{"id":7478,"date":"2025-03-21T07:30:08","date_gmt":"2025-03-21T07:30:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/userpilot.com\/blog\/in-app-messaging\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T17:14:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T17:14:09","slug":"in-app-messaging","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/userpilot.com\/blog\/in-app-messaging\/","title":{"rendered":"In-App Messaging: Definition, Types, Use Cases, and Best Practices"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a customer success manager at Userpilot<\/a>, I\u2019ve worked closely with many product and marketing teams who struggle to keep their users engaged after signup. Often, this comes down to missing one critical step\u2014effective in-app messaging.<\/p>

But great in-app messaging is more than just another pop-up. Done right, these messages don\u2019t interrupt your user\u2019s experience. Instead, they guide users toward value, helping your customers quickly understand your product during onboarding. By using in-app messages to educate new users and highlight key product features at the right time, you can drive engagement with app users from day one.<\/p>

In this article, I\u2019ll explain how in-app messaging works, how it differs from push notifications, and why it\u2019s essential for your user onboarding<\/a> strategy. Let\u2019s get started.<\/p>

What are in-app messages?<\/h2>

In-app messages<\/a> (or in-product messages) are messages used to communicate <\/a>with users while they interact <\/a>with a mobile or web application.<\/p>

Their main purpose is to engage users <\/a>and prompt them to take action, provide guidance <\/a>and support, keep customers up-to-date about product changes, and gather feedback<\/a>.<\/p>

What is the difference between push notifications and in-app messaging?<\/h2>

I often get asked about the key differences between push notifications and in-app notifications<\/a>. Here’s how I usually break it down:<\/p>

A push notification is sent directly from the server to the user\u2019s device and appears on their screen even when they\u2019re not using the application unless they have opted out of receiving them. Push notifications can be used for alerts, welcome messages, and reminders or to re-engage users <\/a>who haven\u2019t used the app for a while.<\/p>

In contrast, in-app notifications are displayed within the app and can only be seen by users actively engaging with it. Users can dismiss it but cannot opt in or out from seeing it because it\u2019s a part of the user experience<\/a>.<\/p>

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Why implement in-app messaging in your company?<\/h2>

Embedding in-app messaging in your user experience offers clear benefits for your customers and your company. From my own customer experience here at Userpilot, here are some key reasons why you should implement in-app messaging:<\/p>