Braze Alternatives

Karina InAppStory

August 23, 2024

588

When selecting a customer engagement platform, it’s all about finding the right fit. Braze is powerful, but for smaller businesses or startups, the cost can be steep. Not every team needs the full suite of Braze marketing tools, either. Sometimes, a simpler, more intuitive platform is all you need to get your campaigns rolling. Why pay for extras you won’t use?

We’ve gathered insights from real users across the web to give you the inside scoop on some of the best Braze alternatives. Think of it as a friend’s advice — here’s what you really need to know, straight from the people who’ve been there.

If you’re considering a Braze alternative, there are several options worth exploring. The first set of platforms we’ve reviewed offers a comprehensive range of features and supported channels, much like Braze. The remaining options are more specialized, focusing on specific platforms — such as mobile apps — or particular channels.

Insider

Insider is a strong contender, especially for industries like e-commerce, retail, travel, and media. It’s recognized for delivering AI-driven, personalized experiences that can improve customer engagement.

But before you commit, it’s important to consider what real users have to say. We’ve analyzed feedback from >1,000 reviews on G2. While Insider has a lot going for it, there are some challenges worth noting.

Strengths	Drawbacks
All-in-One Platform: Among Braze competitors, Insider stands out for consolidating marketing functions, without switching between multiple platforms.	High Cost: Budget matters. For smaller businesses, this might be a dealbreaker.
Excellent Customer Support: A supportive, proactive team can make all the difference. Insider’s customer support is often praised for being hands-on and helpful.	Regional Support Issues: Some users in remote regions report delays due to time zone differences.
Enhanced Data Collection: Data is key, and Insider excels at collecting and segmenting it effectively. This boosts lead generation and engagement, areas where the Braze platform is also strong.	Complex Reporting: Users often struggle with the complexity of setting up and interpreting data within dashboards and reports, leading them to frequently rely on the support team for assistance.

Although Insider is a strong and feature-rich platform, it’s best suited for companies that have both the budget and the need for its full range of tools. If a simpler, cost-effective alternative to Braze is what you’re after, Insider might not align with your needs.

Iterable

We chose to evaluate Iterable because it promises a powerful combination of personalization and ease of use that appeals to businesses aiming to create highly targeted campaigns. However, real user feedback highlights both its strengths and drawbacks.

Strengths	Drawbacks
Easy-to-Use Email Builder: Iterable’s drag-and-drop email builder is praised for its simplicity, making campaign setup accessible even for non-technical teams.	Frequent Technical Issues: Many users report frequent slowness, outages, and UI bugs, which can be frustrating during crucial campaign periods.
Strong Data Handling: The platform excels at managing complex data, enabling highly targeted and customized email campaigns.	Complexity and Resource Intensity: Iterable is often described as overcomplicated, requiring a significant investment of time and resources to set up and manage.
	Limited Out-of-the-Box Features: they are often seen as basic, requiring additional customizations and integrations to meet specific needs. Features like forms, landing pages, and advanced analytics are either missing or underdeveloped.
	Poor Customer Support Experience: Many users experience delays in getting support, which can be frustrating when immediate help is needed.
	Unreliable at Scale: The platform struggles with reliability at scale, with issues like list uploads failing and campaigns stopping unexpectedly.

Iterable brings strong capabilities in personalization and data management, making it attractive for complex marketing needs. Consider it might be better suited for large enterprises with dedicated development teams rather than smaller startups looking for simplicity. Also, if price isn't a concern for you, it's worth noting that Iterable is the most expensive option among the available solutions.

Klaviyo

Klaviyo is a popular choice among e-commerce startups and small to medium-sized businesses, especially those in the retail and consumer goods industries. It’s designed to simplify email marketing while offering enough features to grow with your business.

Strengths	Drawbacks
Ease of Use: Klaviyo makes it simple to create email flows and integrates smoothly with platforms like Shopify.	Sluggish Email Design: The design tools can feel slow and outdated, making the email creation process less efficient
Advanced Features: The platform offers dynamic segmentation, A/B testing, and multi-channel messaging across email, SMS, and social media	Unreliable Analytics: Klaviyo’s analytics reports often don’t align with Google Analytics, leading to inconsistencies in reporting and data interpretation.
	Integration Issues: Users report frequent problems with certain integrations, particularly with Magento, which can disrupt workflow.
	Support Limitations: While support is generally helpful, it’s not always fast. The reliance on a large knowledge base can be frustrating when immediate assistance is needed.
	Escalating Costs: As your contact list grows, Klaviyo’s pricing increases significantly, which can become a concern for businesses as they scale.

Klaviyo is a solid option for e-commerce businesses, particularly startups and small to medium-sized enterprises. It offers essential features like dynamic segmentation and multi-channel messaging, making it easier to manage and scale email marketing efforts. It’s a strong choice for those just starting out, but you’ll need to be prepared for some potential frustrations as you scale.

OneSignal

While OneSignal is a strong performer in its niche, it is not a comprehensive alternative to Braze. It lacks the broader multi-channel engagement features that Braze offers, making it more appropriate for businesses with simpler notification needs.

It's particularly suitable for companies looking for a cost-effective solution to manage push notifications across web and mobile platforms.

Strengths	Drawbacks
Leading in Push Notifications: As a major player in the web push notification space, OneSignal has built a solid reputation. The platform continues to evolve with new features, making it a capable option for businesses focused on this specific area.	Limited Multi-Channel Features: OneSignal's email and SMS features are criticized for lacking essential automation capabilities and requiring third-party integrations.
Comprehensive Browser Support: Unlike some competitors like SendPulse, which has limited browser support, OneSignal supports all web push-compatible browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Safari.	Complex Metrics Access: Accessing detailed email delivery metrics can be cumbersome, requiring users to download large CSV files or use the API, which is not ideal for all businesses.
Accessible Free Plan: For businesses starting out, OneSignal offers a free plan that includes many of the essential features, with no branding on opt-in forms.	Shifting Prices: OneSignal’s pricing can feel like a moving target. As your business grows, the frequent changes in their pricing policy might catch you off guard, potentially leading to higher costs than you initially expected.

If you're looking for a specialized tool that focuses on push notifications and basic behavioral messaging, OneSignal could be a good fit.

However, it's important to consider OneSignal has a low rating on Trustpilot, with users frequently highlighting concerns about customer support and the company’s responsiveness to issues.

This suggests that while OneSignal might meet your technical needs, the overall experience could be hindered by challenges in getting timely support when problems arise.

InAppStory

InAppStory is an all-in-one customer engagement platform for mobile apps focused on enhancing user experience with seamless visual in-app communication.

If your marketing strategy relies heavily on external channels like email, SMS, or push notifications, InAppStory might not cover all your needs on its own.

But if you’re serious about turning your app into a vibrant, engaging space that users love to explore, InAppStory is the partner you want.

Strengths	Drawbacks
Rich Content Capabilities: With InAppStory, you can quickly create unlimited stories, videos, and interactive widgets to keep users hooked right inside your app.	Niche Focus: InAppStory excels in in-app engagement but doesn’t cover broader multi-channel marketing needs. If your strategy relies heavily on external channels, you might need additional tools.
No-Code Pre-Built Games Studio: The unique platform’s Game Center offers ready-made mini-games like Spin-the-wheel and Puzzle games that you can customize without writing a single line of code.
Enhanced Engagement Tools: Bottom sheets, in-app messages, and pop-ups coming by the end of the year.
Powerful Content Editor: InAppStory offers an exceptionally intuitive and user-friendly editor that stands out in the market. Clients frequently praise its simplicity and ease of use.

InAppStory’s support is available for any technical, integration, or customization questions, typically with responses within a few hours. From initial setup to ongoing optimization, they will guide you through every phase of your journey.

The platform brings a full set of in-app visual communication tools, from stories to onboarding, games, pop-ups, and banners, all crafted for mobile apps. Also, it offers a full-access, one-month free trial.

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Conclusion

To sum up, when picking the right customer engagement platform you need to know your goals, have the right tools in hand, and be ready to adapt as you go. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, and that’s why exploring your options is key.

If you’re a smaller business or just starting out, some Braze competitors might offer exactly what you need without the extra bells and whistles (or costs). Insider and Iterable bring a robust set of features, making them worthy contenders, especially if your focus is on multi-channel engagement. On the other hand, platforms like OneSignal and InAppStory shine when you need something more specialized—whether it’s push notifications or creating immersive in-app experiences.

So, whether you’re comparing Braze vs. another platform or just trying to find the best fit for your business, it’s all about understanding your needs and finding the right match. The perfect platform is out there — it just depends on what you’re looking to achieve.

If you want to better engage your users within your app and drive key metrics like retention and revenue, start your free trial with InAppStory.