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Our Top 5 Picks of Tools for User Onboarding

Written by Simon Kostelny | 3/20/25

We won’t overwhelm you with tens of options, here are 5 user onboarding tools we think are the best for creating seamless, effective onboarding experiences.

Table of Contents

What Are User Onboarding Tools?

Userpilot

Appcues

Pendo

Intercom

Hotjar

Conclusion

FAQ

What Are User Onboarding Tools?

User onboarding tools are designed to help new users understand and start using a product effectively. They provide guidance through features like interactive product tours, step-by-step checklists, and helpful in-app messages. The goal is to make the onboarding process smooth and straightforward so users can quickly see the value of the product.

But what are the best tools for user onboarding? That’s a tricky question because the best tool often depends on your specific needs and goals. With so many options available, it can feel overwhelming to choose the right one. To simplify things, we’ve narrowed it down to our top five picks. These tools stand out for their ease of use, versatility, and ability to deliver great onboarding experiences. Let’s take a closer look!

1. Userpilot

Userpilot is a no-code onboarding platform designed to help businesses create personalized, in-app user experiences. Whether you’re looking to guide new users through your product with interactive walkthroughs or collect feedback through built-in surveys, Userpilot has you covered.

Key Features:

  • Interactive In-App Onboarding: Build product tours, tooltips, and checklists without writing a single line of code.
  • User Segmentation: Tailor onboarding experiences based on user behavior and attributes.
  • Built-In Analytics: Track user actions in real-time to identify bottlenecks and optimize the onboarding process.
  • Customizable Surveys: Collect insights using Net Promoter Score (NPS) and other survey tools.

Why It Stands Out:

Userpilot excels at giving product teams the tools they need to guide users effectively, all while offering robust analytics to measure progress. It’s particularly ideal for SaaS businesses that want to deliver personalized onboarding without requiring developer involvement.

Pricing:

Plans start at $249/month, with more advanced tiers available for larger teams and businesses needing additional features.

2. Appcues

Appcues is a powerful no-code platform that allows businesses to create and implement in-app onboarding experiences with ease. It’s designed to help product teams deliver guided tours, announcements, and surveys that improve user engagement and adoption.

Key Features:

  • Customizable Onboarding Flows: Create engaging product tours, tooltips, banners, and checklists to guide users step by step.
  • User Segmentation: Personalize onboarding experiences based on user behavior, demographics, or attributes.
  • Event Tracking: Measure the performance of your onboarding flows and identify areas for improvement.
  • Chrome Extension: Build and edit onboarding content directly on your product’s interface.

Why It Stands Out:

Appcues is especially suited for teams that value flexibility and customization. Its user-friendly interface makes it accessible even to non-technical teams, enabling faster implementation of onboarding solutions.

Pricing:

Appcues starts at $249/month for the Essentials plan, which includes basic onboarding features like product tours. For advanced features like checklists and deeper analytics, the Growth plan starts at $879/month.

3. Pendo

Pendo is an all-in-one platform that combines user onboarding with robust product analytics and feedback collection. It’s a great option for businesses looking to understand user behavior while providing in-app guidance to improve adoption.

Key Features:

  • In-App Guides: Build interactive product tours, walkthroughs, and tooltips to guide users through key features.
  • Advanced Product Analytics: Track user behavior with tools like funnels, cohorts, and paths to understand user engagement.
  • Feedback Collection: Gather feature requests and user feedback directly within your app.
  • Cross-Platform Support: Seamlessly track user behavior on both web and mobile platforms.

Why It Stands Out:

Pendo is ideal for businesses that want to pair onboarding with in-depth analytics. Its ability to analyze user journeys while providing tailored guidance makes it a powerful tool for improving user activation and retention.

Pricing:

Pendo’s pricing is available upon request, but reviews suggest plans start at $20,000 annually for a single product. A free version is available for startups, supporting up to 500 monthly active users.

4. Intercom

Intercom is a versatile customer messaging platform that also offers onboarding features through its Product Tours add-on. It’s a great option for businesses looking to combine onboarding with customer support and engagement tools.

Key Features:

  • Product Tours: Create guided, linear onboarding flows to walk users through key features.
  • Integrated Messaging: Sync onboarding tours with Intercom’s live chat and email tools for a seamless user experience.
  • Behavior-Based Messaging: Trigger in-app messages or emails based on user actions.
  • Frameless Video Embeds: Add videos directly to onboarding tours to provide visual guidance.

Why It Stands Out:

Intercom is perfect for businesses that want an all-in-one solution for onboarding, customer support, and engagement. Its integration of live chat, email, and product tours makes it a flexible choice for improving the user journey.

Pricing:

Intercom’s Starter plan begins at $74/month, but access to Product Tours requires the add-on, which starts at $199/month. Pricing increases with additional features and users.

5. Hotjar

Hotjar is a popular tool for analyzing user behavior through heatmaps, session recordings, and feedback surveys. While not exclusively an onboarding tool, it plays a crucial role in identifying friction points and optimizing the onboarding process.

Key Features:

  • Session Recordings: Watch real-time replays of user sessions to understand how they navigate your product.
  • Heatmaps: Visualize where users click, scroll, and focus their attention the most.
  • Surveys and Feedback: Collect user feedback directly through in-app surveys to identify pain points and areas for improvement.
  • Behavior Insights: Spot bottlenecks or usability issues during the onboarding process.

Why It Stands Out:

Hotjar provides a deep understanding of how users interact with your product, making it easier to refine your onboarding experience. Its combination of qualitative and quantitative data ensures you can address user needs effectively.

Pricing:

Hotjar offers a free plan that covers up to 2,000 page views per day. Paid plans start at $39/month, providing additional features like unlimited recordings and advanced filtering.

Conclusion

We’ve only scratched the surface with these five tools, but there are plenty more options out there, each tailored to different needs and goals. If you haven’t found the perfect fit for your business yet, don’t worry- there’s a solution for everyone.

Feel free to book a free consultation with one of our experts, and together we’ll help you find the right tool to create a seamless onboarding experience for your users. Let’s work together to ensure your users feel confident, supported, and ready to succeed with your product.

FAQ

1. What are user onboarding tools?

User onboarding tools are software solutions designed to help new users learn and adapt to a product or service. They typically include features like guided tours, interactive tutorials, checklists, and feedback surveys to ensure a smooth onboarding experience.

2. Why are user onboarding tools important?

These tools help reduce user confusion, increase engagement, and improve retention by ensuring users understand your product’s value quickly. A great onboarding experience can lead to higher customer satisfaction and long-term success.

3. How do I choose the best onboarding tool for my business?

Start by identifying your specific needs—such as whether you need in-app guides, analytics, or feedback tools. Consider your budget, team size, and technical expertise. Tools like Userpilot and Appcues are great for no-code solutions, while platforms like Pendo offer advanced analytics for larger enterprises.