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  1. Stackups
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  4. Mobile Push Messaging
  5. Apple Push Notification Service vs Google Cloud Messaging

Apple Push Notification Service vs Google Cloud Messaging

OverviewComparisonAlternatives

Overview

Google Cloud Messaging
Google Cloud Messaging
Stacks88
Followers247
Votes22
Apple Push Notification Service
Apple Push Notification Service
Stacks80
Followers55
Votes0

Apple Push Notification Service vs Google Cloud Messaging: What are the differences?

Key Differences between Apple Push Notification Service and Google Cloud Messaging

Apple Push Notification Service (APNS) and Google Cloud Messaging (GCM) are two popular platforms that allow developers to send push notifications to mobile devices. While both services provide similar functionality, there are several key differences between them.

  1. Platform Compatibility: APNS is specifically designed for iOS devices, while GCM is primarily used for Android devices. This means that if you are targeting a specific operating system, you will need to use the corresponding service to send push notifications.

  2. Registration Process: To send push notifications using APNS, developers need to obtain an SSL certificate and configure it on their server. On the other hand, GCM requires developers to register their application with the Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) platform, which involves obtaining an API key and configuring it in the application.

  3. Payload Format: The payload format for push notifications is different between APNS and GCM. APNS requires the payload to be in JSON format, while GCM allows for both JSON and plain text payloads. This difference in payload format may require additional code changes when switching between the two services.

  4. Message Routing: When sending push notifications using APNS, the messages are routed through Apple's servers to the target devices. In contrast, GCM uses Google's infrastructure to route messages. This difference in routing can have an impact on the delivery speed and reliability of push notifications.

  5. Message Size Limit: APNS has a maximum payload size limit of 4 KB, while GCM allows for a larger payload size of up to 4 MB. This can be important when sending rich media or large amounts of data in push notifications.

  6. Feedback Mechanism: APNS provides a feedback service that allows developers to receive information about the delivery status of push notifications. This feedback includes details such as the device token, timestamp, and whether the notification was successfully delivered. GCM, on the other hand, does not provide a built-in feedback mechanism, requiring developers to implement their own feedback system.

In summary, the key differences between APNS and GCM lie in their platform compatibility, registration process, payload format, message routing, message size limit, and feedback mechanism.

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Detailed Comparison

Google Cloud Messaging
Google Cloud Messaging
Apple Push Notification Service
Apple Push Notification Service

Google Cloud Messaging (GCM) is a free service that enables developers to send messages between servers and client apps. This includes downstream messages from servers to client apps, and upstream messages from client apps to servers.

It is the centerpiece of the remote notifications feature. It is a robust, secure, and highly efficient service for app developers to propagate information to iOS (and, indirectly, watchOS), tvOS, and macOS devices.

Versatile Messaging Targets: Distribute messages to your client app in any of three ways — to single devices, to groups of devices, or to devices subscribed to topics.; Downstream Messaging: For purposes such as alerting users, chat messaging or kicking off background processing before the user opens the client app, GCM provides a reliable and battery-efficient connection between your server and devices.; Upstream Messaging: Send acknowledgments, chats, and other messages from devices back to your server over GCM’s reliable and battery-efficient connection channel.;
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Statistics
Stacks
88
Stacks
80
Followers
247
Followers
55
Votes
22
Votes
0
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 9
    Free
  • 6
    Scalable
  • 4
    Easy setup
  • 2
    Easy iOS setup
  • 1
    IOS Support
Cons
  • 1
    Reliability
No community feedback yet
Integrations
No integrations available
macOS
macOS
Firebase Cloud Messaging
Firebase Cloud Messaging

What are some alternatives to Google Cloud Messaging, Apple Push Notification Service?

OneSignal

OneSignal

OneSignal is a high volume push notification service for websites and mobile applications. OneSignal supports all major native and mobile platforms by providing dedicated SDKs for each platform, a RESTful server API, and a dashboard.

Urban Airship

Urban Airship

We’ve built the smartest, most aware, precise, easy-to-use, scalable, secure and powerful push messaging platform on the planet. Our Push messaging platform leverages all that is unique about mobile as a channel, and that lights the spark to create meaningful and valuable mobile experiences. We help put your app in front of your users at the right time, and in the right place to drive usage and brand engagement.

Amazon SNS

Amazon SNS

Amazon Simple Notification Service makes it simple and cost-effective to push to mobile devices such as iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, and internet connected smart devices, as well as pushing to other distributed services. Besides pushing cloud notifications directly to mobile devices, SNS can also deliver notifications by SMS text message or email, to Simple Queue Service (SQS) queues, or to any HTTP endpoint.

Firebase Cloud Messaging

Firebase Cloud Messaging

It is a cross-platform messaging solution that lets you reliably deliver messages at no cost. You can notify a client app that new email or other data is available to sync. You can send notification messages to drive user re-engagement and retention. For use cases such as instant messaging, a message can transfer a payload of up to 4KB to a client app.

Amazon Pinpoint

Amazon Pinpoint

Amazon Pinpoint makes it easy to run targeted campaigns to drive user engagement in mobile apps. Amazon Pinpoint helps you understand user behavior, define which users to target, determine which messages to send, schedule the best time to deliver the messages, and then track the results of your campaign.

Pusher Mobile Push Notifications API

Pusher Mobile Push Notifications API

Send push notifications to iOS and Android devices through one unified Push Notifications API for Google Cloud Messaging (GCM) and Apple Push Notification Service (APNS).

PushCrew

PushCrew

PushCrew enables any website to send push notifications to their users (even when they are not on the website). A simple JavaScript code makes it working on any website in less than 2 minutes. It's a fantastic new alternative to email marketing.

ZeroPush

ZeroPush

ZeroPush provides a clean web-friendly API to APNS and GCM for mobile push notifications.

PushBots

PushBots

Reach all your customers on mobile or desktop. Send and manage push notification, in-app messages, or polls. Understand user behavior, retention and engagement.

saastoast

saastoast

Saastoast sends real-time push notifications for key SaaS events, trial signups, upgrades, feature usage, churn risks, and more, keeping founders motivated and customer-centric by showing momentum as it happens.

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