Appcues vs Customer.io:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Customer.io had more branded searches than Appcues among in app messaging platforms worldwide. Customer.io had about 12,300 branded searches, while Appcues had 5,400. Customer.io made up 8.4% of all in app messaging platform searches we track, and Appcues accounted for 3.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about in app messaging platforms, Appcues appeared in two of the five answers and Customer.io in one. Appcues and Customer.io were each mentioned first in one of the two answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Customer.io, about 2 searches for every 1 for Appcues
Who does AI mention more?
Appcues, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, Customer.io in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
Each is named first in 1 of 2 answers.
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Top in app messaging platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Appcues was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Customer.io was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Appcues and Customer.io were each listed first in one of the two answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Intercom1st
Stream Chat2nd
Braze3rd
OneSignal4th- Appcues5th
Sendbird6th- Customer.io7th
Iterable–
Airship–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Stream Chat3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- OneSignal3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Braze3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Sendbird3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Intercom3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Appcues2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Customer.io1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Iterable0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Airship0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about in app messaging platforms
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which in app messaging platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best in app messaging platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best in app messaging platform for inside apps?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“in app messaging platforms”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best in app messaging”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Appcues or Customer.io more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Appcues and Customer.io by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine in app messaging platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Customer.io, Appcues. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Stream Chat | OneSignal | Customer.io | Braze | Appcues | Sendbird | Iterable | Intercom | Airship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 35.2% | 39.8% | 8% | 4% | 4.3% | 7.8% | 0.43% | 0.31% | 0.14% |
| Nov 2025 | 32.4% | 43.8% | 7.3% | 3.9% | 4.7% | 7.1% | 0.39% | 0.28% | 0.12% |
| Dec 2025 | 34.3% | 41.4% | 8.3% | 4.1% | 4.4% | 6.6% | 0.43% | 0.32% | 0.17% |
| Jan 2026 | 38% | 38.9% | 7.8% | 4% | 4.2% | 6.2% | 0.44% | 0.3% | 0.13% |
| Feb 2026 | 31.6% | 40.7% | 10% | 4.9% | 5.3% | 6.5% | 0.48% | 0.31% | 0.17% |
| Mar 2026 | 55.8% | 27.8% | 5.6% | 2.7% | 3% | 4.5% | 0.34% | 0.22% | 0.09% |
| Apr 2026 | 34.9% | 42% | 8.4% | 3.4% | 3.7% | 6.7% | 0.42% | 0.27% | 0.14% |
| May 2026 | 46.5% | 34.7% | 6.9% | 3% | 3.7% | 4.6% | 0.42% | 0.22% | 0.1% |
| Jun 2026 | 64.6% | 22.9% | 4.7% | 2.3% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 0.26% | 0.12% | 0.08% |
| Jul 2026 | 62% | 24.2% | 5.3% | 2.3% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 0.28% | 0.14% | 0.09% |
| Aug 2026 | 38.6% | 39.1% | 8.6% | 3.8% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 0.4% | 0.22% | 0.15% |
| Sep 2026 | 41.2% | 38.4% | 8.4% | 3.9% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 0.38% | 0.22% | 0.14% |
How has the Appcues and Customer.io comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Customer.io was ahead of Appcues in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Appcues’ share of searches among in app messaging platforms worldwide moved from 4.3% to 3.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 6.6K to 5.4K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Customer.io’s share of searches among in app messaging platforms worldwide moved from 8% to 8.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 12.3K.
How did search popularity change for in app messaging platforms worldwide in September 2026?
1 change
In September 2026, Appcues lost share of searches among in app messaging platforms worldwide, from 4.6% to 3.7%.
How are branded searches counted?
7 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Appcues’ and Customer.io’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Appcues
1 branded search term
- appcues
Customer.io
6 branded search terms
- customer io
- customer io crm
- customer io email
- customer io sms
- customer io whatsapp
- Customer.io
Other head-to-heads among in app messaging platforms
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