head to head
Knock vs Courier
Code-first workflow engine versus visual-journey notification platform.
Side by side
| Feature | Knock | Courier |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | Notification infrastructure with workflow engine. | Notification infrastructure with visual journeys. |
| Free tier | 10,000 notifications/mo | 10,000 sends/mo |
| Starts at | $249/mo (Starter) | $95/mo (Business) |
| Pricing model | volume | volume |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| SMTP | No | No |
| SDKs | node, python, go, ruby, php, elixir, java, dotnet | node, python, go, ruby, php, java |
| Templates | rich | rich |
| React Email | Yes | No |
| Webhooks | Yes | Yes |
| Inbound | No | No |
| Multi-tenant | Yes | Yes |
| Idempotency | Yes | No |
| Dedicated IP | No | No |
| Deliverability | Inherits the deliverability of the provider you BYO (Postmark, SendGrid, Resend). | Inherits providers you connect. |
| DX score | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Best for | Teams that need multi-channel product notifications with preferences. | Teams that need both product notifications and marketing-style journeys. |
Knock
pros
- ›Strong workflow engine
- ›In-app feed component
- ›Deep SDK coverage
- ›Idempotency keys
cons
- ›Pricier than running your own; entry plan is steep
- ›Bring your own delivery provider
Courier
pros
- ›Visual journey editor
- ›Native Slack/Teams routing
- ›Drop-in inbox component
cons
- ›Less code-first than Knock
- ›Pricing climbs with volume