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Migrate from Content Cards to Banners

This guide helps you migrate from Content Cards to Banners for banner-style messaging use cases. Banners are ideal for inline, persistent in-app and web messages that appear at specific placements in your application.

Why migrate to Banners?

  • If your engineering team is building or maintaining custom Content Cards, migrating to Banners can reduce that ongoing investment. Banners let marketers control the UI directly, freeing developers for other work.
  • If you’re launching new homepage messages, onboarding flows, or persistent announcements, start with Banners rather than building on Content Cards. You can benefit from real-time personalization, no 30-day expiration, no size limit, and native prioritization from day one.
  • If you’re working around the 30-day expiration limit, managing complex re-eligibility logic, or frustrated by stale personalization, Banners solves these problems natively.

Banners offer several advantages over Content Cards for banner-style messaging:

Accelerated production

  • Reduced on-going engineering support required: Marketers can build custom messages using a drag-and-drop editor and custom HTML without requiring developer assistance for customization
  • Flexible customization options: Design directly in the editor, use HTML or leverage existing data models with custom properties

Better UX

  • Dynamic content updates: Banners refresh Liquid logic and eligibility on every refresh, ensuring users always see the most relevant content
  • Native placement support: Messages appear in specific contexts rather than a feed, providing better contextual relevance
  • Native prioritization: Control over display order without custom logic, making it easier to manage message hierarchy

Persistence

  • No expiration limit: Banner campaigns do not have a 30-day expiration limit like Content Cards, allowing for true persistence of messages

When to migrate

Consider migrating to Banners if you’re using Content Cards for:

  • Homepage heroes, product page promotions, checkout offers
  • Persistent navigation announcements or sidebar messages
  • Always-on messages running longer than 30 days
  • Messages where you want real-time personalization and eligibility

When to keep Content Cards

Continue using Content Cards if you need:

  • Feed experiences: Any use case involving multiple scrollable messages or a card-based “Inbox”.
  • Specific features: Messages that require Connected Content or Promotional Codes, as Banners do not support these natively.
  • Triggered delivery: Use cases strictly requiring API-triggered or action-based delivery. While Banners don’t support API-triggered or action-based delivery, real-time eligibility evaluation means users instantly qualify or disqualify based on segment membership at each refresh.

Migration guide

Prerequisites

Before migrating, ensure your Braze SDK meets the minimum version requirements:

Subscribe to updates

Content Cards approach

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import * as braze from "@braze/web-sdk";

braze.subscribeToContentCardsUpdates((cards) => {
  // Handle array of cards
  cards.forEach(card => {
    console.log("Card:", card.id);
  });
});

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Braze.getInstance(context).subscribeToContentCardsUpdates { cards ->
  // Handle array of cards
  cards.forEach { card ->
    Log.d(TAG, "Card: ${card.id}")
  }
}

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braze.contentCards.subscribeToUpdates { cards in
  // Handle array of cards
  for card in cards {
    print("Card: \(card.id)")
  }
}

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Braze.addListener(Braze.Events.CONTENT_CARDS_UPDATED, (update) => {
  const cards = update.cards;
  // Handle array of cards
  cards.forEach(card => {
    console.log("Card:", card.id);
  });
});

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StreamSubscription contentCardsStreamSubscription = braze.subscribeToContentCards((List<BrazeContentCard> contentCards) {
  // Handle array of cards
  for (final card in contentCards) {
    print("Card: ${card.id}");
  }
});

Banners approach

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import * as braze from "@braze/web-sdk";

braze.subscribeToBannersUpdates((banners) => {
  // Get banner for specific placement
  const banner = braze.getBanner("sample_placement_id");
  if (banner) {
    console.log("Banner received for placement:", banner.placementId);
  }
});

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Braze.getInstance(context).subscribeToBannersUpdates { update ->
  // Get banner for specific placement
  val banner = Braze.getInstance(context).getBanner("sample_placement_id")
  if (banner != null) {
    Log.d(TAG, "Banner received for placement: ${banner.placementId}")
  }
}

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braze.banners.subscribeToUpdates { banners in
  // Get banner for specific placement
  braze.banners.getBanner(for: "sample_placement_id") { banner in
    guard let banner = banner else { return }

    print("Banner received for placement: \(banner.placementId)")
  }
}

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Braze.addListener(Braze.Events.BANNER_CARDS_UPDATED, (data) => {
  const banners = data.banners;
  // Get banner for specific placement
  Braze.getBanner("sample_placement_id").then(banner => {
    if (banner) {
      console.log("Banner received for placement:", banner.placementId);
    }
  });
});

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StreamSubscription bannerStreamSubscription = braze.subscribeToBanners((List<BrazeBanner> banners) {
  // Get banner for specific placement
  braze.getBanner("sample_placement_id").then((banner) {
    if (banner != null) {
      print("Banner received for placement: ${banner.placementId}");
    }
  });
});

Display content

Content Cards approach

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// Show default feed UI
braze.showContentCards(document.getElementById("feed"));

// Or manually render cards
const cards = braze.getCachedContentCards();
cards.forEach(card => {
  // Custom rendering logic
  if (card instanceof braze.ClassicCard) {
    // Render classic card
  }
});

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// Using default fragment
val fragment = ContentCardsFragment()
supportFragmentManager.beginTransaction()
  .replace(R.id.content_cards_container, fragment)
  .commit()

// Or manually render cards
val cards = Braze.getInstance(context).getCachedContentCards()
cards.forEach { card ->
  when (card) {
    is ClassicCard -> {
      // Render classic card
    }
  }
}

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// Using default view controller
let contentCardsController = BrazeContentCardUI.ViewController(braze: braze)
navigationController?.pushViewController(contentCardsController, animated: true)

// Or manually render cards
let cards = braze.contentCards.cards
for card in cards {
  switch card {
  case let card as Braze.ContentCard.Classic:
    // Render classic card
  default:
    break
  }
}

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// Launch default feed
Braze.launchContentCards();

// Or manually render cards
const cards = await Braze.getContentCards();
cards.forEach(card => {
  if (card.type === 'CLASSIC') {
    // Render classic card
  }
});

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// Launch default feed
braze.launchContentCards();

// Or manually render cards
final cards = await braze.getContentCards();
for (final card in cards) {
  if (card.type == 'CLASSIC') {
    // Render classic card
  }
}

Banners approach

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braze.subscribeToBannersUpdates((banners) => {
  const banner = braze.getBanner("sample_placement_id");
  if (!banner) {
    return;
  }

  const container = document.getElementById("global-banner-container");
  braze.insertBanner(banner, container);

  if (banner.isControl) {
    container.style.display = "none";
  }
});

braze.requestBannersRefresh(["sample_placement_id"]);

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// Using BannerView in XML
// <com.braze.ui.banners.BannerView
//     android:id="@+id/banner_view"
//     android:layout_width="match_parent"
//     android:layout_height="wrap_content"
//     app:placementId="sample_placement_id" />

// Or programmatically
val bannerView = BannerView(context).apply {
  placementId = "sample_placement_id"
}
container.addView(bannerView)

Braze.getInstance(context).requestBannersRefresh(listOf("sample_placement_id"))

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// Using BannerUIView
let bannerView = BrazeBannerUI.BannerUIView(
  placementId: "sample_placement_id",
  braze: braze,
  processContentUpdates: { result in
    switch result {
    case .success(let updates):
      if let height = updates.height {
        // Update height constraint
      }
    case .failure:
      break
    }
  }
)
view.addSubview(bannerView)

braze.banners.requestBannersRefresh(placementIds: ["sample_placement_id"])

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// Using BrazeBannerView component
<Braze.BrazeBannerView
  placementID='sample_placement_id'
/>

// Or get banner data
const banner = await Braze.getBanner("sample_placement_id");
if (banner) {
  // Render custom banner UI
}

Braze.requestBannersRefresh(["sample_placement_id"]);

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// Using BrazeBannerView widget
BrazeBannerView(
  placementId: "sample_placement_id",
)

// Or get banner data
final banner = await braze.getBanner("sample_placement_id");
if (banner != null) {
  // Render custom banner UI
}

braze.requestBannersRefresh(["sample_placement_id"]);

Log analytics (custom implementations)

Content Cards approach

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// Manual impression logging required for custom implementations
cards.forEach(card => {
  braze.logContentCardImpressions([card]);
});

// Manual click logging required for custom implementations
card.logClick();

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// Manual impression logging required for custom implementations
cards.forEach { card ->
  card.logImpression()
}

// Manual click logging required for custom implementations
card.logClick()

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// Manual impression logging required for custom implementations
for card in cards {
  card.context?.logImpression()
}

// Manual click logging required for custom implementations
card.context?.logClick()

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// Manual impression logging required for custom implementations
cards.forEach(card => {
  Braze.logContentCardImpression(card.id);
});

// Manual click logging required for custom implementations
Braze.logContentCardClicked(card.id);

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// Manual impression logging required for custom implementations
for (final card in cards) {
  braze.logContentCardImpression(card);
}

// Manual click logging required for custom implementations
braze.logContentCardClicked(card);

Banners approach

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// Analytics are automatically tracked when using insertBanner()
// Manual logging should not be used when using insertBanner()

// For custom implementations, use manual logging methods:
// Log impression
braze.logBannerImpressions([banner]);

// Log click (with optional buttonId)
braze.logBannerClick("sample_placement_id", buttonId);

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// Analytics are automatically tracked when using BannerView
// Manual logging should not be used for default BannerView

// For custom implementations, use manual logging methods:
// Log impression
Braze.getInstance(context).logBannerImpression("sample_placement_id");

// Log click (with optional buttonId)
Braze.getInstance(context).logBannerClick("sample_placement_id", buttonId);

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// Analytics are automatically tracked when using BannerUIView
// Manual logging should not be used for default BannerUIView

// For custom implementations, use manual logging methods:
// Get banner for specific placement
braze.banners.getBanner(for: "sample_placement_id") { banner in
  guard let banner = banner else { return }

  // Log impression
  banner.context?.logImpression()

  // Log click (with optional buttonId)
  banner.context?.logClick(buttonId: buttonId)
}

// Control groups are automatically handled by BannerUIView

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// Analytics are automatically tracked when using BrazeBannerView
// No manual logging required

// Note: Manual logging methods for Banners are not yet supported in React Native
// Control groups are automatically handled by BrazeBannerView

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// Analytics are automatically tracked when using BrazeBannerView
// No manual logging required

// Note: Manual logging methods for Banners are not yet supported in Flutter
// Control groups are automatically handled by BrazeBannerView

Getting properties

Content Cards approach

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cards.forEach(card => {
  console.log("Card id:", card.id, "Extras:", card.extras);
});

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cards.forEach { card ->
  Log.d(TAG, "Card id: ${card.id} Extras: ${card.extras}")
}

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for card in cards {
  print("Card id: \(card.id) Extras: \(card.extras)")
}

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cards.forEach(card => {
  console.log("Card id:", card.id, "Extras:", card.extras);
});

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for (final card in cards) {
  print("Card id: ${card.id} Extras: ${card.extras}");
}

Banners approach

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const banner = braze.getBanner("sample_placement_id");
if (!banner) {
  return;
}

console.log("Banner placement:", banner.placementId, "Properties:", banner.properties);

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val banner = Braze.getInstance(context).getBanner("sample_placement_id")
if (banner != null) {
  Log.d(TAG, "Banner placement: ${banner.placementId} Properties: ${banner.properties}")
}

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braze.banners.getBanner(for: "sample_placement_id") { banner in
  guard let banner = banner else { return }

  print("Banner placement: \(banner.placementId) Properties: \(banner.properties)")
}

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const banner = await Braze.getBanner("sample_placement_id");
if (banner) {
  console.log("Banner placement:", banner.placementId, "Properties:", banner.properties);
}

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final banner = await braze.getBanner("sample_placement_id");
if (banner != null) {
  print("Banner placement: ${banner.placementId} Properties: ${banner.properties}");
}

Handling control groups

Content Cards approach

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cards.forEach(card => {
  if (card.isControl) {
    // Logic for control cards ie. don't display but log analytics
  } else {
    // Logic for cards ie. render card
  }
});

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cards.forEach { card ->
  if (card.isControl) {
    // Logic for control cards ie. don't display but log analytics
  } else {
    // Logic for cards ie. render card
  }
}

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for card in cards {
  if card.isControl {
    // Logic for control cards ie. don't display but log analytics
  } else {
    // Logic for cards ie. render card
  }
}

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cards.forEach(card => {
  if (card.isControl) {
    // Logic for control cards ie. don't display but log analytics
  } else {
    // Logic for cards ie. render card
  }
});

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for (final card in cards) {
  if (card.isControl) {
    // Logic for control cards ie. don't display but log analytics
  } else {
    // Logic for cards ie. render card
  }
}

Banners approach

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braze.subscribeToBannersUpdates((banners) => {
  const banner = braze.getBanner("sample_placement_id");
  if (!banner) {
    return;
  }

  const container = document.getElementById("global-banner-container");

  // Always call insertBanner to track impression (including control)
  braze.insertBanner(banner, container);

  // Hide if control group
  if (banner.isControl) {
    container.style.display = "none";
  }
});

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// BannerView automatically handles control groups
// No additional code needed
val bannerView = BannerView(context).apply {
  placementId = "sample_placement_id"
}

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// BannerUIView automatically handles control groups
// No additional code needed
let bannerView = BrazeBannerUI.BannerUIView(
  placementId: "sample_placement_id",
  braze: braze
)

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// BrazeBannerView automatically handles control groups
// No additional code needed
<Braze.BrazeBannerView
  placementID='sample_placement_id'
/>

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// BrazeBannerView automatically handles control groups
// No additional code needed
BrazeBannerView(
  placementId: "sample_placement_id",
)

Limitations

When migrating from Content Cards to Banners, be aware of the following limitations:

Migrating triggered messages

Banners only support scheduled delivery campaigns. To migrate a message that was previously API-triggered or action-based, convert it to segment-based targeting:

  • Example: Instead of triggering a “Complete Profile” card with the API, create a segment for users who signed up in the last 7 days but have not completed their profile.
  • Real-time eligibility: Users qualify or disqualify for the Banner instantly at each refresh based on their segment membership.

Feature differences

Feature Content Cards Banners
Content Structure    
Multiple cards in feed ✅ Supported ✅ Can create multiple placements to achieve carousel-like implementation. Only one banner is returned per placement.
Multiple placements N/A ✅ Multiple placements supported
Card types (Classic, Captioned, Image Only) ✅ Multiple predefined types ✅ Single HTML-based banner (more flexible)
Content Management    
Drag-and-drop editor ❌ Requires developer for customization ✅ Marketers can create/update without engineering
Custom HTML/CSS ❌ Limited to card structure ✅ Full HTML/CSS support
Key-value pairs for customization ✅ Required for advanced customization ✅ Strongly-typed key-value pairs called “properties” for advanced customization
Persistence & Expiration    
Card expiration ✅ Supported (30-day limit) ✅ Supported (no expiration limit)
True persistence ❌ 30-day maximum ✅ Unlimited persistence
Display & Targeting    
Feed UI ✅ Default feed available ❌ Placement-based only
Context-specific placement ❌ Feed-based ✅ Native placement support
Native prioritization ❌ Requires custom logic ✅ Built-in prioritization
User Interaction    
Manual dismissal ✅ Supported ❌ Not supported
Pinned cards ✅ Supported N/A
Analytics    
Automatic analytics (default UI) ✅ Supported ✅ Supported
Priority Sorting ❌ Not supported ✅ Supported
Content Updates    
Liquid templating refresh ❌ Once per card at send/launch ✅ Refreshes on every refresh
Eligibility refresh ❌ Once per card at send/launch ✅ Refreshes on every session

Product limitations

  • Up to 25 active messages per placement.
  • Up to 10 placement IDs per refresh request; requests beyond this are truncated.

SDK limitations

  • Banners are not currently supported on .NET MAUI (Xamarin), Cordova, Unity, Vega, or TV platforms.
  • Make sure you’re using the minimum SDK versions listed in the prerequisites.
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