UserGuiding vs Appcues: Finding the Right Balance of Price and Features

When product teams look for user onboarding solutions, two platforms frequently come up: Appcues, the established pioneer, and UserGuiding, the value-focused challenger. Both serve similar purposes but occupy different market positions.

This UserGuiding vs Appcues comparison will help you understand the trade-offs so you can pick the platform that fits your needs and budget.

Quick Comparison

Feature	UserGuiding	Appcues
Starting Price	$89/month	$249/month
G2 Recognition	Best Software Awards 2025	4.6 stars
Best For	Budget-conscious teams	Mobile support, integrations
Mobile Support	No	Yes (iOS, Android, React Native)
Resource Center	Yes	No (requires upgrade)
Knowledge Base	Built-in	No

Platform Overview

UserGuiding

UserGuiding positions itself as the "all-around product adoption platform" delivering enterprise features at startup-friendly prices. The platform has built a reputation for excellent customer support and ease of use.

In G2's Best Software Awards for 2025, UserGuiding reached #40 in Collaboration and Productivity, notably as the only Digital Adoption Platform in the top 50.

Core Philosophy: Maximum features at accessible prices

Appcues

Appcues pioneered the no-code approach to user onboarding and remains one of the most recognized names in the space. With polished experiences and extensive integrations, they've built a strong reputation.

Core Philosophy: Premium experience with extensive ecosystem

Feature Comparison

User Onboarding Features

UserGuiding Offers:

• Interactive product tours
• Onboarding checklists with progress tracking
• Announcement modals and banners
• Tooltips and hotspots
• In-app surveys (NPS, CSAT, custom)
• Product Updates page
• Resource centers
• Knowledge base feature
• User analytics

Appcues Offers:

• Product tours
• Onboarding checklists
• Tooltips and hotspots
• Modals and slideouts
• Banners
• NPS surveys
• Basic analytics

Key Difference: UserGuiding includes features like resource centers and knowledge bases in its standard offering that Appcues either doesn't offer or reserves for higher tiers.

Analytics Capabilities

UserGuiding Analytics:

• User behavior tracking
• Flow completion metrics
• Engagement analytics
• User segmentation insights
• Goal tracking

Appcues Analytics:

• Flow engagement metrics
• Checklist completion rates
• Basic funnel tracking
• NPS response analysis

Both platforms provide adequate analytics for understanding onboarding performance, though neither matches dedicated analytics platforms like Amplitude or Mixpanel.

Segmentation and Targeting

UserGuiding:

• Behavioral segmentation
• Custom user properties
• Event-based triggers
• URL-based targeting

Appcues:

• Limited to 5 segments on Essentials plan
• More segments on higher tiers
• Property-based segmentation
• Event triggering

Note: The segment limitation on Appcues' base plan is a significant consideration for teams wanting to personalize experiences without upgrading.

Mobile App Support

This is where Appcues has a clear advantage:

Appcues:

• Native iOS SDK
• Native Android SDK
• React Native support
• Full feature parity with web

UserGuiding:

• Web-only platform
• No mobile app support

If you have a mobile app that needs in-app onboarding, Appcues is your only choice between these two options.

Self-Service Support Features

UserGuiding:

• Resource center widget
• Built-in knowledge base
• FAQ integration
• Video embedding support

Appcues:

• No native resource center
• No knowledge base
• Relies on third-party help documentation

UserGuiding's built-in self-service features can reduce support tickets and help users find answers independently.

Pricing Deep Dive

UserGuiding Pricing

Basic Plan - $89/month (billed annually)

• Up to 1,000 MAUs
• Unlimited guides
• Email support
• Basic integrations

Professional Plan - $249/month (billed annually)

• Up to 2,500 MAUs
• All features
• Priority support
• Advanced integrations
• Removal of UserGuiding branding

Corporate Plan - Custom pricing

• Unlimited MAUs
• Custom integrations
• Dedicated support
• SLA

Appcues Pricing

Essentials - $249/month

• Up to 2,500 MAUs
• 3 team seats
• 5 user segments max
• Core features
• Email support

Growth - $879/month

• Up to 2,500 MAUs
• 10 team seats
• Unlimited segments
• Checklists and launchers
• A/B testing

Enterprise - Custom

• Unlimited seats
• Advanced security
• Dedicated support

Price-to-Value Analysis

The price difference is substantial. At entry level, UserGuiding offers similar capabilities to Appcues at roughly one-third the price: $89 versus $249 monthly. For startups on tight budgets, this $160 monthly difference is $1,920 annually. That's money for other growth initiatives or extending runway. UserGuiding also includes resource centers and knowledge bases as standard that Appcues either doesn't offer or reserves for higher tiers.

That said, simple price comparison misses nuance. Appcues' higher price includes mobile SDK support (essential for native apps), a stronger integration ecosystem with enterprise tools like Salesforce, longer market presence with larger community resources, and established vendor status that matters for enterprise procurement. According to SaaS onboarding statistics, 97% of companies consider good user onboarding necessary for effective product growth, making this a strategic decision.

The calculation changes at different stages. For pre-revenue startups, UserGuiding's $89 entry may be the only viable option. For well-funded startups with mobile apps, Appcues' premium is justified by mobile support alone since UserGuiding can't serve that use case. For established SMBs, the decision depends on specific needs: teams wanting resource centers and knowledge bases find more value in UserGuiding, while teams with complex integration requirements may prefer Appcues despite higher costs.

Integration Comparison

UserGuiding Integrations

• Segment
• Google Analytics
• HubSpot
• Intercom
• Slack
• Mixpanel
• Amplitude
• Zapier

Appcues Integrations (20+)

• Segment
• HubSpot
• Salesforce
• Slack
• Amplitude
• Mixpanel
• Intercom
• Heap
• Zendesk
• Microsoft Teams
• And more...

Verdict: Appcues has a broader integration ecosystem, particularly with CRM systems like Salesforce.

Customer Support

Customer support quality can make or break the experience, especially for teams implementing their first digital adoption tool. Support directly impacts time-to-value and long-term success.

UserGuiding Support

UserGuiding has built a reputation for what reviews consistently call "stellar customer support." The company offers responsive chat support (answers in minutes, not days), extensive documentation, video tutorials for visual learners, and hands-on onboarding assistance where the team helps customers build their first flows rather than just pointing to docs.

Testimonials frequently highlight support as a differentiator. Customers report that UserGuiding proactively reaches out to check progress, offers calls to troubleshoot complex issues, and provides specific suggestions rather than generic responses. For startups implementing onboarding tools for the first time, this level of support can dramatically accelerate time-to-value.

Appcues Support

Appcues provides email support on Essentials (longer response times), chat support on higher tiers, extensive documentation accumulated over years, community forums, and Appcues Academy with structured courses on best practices.

The model reflects Appcues' scale as an established platform. It's more self-service oriented with solid documentation and training resources. Customer feedback is generally positive, especially praising documentation quality and Academy resources. Some users note response times can be slower than smaller competitors and support feels less personalized at lower tiers.

Both companies receive positive feedback, though UserGuiding particularly stands out for hands-on, proactive assistance. The choice may depend on whether you prefer responsive personal support (UserGuiding) or self-service resources with structured training (Appcues).

Ideal Use Cases

Understanding which platform fits requires looking beyond features to your company's stage, technical requirements, budget, and growth trajectory.

Choose UserGuiding If:

Budget consciousness drives your decision. Starting at $89/month makes UserGuiding accessible for startups who need professional onboarding without enterprise budgets. According to UserGuiding's recognition in G2's Best Software Awards for 2025, the platform achieved #40 in Collaboration and Productivity as the only Digital Adoption Platform in the top 50.

Built-in self-service features matter. Resource centers and knowledge bases are included standard, letting you create help systems without additional tools. Your product is web-only, so Appcues' mobile SDK advantage is irrelevant. Support quality matters, especially if you're implementing onboarding tools for the first time. UserGuiding is consistently praised for hands-on assistance. And unlimited segments let you experiment with personalization without worrying about limits.

Choose Appcues If:

You have a mobile app that needs native in-app onboarding. Appcues is one of few platforms offering iOS, Android, and React Native SDK support. According to research on mobile app onboarding, 80% of users have uninstalled an app because they didn't understand how to use it.

Extensive integrations are crucial, particularly with Salesforce and other enterprise tools. If your go-to-market depends on tight CRM integration, Appcues' broader ecosystem may justify the premium. Established platform status matters to your organization. Appcues has a longer track record that may ease procurement in larger organizations. And specific integrations exist that Appcues offers but UserGuiding doesn't. Always check whether your essential tools integrate before deciding.

Limitations to Consider

UserGuiding Limitations

• No mobile support - Dealbreaker for mobile-first products
• Smaller company - Less resources than Appcues
• Fewer integrations - May need Zapier for some connections
• May not fit large enterprises - Better suited for SMB and mid-market

Appcues Limitations

• Segment limits on base plan - Only 5 segments on Essentials
• Higher price - Nearly 3x UserGuiding's entry price
• Basic analytics - Lacks depth compared to dedicated analytics tools
• No resource center - Must use third-party solutions

Migration Considerations

Moving from Appcues to UserGuiding

If you're considering switching to save costs:

• Rebuild flows using UserGuiding's builder
• Migrate any custom integrations
• Set up new analytics tracking
• Note: Lose mobile app capabilities if you have them

Moving from UserGuiding to Appcues

If you need mobile support or more integrations:

• Rebuild resource center content elsewhere
• Plan for higher monthly costs
• Reconfigure integrations
• Note: May lose some self-service features

The Verdict

UserGuiding is the better choice for teams that prioritize value, need self-service features, and don't require mobile support. It's particularly attractive for startups watching their budgets.

Appcues is the better choice for teams with mobile apps, those requiring extensive integrations, or organizations that prefer established vendors.

The 3x price difference matters. For many web-only products, UserGuiding delivers comparable functionality at a fraction of the cost. But if you need mobile support, the UserGuiding vs Appcues comparison ends quickly. Appcues is worth the premium.

Quick Decision Framework

Budget under $200/month? → UserGuiding
Need mobile app onboarding? → Appcues
Want built-in resource center? → UserGuiding
Need Salesforce integration? → Appcues
Prioritizing customer support? → Either (both excellent)
Enterprise with complex needs? → Evaluate both plus Pendo/WalkMe

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Looking for more options? Check out our comparisons of Product Fruits vs Appcues and Chameleon vs Userpilot.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between UserGuiding and Appcues?

UserGuiding offers maximum features at accessible pricing (starting at $89/month) with built-in resource centers and knowledge bases. Appcues is a premium platform with native mobile SDK support for iOS, Android, and React Native, plus a broader integration ecosystem. UserGuiding is best for budget-conscious web-only teams; Appcues is essential for mobile apps.

How much cheaper is UserGuiding than Appcues?

UserGuiding starts at $89/month compared to Appcues at $249/month, making it roughly 1/3 the price at entry level. UserGuiding also includes features like resource centers and knowledge bases that Appcues reserves for higher tiers or doesn't offer at all.

Does UserGuiding support mobile apps?

No, UserGuiding is a web-only platform with no mobile app support. If you need native mobile onboarding for iOS, Android, or React Native apps, Appcues is the better choice between these two platforms.

Which is better for startups - UserGuiding or Appcues?

UserGuiding is typically better for startups due to its $89/month starting price, built-in self-service features (resource center and knowledge base), unlimited segments, and stellar customer support. Choose Appcues only if you have a mobile app or require specific enterprise integrations like Salesforce.

What features does UserGuiding include that Appcues doesn't?

UserGuiding includes built-in resource centers, knowledge base functionality, and a Product Updates page as standard features. Appcues lacks a native resource center and knowledge base, requiring third-party tools to provide self-service support capabilities.