- Pendo alternatives at a glance
- Ten Pendo alternatives to consider
- Check the licence on free tour libraries
- What to compare in an onboarding tool
- How to build a first tour that helps
- Onboarding mistakes to avoid
- Questions to ask an onboarding tool vendor
- My plain advice on Pendo alternatives
- Frequently asked questions
Pendo alternatives are other tools for in-app guides, product tours, checklists and onboarding that help users find their way around software. No-code tools suit product and success teams, while open-source libraries suit developers who want full control. Check how each one is licensed for commercial apps, because that catches some teams out.
Pendo combines product analytics with in-app guides, and it's a big platform. If you mainly want friendly onboarding tours and tooltips for your app, a lighter tool may get you there faster.
Here are ten Pendo alternatives in no particular order, sorted alphabetically, from developer libraries to no-code onboarding platforms. Each description comes from the vendor's own website, re-checked today. If onboarding emails are part of the plan, my onboarding activation sequence mini-guide covers the inbox side.
Start with the moment users get stuck. A tour is only useful if it helps at that moment, so watch a few real sessions before you build anything.
Then decide who'll build the guides. No-code tools let product or support teams make changes, while libraries need a developer for every update.
Pendo alternatives at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site describes a free version, free plan or open-source download, Trial only means a time-limited trial, and No means neither is stated. Free versions usually come with limits, so check what's included before you depend on one.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appcues | User onboarding platform | No-code onboarding flows | No |
| Chameleon | In-app experience platform | Tours and launchers | Yes |
| Intro.js | JavaScript tour library | Developer-built tours | Yes |
| Product Fruits | Onboarding software | Small SaaS teams | Trial only |
| Shepherd.js | Open-source tour library | Custom tours in code | Yes |
| Stonly | Interactive guides | Support and how-to guides | No |
| Userflow | Onboarding builder | Fast flow building | Trial only |
| UserGuiding | Onboarding tool | Teams new to onboarding | Trial only |
| Userpilot | Product growth platform | Onboarding plus analytics | Trial only |
| Usetiful | Digital adoption platform | Tours for internal tools | Yes |
Ten Pendo alternatives to consider
Appcues
Best for: Product teams who want flows, checklists and announcements without writing code.
Chameleon
Best for: SaaS teams who want tours, tooltips and launchers styled to match their product.
Intro.js
Best for: Developers who want a lightweight library for step-by-step product tours.
Product Fruits
Best for: Small SaaS teams who want tours, checklists and a help centre in one tool.
Shepherd.js
Best for: Developers who want an open-source library to build guided tours in their app.
Stonly
Best for: Support teams who want step-by-step interactive guides inside the product and help centre.
Userflow
Best for: Product teams who want to build and test onboarding flows quickly without code.
UserGuiding
Best for: Teams who want no-code walkthroughs, checklists and resource centres quickly.
Userpilot
Best for: Product teams who want onboarding flows alongside product analytics and surveys.
Usetiful
Best for: Teams who want product tours and checklists for customer or internal apps.
Check the licence on free tour libraries
Here's a catch developers miss. Intro.js's own licence page says that if you want to use it in a commercial application, you need its commercial licence, and that the open-source licence is GNU AGPLv3.
Free to download isn't the same as free for any use. Before your developer drops a tour library into a commercial product, check the licence, and keep a note of it with your project documents.
What to compare in an onboarding tool
- Building: no-code editor or code library.
- Targeting: showing the right guide to the right users.
- Measurement: completion rates and drop-off points.
- Styling: guides that look like your product.
- Performance: a script that doesn't slow your app down.
How to build a first tour that helps
- Pick the one action new users must take to get value.
- Write three to five short steps that lead there.
- Show the tour only to new users.
- Measure how many finish it.
- Cut any step where most people drop off.
Onboarding mistakes to avoid
- Touring every feature. Focus on the first win.
- Showing tours to everyone. Target new users.
- Never updating. Products change and tours go stale.
- Ignoring drop-off. It shows where users struggle.
If keeping customers is the bigger worry, my guide to spotting clients who are about to leave is worth a read.
Questions to ask an onboarding tool vendor
Onboarding tools sit inside your product, so they affect every user. Ask these before you install one.
- How much does the script add to page load?
- Can we target guides by user type and behaviour?
- Which reports show completion and drop-off?
- How is it licensed for commercial apps?
- Can guides match our design system?
Then run a small test with new users only. Compare their first week with users who didn't see the guide.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Do you make onboarding tools? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on Pendo alternatives
Short tours win. Users skip long ones, so guide people to one quick win and let them explore from there.
And keep checking the numbers. A tour that nobody finishes is telling you something about the product, not just the tour.
Frequently asked questions
What's a free alternative to Pendo?
Open-source tour libraries are free to download, though licences vary.
Do I need a developer for product tours?
Not with no-code tools. Libraries need a developer.
What's a product tour?
A short, guided walkthrough that shows users how to do something in an app.
Can I use a tour library in a commercial app?
Check the licence. Some need a commercial licence for that.
What's a digital adoption platform?
Software that guides users through apps with tours, tips and checklists.
How long should a tour be?
Three to five steps is a good target.
Can I show different guides to different users?
Most tools let you target by user type or behaviour.
Do onboarding tools slow down apps?
They add a script. Test performance after installing.
Can I measure if a tour works?
Look for completion and drop-off reports.
Are checklists better than tours?
They suit longer setups. Tours suit single tasks.
Can these tools run surveys?
Some include in-app surveys alongside guides.
Should I build onboarding before launch?
A simple tour at launch is enough. Improve it with real data.
Who should own onboarding inside a company?
Product teams usually own it, with support and success teams feeding in the questions customers ask most.
Can I add a help centre to my app?
Some onboarding tools include a resource centre or help widget with articles and videos.
Do product tours work on mobile apps?
Some tools support mobile apps, while others focus on web apps. Check first.
Can I A/B test onboarding?
Several tools let you test two versions of a flow and compare completion.
