Azure Notification Hubs vs OneSignal: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this article, we will explore the key differences between Azure Notification Hubs and OneSignal, two popular platforms for sending push notifications to mobile devices.

1. Scalability: Azure Notification Hubs is designed to handle massive scale and can seamlessly handle millions of devices and push notifications. It leverages a publish-subscribe model, allowing you to send notifications to targeted devices or groups. OneSignal, on the other hand, also provides scalability but may have limitations when it comes to handling extremely large volumes of push notifications.

2. Platform Support: Azure Notification Hubs supports a wide range of platforms including iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Amazon devices. It also provides support for cross-platform development frameworks like Xamarin and React Native. OneSignal has similar platform support but also offers additional support for more niche platforms such as Unity, Cordova, and PhoneGap.

3. Integration with Microsoft Services: One of the advantages of Azure Notification Hubs is its tight integration with other Microsoft services. It seamlessly integrates with Azure's other offerings such as Azure Functions, Logic Apps, and Mobile Apps. This allows you to easily automate workflows and trigger push notifications based on certain events. OneSignal, being a standalone service, does not have the same level of integration with Microsoft services.

4. Advanced Targeting: Azure Notification Hubs provides advanced targeting capabilities, allowing you to segment your audience based on specific criteria such as device type, location, tags, or user preferences. You can create highly personalized and targeted campaigns to engage your users effectively. OneSignal also offers targeting capabilities but may not have the same level of granularity and flexibility as Azure Notification Hubs.

5. User Analytics and Insights: OneSignal offers detailed user analytics and insights, allowing you to track various metrics such as delivery rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates. It provides valuable data that can help you optimize and improve your push notification campaigns. Azure Notification Hubs, on the other hand, may not offer the same level of analytics and insights out of the box but can be complemented with other Azure services like Azure Monitor and Application Insights to gather and analyze data.

6. Cost Structure: Azure Notification Hubs follows a pricing model based on Monthly Active Devices (MADs) and the number of messages sent. The pricing is tiered based on the volume of push notifications, making it suitable for both small and large-scale deployments. OneSignal offers a free tier that allows for a limited number of push notifications, but additional features and higher volumes of push notifications come with a cost.

In summary, Azure Notification Hubs offers scalability, extensive platform support, integration with Microsoft services, advanced targeting, and customizable pricing. OneSignal also provides scalability and platform support but may lack some of the integration options and advanced targeting capabilities of Azure Notification Hubs. The choice ultimately depends on your specific requirements and preferences.