Push Notifications vs. Email: Which Drives More Conversions for Shopify?

Every store owner reaches the same point sooner or later: you’re driving traffic, you’re getting sign-ups, but the follow-up messages aren’t doing what you hoped. Some customers open emails, some don’t. Push notifications catch attention, but not always at the right moment. And you start wondering, Okay… which one actually moves the needle?

Working with Shopify merchants through our Mobile app builder, I’ve seen this debate play out constantly. Some swear by email because it’s familiar and predictable. Others rely almost entirely on push notifications because they want immediacy. The truth is, neither one is “better” in every situation, they just work differently.

If you're trying to figure out which channel brings real conversions (not just opens), here’s what merchants often learn once they start running both side by side.

Why Email Still Works, Even After All These Years

Email is the oldest marketing tool we still use every single day. And even with inboxes being a warzone, Shopify stores continue to get strong results from it. Not always overnight, but consistently.

1. Emails carry more information

A push notification can’t show a catalog or explain a story. Email can.

If you’re announcing:

• New arrivals
• Detailed offers
• Seasonal collections
• Account updates

…email gives you the space you need.

2. Customers expect emails

People know they’ll receive order updates, rewards reminders, and abandoned cart messages in their inbox. They’re mentally prepared for it, which makes email a stable, trustworthy channel.

3. It’s better for complex or high-ticket purchases

If you sell something that requires consideration (electronics, furniture, custom items), email helps you nurture those longer decisions.

The downside?

Emails get buried quickly. Promotions land in spam. A customer might not check their inbox for days.

So while email is valuable, it doesn’t always create urgency.

Where Push Notifications Win, Fast, Loud, and Hard to Ignore

Push notifications have one huge advantage: speed

The moment you want a customer’s attention, they see it right on their phone screen.

And once a shopper has your mobile app installed?

Your message reaches them instantly, often with a higher impact than any email.

1. Push gets seen immediately

Most merchants see that their push notifications are opened within minutes, not hours. Perfect for:

• Flash sales
• Low-stock alerts
• Price drops
• “Your order is out for delivery”
• Cart reminders

If timing matters, push notifications usually outperform email.

2. The tap-through rate is higher

It’s much easier for someone to tap a notification than open an email, scroll, and click a link. That simplicity directly boosts conversions.

3. Stronger engagement for mobile-driven stores

Stores with repeat buyers (beauty, food, pet supplies, accessories) see especially strong performance from push.

The downside?

Push notifications can feel intrusive if used too often and many might not know how to send push notification to customers.

Send too many, and customers simply turn them off, and once they do, it’s hard to get them back.

So Which Converts Better on Shopify? (Real Patterns We See)

There’s no universal winner, but based on what we see across merchants using our mobile app builder, here’s the general pattern:

Situation	Better Performer	why
Flash sales / time-limited deals	Push	Instant visibility
Abandoned carts	Push first, email second	Push brings quick returns; email backs it up
Order and delivery updates	Push	Customers check phones first
New product drops	Email for details, push for urgency	They complement each other
High-value purchases	Email	Customers need depth
Loyalty or reward reminders	Push	Quick nudge equals fast redemption

The best-performing stores don’t choose between push or email.

They combine them intentionally, not randomly.

Why Push Notifications Work Even Better With a Mobile App

A big reason push performs so well is simple: customers who download a store’s app are already more invested. They’re not casual window shoppers, they’re loyal, returning buyers.

When they see a push notification:

• They recognize the brand
• They trust the message
• They react faster

Most mobile app merchants on Shopify say the same thing, push notifications feel personal, even when they’re automated.

This is one reason we built native push capabilities into our mobile app builder. Merchants wanted an easier way to send real-time messages without depending on costly email campaigns. And honestly, once they start using push notifications, they’re surprised how quickly conversions rise.

Where Email Still Has an Edge (And It’s a Big One)

Even with push notifications being so effective, email still plays a critical role.

Why? Because it creates customer memory.

You can bookmark an email.

Forward it.

Revisit it later.

Search for it when you need order details.

Push notifications disappear. Email stays.

If you want long-term communication that feels professional and complete, email is still the backbone.

The Smartest Approach: Don’t Choose One. Use Both.

Here’s the strategy many successful Shopify stores follow:

Use push for speed.

Short, immediate, to-the-point messages that drive fast actions.

Use email for depth.

Reminders, details, stories, product education, receipts, longer content.

Combine them for the big moments.

Example workflow many merchants use:

1. A customer abandons their cart

2. Send a push notification within 20 minutes

3. If nothing happens, send an email an hour later

4. Push notification during the next sale

5. Email with recommendations based on what they left behind

It feels natural, not pushy, not intrusive, just well-timed.

Push vs. Email: How to Decide for Your Store

If you’re trying to choose which one deserves more attention, ask yourself a few questions:

• Do your customers buy quickly, or do they think before buying?
• Do most shoppers come from mobile or desktop?
• Do you run frequent sales or rare, big promos?
• Do you have a mobile app, or are you planning one?
• Do your customers expect detailed content or quick nudges?

Your answers guide your messaging strategy more than any statistics.

But if you want conversions, not clicks, not opens, you’ll see the biggest impact when both channels support each other instead of competing.

Conclusion

Email will always have its place. It’s reliable, flexible, and great for long messages. Push notifications hit fast and hard, ideal for real-time conversions.

Shopify brands that create the strongest results understand this simple truth:

People don’t buy because of a channel.

They buy because the message reached them at the right moment.

And push plus email gives you twice as many chances to hit that moment.