The Knock Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Knock in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Knock
The Insider’s Guide
Cross-channel notification and messaging workflows for products
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among email sending services, read from Knock’s own pages.
Made by Knock Labs, Inc. · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Knock’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Knock’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 14 of the 50 other email sending services we grade
Knock is messaging infrastructure for product teams. Workflows, broadcasts and in-app guides are built once and delivered across email, in-app, push, SMS and chat, with email going out through a connected provider such as SendGrid, Postmark or Amazon SES. Pricing follows messages sent rather than the number of stored users.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Knock, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You wire it into your app and connect providers before anything sends.
- 1
Best for product notifications on many channels
Knock builds a notification workflow once and delivers it by email, in-app, push, SMS and chat.
- 2
Paid plans start at $250 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $250 per month, plus usage beyond 50,000 messages.
- 3
There is a free plan
Up to 10,000 messages sent, 500 guide recipients and 500 agent credits a month, with unlimited workflows, profiles, channels and team members.
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
Cross-channel workflows
A workflow is a single type of message, such as a user invite, that can branch, delay and route across email, in-app, push, SMS and chat.
- 6
Broadcasts and in-app guides
Broadcasts send a one-time message to an audience on any channel. In-app guides cover banners, modals, cards and tooltips rendered with your own components.
- 7
Batching and preferences
Batch and digest notifications to cut frequency, and let recipients manage preferences by channel, notification and category.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 14 of 50
That is against the other email sending services we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Knock you would be making mail servers with a good name among inbox providers. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Knock at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $250 per month, plus usage beyond 50,000 messages
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Knock Labs, Inc.
- Category
- Email Sending Services
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for product notifications on many channels
Knock builds a notification workflow once and delivers it by email, in-app, push, SMS and chat. Email still goes out through a provider you connect, and the step from the free plan to Starter is $250 a month.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | D | $250 a month for Starter, plus $0.005 for each message past 50,000. Email sending tools start around $9, the dearest tenth begins at $68. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Free plan with 10,000 messages sent a month, unlimited workflows, profiles and team members, and no card needed. One small product could stay on it. |
| Features | C | Cross-channel workflows, broadcasts, in-app guides, batching and preferences. Email goes through SendGrid, Postmark or SES, so it isn't a sending service on its own. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. You wire it into your app and connect providers before anything sends. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web dashboard with SDKs and an API, plus connections to SendGrid, Postmark, Amazon SES, Mailgun, Slack and others. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Knock is for
- Fits if you're a product team and want one workflow to reach email, in-app and chat
- Works for apps that already have an email provider and need preferences and batching on top
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want a service that sends email by itself: it needs a provider you connect
- Pricey if you outgrow free, because the next step is $250 a month
- Tight if you want the Knock branding gone, as that needs Starter or higher
- Watch out: email client previews, SAML SSO, SCIM and translations sit on dearer plans, and the HIPAA BAA is Enterprise only
Good to know
Good for
- Product teams that want one workflow layer across email, in-app, push, SMS and chat
- Teams that already have an email provider and need orchestration on top
- Small products: the free plan covers 10,000 messages a month
Worth knowing
- Knock is an orchestration layer, so email delivery goes through a provider you connect; it is not a standalone sending service.
- The jump from Free to Starter is $250 a month, with messages beyond 50,000 billed at $0.005 each.
- Removing Knock branding, email client previews and priority email support need Starter or higher.
- Custom roles, SAML SSO, SCIM, translations and the HIPAA BAA are listed on Enterprise only.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$250
A month to start. There is a free plan too
Knock has a free plan. Paid plans start at $250 per month, plus usage beyond 50,000 messages.
Free
$0
Up to 10,000 messages sent, 500 guide recipients and 500 agent credits each month. No credit card required.
Starter
$250
per month, plus additional usage
Includes 50,000 messages (then $0.005 each), 2,500 guide recipients and 2,000 agent credits. Removes Knock branding; adds email client previews.
Enterprise
Custom
Annual agreements with volume-based pricing, custom roles, SAML SSO, SCIM, enterprise SLAs, HIPAA BAA and priority support over Slack, email and calls.
The free plan
Up to 10,000 messages sent, 500 guide recipients and 500 agent credits a month, with unlimited workflows, profiles, channels and team members.
Read from knock.app on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Cross-channel notification and messaging workflows for products. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: public API, workflow automation, transactional email.
Cross-channel workflows, broadcasts, in-app guides, batching and preferences.
- Cross-channel workflows
- A workflow is a single type of message, such as a user invite, that can branch, delay and route across email, in-app, push, SMS and chat.
- Broadcasts and in-app guides
- Broadcasts send a one-time message to an audience on any channel. In-app guides cover banners, modals, cards and tooltips rendered with your own components.
- Batching and preferences
- Batch and digest notifications to cut frequency, and let recipients manage preferences by channel, notification and category.
- Email through your own provider
- The integrations list names email providers including SendGrid, Postmark, Amazon SES, Mailjet, Mailgun, Mailtrap and MailerSend.
- Agent and MCP access
- Workflows, templates, guides, broadcasts and audiences can be managed from Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor and Slack, through a remote MCP server or the Knock CLI.
- Multi-tenancy
- Built-in multi-tenancy is listed on every plan, and per-customer branding and preferences on Enterprise.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- SendGrid
- Postmark
- Amazon SES
- Mailjet
- Mailgun
- Mailtrap
- MailerSend
- Slack
Knock is made by Knock Labs, Inc.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
14/50
Other email sending services it is graded above
Knock's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 14 of the 50 other email sending services we grade, and level with 10.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 35 of 50) and worst on value for money (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $250 a month, against a middle price of $15 for the category: 39 of the 41 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 15 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 51 email sending services we grade, cut by the letter each got. Knock’s own letter is outlined.
- DValue for moneyAbove 0 of 50
- BFree plan and trialAbove 35 of 50
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 50
- CEase of useAbove 7 of 50
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 17 of 50
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 44 email sending services. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Knock is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Knock you would be making mail servers with a good name among inbox providers. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 26 of the 50 other email sending services grade higher. It costs $3,000 a year.
What you could not
- Mail servers with a good name among inbox providers.
- Connections to other products, each kept working as those products change.
What this rests on. Knock’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Courier, Novu, Twilio SendGrid, Postmark and Resend
The 5 tools Knock is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
Courier
Free plan
Notification and messaging API across email, SMS, push and chat.
- Courier also covers chatbots.
- 2.4GPA
Novu
Free plan · from $30/mo
Open-source notification infrastructure for apps and agents.
- Novu is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
Twilio SendGrid
Free trial · from $19.95/mo
Twilio's email API and SMTP service, priced by monthly email volume.
- Knock has a free plan. Twilio SendGrid does not, though it has a free trial.
- Knock also covers workflow automation.
- Twilio SendGrid also covers email verification.
- 2.2GPA
Postmark
Free plan · from $15/mo
Transactional email API and SMTP, with broadcasts on a separate stream.
- Knock also covers workflow automation.
- Postmark also covers dMARC.
- 2.6GPA
Resend
Free plan · from $20/mo
Developer email API with React Email templates and a free tier.
- Knock also covers workflow automation.
- Resend also covers email campaigns.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Knock free?
Knock has a free plan. Up to 10,000 messages sent, 500 guide recipients and 500 agent credits a month, with unlimited workflows, profiles, channels and team members.
How much does Knock cost?
Knock lists 3 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Knock work on?
Knock is available on Web.
Does Knock have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Knock is listed for Web.
Does Knock have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Knock is listed for Web.
Is Knock open source?
Knock is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Does Knock have an API?
Yes. Knock offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does Knock integrate with?
Knock's listing names SendGrid, Postmark, Amazon SES, Mailjet, Mailgun, Mailtrap, MailerSend and Slack.
Who makes Knock?
Knock is made by Knock Labs, Inc.
What are the alternatives to Knock?
The closest alternatives to Knock in our directory are Courier, Novu, Twilio SendGrid, Postmark and Resend.
How does Knock compare with other email sending services?
Knock's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 14 of the 50 other email sending services we grade, and level with 10.
Is Knock good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Knock D for value for money. Its paid plans start at $250 a month, against a middle price of $15 for the category: 39 of the 41 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Knock?
To replace Knock you would be making mail servers with a good name among inbox providers.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Knock’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Knock's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Knock Labs, Inc. Prices change, so check knock.app before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Knock, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/knock
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Knock: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/knock
Know someone choosing between email sending services?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/knock/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded email sending services after Knock, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Email Sending Services Insider's GuideEvery one of the 51 email sending services we grade, compared
- FluentSMTP Insider's GuideFree WordPress plugin for sending site email through your provider3.2 GPA
- Amazon SES Insider's GuideAWS email sending and receiving, paid per 1,000 emails2.8 GPA
- Forward Email Insider's GuideOpen-source email forwarding and hosting for custom domains2.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Knock’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Knock is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Knock Labs, Inc. Prices and plans change: check knock.app before you buy.