Best User Activation Tools to Increase Retention
Discover the top user activation tools to boost retention and turn new users into loyal customers with our expert guide.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
If you're looking to boost user activation and enhance onboarding, product tour software is essential. But how do you choose the right one?
Your choice will depend on various factors such as your company’s size, budget, and technical capabilities.
We’ve thoroughly reviewed and selected the top 12 product tour software options tailored to the needs of SaaS companies of all sizes. Let’s explore these top picks.
What is Product Tour Software?
Product tour software is designed to create in-app tours for user onboarding. These tools offer contextual guidance within the app, improving the overall user experience and helping convert new customers into active users.
Many of these tools feature a largely code-free or low-code interface, significantly reducing the time and cost associated with engineering resources.
Before we delve into a detailed comparison, let’s explore the key benefits of using product tour software and the essential features that make a tool effective.
Why consider product tour software?
For many SaaS companies, adopting product tour software has become essential, and there are compelling reasons why.
Here are the primary advantages of using these tools to create product tours instead of coding them manually:
- Increased Control: Product tour software allows your product team—comprising product managers and marketers—to design and refine onboarding experiences without needing to rely on developers. This means you can experiment with onboarding flows and optimize them to boost trial-to-paid conversion rates without waiting for development cycles to finish.
- Resource Optimization: By using these tools, you can allocate your engineering resources to more critical tasks, like enhancing and expanding your product, rather than spending time on building and maintaining onboarding flows.
- Comprehensive Features: These tools often come with built-in analytics, experimentation capabilities, version control, role management, and easy styling options. Developing these features from scratch would be prohibitively expensive and time-consuming. Without them, you risk navigating without clear insights into user engagement, struggling to experiment, and facing challenges when changes are necessary.
- Integration Options: Some product tour software can create tours for third-party applications, which is particularly beneficial for employee onboarding and fostering digital adoption.
With these points in mind, it’s clear that relying on product tour software is far more advantageous than having your development team create onboarding flows from scratch. Before exploring the best software options available, let’s review the key features to look for in a product tour tool.
Key Features of Effective Product Tour Software
When selecting product tour software, ensure it includes the following key features:
- No-Code/Low-Code Setup: Look for tools that allow easy tour creation without coding and require minimal setup.
- Interactive Triggers: Choose software that offers interactive walkthroughs and real-time event-based triggers, avoiding linear, overwhelming tours.
- Analytics & Segmentation: Ensure the tool provides detailed usage analytics and advanced user segmentation to tailor tours effectively.
- A/B Testing: Opt for tools that support A/B testing to evaluate and optimize onboarding flows.
- Roles & Permissions: Collaborative teams need features for managing roles, permissions, and version control.
- Integrations: The tool should integrate seamlessly with analytics platforms and CRM systems.
- Pricing: Balance cost with functionality to avoid overpaying or settling for a subpar solution.
Now, let's review the top tools based on these criteria.
12 Best Product Tour Software for SaaS Companies
Let’s explore the top tools for creating effective product tours:
1. Appcues
Appcues excels in creating user-friendly, code-free onboarding experiences. It offers features like interactive walkthroughs, NPS surveys, and tooltips, making it a versatile choice for enhancing user activation.
Appcues is ideal for SaaS companies seeking to streamline onboarding without relying heavily on development resources. It’s particularly effective for teams that need a balance of ease of use and customization.
Pros:
- Easy to use with a no-code interface
- Extensive customization options
- Strong analytics and user feedback tools
Cons:
- Can be costly for smaller teams
- Limited functionality for highly complex workflows
2. Pendo
Pendo provides a comprehensive suite that includes product tours, user feedback, and analytics. Its ability to integrate product usage data with user feedback makes it a powerful tool for refining user experiences.
Pendo’s unique strength lies in its combination of usage analytics and user feedback, allowing for more informed decisions about product improvements and tour effectiveness.
Pros:
- In-depth analytics and reporting
- Integrated feedback collection
- Strong data-driven insights
Cons:
- Higher learning curve
- Expensive for small businesses
3. UserGuiding
UserGuiding offers a straightforward platform for creating product tours with minimal technical expertise. Known for its simplicity and affordability, it’s a popular choice among startups and small businesses.
UserGuiding is best used for creating focused, feature-specific tours that guide users step-by-step, ensuring they understand each aspect of the product without feeling overwhelmed.
Pros:
- Affordable pricing
- Easy to set up and use
- Effective for basic onboarding needs
Cons:
- Limited advanced customization
- May lack some features found in more expensive tools
4. Whatfix
Whatfix provides interactive guides and product tours with extensive customization options. Its focus on contextual help ensures users receive relevant assistance at the right time.
Whatfix’s ability to provide in-context guidance is a key differentiator, ensuring users receive help exactly when needed, which enhances the onboarding and overall user experience.
Pros:
- Highly customizable
- Contextual in-app help
- Robust analytics and tracking
Cons:
- Can be complex to set up initially
- Higher cost compared to some competitors
5. WalkMe
WalkMe is a digital adoption platform that supports large-scale implementations with extensive tools for product tours, training, and user onboarding. It’s particularly suitable for complex enterprise environments.
WalkMe’s tools not only help with initial user activation but also support ongoing engagement, making it a valuable asset for maintaining user retention over time.
Pros:
- Comprehensive feature set
- Scalable for large organizations
- Strong focus on user retention
Cons:
- Expensive
- Can be overwhelming for smaller teams
6. Intercom Product Tours
Intercom Product Tours integrates with Intercom’s broader customer engagement platform, allowing for a seamless onboarding experience linked to support and communication tools.
Intercom’s product tours benefit from its integration with customer support, allowing users to access help resources directly from within the tour, enhancing the overall experience.
Pros:
- Integrates with Intercom’s support tools
- Unified approach to customer engagement
- Customizable tours and messaging
Cons:
- May be less effective as a standalone tool
- Can be pricey for smaller teams
7. Chameleon
Chameleon offers a flexible solution for creating product tours with a focus on personalization and dynamic user experiences. It’s designed for teams that need advanced customization.
Chameleon allows for creating tours that adapt based on user behavior, offering a personalized experience that can significantly improve user engagement and activation rates.
Pros:
- Highly customizable and dynamic
- Advanced targeting and personalization
- Suitable for growth-focused teams
Cons:
- Can be complex to configure
- Higher price point
8. Userpilot
Userpilot provides a no-code platform for creating in-app experiences and product tours. It’s designed for teams that want to quickly deploy and iterate on onboarding flows.
Userpilot is ideal for teams that need to rapidly experiment with and refine onboarding processes, using real-time feedback to enhance the user experience.
Pros:
- No-code platform for ease of use
- Quick setup and deployment
- Real-time data and feedback integration
Cons:
- Limited to basic features without advanced customization
- Can become costly with larger user bases
9. Apty
Apty offers tools for creating product tours along with advanced analytics and automation features. It’s designed for complex software environments where users require substantial guidance.
Apty enhances digital adoption by providing interactive guidance that simplifies complex processes, ensuring users can navigate and use the software effectively.
Pros:
- Strong analytics and automation features
- Effective for complex software environments
- Detailed user guidance
Cons:
- Can be expensive
- May require significant setup time
10. Stonly
Stonly focuses on interactive, step-by-step guides that are easy to create and customize. It’s particularly effective for providing detailed, task-oriented assistance.
Stonly’s approach to detailed, interactive guides provides users with a comprehensive understanding of tasks and features, which can reduce support costs and improve user satisfaction.
Pros:
- Interactive and detailed guides
- Easy to create and customize
- Reduces the need for support resources
Cons:
- May not offer as many features for high-level customization
- Limited to task-oriented guidance
11. Userlane
Userlane provides an intuitive platform for creating interactive product tours and in-app guides, designed to simplify complex processes and enhance user understanding.
Userlane excels in breaking down complex tasks into manageable steps, making it easier for users to understand and navigate intricate workflows.
Pros:
- Intuitive and easy to use
- Effective for simplifying complex processes
- Good customer support
Cons:
- Limited customization options
- Can be pricey for smaller teams
12. Userflow
Userflow offers a no-code solution for creating product tours and in-app experiences. It’s tailored for fast-growing startups that need to quickly deploy and iterate on onboarding processes.
Userflow’s ease of use and affordability make it an excellent choice for fast-growing startups looking to rapidly implement and refine their onboarding processes.
Pros:
- No-code interface
- Quick deployment and iteration
- Affordable for startups
Cons:
- Limited advanced features
- May require multiple integrations for full functionality
Conclusion
Effective onboarding is crucial for SaaS success, and using product tour software can significantly enhance this process.
The right tool helps users quickly grasp your application’s features, boosting activation and satisfaction. Selecting a solution that matches your company’s needs—be it for customization, ease of use, or analytics—can transform your onboarding strategy.
These tools streamline user guidance, allowing your team to create interactive and intuitive experiences without heavy reliance on development resources.
By investing in the appropriate product tour software, you not only improve user engagement but also ensure a smoother transition from trial to active use. This strategic choice ultimately supports user retention and drives overall success.
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