Channel setup

Set up push notifications, in-app messages, email, SMS, RCS, and Live Activities in OneSignal to reach Users across every channel.

OneSignal supports multiple messaging channels, each with different capabilities and setup requirements. Choose the channels that match your goals, or combine several to build a multi-channel experience with Journeys.

Email and SMS can be configured without a developer. Push notifications, in-app messages, and Live Activities require SDK integration — see the Developer guide or invite a developer to your team.

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Messaging channels

Mobile push

Alert-style notifications on iOS, Android, Huawei, and Amazon — even when the app isn’t open.

Web push

Browser-based notifications that reach Users even when your site isn’t open.

Email

Marketing and transactional emails with built-in deliverability tools.

In-app messages

Rich, interactive messages displayed while Users are active in your app.

SMS

Direct text messages for urgent or time-sensitive communication.

RCS

Rich messaging with branded content and read receipts on Android.

Live Activities

Real-time updates on the iOS lock screen. Similar capabilities available for Android.

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Channel comparison

Channel	Developer required?	Setup time	Best for
Email	No	15–60 min	Marketing campaigns, transactional messages, newsletters
SMS	No	15–60 min	Time-sensitive alerts, OTPs, appointment reminders
Web push	Yes	15–45 min	Re-engaging website visitors, announcements
Mobile push	Yes	30–60 min	App re-engagement, real-time alerts, promotions
In-app messages	Yes (SDK)	30–45 min	Onboarding, feature announcements, surveys
RCS	No	Varies	Rich branded messaging on Android with read receipts
Live Activities	Yes (SDK)	45–60 min	Live scores, delivery tracking, event countdowns

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Next steps

After setting up a channel, continue with the rest of your OneSignal implementation.

Quickstart guide

Full implementation walkthrough: Users, segments, sending messages, and analytics.

Developer guide

SDK reference, API docs, User identity, and testing for engineering teams.

Send messages

Compose and send your first message after setting up a channel.

Journeys

Automate multi-channel flows based on User behavior.

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FAQ

Which channel should I set up first?

Start with the channel that matches your most immediate goal. Email and SMS are the fastest to configure and don’t require a developer. If you already have a mobile app, push notifications provide the highest visibility for re-engagement.

Can I use multiple channels in the same OneSignal app?

Yes. A single OneSignal app supports all channels. Adding multiple channels lets you use Journeys to automate multi-channel flows — for example, sending a push notification, then following up with an email if the User doesn’t engage.

Do I need separate apps for testing and production?

Yes, this is strongly recommended. Use separate OneSignal apps for development, staging, and production to avoid sending test messages to real Users. See Apps, Organizations, and accounts for details.