Apple Push Notification vs Firebase FCM

Two push notification providers, compared on price, features and ratings, so you can pick fast.

Apple Push Notification wins native Apple deliveryFirebase FCM wins platform coverage and features

Updated August 2026

At a glanceApple Push NotificationFirebase FCM
Entry priceFreeFree
Free tierYesYes
G2 rating4.34.5
Trustpilot1.63.4

THE VERDICT

Apple Push Notification wins on native Apple delivery. Firebase FCM wins on platform coverage and features.

Apple Push Notification starts at Free versus Firebase FCM's Free. Firebase FCM rates higher with developers (4.5 vs 4.3 on G2). Pick based on volume and team, and the scorecard below breaks down where each one leads.

Which should you choose?

Pick Apple Push Notification

✓If you're building an Apple-specific product, APN is a sure thing for a proper notification system.
Set up Apple Push Notification with Courier →

Pick Firebase FCM

✓If you're a developer looking to send multiple messages reliably and save money, FCM is perfect for you.
Set up Firebase FCM with Courier →

Feature by feature

Winner cells are tinted, green where Apple Push Notification leads, violet where Firebase FCM does.

capability
Apple Push Notification
Firebase FCM
Starting paid plan
$0/mo
$0/mo
Free tier
Free
Unlimited (free)
Pricing model
Free
Free
iOS
Yes
Yes
Android
No
Yes
Web push
Yes
Yes
Desktop
Yes
Yes
Segmentation
No
Yes
In-app messaging
No
Yes
Journeys / automation
No
No
A/B testing
No
Yes
Geofencing
No
No
Rich media
Yes
Yes
Official SDKs
Swift/Obj-C (client); token-based HTTP/2 provider API (any server language)
iOS, Android, Web, Flutter, Unity, C++; Admin SDK: Node, Java, Python, Go, C#
REST API
Yes
Yes
Event webhooks
No
No
SOC 2
—
Yes
HIPAA
No
No
GDPR
Yes
Yes
Support channels
Developer docs, forums, Feedback Assistant, DTS
Docs & community (paid via GCP support)
24/7 support
No
No

FAQ

Common questions

Apple Push Notification starts at Free versus Firebase FCM's Free. Compare your expected monthly volume against the per-message rates above.

Keep comparing

Related comparisons

Airship vs Apple Push NotificationPush→AWS SNS vs Apple Push NotificationPush→Apple Push Notification vs BeamerPush→Apple Push Notification vs ExpoPush→Apple Push Notification vs MagicBellPush→Apple Push Notification vs OneSignal PushPush→

Why not both?

Use both behind one API.

Route Apple Push Notification, Firebase FCM, or both, and switch providers without changing your code. Courier sits in front of every channel.

Start building freeRead the docs

Pricing, plans and feature availability as of August 2026 and may change. Ratings are aggregated from public review platforms. Firebase FCM is a Google product.

Multichannel Notifications Platform for SaaS