What are rich push notification templates?
Rich push notification templates are layouts that go beyond a title, a message and one image: a live countdown timer, a coloured background, a carousel of images, stars to rate, products with prices, or a reply box. The phone draws them using a module from your CRM platform's SDK, so each platform offers its own set, with its own names, keys and limits.
That is the problem this generator solves. CleverTap sets templates with key-value pairs like pt_timer_threshold. MoEngage, WebEngage and Netcore use forms in the campaign composer. Braze, OneSignal, Firebase and Airship take an API payload. The generator turns one design into whichever of these your platform needs, and shows what users without the template will see.
How to use the push notification generator
- Choose your platform. Templates it doesn't offer are marked "Not on" and suggest where they are available.
- Pick a template, then fill in the fields. Only the colour settings your platform supports are shown.
- Check the preview on Android and iPhone, in light and dark mode. It is a close approximation built from each platform's docs and SDK; phone makers, OS versions and fonts change the exact look, so test on a real device. For timers, switch to "After it ends" to see what users get when the countdown finishes, and "Fallback" for devices without the template.
- Read the checks: contrast, timer limits, image counts and missing links.
- Copy from the Campaign tab. Every key, value and hex code is a copy button, and "Copy everything" takes the lot.
- Need a picture for a deck, a brief or a client? Download PNG saves both phones exactly as shown, in light or dark mode.
- Send the App setup tab to your developers. Most templates need an SDK module, and iPhone templates need a Notification Content Extension.
Push notification templates for CleverTap, MoEngage, Braze and more
| Template | CleverTap | MoEngage | WebEngage | Netcore | Braze |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coloured background | Yes, with dark-mode colours | Stylized basic | Text layout | Background color | Accent colour only |
| Timer | Android and iPhone | Android | Android | Android and iPhone | No |
| Timer with progress bar | No | Android | Android | Progress Bar (Android and iPhone) | No |
| Carousel | Auto, manual, filmstrip | 2 to 5 images | 3 or more recommended | 2 to 5 images | Push Stories |
| Text over image | Zero Bezel | Image banner with text overlay | Overlay | Overlay on Image | No |
| Rating | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Product display | Up to 3 products | No | No | Product Set (needs Unbxd) | No |
| Icon shortcuts | Five Icons, 3 to 5 (Android) | Icon Shortcuts, 3 to 6 (Android 12+) | No | Multi-icon, 3 to 5 | No |
| Reply box | Input Box (Android) | No | No | Quick Reply | No |
OneSignal, Firebase, Airship and Apple's APNs have no rich templates of their own. On Android, OneSignal, Firebase and Airship can add an image and tint the small icon, and OneSignal and Airship can add buttons. On iPhone, an image needs a Notification Service Extension and buttons need a category registered in the app. The generator still gives you their payload for a basic push, ready to send. Full details by platform are in the "All platforms" tab.
Countdown timer push notifications
A timer push shows a live countdown inside the notification, for flash sales, cart holds, live classes or offers that end at midnight. The four platforms that offer one handle it differently:
| Platform | How long | When it ends | Colours | Set up in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CleverTap (docs) | From 10 seconds, as a duration (pt_timer_threshold) or an end time (pt_timer_end) | Android posts a new basic notification with your after-end title, message and image (pt_title_alt, pt_msg_alt, pt_big_img_alt); iPhone swaps them in place | Timer text; an optional box (solid or gradient) and border from Push Templates 2.4.0 | Key-value pairs; Android 8+ and iPhone |
| MoEngage (docs) | 15 minutes to 12 hours, as a duration or a clock time | The notification is removed | Timer text colour | The Timer template in the composer; Android |
| WebEngage (docs) | A duration or an end time (no limit documented) | Not documented | Timer and progress bar colours | Countdown, Countdown with progress bar or Big Countdown, enabled on request; Android SDK 4.7.0+ |
| Netcore (docs) | 1 hour to 28 days, or a set date and time | Shows "Message after the timer ends" in place of the countdown (required, up to 50 characters) | Timer box background and text (hex) | Timer layout in the template editor |
Timers need the phone to wake at exact times. MoEngage and Netcore ask apps to request the SCHEDULE_EXACT_ALARM permission from Android 12, and on Android 14 it is denied by default for most new installs; without it, MoEngage shows the timer but drops the progress bar. Platforms without a timer template can still show a countdown, but only through app code: an iOS Live Activity, or an Android chronometer or Live Update.
Coloured push notifications
A coloured template paints the notification's background and text in your brand colours. CleverTap has separate light and dark-mode keys for the background, title, message and small icon (pt_bg, pt_bg_dark, pt_title_clr and so on). MoEngage's Stylized basic template sets the background and app name colour from the composer. WebEngage's Text layout and Netcore's layouts take a background colour. Braze, OneSignal, Firebase and Airship only tint the small icon.
Two cautions. For apps targeting Android 12 and later, the system wraps every custom layout in its own frame, so a coloured template never fills the whole card (Android developers). And a background that looks great on a light phone can make text unreadable in dark mode. The generator checks contrast against the 4.5:1 rule and warns when your platform has no dark-mode colours.
Carousel, rating, product and icon templates
- Carousel: CleverTap needs at least 3 images, about 86 KB each. MoEngage takes 2 to 5 at about 25 KB, and auto-play works only up to Android 10. WebEngage recommends at least 3. Braze's version is Push Stories, one platform per message.
- Text over image: a full-width image with the title on top. Good for launches and lookbooks. CleverTap calls it Zero Bezel.
- Rating: five stars, each with its own link, so you can send happy customers to a review page and unhappy ones to support. CleverTap records the result in the "Rating Submitted" event.
- Product display: CleverTap shows up to three products with prices and one button. Netcore's Product Set pulls recommendations from Unbxd.
- Icon shortcuts: a row of tappable icons for categories: 3 to 5 on CleverTap and Netcore, 3 to 6 on MoEngage. MoEngage shows only the icons and sets them with a
moeFeatureskey-value pair holding JSON, which the generator writes for you.
Image sizes, counts and every key are in each platform's docs, linked below, and the generator warns when you go over.
Why rich push templates often go unused
Designing the template is the easy part. Every rich template needs the platform's template module in the app, and on iPhone a Notification Content Extension. Until a developer adds them, users get the plain backup version, however good the design. I've run push on both CleverTap and MoEngage, and I rarely got developer time to set up these templates. MoEngage's Stylized basic was the one that let me add colour straight from the dashboard.
That is why the generator has an App setup tab for each platform: the dependency line, the Info.plist settings, the permission and the code, ready to paste into a ticket. Get it done once, and every campaign after that can use the templates.
Live Activities and Android Live Updates
Live Activities are iPhone's live cards on the lock screen and Dynamic Island, for order tracking, scores or a countdown that updates by push. Apple keeps one active for up to 8 hours and on the lock screen for up to 12, with up to 4 KB of data per update (Apple). Android 16 has a similar feature, Live Updates, with a progress style and a status bar chip (Android developers).
Both need app code: a widget on iPhone, and a promoted ongoing notification on Android. MoEngage supports Broadcast Live Activities on iOS 18+ through its API (MoEngage). Braze, Airship and OneSignal send Live Activity updates. CleverTap's Push Templates 2.7.0 (15 October 2026) adds a Progress template for Android Live Updates (CleverTap changelog). Talk to your app team before planning a campaign around them.
Mistakes that break rich push
| Mistake | What happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Sending a template before the app has its SDK module | Users get the plain backup version | Send the App setup tab to your developers first, then test on a real phone |
| A misspelt CleverTap key | The key is ignored and the push falls back | Copy keys from the generator instead of typing them |
| No after-end content on a timer | A sale that ended still shouts "ends soon" | Set the after-end title and message, or let the platform remove it |
| Light text on a light background in dark mode | Unreadable text on phones in dark mode | Set dark-mode colours where the platform allows, and check contrast |
| Exact alarm permission not requested | Timer and progress templates lose features (MoEngage drops the progress bar) | Ask for SCHEDULE_EXACT_ALARM where your platform needs it |
| Heavy images | The template fails to load and falls back | Keep carousel images under about 86 KB (CleverTap) or 25 KB (MoEngage) |
Writing the copy? Check how it fits in the push notification preview, which also tests personalisation on your own user list. For ideas, see 40 push notification examples, and for tags and fallbacks, Liquid personalisation in CRM tools.
Want help setting up push, WhatsApp and email journeys that use these templates? Book a free call.
Sources: CleverTap push templates and iOS content extension; MoEngage push templates and Android setup; WebEngage push campaigns and specifications; Netcore app push templates; Braze Push Stories and Android object; OneSignal API; Firebase HTTP v1; Apple Live Activities; Android Live Updates. Checked 16 October 2026.
Questions about rich push templates
Is this push notification generator free?
Yes. There is no signup and no limit. Everything runs in your browser, so the text, links and images you enter are not sent to us. You can copy the keys and payloads or download the preview as a PNG.
How do I create a push notification template?
Pick your platform and a template in the push notification generator above, fill in the text, colours, images and timer, and check the Android and iPhone preview. Then copy the keys, fields or payload into your platform, and send the App setup tab to your developers.
Is there a Braze push notification template?
Braze has no timer or coloured template. It has a standard push with image and buttons, an accent colour for the small icon on Android, and Push Stories for a carousel. The generator writes the Braze API request body or the Push Stories fields for you.
What is a rich push notification?
A push notification with more than text and one image: a countdown timer, coloured background, carousel, rating stars, products or a reply box. Your CRM platform's SDK draws it on the phone.
How do I send a countdown timer push notification?
Use your platform's timer template: pt_timer key-value pairs in CleverTap, or the Timer template in MoEngage, WebEngage or Netcore. Set the duration or end time and what shows after it ends, and make sure the app has the template SDK.
Does the push notification timer work on iPhone?
On CleverTap, yes, through its Notification Content Extension. Netcore's Timer and Progress Bar layouts also work on iPhone. MoEngage and WebEngage document their timer for Android only, so iPhone users get the basic version.
What are CleverTap push templates?
Rich layouts set with pt_ key-value pairs in a push campaign, such as pt_basic, pt_timer, pt_carousel, pt_zero_bezel, pt_rating and pt_product_display. The app needs the push-templates library, and iPhone needs the CTNotificationContent extension.
How do I change the background colour of a push notification?
Use a coloured template: pt_bg in CleverTap, Stylized basic in MoEngage, the Text layout in WebEngage or Background color in Netcore. Most standard notifications on Android and iPhone don't allow a custom background.
Can push notifications have a carousel?
Yes, on CleverTap, MoEngage, WebEngage, Netcore and Braze (Push Stories). Each needs the platform's SDK in the app, and image counts and sizes differ by platform.
Why does my rich push show as a plain notification?
The app is missing the template SDK or iPhone extension, the image failed to load, a key is misspelt, or the phone's Android version is too old. Test on a real device after your developers finish the setup.
How long can a push notification timer run?
CleverTap from 10 seconds, MoEngage 15 minutes to 12 hours, and Netcore 1 hour to 28 days. WebEngage doesn't document a limit.
What is the difference between a timer push and a Live Activity?
A timer push is a template from your CRM platform that counts down inside one notification. A Live Activity is an iPhone feature built into your app that shows live data on the lock screen and Dynamic Island and can be updated by push.
Do Firebase and OneSignal support rich push templates?
Not as templates. On Android, both can add an image and tint the small icon, and OneSignal can add buttons. Timer, carousel and coloured layouts need a CRM platform's template SDK or your own app code.
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