What push notification service should I use for iOS and Android?

If you want one service that works well for both iOS and Android, the most common choice is:

Best general recommendation: Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM)

Why:

• Free and widely used
• Works for Android directly
• Can also send to iOS by integrating with Apple Push Notification service (APNs) through Firebase
• Good documentation and broad SDK support
• Easy to use for most apps, especially if you already use Firebase for analytics, auth, or database

Good alternatives

OneSignal

Best if you want:

• Easier setup and a more “productized” dashboard
• Marketing-style push features like segmentation, scheduling, A/B testing
• Less backend work

AWS SNS / Pinpoint

Best if you:

• Already use AWS heavily
• Want to manage notifications alongside other cloud infrastructure
• Need more enterprise integrations

Custom APNs + FCM directly

Best if you:

• Want maximum control
• Have a backend team comfortable managing both providers separately

Simple recommendation by use case

• Startup / general app: FCM
• Need rich campaign tooling: OneSignal
• Already on AWS: Pinpoint/SNS
• Highly custom / enterprise: Direct APNs + FCM

My practical advice

If you’re unsure, start with Firebase Cloud Messaging. It’s usually the safest default for iOS + Android.

If you want, I can also give you a side-by-side comparison of FCM vs OneSignal vs AWS Pinpoint based on cost, ease of use, and features.