Apple Push (APNS)
performance benchmarks
Browse Apple Push (APNS)'s observed push API response time, error rates, and incident history over the last 90 days.
Live performance metrics
Real-world performance data from notifications sent through Knock
| Message volume | Growth | Status page updates (30d) | Status page updates (90d) |
|---|---|---|---|
25M–100M | 3rd of 5 ↓ | 0 | 0 |
From January 22nd to April 22nd, Knock routed 25M–100M messages through Apple Push (APNS). For adoption, Apple Push (APNS) ranks 3rd of 5 providers based on new channel connections, with adoption slowing over the period. Apple Push (APNS) reported no status page incidents over the last 90 days.
Response time
Response time measures how long Apple Push (APNS) takes to accept a push API request from Knock, including connection overhead and any automatic retries. Lower values mean faster notification hand-off.
| Median (p50) | p90 | p95 | p99 |
|---|---|---|---|
59ms | 101ms | 117ms | 153ms |
From January 22nd to April 22nd, Apple Push (APNS) averaged a daily median response time (p50) of 59ms across all days in the range, meaning half of all push API requests on a typical day complete in under 59ms. The 99th percentile averaged 153ms, with a peak daily p99 of 293ms. This is slightly higher than some providers, which may reflect additional processing Apple Push (APNS) performs on notification acceptance.
Error rate
Error rate tracks the ratio of 5xx responses and timeouts to total push API requests. Knock automatically retries failed requests, so transient provider errors rarely affect end-user delivery.
| Avg. daily error rate | Highest daily rate | Peak error date | Zero-error days | Days above 0.01% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
0.00% | 0.00% | Jan 22 | 91 | 0 |
From January 22nd to April 22nd, Apple Push (APNS) averaged a 0.00% daily error rate for 5xx responses and timeouts, with the highest single-day error rate reaching 0.00%. This is one of the lowest error rates among providers on Knock, indicating strong reliability and consistent uptime. Knock automatically retries failed requests, so transient provider errors rarely affect end-user delivery.
About these metrics: Data represents notifications sent through Knock to Apple Push (APNS) during the specified period. Response time measures time from Knock to provider acceptance. Error rate includes only provider 5xx responses and timeouts.
Recent Apple Push (APNS) incidents
Recent status page incidents for Apple Push (APNS)
No incidents reported in the last 90 days
About Apple Push (APNS)
APNS is Apple's native push notification service, providing free, reliable delivery to all Apple devices with support for rich media and Live Activities.
Pros
- Free with no per-notification cost at any volume
- Native platform integration ensures the most reliable delivery to Apple devices
- Supports rich notifications with media, interactive elements, and Live Activities
- Token-based auth simplifies certificate management at scale
Cons
- Limited to Apple platforms only (iOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS)
- No built-in analytics or delivery confirmation beyond basic device feedback
- Apple's status page has no public API or RSS feed for incident monitoring
Frequently asked questions
What is Apple Push (APNS)?
Apple Push (APNS) is a push notification provider commonly used for real-time messaging and chat notifications, order and delivery status updates, breaking news and content alerts. APNS is Apple's native push notification service, providing free, reliable delivery to all Apple devices with support for rich media and Live Activities.
How much does Apple Push (APNS) cost?
APNS is free to use with no per-notification cost. Apple does not charge for push notification delivery regardless of volume. The only requirement is an active Apple Developer Program membership ($99/year). Apple Push (APNS) does not offer a permanent free tier.
How fast is Apple Push (APNS)?
Based on real-world data from notifications sent through Knock, Apple Push (APNS) accepts push API requests with a median response time of 59ms (p50) and 153ms at the 99th percentile.
How reliable is Apple Push (APNS)?
From January 22nd to April 22nd, Apple Push (APNS) showed an error rate of 0.00% for 5xx responses and timeouts across 25M–100M messages sent through Knock. Knock automatically retries failed requests, so transient provider errors rarely affect end-user delivery.
What are the pros and cons of Apple Push (APNS)?
Key strengths include free with no per-notification cost at any volume and native platform integration ensures the most reliable delivery to apple devices. On the other hand, limited to apple platforms only (ios, macos, watchos, tvos) and no built-in analytics or delivery confirmation beyond basic device feedback.
Does Apple Push (APNS) work with Knock?
Yes. Knock has a native Apple Push (APNS) integration that enables you to send push notifications through Apple Push (APNS) as part of a cross-channel workflow. You can combine Apple Push (APNS) with other channels like in-app feeds, SMS, email, and Slack from a single API call.
Use Apple Push (APNS) with Knock
Knock enables you to integrate Apple Push (APNS) alongside other notification channels, manage templates, and orchestrate cross-channel workflows from a single platform.