UX Team Logo
Contact Us
Search
Close this search box.
UX Team Logo

The 5 best onboarding flows we've seen in 2024 so far

Onboarding is a crucial aspect of the user experience, which can make or break a product’s success. An ideal onboarding flow has to strike the right balance between not getting in the way and teeing up an optimal product user experience. If done well, a great onboarding flow also sets the tone for the overall user experience and a positive brand perception.

In 2024, we’ve seen some exceptional onboarding flows that stand out for their creativity, efficiency, and user-centric design. Here are the best five onboarding flows we’ve seen so far this year. 

1. Slack

Slack, the widely used collaboration platform, has refined its onboarding process to ensure new users can quickly and effectively start communicating and collaborating. 

Key features: 

  • Guided setup: A step-by-step guide helps users create or join a workspace, set up channels, and invite team members. 
  • Interactive tutorial: Users are introduced to key features through an interactive tutorial that simulates real usage scenarios. 
  • Customization options: Users can customize their notifications, themes, and preferences during onboarding to tailor the experience to their needs. 
  • Resource hub: Easy access to a comprehensive resource hub with articles, videos, and support ensures users can find help as they navigate the platform. 
Play Video

Why it stands out: Slack’s onboarding flow is designed to get users up and running quickly while providing them with the flexibility to customize their experience. The interactive tutorial and resource hub ensure that users can find the information they need to make the most of Slack’s features from the start. 

2. Canva

The popular graphic design platform has developed an onboarding process that is intuitive and empowers users to start creating designs quickly and effortlessly. 

Key features: 

  • Personalized onboarding quiz: Users answer a few questions about their design needs and experience level, allowing Canva to tailor the onboarding experience. 
  • Interactive tutorial: Step-by-step interactive tutorials guide users through the basic tools and features, helping them create their first design within minutes. 
  • Template recommendations: Based on the user’s answers, Canva provides personalized template suggestions to kickstart their design projects. 
  • Resource hub: Access to a rich resource hub with tutorials, tips, and inspiration ensures users can continually improve their design skills. 
Play Video

Why it stands out: Canva’s onboarding flow is designed to be user-friendly and highly supportive, making it easy for anyone, regardless of their design expertise, to start creating professional-looking designs. The personalized approach and extensive resources available help users feel confident and inspired right from the start. 

3. Duolingo

Duolingo, the renowned language-learning app, has a gamified and engaging onboarding process that helps users start their language journey with enthusiasm and ease. 

Key features: 

  • Initial placement test: New users can take a placement test to determine their current language proficiency, allowing the app to tailor lessons to their level. 
  • Personalized goals: Users set daily learning goals, such as the number of minutes they wish to spend learning each day, which helps in building a consistent habit. 
  • Interactive lessons: The onboarding includes a series of interactive lessons that introduce users to the app’s learning methodology and features through hands-on practice. 
  • Gamification elements: Features like streaks, badges, and leaderboards are introduced early to motivate users and make learning fun. 
  • Reminders and notifications: Personalized reminders help users stay on track with their learning goals, ensuring they don’t miss their daily practice. 
Play Video

Why it stands out: Duolingo’s onboarding flow is both fun and effective, leveraging gamification to keep users engaged while providing a personalized learning experience. The combination of an initial placement test, interactive lessons, and motivational elements ensures users are set up for success from the very beginning. 

4. Grammarly

Grammarly, the popular writing assistant tool, offers a seamless and informative onboarding process that helps users enhance their writing skills right from the start. 

Key features: 

  • Personalization quiz: New users complete a quick quiz about their writing goals and preferences, allowing Grammarly to tailor recommendations and tips. 
  • Guided tour: A guided tour introduces users to key features, such as grammar and spell-check, style suggestions, and tone detection. 
  • Browser extension setup: Easy instructions for setting up the Grammarly browser extension ensure users can start using the tool across various platforms and applications. 
  • Interactive demo: Users can try out Grammarly’s features in an interactive demo, receiving immediate feedback on their writing. 
  • Writing goals: Users can set specific writing goals (e.g., formal, casual, academic) to receive customized suggestions that align with their objectives. 
Play Video

Why it stands out: Grammarly’s onboarding flow is designed to be both educational and user-friendly. The personalization quiz and guided tour ensure users quickly understand how to leverage the tool’s powerful features, while the interactive demo provides hands-on experience. This comprehensive approach helps users improve their writing skills efficiently and effectively from day one. 

5. Headway

Headway, the book summary app designed to facilitate personal growth and learning, offers an intuitive and motivating onboarding process that helps users quickly dive into their self-improvement journey. 

Key features: 

  • Personal development goals: Users start by setting personal development goals, such as improving productivity, enhancing leadership skills, or boosting mental health, to receive tailored book summary recommendations. 
  • Interest survey: A brief survey on reading preferences and interests ensures the app’s recommendations are aligned with the user’s tastes and objectives. 
  • Interactive tutorial: An interactive tutorial walks users through the app’s key features, including navigating book summaries, setting reading reminders, and tracking progress. 
  • Daily reading habit: Users can set daily reading goals, such as reading for a specific number of minutes each day, to build and maintain a consistent habit. 
  • Progress tracking: The onboarding introduces users to the progress tracking features, allowing them to monitor their achievements and stay motivated. 
Play Video

Why it stands out: Headway’s onboarding flow is designed to be both user-centric and motivational, focusing on personal growth and goal achievement. By offering personalized book recommendations and an easy-to-follow tutorial of the app’s features, Headway ensures users are well-equipped to embark on their reading and self-improvement journey from the very beginning. 

Conclusion

These five onboarding flows set a high standard for user experience design in 2024. By prioritizing usability, interactivity, personalization, and user education, these apps have created onboarding experiences that not only introduce new users to their features but also engage and delight them from the very start. As the year progresses, it will be exciting to see how other apps innovate their onboarding processes to meet and exceed these benchmarks. 

 

Related articles