Courier vs Knock
Agent-native side-by-side. Scores are curated estimates on a 0–10 scale. Lock-in: higher = worse. Prefer JTBD picks via /api/decide when choosing for a job.
| Dimension | Courier | Knock |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 8.1 | 8.2 |
| Capability fit | 8.8 | 9.0 |
| Price / performance | 7.2 | 7.2 |
| Latency / reliability | 8.6 | 8.6 |
| Developer & agent DX | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| Privacy / data retention | 7.8 | 8.4 |
| Lock-in risk (higher = worse) | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Maturity / track record | 8.2 | 8.4 |
| Pricing | Notification orchestration across email/SMS/push/Slack; usage + seat elements. | As of 2026-09-14 (knock.app/pricing): Developer $0 — 10k messages, 500 guide active users, 500 AI agent credits (then $0.01/credit). Starter $250/mo — 50k messages then $0.005/msg, 2.5k guide users then $0.05, 2,000 AI a… |
| Tagline | Use when your agent/product notifies across many channels with preferences. Skip if you only send email. | Best agent-native notification fabric (toolkit + human-in-the-loop). Courier remains Depot orchestration… |
Courier
Use when your agent/product notifies across many channels with preferences. Skip if you only send email. Strengths: One API for multi-channel notify; Template/preference center; Great for product notification matrices.
Strengths
- One API for multi-channel notify
- Template/preference center
- Great for product notification matrices
Weaknesses
- Another layer on top of Resend/Twilio
- Cost adds up
- Overkill for single-channel
Knock
Best agent-native notification fabric (toolkit + human-in-the-loop). Courier remains Depot orchestration default for broader maturity; prefer Knock when agents must trigger/approve notifications as tools. Strengths: First-class Agent Toolkit + AI agent workflow steps; Cross-channel prefs/batching/guides with clear free
Strengths
- First-class Agent Toolkit + AI agent workflow steps
- Cross-channel prefs/batching/guides with clear free tier
- HIPAA BAA on Enterprise
Weaknesses
- Starter jumps to $250/mo
- Does not replace SendGrid/Twilio spend
- Guide/active-user metering adds a second dimension
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