Onboarding gamification tools to engage with new users

Discover the top 5 onboarding gamification tools that captivate new users, boost engagement, and ensure long-term retention for your product.

Oct 2, 2024
The onboarding process is a key part of how users experience your app. If it's done well, you can avoid losing users, which can be more expensive than keeping them.
What if you used a gamification strategy to improve the onboarding experience?
Gamification can make the onboarding process more engaging and memorable, increasing the chances that new users will stick with your product.
In this guide, we’ll explore the best tools for gamifying your onboarding process that stand out in the crowded marketplace, each offering unique features designed to captivate and retain new users.

What is onboarding gamification?

Onboarding gamification is the art of applying game-design elements and principles to the user onboarding process. It's about creating an immersive experience that motivates users to explore and master your product.
By incorporating elements like points, badges, leaderboards, and challenges, gamification taps into our innate desire for achievement and recognition.
The benefits of gamified onboarding are manifold. It increases user engagement, accelerates product adoption, and significantly improves retention rates. Moreover, it can transform potentially tedious learning experiences into enjoyable journeys of discovery.

Top Onboarding Gamification tools to captivate new users

1. WalkMe

WalkMe is a leading digital adoption platforms, offering an interactive guide to help users navigate complex software. With its strong features, WalkMe turns traditional onboarding into a smooth experience.
WalkMe’s main features include interactive walkthroughs, on-screen guidance, and contextual help. It creates step-by-step tutorials and provides real-time support to simplify complex systems for new users.
New users benefit from WalkMe’s hands-on guidance, which shortens the learning curve and boosts their confidence in using the software. This approach ensures users don’t struggle with unfamiliar interfaces.
WalkMe is used in various industries, from finance to healthcare, showing its versatility in improving user experience. Organizations use WalkMe to enhance onboarding, reduce support costs, and increase satisfaction.

2. Pendo

Pendo is well-known for combining user feedback with strong analytics, making it a great tool for gamifying the onboarding experience. It offers insights that help customize the onboarding process for each user.
Key features of Pendo include in-app messaging, guided tours, and feedback collection. These tools make onboarding smoother and allow for ongoing improvements based on user feedback.
By incorporating feedback loops and interactive tutorials, Pendo creates a more engaging onboarding experience. This approach helps users quickly understand and start using new tools.
Many companies, especially tech startups, have successfully used Pendo to improve their onboarding. They've seen higher user adoption rates and better customer satisfaction thanks to Pendo's gamified features.

3. Userlane

Userlane simplifies onboarding with interactive guides and a user-friendly design. It provides real-time support and relevant information based on the user's needs.
Userlane uses gamification features like progress tracking, achievement badges, and interactive tutorials to make onboarding more engaging and enjoyable.
This approach helps keep users interested, leading to higher retention rates. When the learning process is fun, users are more likely to stay engaged and keep using the platform.
Userlane is popular in sectors like SaaS and enterprise solutions, where it has been praised for reducing training times and improving onboarding experiences.

4. Chameleon

Chameleon offers customizable onboarding with features like in-app guides, tooltips, and personalized messages. This lets businesses create tailored onboarding experiences.
Chameleon’s key strength is its ability to provide a personalized experience. Users receive messages and guidance that adapt to how they interact with the platform.
These personalization features boost user engagement and motivation, making users feel valued. This leads to higher user adoption and satisfaction.
Many Chameleon users see big improvements in engagement and onboarding efficiency, with case studies showing better user experiences and higher retention rates.

5. Apty

Apty is a tool that helps people learn new software faster by making the process more fun. It uses games and rewards to keep users engaged.
Apty includes features like tracking progress, step-by-step guides, and achievement rewards. These make learning easier and more manageable for beginners.
Apty also offers strong analytics to see how well the learning tools work, allowing businesses to improve their training methods.
Clients appreciate Apty for boosting user engagement and helping users quickly get comfortable with new software.

How to apply gamification in your User Onboarding Process?

To make your user onboarding more engaging, think of it like a game:
  1. Set Clear Goals: Break down the onboarding steps into simple tasks and celebrate when users complete them.
  1. Track Progress: Show users how far they've come with progress bars or checklists—everyone loves seeing their progress!
  1. Offer Rewards: Give points, badges, or unlock special features as users complete tasks. It's like earning gold stars!
  1. Create Fun Challenges: Turn onboarding into a series of challenges or quests that users can conquer.
  1. Add Social and Competitive Elements: Use leaderboards or let users share their achievements to keep the excitement going.
  1. Personalize the Journey: Tailor the experience to each user, making it feel more personal and relevant.
  1. Keep the Fun Going: Even after onboarding, keep offering new challenges or rewards to keep users engaged.
In short, make onboarding a fun, rewarding experience that keeps users motivated and excited to explore your product!

Conclusion

In conclusion, incorporating gamification into your onboarding process is a strategic way to enhance user engagement and retention.
The tools we've explored each offer unique features that can transform a standard onboarding experience into a dynamic and enjoyable journey. By transforming the onboarding journey into a fun and rewarding experience, you can keep new users motivated and excited to explore your product.
Setting clear goals, offering rewards, and personalizing the experience are just a few ways to make onboarding more interactive and enjoyable. Ultimately, a well-gamified onboarding process not only captivates users but also lays a strong foundation for long-term success with your product.