How does iOS push notifications perform as compared to Android?

Depending on the type of device your target audiences are, you might observe a different rate of engagement on your push notification on Android and iOS. However, are you finding it difficult while looking for a reason for that? We can help you out in this article to understand the performance of iOS push notifications.

Before we begin, you need to understand the reason for such a difference in the behavior of iOS notifications and android notifications. The primary factor that creates such a difference is between the notification centers of these operating systems. While notifications are much more sticky in Android, iOS hides them after displaying it for just once. 

Let’s have a look at how the notification centers of these two OS behave to understand their impact on the CTRs of your push notifications.

1. App Alerts

The alerting of notifications on iOS and Android are quite different. While the android devices allow sticky notifications, iOS push notifications can only be viewed by pulling down the notification center. Also, the badges appearing on android devices are more prominent, thereby keeping the users wary about receiving a notification for a longer time. For iOS notifications, unless the users take a dragging action, the notification can not be viewed leading to lower engagement rates.

2. Prominent lock screen Android notification alerts

Android devices allow users to know about the push notifications on their lock screens. These notifications are displayed till the point they are manually removed by the users from the notification centers. However, iOS notifications get cleared out from the lock screen view as soon as the users unlock the phone, although the users can check them out on the notification center.

3. Multiple access to Notifications control center in Android

Android users have a chance to check out the notifications again when they pull up the notification center for shortcuts, whereas iOS users can ignore the notifications as such to access such shortcuts. Thus, android users have the chance of getting multiple exposures to the same push notifications than iOS users.

4. Notifications history in Android devices

The notifications on the Android notification center comes with a history and are clubbed together according to the brand which sends them. However, the iOS notification center has more features when it comes to the usage of icons, rich graphics, and customized action buttons. 

Although it might seem that Android is the preferred device for sending push notifications, the higher voluntary opt-ins in iOS results in a comparable, and at times a higher engagement rate for push notifications. Therefore adherence to the best practices of iOS push notifications is a must to meet the user expectations. 

Ending Note

Although Android push notification settings seem to perform better in terms of impression and generating eyeballs, iOS notifications can be considered an indication of the engagement it generates. This is because, iOS notifications are accessed and users opt-in it more voluntarily, than the Android counterparts since the latter need to provide their consent while installing an app. If you are looking to improve your iOS push notifications strategy, you can get in touch with us at marketing@vizury.com.