a 30-day trial, excluding taxes and add-ons. Pro and Ultimate prices aren't published. Email and WhatsApp are listed as add-ons. - Channels: mobilePush, webPush, inApp, email, sms, whatsapp - Flows: Journeys, visual flows based on behavior, location, and lifecycle stage. ### Airship Best for: mobile-first brands, including travel, media, retail, and finance Airship positions itself around mobile-first experiences, and adds mobile wallet alongside its messaging channels. The tradeoff: Prices aren't published, so you can't estimate cost before talking to the company. - Pricing: Prices aren't published. Airship offers a self-service Essentials plan and a quoted full platform. - Channels: mobilePush, webPush, inApp, email, sms - Flows: Journeys, which connect messaging, app, and web experiences into unified flows. ## Which one fits your team - You need journeys on product events and no MAU fee: Tappd - You want the most similar pricing model, plus WhatsApp: Pushwoosh - You have engineers and only need delivery: Firebase Cloud Messaging - Email leads your lifecycle program: Customer.io ## When to stay with OneSignal - You're under 1,000 MAU and basic mobile push covers what you need. - Your team relies on OneSignal's existing setup and integrations, and its Growth bill is acceptable at your MAU. - Your program is mostly broadcast, and 5 active Journeys on Growth is enough. ## Before you switch 1. Check your current MAU, and how many of those devices opted in to push. 2. Export profiles, tags, and subscription state before you touch the SDK. 3. Run both SDKs for one release cycle, so older app versions keep receiving push. 4. Rebuild one journey first and compare it against your current flow. ## FAQ ### Is OneSignal still free? Yes, with limits. Free mobile push and in-app need fewer than 1,000 MAU per organization, and email is capped at 10,000 sends a month. Above the MAU limit, mobile push and in-app pause until you upgrade, while other channels continue. ### What's the closest alternative to OneSignal? Pushwoosh has the most similar pricing shape: free to 1,000 MAU, then priced per 1,000 MAU. If per-MAU billing is the reason you're looking, Tappd and Firebase Cloud Messaging are the options here that don't charge per MAU for push. ### Is there a free alternative to OneSignal? Firebase Cloud Messaging is a no-cost delivery service, though you build targeting and flows yourself. Tappd has a $0/mo plan that includes push, in-app, and journeys, with email metered after 3,000 a month. ## Sources - [OneSignal pricing](https://onesignal.com/pricing) - [OneSignal billing FAQ](https://documentation.onesignal.com/docs/en/billing-faq) - [OneSignal free plan changes](https://onesignal.com/blog/whats-changing-on-onesignals-free-plan/) - [OneSignal Journeys docs](https://documentation.onesignal.com/docs/en/journeys-overview) - [Pushwoosh pricing](https://www.pushwoosh.com/pricing/) - [Pushwoosh product overview](https://www.pushwoosh.com/) - [Firebase pricing](https://firebase.google.com/pricing) - [Firebase Cloud Messaging docs](https://firebase.google.com/docs/cloud-messaging) - [Customer.io pricing](https://customer.io/pricing) - [Customer.io Journeys](https://customer.io/journeys) - [CleverTap pricing](https://clevertap.com/pricing/) - [CleverTap Journeys](https://clevertap.com/journeys/) - [Airship pricing](https://www.airship.com/pricing/) - [Airship FAQs](https://www.airship.com/explainer/airship-faqs/) --- [All alternatives](https://tappd.io/alternatives) · [Get started](https://app.tappd.io/register)