Best Push Notifications: 12 Types + Examples That Get 40% Open Rates

Push notifications can drive strong engagement—when done right. Done wrong, they get your app deleted.

This guide covers the 12 types of push notifications that work, with real examples and timing strategies. For conversion tactics that complement push, see our guide on FOMO marketing.

What Are Push Notifications?

Push notifications are messages sent directly to users' devices (mobile or desktop) that appear even when they're not using your app or website. According to industry research, push notifications can achieve open rates far exceeding email when done right.

Unlike email (which requires opening an inbox) or SMS (which costs money), push notifications are:

• Instant delivery
• High visibility
• Free to send
• Opt-in based

12 Types of Push Notifications That Work

Type 1: Transactional Notifications

Purpose: Confirm actions or provide status updates

When to send: Immediately after user action

Examples:

• "Your order #12345 has shipped! Track it here →"
• "Payment received: $49.99. View receipt →"
• "Password changed successfully. Not you? Contact support"
• "Your booking is confirmed for March 15 at 2 PM"

Best practices:

• Include relevant details (order number, amount, date)
• Add actionable link (track, view, cancel)
• Keep concise—users expect these
• Never skip these—they build trust

Open rate: 30-50% (highest of all types)

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Type 2: Promotional Notifications

Purpose: Announce sales, discounts, or special offers

When to send: Start of promotion, midway reminder, final hours

Examples:

• "Flash Sale: 40% off everything. Ends tonight 🔥"
• "Your exclusive code: SAVE20. Valid 48 hours only"
• "We miss you! Here's 25% off your next order"
• "Black Friday starts NOW. Shop early access →"

Best practices:

• Include specific discount (40%, not "big sale")
• Add urgency (ends tonight, 48 hours only)
• Segment by past purchase behavior
• Limit to 2-3 promotional pushes per week

Open rate: 15-25%

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Type 3: Personalized Recommendations

Purpose: Suggest products or content based on user behavior

When to send: Based on browsing patterns or purchase history

Examples:

• "Based on your purchase: 5 items you might love 💕"
• "Your size is back in stock: Nike Air Max"
• "Continuing your show? Stranger Things S4 E5 is ready"
• "New arrivals in categories you follow"

Best practices:

• Reference specific past behavior
• Limit to genuinely relevant suggestions
• Use purchase history, not just browsing
• Include product image when possible (rich push)

Open rate: 25-35%

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Type 4: Abandoned Cart Reminders

Purpose: Recover abandoned shopping carts

When to send: 1 hour, 24 hours, 72 hours after abandonment

Examples:

• "You left something behind! Your cart is waiting 🛒"
• "Still thinking? Your items are selling fast"
• "Complete your order for free shipping (ends tonight)"
• "Your cart expires in 24 hours. Don't miss out!"

Best practices:

• First reminder: Gentle, no discount
• Second reminder: Add urgency (limited stock)
• Third reminder: Offer incentive if needed
• Show product image and price

Open rate: 20-30% (with 15% conversion rate)

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Type 5: Price Drop Alerts

Purpose: Notify about price changes on wishlisted items

When to send: Immediately when price drops

Examples:

• "Price drop! MacBook Air is now $200 off"
• "Good news: That jacket you saved is on sale!"
• "Back in stock AND on sale: Nike Dunks now $89"
• "Your wishlist item dropped 30%"

Best practices:

• Only for items user specifically saved/viewed
• Show original vs. new price
• Add urgency (limited time, limited stock)
• Link directly to product page

Open rate: 30-40% (very high intent)

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Type 6: Back-in-Stock Alerts

Purpose: Notify when previously unavailable items return

When to send: Immediately when stock replenishes

Examples:

• "It's back! [Product] is available again"
• "You asked, we restocked: [Product] is here 🎉"
• "Don't miss it twice: [Product] back in stock"
• "Limited restock: Get yours before it's gone again"

Best practices:

• Only for items user specifically requested
• Emphasize scarcity (sold out before)
• Include product image
• Create urgency (may sell out again)

Open rate: 35-45% (highest conversion intent)

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Type 7: Location-Based Notifications

Purpose: Trigger based on user's physical location

When to send: When user enters geofenced area

Examples:

• "Welcome back! Show this for 10% off today's visit"
• "You're near our [Location] store—stop by for a surprise!"
• "In [City]? Here are today's local deals"
• "Your order is ready for pickup at the [Location] store"

Best practices:

• Respect privacy—require explicit location permission
• Make offers genuinely valuable
• Don't spam every time they're nearby
• Include store-specific details

Open rate: 20-35%

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Type 8: Event Reminders

Purpose: Remind users about upcoming events or deadlines

When to send: 24 hours before, 1 hour before, at event time

Examples:

• "Tomorrow: Your coaching call at 3 PM. Add to calendar →"
• "Starting in 1 hour: Live Q&A with [Name]"
• "Don't forget: Webinar starts now! Join →"
• "Your free trial ends in 3 days. Upgrade to keep access"

Best practices:

• Multiple reminders at decreasing intervals
• Include clear time and action
• Add to calendar option when possible
• Final reminder should be most urgent

Open rate: 25-40%

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Type 9: Social Notifications

Purpose: Notify about social interactions within your app

When to send: Shortly after the interaction occurs

Examples:

• "[Name] liked your post 👍"
• "5 people responded to your question"
• "[Name] sent you a message"
• "You have 3 new followers this week"

Best practices:

• Batch multiple interactions (don't send 10 separate likes)
• Prioritize meaningful interactions (comments > likes)
• Show preview of message when possible
• Allow granular notification preferences

Open rate: 30-45%

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Type 10: Achievement & Progress Notifications

Purpose: Celebrate milestones and encourage continued engagement

When to send: Immediately after achievement or at regular intervals

Examples:

• "Congrats! You've completed a 7-day streak 🔥"
• "You're in the top 10% of readers this month"
• "New badge unlocked: Power User"
• "You're halfway to your goal. Keep going!"

Best practices:

• Make achievements feel meaningful
• Show progress toward next milestone
• Include sharable elements
• Don't create fake achievements (feels hollow)

Open rate: 25-35%

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Type 11: Content Notifications

Purpose: Alert users to new content they care about

When to send: When relevant new content is published

Examples:

• "New episode: [Podcast] just dropped"
• "[Creator you follow] just posted"
• "Breaking: [News headline]"
• "New blog: [Title] 📖"

Best practices:

• Only for content user actively follows
• Personalize based on consumption history
• Include preview/headline
• Respect content preferences (daily digest vs. instant)

Open rate: 20-35%

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Type 12: Feedback & Survey Requests

Purpose: Collect user feedback at the right moment

When to send: After meaningful interaction or purchase

Examples:

• "How was your delivery? Rate your experience"
• "Quick question: Would you recommend us? 🤔"
• "Got 30 seconds? Help us improve →"
• "You've been using [App] for 1 month. How's it going?"

Best practices:

• Ask at moment of highest satisfaction (post-delivery, post-achievement)
• Keep survey ultra-short (1-3 questions max)
• Explain why feedback matters
• Offer small incentive for longer surveys

Open rate: 15-25%

Push Notification Timing Best Practices

Best Times by Day

Best Times by Notification Type

Time Zone Considerations

Options:

1. User's local time: Send at 9 AM their time (best)
2. Optimal time zone: Send at 9 AM EST (reaches most US users)
3. Smart send: Let platform optimize per user

Push Notification Copy Best Practices

Keep It Short

Character limits:

• Title: 40-50 characters (visible across devices)
• Body: 80-100 characters (before truncation)

Example:

• ❌ "We wanted to let you know that the product you've been looking at is now on sale with a 30% discount applied at checkout"
• ✅ "Your saved item is 30% off—today only 🔥"

Lead with Value

First words matter most—they show in the preview.

Examples:

• ✅ "50% off: Flash sale ends tonight"
• ❌ "Hey there! We have exciting news..."

Include Emojis (Sparingly)

Emojis can increase open rates when used appropriately.

Good uses:

• 🔥 Fire (urgency, hot deals)
• 🎉 Celebration (achievements, good news)
• ⚡ Lightning (flash sales)
• 📦 Package (shipping updates)

Avoid:

• Multiple emojis in one notification
• Emojis that don't match tone
• Emojis for serious/transactional messages

Create Urgency

Use time-based language:

• "Ends tonight"
• "Last chance"
• "24 hours only"
• "Selling fast"
• "Before it's gone"

Personalize

Use what you know about the user:

• Name: "Sarah, your order is ready"
• Location: "In Austin? 20% off at our downtown store"
• History: "Based on your last purchase..."
• Behavior: "Finish what you started: [Article]"

Segmentation Strategies

By User Behavior

By Purchase History

By Preference

Let users choose:

• Notification frequency (instant, daily digest, weekly)
• Notification types (transactional only, all marketing, etc.)
• Quiet hours (no notifications 10 PM - 8 AM)

Push Notification Mistakes to Avoid

1. Too Many Notifications

Problem: User fatigue, app deletion Limit: 2-5 push notifications per week max Fix: Prioritize highest-value notifications

2. Generic Messaging

Problem: Feels like spam, low engagement Example: "Check out our app!" Fix: Personalize based on user behavior

3. Wrong Timing

Problem: Notifications at 3 AM, during work Fix: Use local time zones, respect quiet hours

4. No Clear Value

Problem: Notification doesn't answer "why should I care?" Example: "We have updates" Fix: Lead with specific benefit

5. Broken Deep Links

Problem: Tap leads to wrong page or app crash Fix: Test all notification links before sending

6. Ignoring Opt-Outs

Problem: Users unsubscribe, you lose them forever Fix: Re-permission respectfully, offer preferences

Measuring Push Notification Success

Key Metrics

What to Track

• By notification type: Which types drive highest engagement?
• By timing: Which send times perform best?
• By segment: Which user groups respond best?
• By copy variant: Which messaging converts?

A/B Testing Ideas

• Title length (short vs. detailed)
• With emoji vs. without
• Urgency language vs. value language
• Personalized vs. generic
• Send time (morning vs. evening)
• Deep link destination

Rich Push Notifications

What They Include

Beyond text:

• Images (product photos, promo graphics)
• Action buttons (Buy Now, View, Dismiss)
• Carousels (multiple products)
• Videos/GIFs (limited support)

When to Use Rich Push

Rich Push Examples

Product alert with image:

Title: Your wishlist item is 30% off
Body: Nike Air Max - was $150, now $105
Image: [Product photo]
Button 1: Buy Now | Button 2: View Details

Order update with actions:

Title: Your order is out for delivery
Body: Expected by 5 PM today
Image: [Package icon]
Button 1: Track | Button 2: Delivery Instructions

Push Notification Templates

E-commerce

Cart abandonment:

"Still thinking? Your [Product] is waiting 🛒 Complete checkout →"

Price drop:

"Price alert! [Product] just dropped $50. Grab it before it's gone"

Shipping:

"Your order shipped! Track it: [Tracking number] 📦"

SaaS/Apps

Trial expiring:

"Your free trial ends in 2 days. Upgrade to keep your data →"

New feature:

"New: [Feature] is here. See how it works →"

Achievement:

"You hit your goal! 🎉 Keep the streak going tomorrow"

Content/Media

New content:

"New episode: [Title] just dropped 🎧"

Personalized recommendation:

"Based on your reading: [Article] you'll love"

Breaking news:

"Breaking: [Headline]. Read more →"

Quick Reference: Push Notification Checklist

Before sending:

• Clear value in first 5 words?
• Under 100 characters total?
• Personalized where possible?
• Correct deep link tested?
• Sent at optimal time for audience?
• Segmented to relevant users?
• Emoji adds value (not clutter)?
• Urgency is genuine (not fake)?

Related Guides

• FOMO Marketing: 18 Tactics
• Creating Urgency in Sales
• Power Words That Convert
• Shopping Cart Optimization
• Emotional Marketing Examples

Key Takeaways

1. Quality over quantity. 2-5 notifications per week max.
2. Personalization is required. Generic pushes feel like spam.
3. Timing matters. Send when users are most receptive.
4. Lead with value. First words determine if users read on.
5. Test everything. Copy, timing, segmentation all impact results.

Push notifications are direct access to your users' attention. Use that access wisely, and you'll build engagement. Abuse it, and you'll lose them forever.