> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://codebeans-cb-notifylyst.mintlify.site/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Notification channels > Email, web push, SMS and WhatsApp — what each needs, what it costs, and how to switch it on. **Settings → Channels.** Channels that are on also appear as tabs on your storefront sign-up form, so switching one on is also how you offer it to shoppers. ![Settings → Channels with Email, Web push, SMS and WhatsApp, each with a short description and an on/off switch.](https://mintcdn.com/codebeans-cb-notifylyst/helB_Y1ZQRw5r3Uo/images/app-08-channels-tab.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=helB_Y1ZQRw5r3Uo\&q=85\&s=e1aee237670eeb481fbf08eda116b5f8) ## The four channels | Channel | How it is switched on | What it draws from | | - | - | - | | **Email** | **On** from the start | Your plan's **email & web push** allowance, then your wallet. | | **Web push** | Switch it on | The **same** allowance as email — one pool, not two. | | **SMS** | One-time activation review | Your wallet, priced per destination country. | | **WhatsApp** Coming soon | One-time activation review | Your wallet, priced per destination country. | > [!WARNING] > > **WhatsApp alerts aren't being sent yet.** You can switch the channel on and shoppers can choose > it, but restock messages over WhatsApp don't go out while pricing is being finalised — the app > shows it as **Coming soon**. Until then, keep shoppers on email, web push or SMS. At least one channel stays on — the app won't let you switch off the last one (**At least one notification channel must be active.**). Which channels you can use also depends on your plan; a channel your plan doesn't include is saved as off with the message **Saved. Not included on your plan, so left off:** followed by its name. ## Email and web push Switch them on and they are live. Email sends through Notifylyst's mail servers by default, so there is nothing to configure — to send from your own server, see [Email sending and sender](https://codebeans-cb-notifylyst.mintlify.site/app/setup/sender-identity.md). Web push also needs the shopper to allow notifications in their browser when they sign up, which only happens on your live HTTPS storefront. > [!NOTE] > > **Email and web push share one allowance.** Turning both on doesn't double your capacity — it > gives you two ways to reach waiting shoppers out of the same pool. ## SMS and WhatsApp These are paid, per-message channels, so each needs a one-time review before it can send: 1. Press **Request activation** on the channel in **Settings → Channels**, or in its message editor under **Appearance → Notifications**. You see **SMS activation request sent.** Switching the channel on before approval is saved as off: **Needs activation approval first, so left off:** followed by its name. 2. The Notifylyst team reviews it. Until then the channel's editor is locked and shows **SMS activation required** (or the WhatsApp equivalent). 3. Once approved, you can write the messages and the channel sends. The channel's status shows as one of: | Status | Meaning | | - | - | | **Not activated** | No request yet. | | **In review** | Request sent, waiting for the Notifylyst team. | | **Rejected** | Not approved — the reason is shown. Press **Request again** after fixing it. | | **Blocked** / **Deactivated** | Turned off by the Notifylyst team. Contact support. | Message wording for these channels can also need approval: the editor shows **Changes pending approval** until it is approved, or **Changes rejected** with the reason. **Sending countries.** In each SMS or WhatsApp message editor, **SMS sending countries** (or **WhatsApp sending countries**) limits which countries shoppers can pick a phone number from on the form. The default is the United States. Prices for each country are under **Usage → Usage history → See rates**. ![The WhatsApp message editor under Appearance → Notifications: WhatsApp sending countries, the four notification steps, the message with its variables and estimated cost, and a phone preview.](https://mintcdn.com/codebeans-cb-notifylyst/helB_Y1ZQRw5r3Uo/images/app-09-activation-request.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=helB_Y1ZQRw5r3Uo\&q=85\&s=53b56fb4bddceca89040d2cb148e1a4d) Before you rely on SMS, add money to your wallet — no public plan includes SMS credit: [Billing and credits](https://codebeans-cb-notifylyst.mintlify.site/app/guides/billing-and-credits.md). While the wallet is empty, Home shows **SMS alerts are paused**, and SMS alerts wait until you top up. ## Choosing which to run | If you want… | Use | | - | - | | The default that works everywhere | Email. No shopper permission needed, full templates, an unsubscribe link in every message. | | To reach people who never give an email | Web push. Shares email's allowance. | | The fastest response on a hot restock | SMS. Costs the most per message; worth it on high-value products. | ## Switching a channel off A channel switched off stops sending at once, disappears from the storefront form, and refuses new sign-ups for it. Shoppers already signed up on that channel stay signed up — switch it back on and they are alerted on the next restock. > [card] [Email sending and sender](https://codebeans-cb-notifylyst.mintlify.site/app/setup/sender-identity.md) > > Next: who your emails come from. > [card] [Plan features](https://codebeans-cb-notifylyst.mintlify.site/app/reference/plan-features.md) > > Which channels each plan includes. This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.