Websites using Introjs

Okay, let s break down Intro.js, covering its overview, potential revenue considerations, alternatives, pricing, and customer care.

Intro.js: Overview

Intro.js is an open-source JavaScript library used to create step-by-step guided tours or walkthroughs for websites and web applications. It helps onboard new users, highlight important features, and improve user experience. It s like having a friendly, interactive guide pointing out different elements on a page and explaining their purpose.

Key Features:

• Easy to Integrate: It s simple to add to existing web projects. You just include the CSS and JS files and then write a few lines of JavaScript to define the steps.
• Customizable: You can customize the look and feel of the tour, including the colors, fonts, and position of the tooltips.
• Cross-Browser Compatible: Works on major browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, etc.)
• Responsive: Adaptable to different screen sizes and devices.
• API: Offers a JavaScript API to control the tour programmatically (e.g., start, stop, go to a specific step, etc.).
• Events: Triggers events at various points in the tour (e.g., before a step changes, after a step changes, on exit) allowing you to integrate with your application s logic.

Potential Revenue Considerations (for the Creator/Maintainers):

As Intro.js is primarily open-source, the direct revenue model isn t straightforward like a SaaS product. Revenue opportunities often come from related services and supporting the open-source community:

• Premium Support/Consulting: Offer paid support packages for users who need help integrating Intro.js, customizing it, or troubleshooting issues. Consulting services could also include building custom walkthroughs or integrating Intro.js deeply into complex applications.
• Premium Add-ons/Extensions: While the core library is free, the creators could develop and sell premium extensions or add-ons that provide additional features, such as advanced analytics, A/B testing of walkthroughs, or integrations with specific platforms.
• Training/Workshops: Offer paid training courses or workshops on how to effectively use Intro.js.
• Sponsorships/Donations: Accept sponsorships from companies or individuals who use and value Intro.js. Use platforms like GitHub Sponsors, Open Collective, or Patreon.
• Commercial Licenses (Dual Licensing): The creators could offer a commercial license for companies that want to use Intro.js in proprietary software without being bound by the open-source license (typically GPL). This allows companies to use Intro.js without having to open-source their own code.
• White-labeling / Custom Development: Offer a service to white-label Intro.js or build completely custom onboarding experiences for clients.
• Affiliate Marketing: Potentially partner with related tools or services and earn a commission on referrals.

Alternatives to Intro.js:

Here s a list of popular alternatives. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses:

• Shepherd.js: Another popular open-source library for creating guided tours. It s known for its flexibility and uses Popper.js for positioning the tooltips. Well-maintained and actively developed.
• Hopscotch: A framework that makes it easy to add product tours to your pages.
• Crumble: A javascript product tour that s easy to use and customize, and focuses on performance.
• Tourist.js: A simple, flexible library for creating product tours.
• Reactour: (React-specific) A library built for React applications, making it easier to integrate tours within a React component-based architecture.
• driver.js: A light-weight, no-dependency, pure JavaScript engine to drive the user s focus onto the screen.
• Commercial/SaaS Solutions (often more feature-rich but paid):
  • Appcues: A popular platform for user onboarding and product adoption. It offers a wide range of features, including guided tours, tooltips, announcements, and analytics. More expensive but generally easier to use for non-developers.
  • WalkMe: A comprehensive digital adoption platform that helps users navigate complex software. Enterprise-focused.
  • Pendo: Another leading product analytics and user onboarding platform.
  • UserGuiding: A user onboarding software that requires no coding to use.
  • Whatfix: A digital adoption platform that offers personalized and contextual guidance.

Choosing an alternative:

The best alternative depends on your specific needs:

• Budget: If you need a free solution, open-source libraries like Shepherd.js, Intro.js, or Tourist.js are excellent choices.
• Ease of Use: SaaS solutions like Appcues and Pendo are generally easier to set up and use, especially for non-developers, but they come at a cost.
• Framework: If you re using React, Reactour might be the most natural fit.
• Customization: Some libraries offer more customization options than others.
• Features: Consider the features you need, such as analytics, A/B testing, or integrations with other tools.

Pricing (for Intro.js):

Intro.js itself is free to use under the GNU General Public License version 3 (GPLv3). This means you can use it for personal and commercial projects without paying a fee, provided you comply with the terms of the GPLv3 license. The main requirement is that if you distribute your software that uses Intro.js, you must also make your source code available under the GPLv3 license.

Important: If you want to use Intro.js in a closed-source, proprietary project without releasing your own code under GPLv3, you need to purchase a commercial license. The commercial license removes the GPLv3 requirement.

As of October 2024, the pricing is as follows (you should always check the official Intro.js website for the most up-to-date pricing):

• Personal License: Designed for individual developers or small teams using Intro.js in personal or internal projects.
• Commercial License: Designed for companies or organizations using Intro.js in commercial products or services. Prices typically vary based on the number of developers and the scope of use.
• Enterprise License: Designed for large organizations with complex needs. Prices are typically negotiated on a case-by-case basis.

Customer Care Details (for Intro.js):

Since Intro.js is primarily an open-source project, formal customer care is limited compared to commercial software. Support typically comes in the form of:

• Documentation: The official Intro.js website should have documentation on how to use the library, including examples and API references. This is the first place to look for answers.
• GitHub Repository: The Intro.js GitHub repository is the main hub for the project. You can:
  • Submit Issues: Report bugs, request features, or ask questions by opening an issue. Be as clear and detailed as possible in your issue.
  • Contribute: You can contribute to the project by submitting pull requests with bug fixes, new features, or documentation improvements.
• Community Forums/Stack Overflow: Search for existing questions and answers on Stack Overflow or other developer forums. If you can t find an answer, you can ask a new question. Use the intro.js tag.
• Paid Support (if offered): If the creators offer paid support packages (as mentioned in the revenue section), this would provide a more direct and responsive channel for getting help. Check the official website.

In summary: Intro.js is a valuable tool for creating guided tours, but being an open-source project, its support is primarily community-driven. If you need robust, dedicated support, you might consider a commercial alternative or look for a paid support option from the Intro.js maintainers (if available). Remember to always check the official Intro.js website for the most current and accurate information.