Step 1: Set up your Webflow project
Progressier can enhance your Webflow web app with additional features such as push notifications and the ability to be installed as a Progressive Web App (PWA). You can incorporate Progressier into your project when your app is live and accessible at a custom domain.
Note that setting up a custom domain with Webflow may require a paid plan. Make sure to upgrade your plan before going any further to be able to use all required features.
Before you start, also ensure your Webflow app can be embedded in an iframe. While this is optional and there is an alternative way to wrap your app with the functionality, the iframe method is the solution that provides the best user experience — provided that your app doesn't require cookies.
Step 2: Register for a Progressier account
Progressier is a web toolkit that allows you to easily add new capabilities to your Webflow app (and apps from hosting providers as well) using little to no code at all.
Create your Progressier account . Progressier comes with a 14-day free trial that allows you to integrate it into your Webflow app risk-free. You only enter your payment information once everything is working to your liking.
Step 3: Make your Webflow project a PWA
Next, create your Webflow app in Progressier. Go to New PWA, then select Webflow in the first dropdown menu. Give your app a name and paste the URL of your Webflow project in the third field.
Step 4: Complete the setup of your Webflow PWA
Once logged in to the dashboard, follow the instructions in the Get Started section to complete your Webflow integration. With Webflow, it typically takes about 4 minutes.
Step 5: Authorize push notifications
Because Webflow has some additional limitations compared to other no-code builders, Progressier doesn't directly augment your existing Webflow domain with push notifications. Instead, we create a wrapper around your app with the installation and push functionality. This wrapper is available at a custom domain created specifically for your app.
Open your newly-created custom domain. You should see a Floating Action Button at the bottom-right corner. Click on it and then tap Get notifications. The browser will prompt you to allow notifications. Click Allow
Step 6: Let's send a push notification
Go to our Push Composer (login required) to compose your first push notification. By default, it will be sent to all your subscribers, but you can target a specific group of users in the Recipients section of the Targeting tab.
Once you've clicked Send now, Progressier will automatically dispatch your notifications and notify each device that has authorized push notifications on your domain. Notifications are typically received within a few seconds.
Why should you add push notifications to your Webflow web app?
Push notifications can help keep users coming back to the app by providing them with valuable and interesting content. For example, if you have a fitness app, you can send push notifications with daily workout tips or challenges to keep users motivated and engaged.
Also, push notifications can provide a more convenient way for users to receive updates and information from your app, improving the overall user experience. For example, if you have a weather app, you can send push notifications with real-time weather updates to help users plan their day.
The challenges of implementing push notifications in web apps
Unlike native apps, not every browser and device supports push notifications. So you can't entirely rely on this feature to deliver important messages to users.
Users may opt out of receiving push notifications if they find them to be too frequent or irrelevant. Also Google sometimes auto-blocks push notifications for users that frequently block them.
What are the best push services for Webflow apps?
There are many different push notification service providers to choose from for your Webflow app, and the best one for you will depend on your specific needs and requirements. Some of the most popular push notification service providers include:
- Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM): a Google service that allows developers to send messages to their clients. Free but limited capabilities and scaling.
- OneSignal: Probably the most popular option for push notifications. OneSignal works well across platforms and provides more options than FCM but can be quite costly, especially at scale.
- Progressier: probably the best option if you develop web apps as it also comes with additional functionality designed to enhance web apps specifically, e.g. targeted push notifications.
- WonderPush: WonderPush is a cloud-based push notification service that enables developers to send targeted messages to their users on various devices.
- TruePush: Another popular option for developers to integrate push notifications into their Webflow app.
Developing your own push notification solution
If you're using Webflow, it's likely you value simplicity and getting things done quickly. Building your own push service requires code (a ton of it!) and is a non-trivial engineering effort. While sending a notification to one user is easy, sending it to many simultaneously is pretty hard and requires capabilities that can't be replicated in no-code or low-code platforms.
What devices and browsers are compatible with push notifications?
The Web Push API is compatible with Windows (via Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera), macOS (Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Safari 16 on macOS Ventura), Android (Samsung Internet, Chrome, Firefox). Push notifications will also soon be available on iOS with Safari.
