How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Braze and CleverTap are the leading customer engagement platforms for mobile, with rich messaging across push, in-app and email.
- OneSignal is the best free starting point for push notifications, with a generous free tier.
- Airship suits enterprises that need mobile-first messaging at scale, with strong wallet and SMS features.
- Iterable and MoEngage are strong cross-channel alternatives, with Iterable best for email-led teams and MoEngage for mobile-first growth.
- Measure retention and conversion, not just opens, since a push that annoys users into uninstalling costs more than it earns.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Braze | Leading mobile engagement | See website | No |
 CleverTap | Mobile-first retention | See website | No |
 Airship | Enterprise mobile messaging | See website | No |
 OneSignal | Free push notifications | Free | Yes |
 Iterable | Cross-channel campaigns | See website | No |
 MoEngage | Mobile growth and insights | See website | No |
 HubSpot | All-in-one marketing plus mobile | See website | Yes |
 Mailchimp | Email and SMS for small teams | See website | Yes |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best apps for mobile marketing
#1Braze
Best for: Leading mobile engagement4.4/5 on
G2 (1,965 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit braze.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Braze is the customer engagement platform most large mobile brands choose. It powers push notifications, in-app messages, email, SMS and WhatsApp from one system, with real-time personalisation based on user behaviour, preferences and lifecycle stage. Campaigns can be built visually, tested with experiments, and optimised automatically toward retention or conversion goals.
Analytics are a strength: Braze shows how campaigns affect retention, revenue and engagement over time, not just opens and clicks. Its Canvas journey builder lets teams design multi-step flows that react to what users do, such as sending a different message to someone who abandoned a cart versus someone who completed a purchase.
Pricing is enterprise-level and custom, and the platform takes time to learn. But for a mobile business with serious scale, Braze's combination of channels, personalisation and measurement is the benchmark.
What we like- Rich cross-channel messaging
- Real-time personalisation
- Strong analytics and experimentation
Watch out for- Enterprise pricing
- Learning curve for full platform
#2CleverTap
Best for: Mobile-first retention4.6/5 on
G2 (681 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit clevertap.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
CleverTap is a mobile-first customer engagement and retention platform, popular with apps in e-commerce, fintech, food delivery and gaming. It combines analytics, segmentation, push, in-app messaging, email and SMS, with lifecycle campaigns that target users based on behaviour, from onboarding to win-back.
Its analytics go deeper than most messaging tools: funnels, cohorts, retention curves and churn prediction help teams understand why users leave and what brings them back. That insight focus suits growth teams that treat retention as their main metric.
Pricing is custom and enterprise-oriented, and the interface packs a lot in, which takes learning. But for mobile-first companies, especially those with large user bases in Asia, Africa and Latin America, CleverTap is a leading choice.
What we like- Strong mobile analytics and segmentation
- Lifecycle campaigns
- Good for apps in emerging markets
Watch out for- Enterprise pricing
- Interface can feel dense
#3Airship
Best for: Enterprise mobile messaging4.0/5 on
G2 (83 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit airship.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Airship, formerly Urban Airship, pioneered mobile push notifications and remains a strong enterprise choice. It handles push, in-app messages, SMS, email and mobile wallet passes, such as loyalty cards and boarding passes, from one platform, with automation, segmentation and experimentation built in.
Wallet is a differentiator: brands can issue and update passes for loyalty, tickets and offers, which keeps them visible on a user's phone without an app open. Reliability at scale is another strength, with enterprise clients in retail, travel, media and sports trusting Airship for high-volume sends.
Pricing is enterprise-level, and email is less central than at Braze or Iterable. For a large brand whose mobile app is the main customer channel, Airship's mobile depth and reliability make it a strong pick.
What we like- Mobile-first messaging at scale
- Wallet passes and SMS
- Strong enterprise reliability
Watch out for- Enterprise pricing
- Less focus on email than rivals
#4OneSignal
Best for: Free push notifications4.7/5 on
G2 (1,221 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit onesignal.com
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
OneSignal is the best free starting point for push notifications. Its free tier covers web and mobile push for a large number of subscribers, with segmentation, scheduling, A/B testing and basic automation included. Setup is quick, with SDKs for major platforms and plugins for WordPress, Shopify and other systems.
For a small app, blog or store, OneSignal's free plan often covers everything needed: welcome pushes, abandoned cart reminders, and news alerts, all with delivery and click reporting. Paid plans add more subscribers, advanced automation, SMS and email, and dedicated support.
Cross-channel depth is thinner than Braze or CleverTap, and the free tier has limits on features like advanced journeys. But for push-first marketing on a budget, OneSignal is the obvious first tool to try.
What we like- Generous free tier
- Easy setup for web and mobile push
- Good segmentation and automation
Watch out for- Advanced features need paid plans
- Less cross-channel depth than Braze
#5Iterable
Best for: Cross-channel campaigns4.4/5 on
G2 (839 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit iterable.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Iterable is a cross-channel marketing platform that handles email, push, SMS, in-app messages and more from one system, with a journey builder that lets teams design campaigns around user behaviour. Email is a particular strength, with a visual editor, dynamic content and deliverability tools that rival dedicated email platforms.
AI features help with send-time optimisation, subject line suggestions and audience insights, while data integrations connect Iterable to warehouses, CRMs and product analytics. That makes it a good fit for teams that want one platform for lifecycle marketing across channels, rather than separate tools for email and mobile.
Pricing is custom and enterprise-oriented, and getting full value needs clean data and some setup effort. For a mid-size or large team that leads with email but wants mobile in the same system, Iterable is a strong alternative to Braze.
What we like- Strong cross-channel journeys
- Excellent email capabilities
- Good data and AI features
Watch out for- Enterprise pricing
- Setup needs data work
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
MoEngage is a customer engagement platform built for mobile-first growth, combining analytics, segmentation and messaging across push, in-app, email, SMS and WhatsApp. Its insights engine surfaces churn risks, engagement patterns and audience segments automatically, helping teams act without digging through reports.
The platform is particularly strong in Asia, the Middle East and other mobile-first markets, with clients in e-commerce, banking, media and gaming. Features like on-site messaging, app inbox and cards give teams many ways to reach users inside the app, not just through push.
Pricing is custom, and MoEngage's presence in North America and Europe is smaller than Braze's, which can affect support and integrations for Western teams. But for mobile-first companies focused on growth and retention, MoEngage's insight-led approach is compelling.
What we like- Mobile-first analytics and engagement
- AI-driven insights
- Strong in Asia and emerging markets
Watch out for- Enterprise pricing
- Smaller presence in North America and Europe
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
HubSpot is not a mobile specialist, but its all-in-one marketing platform includes mobile-friendly tools that suit small teams. The free CRM, email marketing, landing pages and automation cover the basics, and the mobile app lets you manage campaigns, contacts and reports on the go. SMS is available as an add-on, and push can be handled through integrations.
For a small business that already uses HubSpot for CRM and email, adding mobile messaging through the same system avoids a second vendor and keeps customer data in one place. Workflows automate follow-ups across email and SMS, and reporting ties campaigns to deals and revenue.
Dedicated mobile platforms like Braze offer deeper push, in-app and journey features, and HubSpot's pricing rises with contacts. But for a small team that wants one system for marketing, sales and service, HubSpot's free start and broad feature set are hard to beat.
What we like- Free CRM and marketing tools
- Mobile app for managing campaigns
- Strong email and automation
Watch out for- Mobile messaging is less deep than specialists
- Costs rise with contacts
#8Mailchimp
Best for: Email and SMS for small teams4.4/5 on
G2 (5,436 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit mailchimp.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Mailchimp started as an email tool and remains best known for it, but its platform now includes SMS, landing pages, social posting and basic automation, which makes it a workable mobile marketing tool for small teams. The free plan covers a small audience with monthly email sends, and paid plans add SMS, advanced segmentation and customer journeys.
Templates and the drag-and-drop editor make it easy to build good-looking campaigns without design skills, and the mobile app lets you monitor performance and manage audiences from your phone. For a small store or creator, Mailchimp's combination of email and SMS covers most mobile marketing needs.
Push notifications are not Mailchimp's strength, and analytics are shallower than Braze or CleverTap. Pricing also rises with contacts, which can surprise growing lists. But for a small team starting with email and SMS, Mailchimp's free plan is a friendly first step.
What we like- Free plan for small audiences
- Easy email and SMS campaigns
- Good templates and automation
Watch out for- Mobile push is limited
- Pricing rises with contacts
- Analytics less deep than specialists
How we chose
We compared tools on channel coverage, segmentation, automation, analytics, pricing transparency and ease of use. Prices were checked against vendor sites, and where pricing is custom we say so. We also read public user reviews to confirm which platforms teams actually stick with and which ones frustrate with complexity or cost.
Mobile marketing without annoying users
The biggest risk in mobile marketing is over-messaging. A push that arrives at the wrong time, or repeats a message a user already acted on, drives uninstalls faster than any competitor. Set frequency caps, respect time zones, and use behaviour triggers rather than blasting your whole list. Give users control over notification types in settings, and honour those choices.
Measure retention, not opens
Opens and clicks are vanity metrics if users churn a week later. Track retention at 7, 30 and 90 days for messaged versus unmessaged users, and measure conversion to purchase, booking or subscription. A campaign that lifts opens but hurts retention is a failure, however good the dashboard looks.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best mobile marketing tool for a small app?
OneSignal is the best free starting point for push notifications, with a generous free tier. For email plus SMS, Mailchimp's free plan works well, and HubSpot's free CRM covers broader marketing needs.
What is the difference between Braze and CleverTap?
Both are leading mobile engagement platforms, but Braze is stronger in North America and Europe with deep cross-channel journeys, while CleverTap is stronger in mobile-first markets with deep analytics and retention tools. Both price by custom quote.
Can I send push notifications for free?
Yes. OneSignal's free tier covers push for many subscribers, and some app platforms include basic push. Advanced automation, SMS and email usually need paid plans.
Do I need a mobile marketing platform if I already use email?
Not necessarily, if your audience mainly responds to email. But if your customers use your app daily, push and in-app messages reach them faster and more reliably than email, and a mobile platform gives you the tools to use those channels well.
How many push notifications should I send?
Fewer than you think. Most users tolerate a few relevant pushes a week, but daily blasts drive opt-outs. Use behaviour triggers and frequency caps, and test different cadences to find what your audience accepts.
Is SMS marketing still effective?
Yes, SMS has very high open rates, but it is also the most intrusive channel, so use it sparingly for high-value messages like order updates, appointments and urgent offers. Always get explicit consent and offer an easy opt-out.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://www.braze.com
- https://clevertap.com
- https://www.airship.com
- https://onesignal.com
- https://iterable.com
- https://www.moengage.com
- https://www.hubspot.com
- https://mailchimp.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.