As an app developer, you know that a bad user onboarding experience can be a major hurdle to driving long-term retention. But what if you could create an onboarding process that sets users up for success from day one? In this article, we'll explore the top web and mobile app onboarding best practices to help you achieve just that.

The Importance of App Onboarding

App onboarding isn't just about introducing users to your product; it's also about showing them value quickly and improving user retention from the start. To achieve this, you need tutorials, walkthroughs, and in-app guidance to help users hit their first milestones quickly. But onboarding doesn't stop there – depending on your strategy, you might need to keep adding value with self-service support, feature adoption tooltips, and high-touch customer success services.

Web vs Mobile App Onboarding: What's the Difference?

Whether users download your app from the store or click the "free trial" button on your website, your onboarding tactics should adapt to their journey. The experience should feel natural for each platform. Here are some key differences between web and mobile app onboarding:

  • Web app onboarding offers more design flexibility, as it can adapt to different screen sizes, layouts, and resolutions.
  • Mobile app onboarding has stricter OS guidelines and layout constraints.
  • Web users expect apps to be more powerful, complex, and feature-rich than mobile apps. Mobile users expect apps to have an easier, faster, and more convenient experience.

Types of App Onboarding: What Works Best?

Not every onboarding process is created equal. The best approach depends on your app and users. Over the years, I've seen three main types that work in different situations:

  • Progressive onboarding: Guides users through the app step by step, revealing only the essential information and actions at each stage.
  • Function-oriented onboarding: Focuses on teaching users the core features of the app, often through a single product tour.
  • Benefits-oriented onboarding: Helps users understand why they should use the app by connecting them to a larger goal, social impact, or long-term commitment.

Mastering App Onboarding Best Practices

Choosing the right onboarding strategy for your app can make a huge difference. But success isn't just about the type of onboarding – it's also about the strategies you use to implement it. Here are some key takeaways:

  • Create a frictionless signup process: Simplify the signup flow and avoid unnecessary form fields.
  • Personalize the onboarding experience: Leverage user data to create tailored journeys that demonstrate value quickly.
  • Guide new users effectively: Use contextual help and self-service resources to ensure users feel supported.

Implementing App Onboarding Best Practices

I've seen too many good products lose users because onboarding couldn't guide them effectively. A strong onboarding experience isn't just about getting users in – it's also about keeping them engaged. Here are my top recommendations for both web and mobile apps:

#1 Create a frictionless signup process

One of the biggest onboarding mistakes I see often is apps making signups way harder than they need to be. If users hit friction before they even enter the app, they'll likely drop off.

The fix: simplify the signup flow. Avoid unnecessary form fields, don't force email verification right away, and definitely don't ask for a credit card upfront. The goal is to get users inside the app quickly with a well-optimized signup experience.

For mobile app onboarding, this is even more critical. Mobile users expect speed and won't waste time typing out long forms. To make mobile signups simpler:

  • Enable social logins (SSO): So users can sign up with Google, Apple, or social accounts.
  • Offer one-tap signup: To reduce friction completely.
  • Delay account creation where possible: Apps like TikTok let users enjoy the app without committing to an account upfront.

By following these best practices and implementing them in your own app onboarding process, you'll be well on your way to creating a seamless user experience that drives long-term retention.