Product tour software options have made it easier than ever to show your buyers exactly what they’re getting—as well as improve their user onboarding experience.
Demos and product tours are some of the most valuable resources available to buyers when comparing different vendors. In an Harvard Business Review survey, 72% of respondents reported their purchase decision ultimately came down to the vendor with the best demo or trial.
Not sure which vendor to go with? In this list, we’ll compare 17 of the best product tour software options.
TL;DR: A quick glance at the 17 best product tour software options
1. Appcues
Founded in 2013, Appcues has continually been at the forefront of onboarding excellence. From the beginning, our mission has been to help customers build the best possible user experiences in their products—all without a developer. Appcues makes building product tours simple with pre-made templates and a user-friendly, accessible UI.
Appcues product tour software is designed to be easy for your customers, too. It boasts an extensive UX toolkit, including tooltips, modals, checklists, slideouts, and hotspots. You can customize these tools to look native to your product by using the built-in editor.
Chances are you’ve already experienced Appcues in action. If you’ve used Vidyard, Lyft, Yotpo, or Amplitude, you’ve undoubtedly encountered a tooltip like the one pictured above. It may never have occurred to you this window was an Appcues-built construction if it hadn’t been singled out—which is the point!
Appcues isn’t limited to “just” designing killer product tours. Underneath the user-friendly exterior is a powerful analytics engine capable of user segmentation, goal tracking, and in-depth reporting. No-code user tracking enables you to discover how customers are using your product and how your product tours can be optimized for maximum efficiency. Whether you're onboarding a new customer or showing off new features, our analytics tools ensure the right segment of customers will have the right experience at the right time.
Appcues powers product tours for companies ranging from startups to the Fortune 500. We admit that our comprehensive product tour and onboarding solutions might not match every company’s immediate needs. If you only need one basic flow and don’t want to pay for features you won’t use, Appcues might not be the right fit for you. But if you're a scaling SaaS business that's ready to build an array of stunning product tours backed by powerful analytics, we’re here to help you out.
Pros
- Easy to install and use
- Extensive range of product experience options
- Integrates with a multitude of products, including Slack, Salesforce, Heap, Amplitude, Mixpanel, Zendesk, and HubSpot
- Powerful built-in analytics support customer targeting for best results
- No-code user tracking
- Experienced support team dedicated to assisting customers
- Now supporting mobile apps for Android and IOS!
Cons
- Currently unable to customize NPS surveys
- Comprehensive tools, support, and analytics may be more than some companies need
Price
- Starting at $249
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2. Nickelled
With Nickelled, it’s easy to create tooltips, text bubbles, dialog boxes, and more in its content studio. You can customize these tools easily and design tours in multiple languages. Even the entry-level subscription includes the Nickelled Help Assistant, a help widget similar to that of Stonly and Userlane.
Like most of the products on this list, Nickelled enables unique customer tours by leveraging user segmentation. Installing Nickelled only requires downloading a Google Chrome extension, making setup code-free. Its attractive suite of features is rounded out by a great entry-level subscription price of $99.
Things get a little more complicated when you take a dive into pricing. Research shows that the pricing is anywhere from $199-$399 a month range, comparable with that of competitors such as Appcues, Userpilot, and Chameleon.
Pros
- Easy, code-free implementation
- Intuitive UI
- Multi-language support
- Built-in analytics
- Help Assistant
- Supports mobile apps
Cons
- Video/audio-enhanced guides only available at higher pricing tier
- Inexpensive starter package isn’t enough for most mid-sized businesses
- Only supports web-based apps, not native ones
Pricing
- Custom quote
3. Userpilot
Userpilot offers a robust product tour offering. It contains features essential to building a quality tour, including tooltips, slideouts, and even videos. Userpilot’s analytics tools pack a punch, allowing product managers to set and track goals, segment users, and A/B test product tour flows.
Whether Userpilot would work for your company depends on whether your needs fit within their range of specialization. Those who require product tours for mobile apps should consider another product. The same goes for any company which relies on Salesforce or HubSpot, as Userpilot doesn’t integrate with either of them.
Pros
- Code-free product tour building
- Easy-to-install browser extension
- A solid toolbox of features, including tooltips, slideouts, and videos
- The ability to A/B test flows and tours for maximum results
Cons
- Does not support mobile apps
- Does not integrate with Salesforce or HubSpot
- Limited resources for consultation and support
- Limited analytics solutions compared to premium competitors
Pricing
- Plans starting at $249 a month
4. Pendo
Unlike Userpilot, Pendo is web and mobile app friendly, allowing users to build product tours across platforms. Its collection of features contains nifty product experience options like banners and lightboxes. It also boasts impressive analytics features to support functions like user segmentation to assist with designing product tours for different user personas.
Pendo has a three-pronged approach that includes tour building, analytics and managing and prioritize customer feedback. Unfortunately, because of this split focus, the UI isn’t optimized specifically for tour creation and other onboarding objectives. Whereas some products could be considered “too basic,” Pendo may try to do too much for those who are primarily interested in designing product tours.
Pros
- Works in web and mobile apps
- Array of product tour features such as banners, tooltips, and lightboxes
- Can segment for different types of users
- Multiple activation methods
- Powerful analytics software
- Offers a free subscription with limited features
Cons
- More emphasis on product analytics than product experiences
- Overly complex UI leads to unnecessarily clunky UX
- Requires a developer to fine-tune flow design and targeting
- Nebulous pricing for paid plans
Pricing
- Custom quote
5. Userflow
While Userflow’s name isn’t as recognized as some of its competitors on this list, its offerings are extremely strong. It complements standard features like tooltips with user progress checklists, no-code tracking, and integration with a wide variety of platforms like Amplitude or Mixpanel. Userflow allows product managers to customize avatars, colors, and fonts, giving users more control over the aesthetic feel. All of this is backed with built-in analytics functionality for enhancing product tours based on user behavior.
Most customer reviews of Userflow are positive, but several point out the software’s learning curve. Specifically, the UI design is singled out as being less than intuitive and friction-free. From a pricing perspective, their entry-level “Startup” plan is listed at $250, but the plan is restrictive compared to the next-level “Pro” plan. The Startup plan only includes basic integrations, a single checklist, and support for up to just 3,000 monthly users. The Pro plan includes far more features, but you’ll certainly pay for them with the jump from $250 a month to $600.
Pros
- Includes checklists for users to keep track of their own onboarding progress
- No-code event tracking
- Customizable avatars, colors, and fonts
- Integrates with the likes of Amplitude, Slack, and Mixpanel
- Great analytics features
Cons
- UI design sometimes breeds confusion, especially in the early stages
- Significant pricing jump from the limited “Startup” subscription to the more feature-heavy “Pro” version
- Doesn’t support native mobile apps
Pricing
- Monthly billing starts at $250 a month
6. Toonimo
Toonimo is another product that addresses both employee and customer onboarding. Perhaps stemming from their investment in the “employee tutorial” side of onboarding, Toonimo’s big selling point is their voice-guided tours. Their product tour software hinges on a single concept: shouldn’t the warm, friendly tones of a human voice increase the likelihood of successful onboarding?
This voice assistance mechanism is the main differentiator between Toonimo and other products. Whether a Toonimo product tour would benefit your product or not depends upon whether you think a user will turn the volume up for their product walkthrough. Even the free interactive demo on Toonimo’s website offers a “text-only” alternative to a voice-guided tour, a tacit acknowledgment that voice guidance isn’t for everyone.
Pros
- Capable of building voice-guided tours for increased accessibility
- Enables construction of employee onboarding tours
- Built-in analytics functionality
Cons
- Not built for mobile apps
- Only real differentiator is voice guidance
- Focus on employee vs. customer onboarding
Pricing
- Custom quote
7. Stonly
Stonly positions themselves as an inexpensive but equally effective alternative to some of their higher-priced competitors. One of the most interesting features of Stonly is the ability to build a knowledge base. These knowledge bases function as an interactive guide for log-in issues, technical issues, and more.
Stonly includes integrations with the likes of Zendesk and Front. It also contains multi-language support and a competent analytics platform for product adoption optimization. A “Basic” subscription is free, though this pricing tier comes with caveats like Stonly ads and limited access to popular features.
Stonly’s low entry point for pricing might be perfect for small businesses or startups unconcerned about monthly usage caps. However, established businesses with more demanding product tour needs may find the lack of certain product experience options like checklists or progress bars restrictive.
Pros
- Ability to create a knowledge base
- Pricing model good for small companies with fewer initial needs
- Zendesk, Freshdesk, Front, and Segment integrations
- Multi-language support
- Built-in analytics features
Cons
- Fewer customization options than many competitors
- Lack of certain “standard” tour features like checklists and progress bars
Pricing
- $0 "Basic" package with extremely limited functionality and Stonly ads
- Paid subscriptions starting at $49 a month
8. Chameleon
Chameleon is an apt name for a product that is keen on customization. Its main appeal is a single concept: that customization is king. Chameleon backs up its strong customization selection with a solid array of product tour tools, including microsurveys, hotspots, and labels. While it contains its own analytics platform, Chameleon also integrates with powerhouse solutions like Amplitude.
The custom coding works well for a product team without developer bandwidth. However, outsourcing coding is a double-edged sword. It limits the agility of a team that’s ready to implement a product tour ASAP. If the custom coding misses the mark in the first iteration, the back-and-forth delays are only compounded.
Pros
- Great range of onboarding features, including microsurveys, checklists, hotspots, and labels
- Integrations with the likes of Slack, Amplitude, and Segment
- Built-in analytics platform
- Variety of customized style coding options for a brand-consistent experience
Cons
- Less-than intuitive UI
- Flow targeting and segmentation lack important features
- Features like A/B testing and unlimited microsurveys are only available at a higher pricing tier
- Limited resources for consultation and support
Pricing
- Plans starting at $279 a month
9. ChurnZero
ChurnZero is different than the others on this list in that they’re less an exclusive onboarding product and more a total customer success platform. It’s a formidable piece of software that follows the customer experience from onboarding to renewal. Its primary goal is to prevent customers from churning, and there’s no better place to address the customer experience than the product tour. As such, ChurnZero provides companies with the ability to guide customers through products with the use of modals, knowledge bases, and more.
ChurnZero contains a multitude of churn prevention features—perhaps too many. Onboarding is just one of many focuses of the product, meaning the UI is designed to address a number of other churn-related tasks. Also, the product experience options are limited compared to other onboarding-specific competitors. ChurnZero works best for companies already in the market for a new customer success platform.
Pros
- Capable of tracking the customer experience beyond onboarding
- A wide range of integrations, including Salesforce and HubSpot
Cons
- Clunky UI and volume of features leads to a long learning process
- Certain elements (setup, integration) require development resources
- Limited product tour tools
Pricing
- Custom quote
10. Intercom
Intercom is another on this list that is focused on a total customer engagement platform. The product tour software portion supports their entire ecosystem of products including an AI-powered chatbot. If your business is already using Intercom for your customer support and communication needs, the product tour add-on is a logical choice. The tours themselves function well and get the user from point A to point B effectively.
For companies not currently using Intercom, the product tour software can feel limited compared to onboarding products designed to stand alone. It lacks some essential product experience options like modals and tooltips. Additionally, the tours themselves are attributed to a real person—name, picture, and all. This level of personalization works well for some products. However, there’s no way to deactivate the authorship feature. Ultimately, Intercom may work perfectly for your needs, but those who are likely to get the most benefit are existing Intercom customers.
Pros
- Good for simple, linear tours
- Aesthetically pleasing video messaging
- Perfect for those with an existing Intercom subscription
Cons
- The product tour tool is only included as an add-on to a “standard” Intercom account
- Lacks features such as modals and tooltips that come standard with other product tour software offerings
- Customization is limited and requires an understanding of CSS
Pricing
- $199 a month for the Product Tour add-on
- Anywhere between $59-$999 for the necessary standard Intercom subscription
11. Userlane
Userlane is another product tour software option that includes code-free implementation, interactive tour features, and a well-designed in-app UX. Its “Userlane Assistant” feature serves as an interactive knowledge guide for customers who require help at any step. The Assistant is only enhanced by Userlane’s ability to target and segment users based on behaviors using the product’s built-in analytics functionality.
The primary drawback to Userlane is that it doesn’t appear polished. Their analytics and reporting features lack certain desirable features like the ability to export data to Excel. A few people have pointed out bugs that have disrupted their work in the Userlane editor. However, these issues are countered by Userlane’s strengths as an interactive product tour solution.
Pros
- Userlane Assistant provides real-time support
- No-code implementation
- Built-in analytics support user segmentation
- Mobile app support
- Zendesk, Confluence, and KnowledgeOwl integrations
Cons
- Analytics and reporting need improvement
- Software can be buggy and disrupt progress
Pricing
- Custom quote
12. Usetiful
Usetiful can be considered a more affordable option than most of the other options on this list. Their product tours can leverage customizable tools like tip balloons, checklists, and smart tips. They’re also developing a virtual assistant of their own for additional in-app help.
Setting up Usetiful isn’t as easy as some of its competitors and it lacks the functionality to support complex or demanding product tours. Its analytics functions get the job done, but they aren’t as powerful as those of many competitors—at least, not yet!
Pros
- No-code implementation
- Wide variety of tools, including tip balloons, slideouts, checklists, and modals
- Built-in analytics
- Among the cheapest options available
Cons
- Setup is not always intuitive
- Works better for simple tours than more complex ones
- Requires coding for customization
- Fewer dynamic features and analytics than more established companies
Pricing
- Free tier with limited features
- Paid subscriptions starting at €29.90 (around $34) a month
13. Whatfix
Whatfix is trusted by companies like Cisco and Western Union, which speaks a lot to their credibility. The product itself is easy to install via Google Chrome extension and a snippet of JavaScript. Easy installation gives way to an accessible user interface. It’s simple to construct interactive product tours with videos, modals, hotspots, and more.
Whatfix’s primary strength is as an employee onboarding tool. This means it’s a great solution for any company needing to address both their workers and their customers. However, Whatfix’s focus on employee onboarding means their customer-centric software feels limited in comparison. In-app styles and design leave something to be desired. Additionally, any user who wants to dive into their analytics will need to set up a Google Analytics integration as Whatfix does not have a platform built-in.
Pros
- Assortment of features like explainer videos, modals, and hotspots for building interactive product tours
- Easily installed as a Google Chrome extension
Cons
- More focused on employee onboarding than customer onboarding
- Fewer styles and themes than other software options
- Does not contain a built-in analytics platform like many other options
Pricing
- Custom quote
14. Intro.js
Intro.js prides itself on being the hands-on David to the competition’s code-free Goliath. It’s an open source software that requires a commercial license and takes up a whopping 10kB on your hard drive. It’s also amongst the cheapest options, with an entry-level plan for a single project costing just under $10.
Those with a solid grasp of CSS and JavaScript can use Intro.js to build functional product tours using tools like tooltips and hotspots. The effectiveness of these tour elements will depend on your own coding skills. If your coding skills aren’t what they used to be, one of the other code-free options is likely to serve you better. However, Intro.js is a terrific budget option for anyone with enough coding savvy to take advantage of the product’s low initial cost.
Pros
- Incredibly inexpensive, especially for companies requiring a limited number of flows
- Elements can be coded for unique features and actions like scrollability or the inclusion of progress bars
- Dependency-free
Cons
- Effectively limited to tooltips and hotspots
- Requires a solid grasp of JavaScript and CSS
Pricing
- Starts at $9.99 for a single project and reaches up to $299.99 for unlimited projects
15. WalkMe
WalkMe is one of the oldest companies on this list. Over the last decade, they’ve built their reputation as a terrific digital adoption platform (DAP) for enterprises looking to onboard employees and customers alike. WalkMe’s walkthroughs can be segmented to give specific demographics unique experiences. Its SmartTips (tooltips) and ShoutOuts (modals) round out its array of product experience tools. WalkMe also has a code-free editor that can be used for tour building. However, it isn't particularly intuitive. Building a tour sometimes requires the assistance of WalkMe's service team.
Like most other companies that address both employee and customer onboarding, whether or not WalkMe would work for your product depends on whether you are also looking to address employee onboarding. Their entire product focuses heavily on employee training, meaning their product tour tools aren’t as refined or robust as those from other user-centric software options. Additionally, pricing requires a custom quote, but former customers suggest that WalkMe’s range is higher than many competitors on this list.
Pros
- Includes product experience tools such as segmented walkthroughs, tooltips, and modals
- Code-free editor makes tour building simple
- Supports mobile
Cons
- Works best for employee onboarding, not customer onboarding
- Higher pricing estimates reflects the fact that you’re buying employee AND customer experience software
Pricing
- Custom quote
16. Tourial
Founded in 2019, Tourial was conceived as a product tour software that's part tutorial, part tour. Sales and marketing teams use Tourial to craft focused narratives that demonstrate how a product addresses the specific pain points of a buyer. The product creates tours by adding a layer of interactivity to once static screenshots.
Tourial is focused more on the pre-sale side of things than customer onboarding experiences. It features integrations with Hubspot, Marketo, and other parts of the customer and prospect-facing GTM tech stack.
Pros
- No coding necessary
- Parts of tour can be automated for improved UX
- Chrome extension available
Cons
- Still room for growth in tracking engagement
- UI requires a bit of work to get used to
Pricing
- There are 3 different tiers but pricing requires a conversation with sales
17. Navattic
One of the newer product tour software solutions on this list, Navattic was founded in 2020. Still in a rapid-growth stage, Navattic's focus is less on onboarding and more on using product tours and on-site demos as lead qualification boosters.
By using Navattic’s no-code interface, customer-facing teams can easily create demos that walk users through various use cases and help close the gap between tire kickers and people who want to see the software in action before starting a conversation with sales.
Pros
- Integrate product tours directly onto your website
- No coding experience is required to create demos
- A wide variety of integrations
Cons
- Not currently optimized for mobile
Pricing
- Custom quote
Product tour software FAQ
Why are product tours important?
Your product tour serves as a warm “hello” from your product to your new customer. A good product tour minimizes friction and reduces the risk of churn at a crucial period in the product adoption process. We know you’ve built a killer UI/UX, and a little extra hand-holding can make the difference between power usage and nonusage.
How can I create a product tour?
With product tour software! Of course, the actual process for creating a tour will differ depending on what tools you’re using to build it. A quick peek at the list above shows that some tour software options require a decent understanding of CSS and JavaScript. Some offer basic functionality for minimalist tours, while other more powerful solutions build branching tours backed by powerful built-in analytics.
Appcues has the benefit of being both powerful and easy-to-use. Custom templates provide a simple starting point for building a robust, unique product tour. Our product is built and maintained by some of the best and brightest minds in the onboarding software industry. In the event you require assistance with the construction of your product tour, those same professionals are available to help you develop the experience you signed up for.
What makes a great product tour?
Effective product tours guide users through something as close as possible to the actual product experience. It should feel exactly like the user has someone standing over their shoulder telling them exactly how to accomplish the given task and get them to that “aha” moment as quickly as possible.
Who should use product tours?
Any SaaS company that’s looking to maximize user adoption, engagement, retention, feature adoption, present an interactive walkthrough, or improve its overall onboarding process can benefit from having a product tour.
How can product tours help during onboarding?
Depending on the complexity of your software and onboarding flows that new users must pass through, onboarding checklists sometimes aren’t enough. By having an interactive, step-by-step walkthrough or in-app messaging to help guide your users through tasks can make for an excellent customer experience.
Build your custom product tour now with Appcues
