CleverTap: what it is, how it works & who it's for

All-in-one customer engagement and analytics platform for apps and websites

Updated · Pricing checked October 2026

What is CleverTap?

CleverTap is a customer engagement platform that combines user analytics, segmentation and multichannel messaging so brands can personalize campaigns for each app or website user. It supports push notifications, in-app and web messages, email, SMS, RCS and WhatsApp. CleverTap is used mostly by consumer apps in ecommerce, subscriptions, financial services and gaming, with offices across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

The platform stores event data in its own real-time database, TesseractDB, and layers CleverAI on top for predictions, decisioning and content help. Campaign orchestration ties channels together, while built-in experimentation and loyalty and rewards tools support retention programs. CleverTap publishes a self-serve Core plan with a 30-day free trial, and offers Pro and Ultimate plans through sales.

CleverTap at a glance

CleverTap infographic: how it works in 5 steps, key features, pricing model and who it is best for
CleverTap at a glance. Share or embed this infographic with a link to this page.

How does CleverTap work?

  1. Integrate the SDK

    Add CleverTap's SDK to your iOS, Android, web or cross-platform app to start tracking events and user profiles.

  2. Analyze behavior

    Use funnels, cohorts and other analytics to understand how users engage and where they drop off.

  3. Segment users

    Build live segments from events, attributes and predicted behaviors such as churn risk.

  4. Run campaigns and journeys

    Send push, in-app, email, SMS or WhatsApp messages, or orchestrate multi-step flows across channels.

  5. Test and optimize

    Run experiments and let AI decisioning pick messages, offers and timing.

CleverTap key features

Omnichannel messaging

Push notifications, in-app, web, email, SMS, RCS and WhatsApp from one platform.

Customer data and analytics

Product analytics, segmentation and real-time profiles built on TesseractDB.

CleverAI

AI for predictions, personalization and content generation, metered by token allowances per plan.

Campaign orchestration

Multi-step, cross-channel journeys triggered by user actions.

Tesseract decisioning engine

Chooses the message, offer and send time for each user in real time.

Promos and loyalty rewards

Manage rewards and promotions as part of retention campaigns.

Experimentation

A/B tests and optimization tools to measure campaign impact.

Why use CleverTap?

  • Analytics and messaging live in one tool, so insights turn into campaigns quickly.
  • A published Core plan price and free trial make it easier to evaluate than many enterprise rivals.
  • Broad SDK coverage includes mobile, web, cross-platform frameworks and smart TVs.
  • AI predictions help target users likely to churn or convert.
  • Many regional SMS and email providers are supported, which suits global apps.

Who is CleverTap best for?

A good fit for

  • Consumer mobile apps focused on retention
  • Ecommerce, fintech and gaming companies
  • Growth teams that want analytics and engagement together
  • Apps with users across Asia, the Middle East and Latin America

Less suited to

  • Websites that only need basic web push
  • Very small teams without developers to install the SDK
  • Buyers who need full feature transparency for higher tiers

CleverTap pricing

Pricing modelSubscription
Free planNo
Free trial30 days (Core plan)
Starting price$85/month (Core, excluding taxes and add-ons)

Core is self-serve and scales by monthly active user bands up to 100,000 and beyond. Pro and Ultimate are sold through demos and add more AI tokens, longer data retention, governance and dedicated support.

Prices checked October 2026. Vendors change plans often, so confirm on the official CleverTap pricing page before you buy.

CleverTap pros and cons

Pros

  • Analytics and engagement in a single platform
  • Transparent starting price with a 30-day trial
  • Wide SDK and channel coverage
  • Strong AI prediction and decisioning tools

Cons

  • No free plan
  • Pro and Ultimate pricing requires a demo
  • Setup needs developer time

CleverTap integrations and platforms

Works with

  • Segment
  • mParticle
  • RudderStack
  • AppsFlyer
  • Branch
  • Adjust
  • Google Tag Manager
  • Twilio
  • SendGrid
  • Amazon SES

Available on

  • Web
  • iOS
  • Android
  • API

CleverTap alternatives

CleverTap FAQ

Is CleverTap free?

CleverTap does not have a free plan. Its Core plan starts at $85 per month, excluding taxes and add-ons, and includes a 30-day free trial before billing begins. Pricing rises with your monthly active user band. The Pro and Ultimate plans are quoted after a demo and do not list a trial.

What is CleverTap used for?

CleverTap is used to analyze app and website user behavior and act on it with personalized messages. Teams send push notifications, in-app messages, email, SMS and WhatsApp campaigns, build automated journeys, and use AI predictions to reduce churn and increase conversions. It is popular with ecommerce, fintech, subscription and gaming apps.

CleverTap vs OneSignal: what's the difference?

OneSignal is a messaging-first tool with a generous free plan and usage-based pricing, making it easy for small apps and websites to start. CleverTap adds deeper product analytics, AI decisioning and loyalty features, and starts at $85 per month. Larger app businesses focused on retention often prefer CleverTap's analytics depth.

Which platforms does CleverTap support?

CleverTap offers SDKs for iOS, Android and the web, plus React Native, Flutter, Cordova, Unity, Expo and Unreal. It also supports TV platforms such as Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Samsung Tizen and LG webOS. A REST API is available for server-side data and messaging.

Is CleverTap good for beginners?

CleverTap has a visual dashboard that marketers can learn, but it is a full engagement and analytics platform rather than a quick plug-in. A developer is usually needed to install the SDK and set up events. Beginners with a simple website may find a dedicated web push tool easier to start with.

Sources

This overview is based on CleverTap's official website and documentation, checked October 2026.