by OneSignal – Web Push Notifications WordPress Plugin: A Complete Guide
Introduction
In today’s fast-paced digital world, keeping your audience engaged is a challenge. Traditional methods like email marketing and social media can be effective, but push notifications offer a faster, more direct way to reach users.
OneSignal is one of the most popular web push notification services, and its WordPress plugin makes it easy for website owners to send real-time notifications to their visitors. Whether you run a blog, e-commerce store, news website, or online business, OneSignal helps increase user retention, traffic, and conversions.
In this guide, we’ll explore OneSignal’s features, installation process, use cases, best practices, and alternatives.
What is OneSignal?
OneSignal is a leading push notification service that allows website and mobile app owners to send real-time alerts to users via browsers and mobile devices.
The OneSignal WordPress plugin makes it easy to integrate push notifications into a WordPress site, allowing site owners to:
✔ Automatically send notifications when a new post is published.
✔ Re-engage visitors who leave the site.
✔ Segment users based on behavior.
✔ Schedule push notifications for later.
✔ Increase website traffic and conversions.
OneSignal supports all major browsers, including:
- Chrome (Desktop & Android)
- Firefox
- Safari (MacOS)
- Microsoft Edge
- Opera
With over 100,000+ active installations, OneSignal is one of the best push notification plugins for WordPress.
Key Features of OneSignal
1. Web & Mobile Push Notifications
- Send instant push notifications to users.
- Supports desktop and mobile browsers.
2. Automatic Notifications
- Auto-send alerts when new posts are published.
3. Real-time & Scheduled Notifications
- Send notifications instantly or schedule them for later.
4. User Segmentation & Targeting (Pro Feature)
- Segment users based on:
- Location
- Device type
- Browsing behavior
- Subscription status
5. A/B Testing (Pro Feature)
- Test different notification messages to see what works best.
6. Customizable Opt-in Prompts
- Allow users to subscribe with one click.
- Customize popup design, timing, and text.
7. Analytics & Performance Tracking
- Track notification delivery, clicks, and conversions.
8. WooCommerce Integration (Pro Feature)
- Send notifications for abandoned carts, order updates, and promotions.
Installation & Setup Guide
Step 1: Install OneSignal Plugin
- Log in to your WordPress Dashboard.
- Go to Plugins > Add New.
- Search for “OneSignal – Web Push Notifications”.
- Click Install Now, then Activate.
Step 2: Create a OneSignal Account
- Go to OneSignal’s website and sign up.
- Click Add App and select Web Push.
Step 3: Configure OneSignal in WordPress
- Go to OneSignal > Configuration in your WordPress dashboard.
- Enter your OneSignal App ID and API Key.
- Choose default notification settings (e.g., auto-send notifications for new posts).
Step 4: Customize Opt-in Prompts
- Enable custom opt-in prompts to ask visitors if they want notifications.
- Adjust display timing, button text, and colors.
Step 5: Send Your First Notification
- Go to OneSignal Dashboard.
- Click New Push Notification.
- Enter your message, link, and audience segment.
- Click Send!
How to Use OneSignal?
1. Automatic Post Notifications
- When a new blog post is published, OneSignal automatically notifies subscribers.
- This boosts return traffic and engagement.
2. Sending Custom Notifications
- Go to OneSignal > Send Notification.
- Write a custom title, message, and link.
- Choose specific user segments.
- Click Send.
3. Scheduling Notifications
- Set notifications to go out at a specific date/time.
- Useful for event reminders, promotions, and product launches.
4. Using Segmentation for Targeted Messages (Pro Feature)
- Send messages to specific user groups.
- Example: Send discount offers only to users from a specific country.
5. A/B Testing for Optimization (Pro Feature)
- Test different messages to see which gets more clicks.
Use Cases for OneSignal
1. Bloggers & Content Creators
- Automatically notify readers when new posts are published.
- Send weekly digest notifications to keep users engaged.
2. E-commerce & WooCommerce Stores (Pro Feature)
- Abandoned cart reminders to recover lost sales.
- Flash sale notifications to boost conversions.
- Order status updates for customer satisfaction.
3. News & Media Websites
- Send breaking news alerts instantly.
- Allow users to subscribe to topic-based notifications (e.g., sports, tech, politics).
4. Membership & Online Course Websites
- Send course update notifications.
- Remind students about upcoming lessons or webinars.
OneSignal vs Other Push Notification Plugins
| Feature | OneSignal | PushEngage | Webpushr | VWO Engage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Automatic Notifications | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| User Segmentation | ✅ Yes (Pro) | ✅ Yes (Pro) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| A/B Testing | ✅ Yes (Pro) | ✅ No | ✅ No | ✅ Yes |
| WooCommerce Integration | ✅ Yes (Pro) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Best For | Blogs & News Sites | E-commerce & Marketers | Simple Use Cases | Advanced Testing |
Best Practices for Using OneSignal
✅ 1. Use Custom Opt-in Prompts
- Default browser prompts can be ignored easily.
- Custom prompts increase subscription rates.
✅ 2. Segment Your Audience (Pro Feature)
- Target users based on interests, behavior, and location.
✅ 3. Don’t Spam Users
- Sending too many notifications can lead to unsubscribes.
- Best practice: 2-3 notifications per week.
✅ 4. Schedule Notifications for Peak Hours
- Send notifications when users are most active (e.g., mornings, lunch breaks).
✅ 5. Use A/B Testing to Improve Engagement (Pro Feature)
- Test different titles, messages, and images.
Is OneSignal Pro Worth It?
The free version is great for basic notifications, but if you need advanced features, the Pro version offers:
🚀 Advanced User Segmentation – Send highly targeted messages.
🚀 A/B Testing – Optimize click-through rates.
🚀 WooCommerce Integration – Recover abandoned carts.
🚀 Priority Support – Faster response from OneSignal’s team.
Conclusion
The OneSignal WordPress plugin is an essential tool for website owners who want to boost traffic, engagement, and sales with push notifications. With its automation, segmentation, and scheduling features, OneSignal helps retain users and increase conversions.
