Guide to Appcues Alternatives: 8 tools for enhancing product adoption

What Appcues Does Well

Event Tracking and Explorer

Appcues has introduced strong analytics features in the recent years, which enabled the platform go head-to-head with an analytics-first platform like Pendo.

Aside from analyzing the performance of content created with Appcues, you can use Appcues for no-code event tracking and create detailed reports that feed your product team.

Mobile App Support

The biggest feature that differentiates Appcues from other solutions in the market is the mobile app support.

Most competitors only provide product adoption features for web & sometimes desktop apps, but Appcues in addition to these offers mobile app support, enabling cross-platform companies to create experiences throughout different devices.

Biggest Drawbacks of Appcues

Pricing

Of course, like any product ever, Appcues isn't perfect.

Especially for SMBs, Appcues's pricing is not really affordable.

It is true that Appcues is a strong platform, but if you're considering Appcues for a few simple tasks just starting out, getting the whole package for a high cost doesn't really make sense.

Also, some G2 reviewers mention that unannounced pricing hikes are common when using Appcues, so I would advise you to beware.

Technical Setup

Appcues is a power-house, but with great power, comes great responsibility for developers.

The implementation of different features and making them work perfectly often requires intervention from a developer, which makes the tool undesirable for small teams with limited technical resources.

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8 Best Appcues Alternatives

1. UserGuiding - straight-forward product adoption with quick setup

• ‎Capterra ⭐4.7/5 (51 reviews)
• G2 ⭐4.6/5 (231 reviews)

UserGuiding is an all-in-one product adoption platform with a heavy focus on enabling two-way communication with users.

It allows you to create in-app experiences that turn new or existing users into promoters and champions.

UserGuiding Features

User Guidance

UserGuiding's product tours, tooltips, hotspots, and onboarding checklists provide new and existing users with the information they need during their onboarding.

In addition, the resource center offers a 24/7 in-app stop for all user education and engagement needs as a glorious self-help widget.

Announcements and Product Communication

During new feature launches, product redesigns, or product updates, UserGuiding provides you with everything you need to communicate effectively with your users.

Use in-app announcements to let users know about what's new, or create your own changelog page in seconds with built-in feature to align on every update and get feedback.

Talking about feedback...

Feedback and Insights

Make data-informed decisions thanks to UserGuiding's insight-generating in-app surveys that provide real-time feedback, or the user analytics dashboard that let's you track user activity and segment users based on behavior.

Pricing

UserGuiding's pricing is straightforward, and the price increases only if your number of active users increases; so it truly grows with you.

For anywhere below 2500MAU (monthly active users) pay only $89/mo on the Basic plan for all the key features.

The professional plan with increased limits and access to advanced workflows cost $249/mo.

UserGuiding vs. Appcues

Appcues is better when it comes to product analytics and user behavior analysis, as the product has a strong focus behind it.

In terms of in-app elements, UserGuiding offers everything Appcues offers plus Knowledge Base, Resource Centers and Product Updates (Changelog).

For pricing and setup, UserGuiding stands out as well, with a true no-code setup in a matter of minutes and a lower price range.

2. Pendo - focus on product analytics and reporting

• ‎Capterra ⭐ 4.5/5 (215 reviews)
• G2 ⭐ 4.4/5 (1,421 reviews)

Pendo is a product analytics platform in its core; the in-app engagement suite complements its user segmentation and feedback features that lets you create targeted in-app campaigns.

Pendo Features

Product Analytics and User Behavior

Pendo has strong analytics and reporting capabilities, you can track product usage and build reports and dashboards that inform your product team on crucial experience and design projects.

Feedback Collection

You can collect real-time feedback using Pendo's in-app survey features, then use this feedback to segment users or make more informed decisions on product development.

User Engagement

In-app engagement features of Pendo usually end up in the background of analytics capabilities, but that doesn't mean the platform isn't able to onboard, educate, and engage users using guides, tooltips, and checklists.

Pricing

Pendo has a free plan for small startups with limited features, and offers discounts for startups.

There is no transparent pricing available, but 5-figure contracts are pretty common according to multiple users and reviews.

Pendo vs. Appcues

Compared to Appcues, Pendo has better analytics capabilities that offers a tad-bit more advanced guides.

In terms of product adoption, Appcues wins with its more customizable and diversified in-app elements and mobile app support.

For pricing and setup, although Appcues requires technical assistance, Pendo's setup takes weeks and plenty of development resources without exceptions.

3. Userpilot - strong in-app engagement and insights

• ‎Capterra ⭐4.6/5 (57 reviews)
• G2 ⭐4.6/5 (382 reviews)

Userpilot is a comprehensive product adoption platform that matches Appcues closely in terms of features and technical requirements. However, its pricing and user-friendliness make it a challenging option for some.

Userpilot Features

Analytics and Reporting

Userpilot's strength lies in its core analytics and reporting capabilities.

With a detailed analytics dashboard, you can create in-depth reports using various chart types, helping your team make data-driven decisions and track user interactions comprehensively.

No-Code Event Tracking

Like Appcues, Userpilot offers no-code event tracking, enabling teams to set up and monitor user events without needing technical expertise.

This feature streamlines the implementation process, making it accessible for non-technical teams.

User Engagement and Onboarding

Userpilot provides robust tools for user engagement, including product tours, checklists, and tooltips. These features help onboard users effectively, ensuring they grasp the functionality of your product quickly and efficiently.

UserGuiding goes head-to-head with solutions like UserGuiding in terms of in-app engagement.

Pricing

Userpilot's pricing is on the higher side, particularly for startups and small businesses.

The basic plan starts at $249 per month, including access to core features. For more advanced features and higher usage limits, the cost increases significantly.

Userpilot vs. Appcues

While Userpilot has the core product analytics features that will help you level-up your internal stragey, Appcues excels with its product analytics and user behavior analysis.

Userpilot's pricing is very close to Appcues, so it comes down to technical setup.

Userpilot's setup is technically less burdensome than Appcues's.

However, many users have reported issues with Userpilot's customer support, citing slow response times and ineffective solutions. For companies that prioritize ease of use and reliable support, this could be a significant drawback.

4. Shepherd.js - open source Appcues alternative

• ‎Github: 13K stars ⭐
• Capterra: no reviews
• G2: no reviews

Shepherd.js is an open-source library that provides a cost-effective solution for creating product tours. It is ideal for teams that lack the budget for premium tools like Appcues but still need robust user onboarding capabilities.

Shepherd Features

Customizable Tours

Shepherd.js allows you to create highly customizable product tours. You can define steps, add text and buttons, and style the tours to match your brand.

Lightweight and Flexible

As an open-source library, Shepherd.js is lightweight and can be easily integrated into your existing application.

It provides the flexibility to modify and extend the code to fit specific needs, making it suitable for developers who prefer tailored solutions.

Community Support

Being an open-source project, Shepherd.js benefits from a community of contributors.

This means you can find community-driven support, plugins, and extensions to enhance its functionality. However, it lacks the dedicated support that comes with commercial products; and if you want official support, you'll have to get a custom quote for an enterprise plan.

Shepherd vs. Appcues

Shepherd.js is a great alternative for those who need a budget-friendly solution for product tours and onboarding.

While it doesn't offer ANY built-in analytics and mobile support, it provides a flexible, customizable, and lightweight option for web applications.

In terms of setup, Shepherd.js requires more technical knowledge to implement and maintain compared to Appcues. However, for teams with developer resources, it's cost-effective and highly customizable.

5. Intercom - viable option if your support team is on it

• ‎Capterra ⭐ 4.5/5 (1,055 reviews)
• G2 ⭐ 4.5/5 (2,988 reviews)

Intercom is widely known for its customer support and CRM capabilities, but it also offers a robust product tours add-on.

Product tours makes it a viable alternative to Appcues, especially for companies already leveraging Intercom's support tools.

Intercom Features

Product Tours Add-on

Intercom's product tours allow you to create guided tours within your application.

The tours can be customized to show users how to navigate your application, highlighting key features and workflows.

In-App Messaging and Engagement

Intercom is great in in-app messaging, allowing you to engage users directly within your product. You can send targeted messages, provide support, and gather feedback seamlessly, all from within the same platform.

And because it is integrated with support/success and/or even sales, it can offer smooth and connected workflows for multi-level engagement.

Customer Support

Intercom is a customer support platform in its core, and has everything support/success teams need, from AI chatbots to knowledge bases.

Pricing

Intercom's lowest plan starts from $39/mo per seat with in-app engagement features, but it's a bit tricky especially if you're expecting the functionalities of Appcues.

For product tours, surveys, and checklists, you'll need to get the Proactive Support Plus add-on that's $99/mo, so the total cost of Intercom at the lowest would be $138/mo to match the core features of Appcues, and each additional seat will cost another $39/mo.

Intercom vs. Appcues

For pricing and setup, Intercom can be more affordable if you’re consolidating your support, CRM, and user engagement tools into one platform.

However, for teams seeking advanced customization and standalone product analytics, Appcues might still be the better choice.

6. Userflow - easy in-app guides and engagement

• ‎Capterra ⭐ 4.8/5 (12 reviews)
• G2 ⭐ 4.8/5 (103 reviews)

Userflow is an effective product adoption and user onboarding tool, particularly suitable for teams looking for a straightforward solution with basic analytics.

While it may not offer the advanced analytics of Appcues, it excels in ease of use and implementation.

Userflow Features

In-App Engagement and Onboarding

Userflow provides robust tools for creating in-app experiences that guide users through your product.

This includes features like product tours, checklists, and tooltips that help users navigate your application and understand its features quickly.

AI Assistant

One of Userflow’s standout features is its AI assistant, which can help automate and personalize the onboarding experience.

This makes it easier to deliver tailored guidance and support to users based on their behavior and needs.

Pricing

Userflow’s pricing is considered expensive, especially at the starter level, with the basic plan starting around $240 per month.

Userflow vs. Appcues

Userflow is only $9 cheaper than Appcues while lacking a lot of functionalities and features.

It has the key in-app engagement features with limited analytics, so it's a more of a starter tool.

Userflow's no-code setup and AI assistant can save time and resources, making it a viable option for teams with limited technical expertise.

7. Chameleon - advanced in-app features

• ‎Capterra ⭐3.9/5 (10 reviews)
• G2 ⭐4.4/5 (216 reviews)

Chameleon is a user onboarding and engagement tool designed to help product teams create personalized in-app experiences.

While it offers core engagement features similar to Appcues, it stands out with its AI assistant and user-friendly interface.

Chameleon Features

In-App Engagement

Chameleon allows you to create interactive in-app guides, tours, and tooltips that help onboard users and highlight key features of your product.

These elements can be customized to match your brand and provide a seamless user experience.

AI Assistant

One of Chameleon's unique features is its AI assistant, which helps automate and personalize user interactions.

Pricing

Chameleon has a free plan that only has the CMD+K in-product search feature with basic AI assistant. For product tours, surveys, and checklists, you'll need to subscribe to the Startup plan that costs $279/mo, while for advanced features such as A/B testing and goal tracking you'll have to pay $1250/mo.

Chameleon vs. Appcues

Chameleon and Appcues both provide powerful in-app engagement tools, but there are key differences to consider.

Chameleon offers an AI assistant and a more user-friendly interface, which can be advantageous for teams looking to quickly set up and manage their onboarding processes.

However, Appcues offers more robust analytics and mobile app support, making it a better choice for teams that need comprehensive tracking and cross-platform functionality.

Chameleon is more expensive to get started with than Appcues, and the prices hike if you want to upgrade to the next plan.

8. Whatfix - the employee onboarding and engagement solution

• ‎Capterra ⭐4.6/5 (77 reviews)
• G2 ⭐4.6/5 (329 reviews)

Whatfix is a robust digital adoption platform tailored more towards enterprises looking to improve employee engagement and training.

While it shares some similarities with Appcues in terms of in-app guidance, its focus on digital transformation and employee productivity sets it apart.

Whatfix Features

Employee Onboarding and Training

Whatfix excels in providing tools for employee onboarding and training. It allows enterprises to create interactive guides, walkthroughs, and tooltips that help new employees understand and navigate complex software systems.

In-Depth Analytics

Whatfix provides detailed analytics that help organizations track the effectiveness of their onboarding and training programs.

You can monitor how employees interact with the guides, measure completion rates, and identify areas where additional support might be needed.

While not as extensive as some analytics-focused platforms, it offers sufficient data to make informed decisions about employee training.

Integrations

Whatfix integrates seamlessly with various enterprise applications, making it a versatile tool for large organizations.

Pricing

Whatfix has opaque pricing, but as it's an enterprise solution, you can guess that the pricing is much higher than most tools on this list.

Whatfix vs. Appcues

Whatfix's strength lies in its ability to help large organizations train employees efficiently, offering robust customization and integration capabilities.

On the other hand, Appcues offers more advanced analytics and better support for mobile apps, making it a better choice for product teams focused on customer onboarding and engagement.

Overall, Whatfix is an excellent choice for enterprises seeking a comprehensive solution for employee onboarding and training, offering a range of features that cater specifically to large-scale digital adoption.

What to Pick?

UserGuiding is a strong choice for small to medium businesses due to its affordable pricing, straightforward setup, and comprehensive features that mirror those of Appcues.

For teams prioritizing advanced analytics and detailed reporting, Pendo is an excellent option, though it demands more development resources and offers fewer in-app engagement features.

Userpilot provides a robust alternative for those seeking features and technical needs similar to Appcues, despite being pricier and less user-friendly.

Shepherd.js is ideal for budget-conscious teams needing an open-source user onboarding solution, while Intercom is best if you already use its support or CRM functionalities, offering smooth integration with its product tours add-on.

Ultimately, the right tool depends on your priorities and budget, and we hope this guide helped you.

Feel free to get in touch with our product experts so we can explain how UserGuiding can help YOU.