This article compares changelog Saas tools suitable for small companies. A changelog is used for publishing product news embedded in-product, in-app or on a dedicated release note page.
The market is crowded with offerings for changelog publishing. Tools are scattered somewhere between design focused landing page hosting, backlog management tools, lean changelog as a service, all the way to enterprise ready publishing and notification solutions. Particular focus of this comparison is on the tool readiness for small companies with <5mio yearly revenue and less than 30 employees.
Such companies are typically constrained in their ability or willingness to pay enterprise pricing. They also require custom branding for their changelog, an and externally branded changelog would not live up to their visual identity. Furthermore, it's desirable to have a free plan for tool discovery and as a fall-back without data loss in the unlikely case of a financial strain.
We also believe direct integration with the repository for feature requests, voting and roadmap is of advantage to avoid unnecessary data integration between these processes. Once a feature is built and available, it is ready to be published. Ideally, for a smooth process flow, users can request new features, vote for the ideas they love, see a roadmap outlook and finally the "what's new" info - alltogether in a one stop shop tool for product owners.
For a first visual impression we added a screenshot of each tool's own changelog, where available.
We keep the comparison short and crisp. The tools are, in alphabetical order:
Announcekit
Announcekit is an advanced newsfeed application with in-app widgets and email notifications. A free plan is available for, custom branding is possible in plans starting at $99/month.
Beamer
Beamer is a tool for changelog and release note publishing, including notifications, customer segmentation and NPS. A free plan is available, custom branding starts at $49/month.
Canny
Canny is an leading solution for customer feedback, voting, roadmap and changelog. Pricing starts at $50/month for 100 tracked users. Custom branding available in non-standard plans > $200/month (business plan with custom pricing).
Changelogfy
Changelogfy is a tool for feedback, roadmap and changelog handling.
Plans starting at $49/month for up to 1000 tracked customers. Custom branding only in enterprise plan, > $99/month.
Headway
Headway is a lean SaaS for displaying a changelog, in-product via widget or on a separate website. No additional functionality, changelog only.
Free plan, custom branding comes at $29/month.
Hellonext
Hellonext provides straight-forward feature voting, roadmap and changelog display. Plans start at $12/month, including some custom branding (no whitelabeling).
Productific
Productific is a SaaS to help product owners decide what to build next and engage with users. Feature requests, voting, roadmap and changelog are supported. A free plan is available, custom branding is available at €7/month.
Releasenotes.io
Releasenotes.io is a tool for the sole purpose of displaying release notes. Starting with a free plan, custom design prices at $39/month.
Sleekplan
Sleekplan gives you feedback, voting, roadmap and changelog functionality. Starting with a free plan, custom branding and design prices at $45/month.
Versoly
Versoly is a beautiful landing page tool for SaaS marketers focused on easy consumption and great design. Offers changelog info as part of the product landing page hosting. Free plan available with custom branding.
Comparing the changelog as a service offerings for small company fit and process integration leads to this map:
| | Small Company?
Custom branding at <$400/year | Integration?
User requests, roadmap & voting in one tool |
| Announcekit |
| High price | Product news only |
| Beamer |
| High price | Changelog only |
| Canny |
| High price | ✓ |
| Changelogfy |
| High price | ✓
|
| Headway |
|
|
| ✓
| ✓
|
| Hellonext |
| ✓
| ✓
|
| Productific |
| | ✓
| ✓
|
| Releasenotes |
| ✓
| Release notes, only |
| Sleekplan |
| | High price | ✓
|
| Versoly |
| ✓
| Changelog and landing page |
Note: scope, screenshots and pricing info as of March 2021, according to website info.
For news about displaying a changelog via in-product widget with Productific please check our
changelog widget feature listing.