Updated: June 8, 2024
Creating step-by-step guides has become an essential part of sharing knowledge and instructions in today's digital age. Whether you're a teacher, a business owner, or a hobbyist, having the right tools can make the process of creating clear and effective guides much easier.
In this article, we'll explore the best step-by-step guide creation tools for 2024, designed to help you streamline your instructional content and reach your audience more effectively. Let's dive into the key aspects of these tools, starting with understanding what they are and who can benefit from them. As a bonus, at the end of the article you can find the most complete list of all tools and applications for creating step-by-step guides and tutorials as of 2024
A step-by-step guide creation app is a specialized software designed to help users create detailed, easy-to-follow instructions for various tasks and processes. These apps offer a range of features, such as templates, drag-and-drop interfaces, multimedia integration, and interactive elements, making it simple to design guides that are both informative and engaging.
The primary goal of these apps is to break down complex procedures into manageable steps, enhancing comprehension and usability for the end-users.
Step-by-step guide creation apps are versatile tools that can benefit a wide range of individuals and organizations:
Selecting the right step-by-step guide creation app depends on several key factors:
Ease of Use
Look for an app with an intuitive interface that allows you to create guides without a steep learning curve.
Customization Options
Ensure the app offers sufficient customization features, such as templates, fonts, colors, and multimedia integration, to tailor the guides to your specific needs.
Export and Sharing Options
Check if the app supports various export formats (PDF, HTML, etc.) and easy sharing options to distribute your guides effectively.
Integrations
Look for apps that integrate with other tools and platforms you use, such as CRM systems, project management tools, or content management systems, to streamline your workflow.
Price
Evaluate the cost of the app in relation to its features and your budget. Some apps offer free versions with limited features, while others require a subscription or one-time purchase.
Flexibility
Ensure the app allows for extensive customization in terms of branding, export customization, colors, templates, and formats to fit your specific needs and preferences.
This ultimate list includes all applications for creating guides and step-by-step tutorials available on the market as of 2024. Applications for individuals, small and medium businesses, and even enterprise. Each of the tools has description, core features, pricing options, pros and cons. Let's start!
List of applications
Folge is a simple, free, and powerful desktop tool that teams can use to create, manage, and share processes and knowledge. If you are looking for a documentation tool that enables you to quickly generate step-by-step instructions and present these in a range of formats, you should take Folge for a spin. Unlike some tools, it offers a robust editor and extensive export options, ensuring high-quality documentation for various needs.
Folge is the only privacy-first application that stores all your data offline on your machine. It features auto annotations that recognize elements you click on in your tutorials and automatically fill in step titles. Along with seven export formats, Folge also supports online exports, allowing you to share guides and tutorials as web pages, widgets, and even with native Confluence integration.
While writing this article, I discovered that among all the applications available now, only Folge and Flowshare offer local data storage and value your privacy. Other applications only allow you to host data on their servers.
Key Features:
Use Cases:
From internal IT support and team onboarding to customer success and business documentation, Folge is used by over 1,000 users for a range of different use cases.
Pricing:
Folge offers a free version with core features, alongside a one-time purchase option for lifetime access to advanced features and future updates. This pricing structure provides a cost-effective solution for both individual and business users. Folge is the only solution on a market that offers application for creating step-by-step guides for one-time price without any hidden costs. You can start using Folge for free right now
Pros and Cons:
Pros
Cons
Folge Reviews:
“We are leveraging Folge to help simplify the creation of training documentation for both our clients as well as for our internal team. It's fantastic!” (Read Full Review)
“Folge works as a tool should. It gets out of the way and allows me to succeed in what I'm trying to accomplish. The beauty in Folge is that it works behind the scenes. You turn it on and then just work. It will be there documenting along the way.” (Read The Full Review)
“The ability to take screenshots, number them, and mark them up from either within the app, or import is great. As an IT Manager, being able to produce these quickly and effortlessly is essential, and Folge comes through with flying colours.” (Read The Full Review)
“I spent less than 30 minutes on the trial before deciding to purchase Folge. Coming from a previous software application that has been discontinued, and most competitors being either limited or very expensive, Folge was the natural choice for me.” (Read The Full Review)
Scribe is a tool designed to quickly create step-by-step guides by capturing your screen activities. It focuses on automated guide generation, customizable annotations, and versatile sharing options. However, its features and functionality may not be as extensive compared to more robust alternatives.
In my opinion, Scribe is one of the most solid solutions on the market, and it is not overloaded with unnecessary features. However, it can become costly for a team of two or more people, and I recommend looking at cheaper alternatives such as Folge.
Key Features:
Pricing:
Scribe offers a free plan with basic features, a Pro Personal plan at $29 per user per month, and a Pro Team plan at $15 per user per month (minimum 5 users). Custom pricing is available for enterprise plans, which include advanced security and team management features.
Pros and Cons:
Pros
Cons
Tango is a web-based application designed for creating detailed step-by-step guides through screen capture. It enables users to document workflows easily and offers annotation and sharing tools. Although Tango provides essential features for guide creation, it lacks the depth and offline capabilities of some other tools.
I find that Tango differs from all other alternatives by having an interactive walkthrough that can be used if you have an extension installed. However, some users find it buggy and unreliable. In my opinion, having screenshots and a manual is more than enough to navigate even the most complicated workflows
Key Features:
Pricing:
Tango offers a free plan with up to 25 captures per month. The Pro plan, at $20 per user per month (billed annually), includes unlimited captures, advanced editing features, and priority support. Enterprise pricing is available on request, offering enhanced security and administrative features.
Pros and Cons:
Pros
Cons
Dubble is an online platform focused on streamlining the creation of step-by-step guides through browser-based screen captures. It offers powerful features for editing and annotating screenshots, making it a useful tool for documentation and tutorials. Dubble stands out with its ability to create guides directly in the browser, ensuring easy accessibility and use.
In my opinion Dubble is a great tool, but its video-first approach doesn't let users to fully benefit from screenshots and annotations.
Key Features:
Pricing:
Dubble offers a free plan with unlimited guides and basic features. The Pro plan is priced at $8 per user per month, billed annually, and includes advanced functionalities such as video and audio recordings, collaboration tools, and watermark removal. Custom pricing is available for Enterprise plans, which provide enhanced integrations and administrative controls.
Pros and Cons:
Pros
Cons
Iorad specializes in empowering users to quickly create interactive tutorials without any prior technical expertise. Its browser-based interface is geared towards capturing and detailing complex processes in a simple, visual format that's accessible globally. However, the lack of a dedicated desktop application may hinder users who require offline capabilities.
I find that Iorad is an excellent tool for individual users, but when you want just some extra features or customization, the price becomes unbelievably high even for medium-sized businesses.
Key Features:
Pricing:
Pros and Cons:
Pros
Cons
Guidde is a digital adoption platform designed to help users create interactive guides and tutorials to onboard customers, employees, or students. With Guidde, users can create step-by-step guides that simulate real-life experiences, making it easier for users to learn and adopt new software, systems, or processes. The platform aims to reduce friction and increase user engagement, ultimately driving business results. In my opinion Guidde relies too much on AI magic and videos
Key Features:
Pricing:
The Starter plan starts at 9 per user/month (billed annually), while the Growth plan starts at 19 per user/month (billed annually). The Enterprise plan is custom-priced for large teams and organizations. While Guidde's pricing may seem steep for small teams or individuals, its features and benefits may justify the cost for larger organizations.
Pros and Cons:
Pros
Cons
Flowshare is a workflow management tool designed to help teams streamline their workflow, automate repetitive tasks, and increase productivity. According to their website, Flowshare aims to simplify workflow management by providing a customizable and scalable solution for teams of all sizes. With Flowshare, teams can create custom workflows, automate tasks, and track progress in real-time.
I find Flowshare to be one of the most interesting privacy-first tools on this list. However, unlike Folge, Flowshare is only available for Windows. Folge supports both platforms, and you can use Folge on Windows and Mac with just one business license.
Key Features:
Pricing:
FlowShare offers a free plan with basic features for up to 15 steps per guide. The Professional plan costs $40 per user per month, providing advanced features such as custom branding and multiple export options. For larger organizations, the Enterprise plan includes additional support and custom integrations, with pricing available upon request.
Pros and Cons:
Pros
Cons
MagicHow is a versatile application designed for creating interactive, step-by-step guides and tutorials. It offers both web and desktop versions ( desktop only in paid plans ), providing flexibility for users who prefer working online or offline. MagicHow aims to streamline the documentation process with its intuitive interface and advanced customization options, making it an ideal tool for various instructional needs.
Key Features:
Pricing:
Pros and Cons:
Pros
Cons
Guidejar is an advanced tool designed for creating interactive product demos and step-by-step guides. It simplifies the process with AI-powered features, allowing users to quickly capture workflows and customize them with annotations, multimedia, and branding. Guidejar offers both browser-based and desktop applications, ensuring flexibility and convenience for different user preferences.
Key Features:
Pricing:
Pros and Cons:
Pros
Cons
Here is the most complete list of applications for creating step-by-step guides and tutorials I have found. Some are big, some small, and abandoned, but they all try to achieve one thing—allow you to create step-by-step guides and tutorials by clicking through your workflows.
| Tool name | URL |
|---|---|
| Folge | https://folge.me |
| Scribe | https://scribehow.com |
| Tango | https://tango.us |
| Dubble | https://dubble.so |
| Instructio | https://instructio.app/ |
| Iorad | https://www.iorad.com/ |
| Guidde | https://www.guidde.com/ |
| FlowShare | https://getflowshare.com/ |
| MagicHow | https://www.magichow.co/ |
| GuideJar | https://www.guidejar.com/ |
| Gyde | https://gyde.ai/ |
| Archbee | https://www.archbee.com/ |
| Snackwyze | https://snackwyze.com/ |
| Uphint | https://uphint.com/ |
| Rivia | https://www.rivia.ai/ |
| Flowster | https://flowster.app/ |
| Stepsy | https://stepsy.co/ |
| Driveway | https://driveway.app/ |
| Wizardshot | https://www.wizardshot.com/ |
| Floik | https://www.floik.com/ |
| Minerva | https://www.minervaknows.com/ |
| Supademo | https://trysupademo.com/ |
| Folio | https://www.folio.la/ |
| Holoib | https://holoib.com/ |
| Glitter | https://www.glitter.io/ |
| Motionshot | https://www.motionshot.app/ |
| Whale | https://usewhale.io/ |
| GlueTrail | https://www.gluetrail.com/ |
| Kroto | https://www.kroto.one/ |
