- Set up your account and messaging channels — create your app and configure at least one channel
- Add and organize your Users — understand Users, Subscriptions, tags, and segments
- Send messages — compose campaigns, personalize content, and build automated Journeys
- Measure impact with analytics — track delivery, engagement, and conversions
Set up your account and messaging channels
Your OneSignal App is where User and message data is stored. You can have multiple Apps in a single Organization for different projects, environments, or billing needs.OneSignal account
Apps, Organizations, and accounts
Your OneSignal App, Organization structure, and account settings.
Add team members
Invite collaborators and assign roles within your Organization.
Keys and IDs
Find your OneSignal App ID, Organization ID, and API keys.
Usage and billing
Billing, invoices, and usage details.
Messaging channels
OneSignal supports push notifications, in-app messages, email, SMS/MMS/RCS, and Live Activities. Choose your first channel and follow its setup guide — you can add more channels to the same app at any time.
Transactional and marketing email configuration.
Mobile push
iOS, Android, Huawei, and Amazon push setup.
Web push
Browser-based push notification setup.
In-app messages
Rich, interactive messages displayed within your app.
SMS
Text messaging for time-sensitive alerts.
RCS
Rich messaging with branded content and read receipts on Android.
Live Activities
Dynamic iOS lock screen updates. Similar capabilities available for Android.
After setting up push, configure mobile push permission prompts or web permission prompts to start collecting opt-ins from your Users.
Add and organize your Users
As users interact with your app, OneSignal assigns each a OneSignal ID (user ID) and Subscription IDs for each device, email address, or phone number. A single User can have multiple Subscriptions across channels. Users remain anonymous until you identify them with an External ID.
Users
Identified by External ID; can have multiple Subscriptions across channels.
Subscriptions
Email addresses, phone numbers, and devices that receive your messages.
User properties
Store User data as tags (key-value pairs) and custom events (user actions). Tags power message personalization and segmentation. Common tag examples:- Attributes:
first_name,city,subscription_tier - Behaviors:
cart_abandoned,last_login_date,onboarding_complete - Preferences:
notification_frequency,theme_preference
Tags
Use tags for message personalization and advanced segmentation.
Custom events
Trigger Journeys or wait-until actions based on User behavior.
Segments and integrations
Segments are dynamic groups of Users defined by tags, behavior data, or message interactions. They update automatically as User data changes — for example, “Last session greater than a week” or “Added item to cart.” Connect external platforms to enrich your segments with additional User data.
Segments
Create dynamic audience groups using tags and behavior data.
Integrations
Import User data from external platforms to power segments and Journeys.
Send messages
Design and send single-message campaigns or automated multi-step Journeys from the OneSignal dashboard. Each channel has its own composer with preview, targeting, and scheduling options.
Push notifications
Send to web, iOS, Android, Huawei, and Amazon devices.
Compose and send transactional or marketing emails.
In-app messages
Trigger rich, interactive messages based on User behavior within your app.
SMS
Send text messages for time-sensitive alerts and updates.
RCS
Send rich, branded messages with read receipts on Android.
Live Activities
Deliver dynamic lock screen updates on iOS.
Personalize your messages
Use tags, custom events, and dynamic data to tailor message content for each recipient. Create reusable templates to maintain consistency across campaigns.Message personalization
Personalize content with Liquid syntax, tags, Data Feeds, and custom data.
Templates
Create reusable message templates for push, email, and SMS.
Journeys
Journeys are automated, multi-step campaigns that respond to User behavior — such as onboarding sequences, abandoned cart reminders, and re-engagement flows.
Journeys
Build automated, multi-step campaigns triggered by User behavior.
Journey examples
Common patterns like onboarding, abandoned carts, and re-engagement.
Send via API
Send messages programmatically for transactional use cases like order confirmations, OTPs, and billing alerts.Developer guides
SDK and REST API documentation for engineering teams.
Transactional messages
Send time-sensitive messages like OTPs, receipts, and shipping updates via API.
Measure impact with analytics
Track message performance — including delivery, opens, clicks, and conversions — to understand what drives engagement and refine your strategy.Analytics overview
Review all analytics options available in OneSignal.
Event streams
Stream message events like clicks, opens, and receives to your data warehouse in real time.
Export data
Export User and message data in CSV or API format.
Integrations
Connect analytics platforms like Amplitude, Mixpanel, Segment, and more to OneSignal.
Conversion metrics
Measure business impact like revenue and sign-ups with cross-channel last-touch attribution.
Goals
Set a target metric on a message or Journey and track progress on the delivery report.
FAQ
Do I need a developer to get started?
Not necessarily. Email and SMS channels can be configured without code. Push notifications and in-app messages require SDK integration, which may need a developer or AI assistant. You can invite team members with different roles at any time.Can I add more messaging channels later?
Yes. Add any combination of channels to the same OneSignal App. Each channel has its own setup guide — return to the messaging channels section to add a new one.What is the difference between a User and a Subscription?
A User represents one person, identified by an External ID. A Subscription is a specific channel endpoint — such as a device, email address, or phone number. One User can have multiple Subscriptions across different channels and devices.How long does initial setup take?
Email setup typically takes under 30 minutes if you have access to your domain DNS settings. SMS requires carrier registration, which can take a few days. Push notification setup depends on your app’s platform and build process — plan for a few hours of developer time.Need help?Chat with our Support team or email
support@onesignal.comPlease include:- Details of the issue you’re experiencing and steps to reproduce if available
- Your OneSignal App ID
- The External ID or Subscription ID if applicable
- The URL to the message you tested in the OneSignal Dashboard if applicable
- Any relevant logs or error messages