WalkMe vs Pendo
Two digital adoption platforms, two different approaches. Which one fits your needs - or do you need something simpler?
The Core Difference: Employee Adoption vs Product Analytics
WalkMe and Pendo both offer in-app guidance, but they're targeting different buyers.
WalkMe was built with employee-facing digital transformation in mind. You get enterprise-grade workflow automation, FedRAMP Ready security, and cross-platform support that includes native desktop apps. It's designed for scenarios like onboarding thousands of employees to Salesforce or Workday. The average cost? Around $79K per year.
Pendo takes a different angle. It's geared toward product teams working on customer-facing apps. The analytics run deep here, with 7-year data retention and retroactive event tracking, paired with in-app guidance. Product managers use it to understand how customers actually interact with their SaaS product. Pricing starts at $15K per year, though enterprise deals typically land between $47K and $140K or more.
Here's a question worth asking though: do you actually need a full digital adoption platform? Many teams just need solid documentation.
Platform Overview
Three different tools for three different documentation and training needs.
WalkMe is enterprise digital adoption.
Industry-leading workflow automation with ActionBot, employee onboarding for complex internal apps. FedRAMP Ready, SOC 2, ISO 27001. 3-6 month implementation requiring dedicated DAP team. $79K average annual cost. Best for Fortune 500 digital transformation with complex cross-platform needs.
Pendo is product analytics + guidance.
Deep product analytics with 7-year data retention, retroactive tracking, session replay. In-app guides with visual builder. 4-6 week implementation. $15K-140K+ annually. Better for SaaS product teams understanding customer behavior than employee training.
Glitter AI creates visual documentation fast.
For teams that need to document processes without the complexity of enterprise DAPs. Record once while explaining in your own words - AI captures your voice and turns it into polished step-by-step guides with screenshots. 11x faster than traditional documentation. Simple, affordable, quick to implement.
At a Glance
Quick comparison of the key differences.
Do You Actually Need a Digital Adoption Platform?
This might be an uncomfortable question, but it's worth asking: WalkMe and Pendo are powerful enterprise tools with enterprise price tags. Do you really need all that firepower?
If you need:
- Real-time in-app walkthroughs guiding users through tasks
- Workflow automation that clicks buttons for you (ActionBot)
- Deep product analytics with 7-year data retention and retroactive tracking
- Enterprise security with FedRAMP Ready compliance
- Cross-platform support including native desktop apps
Then WalkMe or Pendo probably makes sense, assuming you have the budget and resources to make it work.
But if what you actually need is:
- Step-by-step documentation with screenshots
- Training materials people can reference later
- SOPs and process guides
- Quick onboarding content
- Simple implementation without months of IT security reviews
You probably don't need a 3-6 month implementation cycle and $15K-400K+ in annual costs. Glitter AI produces the same documentation in minutes rather than months, and it's about 11x faster than building guides the traditional way.
Implementation & Ease of Use
How long does it take to get value from each tool?How long does implementation take?
3-6 months typical.
Complex setup requiring browser extensions, IT security reviews, dedicated implementation resources. Requires ongoing maintenance from certified DAP specialists. Often needs paid professional services for setup.
4-6 weeks typical.
Faster than WalkMe but still requires setup. Element tagging can be complex - struggles reported with CSS selectors and dynamic elements. May need engineering help for accurate feature tagging.
Minutes.
Install extension, record a process, publish. No technical setup. No maintenance overhead. Start creating documentation immediately.
Who can create content?
Requires technical expertise.
Steep learning curve. Users report needing CSS, HTML, and jQuery knowledge for customization. Complex editor with frequent bugs reported. Often requires full-time dedicated DAP administrator.
Non-technical users can learn, but it's complex.
Despite "no-code" marketing, setup is time-consuming and often requires technical knowledge. Users report the interface seems "complicated for newcomers" with fragmented UI across modules.
Anyone can use it.
Just record your screen and talk - AI captures your voice narration and turns it into polished documentation. No special skills needed. If you can do the task, you can document it. Unlike DAPs that require CSS/HTML knowledge, Glitter works the way you naturally explain things.
What about ongoing maintenance?
Heavy maintenance burden.
Despite DeepUI promises, users report guides break frequently when underlying apps update. Requires constant fixing. High risk of maintenance debt without dedicated DAP team.
Moderate maintenance needed.
Element tagging breaks when apps evolve. Users report this as "biggest pain point" - CSS selectors and dynamic elements cause broken guides. Page URLs are case-sensitive adding complexity.
Easy updates.
Process changed? Re-record that part or edit individual steps. No dependency on underlying app structure.
Features & Capabilities
What can each tool actually do?Can it automate workflows?
Yes - industry leading.
ActionBot can complete multi-step processes automatically. Click buttons, fill forms, navigate between apps. This automation capability is WalkMe's key differentiator. Often sold as add-on.
No.
Pendo focuses on analytics and guidance, not workflow automation. Can trigger in-app messages based on behavior but doesn't automate tasks.
Different approach.
Glitter creates documentation, not automation. Different use case entirely - but your documentation is ready in seconds, not months of implementation. Sometimes the simplest path is the best one.
What about analytics?
Basic usage tracking.
WalkMe Insights tracks how people use applications at department and user levels. 1-year data retention. Good for identifying friction points but not Pendo's depth.
Deep product analytics - this is Pendo's strength.
Industry-leading analytics with 7-year retention. Retroactive event tracking - define events after they happen. Session replay. Funnels, paths, retention analysis. Advanced segmentation.
Focused guide analytics.
Views and engagement metrics for your documentation. Not a product analytics tool - but you don't need enterprise analytics to know if your documentation is working. Clean, simple insights without the $50K+ price tag.
What platforms are supported?
Web, desktop, and mobile.
Comprehensive cross-platform support including native desktop apps via WalkMe Workstation. Supports Windows/Mac desktop applications. This is hard to match. Best for complex enterprise environments.
Web and mobile apps.
Web-based apps and mobile SDKs for iOS/Android. However, recurring crash reports with iOS SDK - SIGABRT errors particularly with SwiftUI. No native desktop app support.
Web, desktop, and mobile.
Desktop app for recording included on free plan. Mobile support through video-to-guide conversion. Can document anything you can record.
What Users Actually Say: Real Complaints
Both tools have their share of loyal enterprise customers, but there are also consistent patterns of complaints worth knowing about before you sign a contract.
WalkMe's Biggest Issues
High Total Cost of Ownership The $79K average license fee is just the beginning. WalkMe typically requires a dedicated full-time DAP administrator or team. One Reddit user put it this way: "WalkMe feels enterprise-priced even when teams only use a slice of its features." Another shared their experience: "It requires coding knowledge and a full-time owner to maintain content... Support is very unresponsive and unhelpful."
Technical Complexity Users consistently mention needing CSS, HTML, and jQuery knowledge for customization. A G2 reviewer noted: "The editor is powerful but complex... often requiring knowledge of CSS, HTML, and jQuery to customize elements or fix selection issues." Someone else shared: "The setup can take time, especially when building advanced flows. Some features have a bit of a learning curve."
Support Complaints One G2 reviewer had this frustrating experience: "Support team is extremely slow to respond with resolutions for critical bugs. When I try to contact my client success manager for help, I'm told that if she responds I'll be billed for professional services hours."
Maintenance Burden Even with DeepUI promises, users say guides break frequently. One G2 reviewer mentioned: "Challenging learning curve. Plug-ins that caused Page Unresponsive issues in Salesforce."
SAP Acquisition Risk WalkMe was acquired by SAP in September 2024, which has raised questions about future pricing and whether non-SAP customers will remain a priority.
Pendo's Biggest Issues
Pricing Opacity and Sticker Shock This comes up more than anything else. A Reddit user shared: "Pendo quoted me 30k USD to use their webhook... I wanted to understand is it normal business process to push prospects away with quotations like these."
Another user was blunt: "That price jump is just insulting. $35k for internal app tracking is wild." One Featurebase analysis observed: "Pendo's pricing is notoriously high, with many users reporting quotes around $30k a year. For startups or small businesses, this can quickly burn through a tight budget."
The Free Plan Cliff There's a hard stop at 500 MAUs, then a massive jump to $15K-35K for paid tiers. Growing startups have no gradual step-up option.
Element Tagging Complexity Users have reported: "Element tagging for Pendo guides have been the biggest pain point for us." CSS selectors and dynamic elements cause guides to break. One review noted: "The interface may seem somewhat complicated for newcomers" with many finding the different modules disjointed and the UI scattered.
Mobile SDK Crashes There are critical stability issues: "We've been facing crashes on our iOS app from the Pendo library with SIGABRT... The issue is freeing an unallocated memory." This comes up repeatedly, especially with SwiftUI.
Data Sync Delays The HubSpot and Salesforce integrations have 24-hour delays rather than real-time sync: "Our data is 24-hours old and too slow for our team."
Blunt Assessment One Reddit user in r/ProductManagement didn't hold back: "Pendo is a complete and utter piece of crap. choose anything other than Pendo."
What This Means for You
These issues aren't necessarily deal-breakers if you genuinely need these capabilities. Enterprise tools come with enterprise complexity. But they paint a realistic picture:
- WalkMe: Budget for $100K+ total cost once you factor in dedicated staff
- Pendo: Expect at least $30K+ and be prepared for pricing pressure at renewal
- Both: Plan for significant implementation time and ongoing maintenance
The Glitter AI Alternative: While WalkMe and Pendo users wrestle with complex editors, broken guides, and steep learning curves, Glitter AI works differently. Record your screen and talk through what you're doing. AI captures your explanation and turns it into polished documentation. No CSS knowledge needed. No element tagging headaches. No maintenance when apps get updated. You can start creating in minutes, not months.
Pricing & Plans
Compare the investment required for each tool./year
/year
/year
WalkMe – Pricing Takeaways:
- Highest cost in digital adoption space
- Custom pricing only - no transparency, difficult negotiations
- Professional services fees often required for implementation
/mo
/year
/year
Pendo – Pricing Takeaways:
- Free tier with hard limit - 500 MAU cap, then big jump to $15K+
- Better value than WalkMe - but still expensive for SMBs
- Hidden costs - key features gated behind higher tiers or add-ons
/mo
/mo
/mo
/year
Glitter AI – Pricing Takeaways:
- Simple pricing - per creator, no viewer fees for embedded guides
- No implementation cost - start creating in minutes
- Fraction of DAP cost - 10-100x cheaper than enterprise DAPs
The Right Tool for the Right Problem
When you probably need WalkMe:
- Enterprise-scale digital transformation - You're onboarding thousands of employees to complex internal systems like Salesforce or Workday
- Workflow automation - You need to automate multi-step processes with ActionBot across applications
- Cross-platform complexity - Web, mobile, AND native desktop apps (WalkMe Workstation)
- FedRAMP/regulated industries - Government, healthcare, or finance compliance requirements (FedRAMP Ready, SOC 2, ISO 27001)
- Budget and resources available - $79,000+ annually on average, plus a dedicated DAP team for 3-6 month implementation and ongoing maintenance
When you probably need Pendo:
- Product analytics focus - You want deep understanding of how customers use your SaaS product with 7-year data retention
- Retroactive event tracking - Being able to define events after they happen and access historical data matters to you
- Customer-facing applications - In-app guidance combined with behavioral insights for product teams
- Session replay needs - You want to see exactly how users struggle with qualitative context
- Faster than WalkMe - 4-6 weeks implementation compared to 3-6 months
- Budget available - $15,000 - $140,000+ annually depending on MAU and features needed
When Glitter AI is the better fit:
- Process documentation - Step-by-step guides with screenshots, not real-time in-app automation
- Training materials - Onboarding content people can reference at their own pace
- SOPs and how-tos - Any process that needs documenting without DAP complexity
- Quick implementation - Start creating in minutes, not months. No IT security reviews or browser extension deployments
- Budget conscious - $192 - $8,000 annually, which is 10-100x cheaper than enterprise DAPs
- Simple needs - Documentation and guides, not workflow automation or deep product analytics
- Small to mid-size teams - You don't have a dedicated DAP administrator and don't want one
So... which one should you choose?
They solve fundamentally different problems at different price points.Choose WalkMe if you...
Choose WalkMe if you're doing enterprise digital transformation with complex workflow automation needs (ActionBot), cross-platform requirements including native desktop apps (WalkMe Workstation), and have the budget ($79K+ average) and resources for 3-6 month implementation plus dedicated DAP team for maintenance.
Don't choose WalkMe if you...
Don't choose WalkMe if you just need documentation or have budget constraints. It's the most expensive option ($79K average, up to $400K+) with the longest implementation time (3-6 months). Requires technical expertise (CSS/HTML/jQuery) and full-time DAP administrator. Users report high maintenance burden and slow support.
Choose Pendo if you...
Choose Pendo if you're a product team focused on customer-facing SaaS apps, need deep product analytics (7-year retention, retroactive tracking, session replay) combined with in-app guidance, and want faster implementation than WalkMe (4-6 weeks vs 3-6 months). Best for understanding customer behavior and improving product adoption.
Don't choose Pendo if you...
Don't choose Pendo for employee onboarding on internal apps - WalkMe is better for that. Don't choose if you need real-time CRM sync (HubSpot/Salesforce have 24-hour delays) or if you have a mobile-first app (iOS SDK has recurring crash reports). If you just need documentation without analytics - Glitter AI is 10-100x cheaper. Free plan has hard 500 MAU limit with big jump to $15K+ for paid tiers.
Choose Glitter AI if you...
Choose Glitter AI if you need process documentation without enterprise complexity. Best for teams that want step-by-step guides, training materials, and SOPs - not full digital adoption platforms. Start in minutes, not months. 11x faster than traditional documentation.
Don't choose Glitter AI if you...
Don't choose Glitter AI if you need in-app automation (WalkMe's ActionBot), deep product analytics (Pendo's strength), or real-time in-app walkthroughs. Glitter is for documentation, not live guidance. Also note: Chromium browsers only - no Safari or Firefox support.
Real customer reviews
Genuine feedback from real customers ❤️
This software is mind-blowing! After 2+ months, it's an invaluable asset to my company. The transcription quality is out of this world, and the new image editing tools are so fluid and better than [competitor name redacted]. ...you've saved me so much time; I'm elated and highly anticipate subscribing for another year!
Tim M.
May 3, 2025
Our company has asked each department to use AI tools to increase productivity, and this has made a huge difference. One of our leaders had originally sent a link to check out Glitter AI, and we love it! We're now using it for clients as well as internal staff.
Kim W.
December 18, 2024
This is exactly the documentation solution that we've been looking for. Every software system requires operating instructions, and you make them so easy to create! It's perfect for employee training purposes.
Erez A.
January 9, 2025
Glitter is really cool! The step-by-step guide it created was exactly what we needed for our corporate Salesforce setup, which was a literal mess. Just having a video isn't great because it's a nightmare to update all the fields for billing. This tool is saving us so much time!
Dustin R.
March 8, 2025
This is amazing! I just used the desktop app to make a quick guide for a Photoshop tool that I can use in my class. It would have taken me at least 30 minutes before and I just did it in about 5 minutes. Thanks for such a great tool!
Sarah
January 28, 2025
I tested 2 products today to solve the problem of rapidly creating 60+ articles to onboard our customers, and Glitter AI is excellent! It's really easy to use and edit. The output is so easy to import into our CMS for our Knowledge Hub; it's fantastic.
Emily W.
February 15, 2025
Really love this product! We use Guru for documentation at our company. With Glitter, I can do a quick walkthrough, and it creates a guide that can be pasted right into Guru, which saves us from undocumented tasks.
Jens A.
April 12, 2025
So far, I'm liking Glitter a great deal; it's very intuitive and useful. Our school district has an old method for online help for our student information system. Glitter is a great way to save many, MANY, person-hours of work, and our IT person is excited about it too!
John
January 9, 2025
This software is mind-blowing! After 2+ months, it's an invaluable asset to my company. The transcription quality is out of this world, and the new image editing tools are so fluid and better than [competitor name redacted]. ...you've saved me so much time; I'm elated and highly anticipate subscribing for another year!
Tim M.
May 3, 2025
Our company has asked each department to use AI tools to increase productivity, and this has made a huge difference. One of our leaders had originally sent a link to check out Glitter AI, and we love it! We're now using it for clients as well as internal staff.
Kim W.
December 18, 2024
This is exactly the documentation solution that we've been looking for. Every software system requires operating instructions, and you make them so easy to create! It's perfect for employee training purposes.
Erez A.
January 9, 2025
Glitter is really cool! The step-by-step guide it created was exactly what we needed for our corporate Salesforce setup, which was a literal mess. Just having a video isn't great because it's a nightmare to update all the fields for billing. This tool is saving us so much time!
Dustin R.
March 8, 2025
This is amazing! I just used the desktop app to make a quick guide for a Photoshop tool that I can use in my class. It would have taken me at least 30 minutes before and I just did it in about 5 minutes. Thanks for such a great tool!
Sarah
January 28, 2025
I tested 2 products today to solve the problem of rapidly creating 60+ articles to onboard our customers, and Glitter AI is excellent! It's really easy to use and edit. The output is so easy to import into our CMS for our Knowledge Hub; it's fantastic.
Emily W.
February 15, 2025
Really love this product! We use Guru for documentation at our company. With Glitter, I can do a quick walkthrough, and it creates a guide that can be pasted right into Guru, which saves us from undocumented tasks.
Jens A.
April 12, 2025
So far, I'm liking Glitter a great deal; it's very intuitive and useful. Our school district has an old method for online help for our student information system. Glitter is a great way to save many, MANY, person-hours of work, and our IT person is excited about it too!
John
January 9, 2025
This software is mind-blowing! After 2+ months, it's an invaluable asset to my company. The transcription quality is out of this world, and the new image editing tools are so fluid and better than [competitor name redacted]. ...you've saved me so much time; I'm elated and highly anticipate subscribing for another year!
Tim M.
May 3, 2025
Our company has asked each department to use AI tools to increase productivity, and this has made a huge difference. One of our leaders had originally sent a link to check out Glitter AI, and we love it! We're now using it for clients as well as internal staff.
Kim W.
December 18, 2024
This is exactly the documentation solution that we've been looking for. Every software system requires operating instructions, and you make them so easy to create! It's perfect for employee training purposes.
Erez A.
January 9, 2025
Glitter is really cool! The step-by-step guide it created was exactly what we needed for our corporate Salesforce setup, which was a literal mess. Just having a video isn't great because it's a nightmare to update all the fields for billing. This tool is saving us so much time!
Dustin R.
March 8, 2025
This is amazing! I just used the desktop app to make a quick guide for a Photoshop tool that I can use in my class. It would have taken me at least 30 minutes before and I just did it in about 5 minutes. Thanks for such a great tool!
Sarah
January 28, 2025
I tested 2 products today to solve the problem of rapidly creating 60+ articles to onboard our customers, and Glitter AI is excellent! It's really easy to use and edit. The output is so easy to import into our CMS for our Knowledge Hub; it's fantastic.
Emily W.
February 15, 2025
Really love this product! We use Guru for documentation at our company. With Glitter, I can do a quick walkthrough, and it creates a guide that can be pasted right into Guru, which saves us from undocumented tasks.
Jens A.
April 12, 2025
So far, I'm liking Glitter a great deal; it's very intuitive and useful. Our school district has an old method for online help for our student information system. Glitter is a great way to save many, MANY, person-hours of work, and our IT person is excited about it too!
John
January 9, 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between WalkMe and Pendo?
WalkMe focuses on employee digital adoption and workflow automation for internal enterprise apps. Pendo focuses on product analytics and user insights for customer-facing SaaS. WalkMe tends to work better for HR/IT teams onboarding employees. Pendo is usually better for product managers who want to understand customer behavior. Glitter AI is for teams that just need documentation.
How much do WalkMe and Pendo cost?
WalkMe averages $79K annually (range: $9K-400K+) with custom pricing only - no transparency. Professional services fees often required for implementation. Pendo starts at $15K-35K/year for Base tier but typically runs $50K-140K+ for Ultimate with full features. Free tier limited to 500 MAUs. Glitter AI is $16-20/month per creator ($192-240/year), 10-100x cheaper than enterprise DAPs.
How long does implementation take?
WalkMe typically takes 3-6 months requiring browser extensions, IT security reviews, and dedicated implementation resources. Requires ongoing maintenance from certified DAP specialists. Pendo takes 4-6 weeks but still complex - element tagging struggles reported with CSS selectors. Glitter AI takes minutes - just install extension and start recording. No IT involvement needed.
Do I need a digital adoption platform?
If you need in-app walkthroughs that guide users in real-time, workflow automation, or deep product analytics, then yes. If you just need documentation, training materials, and SOPs that people can reference, probably not. Glitter AI creates that documentation without DAP complexity and cost.
Can WalkMe or Pendo create documentation?
Both create in-app guides for real-time guidance, not reference documentation. WalkMe requires technical expertise (CSS/HTML/jQuery) and has a steep learning curve. Pendo's Visual Design Studio is easier but still complex with element tagging challenges. For step-by-step guides with screenshots that people can pull up on-demand, Glitter AI is purpose-built and 11x faster - just record and publish.
Which is better for employee onboarding?
WalkMe is specifically designed for employee digital adoption on enterprise applications like Salesforce and Workday, with workflow automation capabilities. However, it requires 3-6 months implementation, $79K+ budget, and dedicated DAP team. Pendo is built for customer-facing products, not employee training. Glitter AI creates onboarding documentation that employees can reference, much simpler and faster but different from real-time in-app automation.
Does Pendo have a free plan?
Yes, Pendo offers a free tier for up to 500 Monthly Active Users with core analytics and in-app guides (Pendo-branded). Hard cap at 500 MAUs with big jump to $15K-35K for paid Base tier. No API access or integrations on free plan. WalkMe has no free plan. Glitter AI offers 10 guides total on free plan with desktop support included.
Which tool has better analytics?
Pendo has the best analytics - it's their core strength. 7-year data retention, retroactive event tracking (define events after they happen), session replay, funnels, paths, advanced segmentation. WalkMe Insights has basic usage tracking with 1-year retention. Glitter AI has simple guide engagement metrics - it's not a product analytics tool. Choose Pendo if deep analytics matter.
Can WalkMe automate workflows?
Yes, WalkMe's ActionBot can automate multi-step workflows - clicking buttons, filling forms, navigating between applications. This workflow automation is WalkMe's key differentiator over Pendo. Often sold as separate add-on increasing costs. Pendo and Glitter AI don't offer workflow automation - Pendo focuses on analytics, Glitter on documentation.
Which should I choose for a small team?
For small teams, WalkMe and Pendo are typically overkill in both complexity and cost. Glitter AI is designed for teams of any size, with simple pricing, no implementation overhead, and you can start creating documentation right away. Use DAPs when you actually need their advanced capabilities.
What about security and compliance?
WalkMe is FedRAMP Ready, SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, and HIPAA compliant - strongest for regulated industries like government and healthcare. Pendo is SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA compliant with data residency in US, EU, and Japan. Glitter AI is SOC 2 Type II compliant. All three are suitable for enterprise security requirements, but WalkMe has edge for government/defense with FedRAMP Ready status.
Are there red flags I should know about?
WalkMe: SAP acquisition (Sept 2024) may shift focus to SAP ecosystem. High maintenance burden despite promises. Users report slow support and professional services fees for basic help. Pendo: iOS SDK has recurring crash reports (SIGABRT errors with SwiftUI). 24-hour data sync delays with HubSpot/Salesforce limit real-time use cases. Both have pricing opacity and aggressive renewal tactics reported by users.