🪄 AI Summary
This blog breaks down 7 high-performing app onboarding videos from 2026. You'll learn what makes each one effective, how they reduce friction in the user journey, and how to apply these principles to your own product. No fluff. Just strategic breakdowns you can use immediately.
Most onboarding videos fail because they try to explain everything at once.
They walk users through every feature. They show every button. They treat video like a manual instead of a decision-making tool.
The best app onboarding videos in 2026 do the opposite.
They reduce cognitive load. They guide users to one meaningful action. They respect attention as the most limited resource in B2B software.
If you're building a B2B product or managing growth for one, your onboarding video is not just a nice-to-have. It's the difference between activation and churn. Between users who "get it" in the first session and users who never come back.
This guide walks through 7 app onboarding video examples that work in 2026. Not because they have the highest production value. But because they solve real onboarding problems with intentional video design.
You'll see what each app does differently, why it works, and how you can apply the same principles without needing a massive budget or a video team.
1. Notion: Modular Walkthroughs That Let Users Choose Their Path
Notion has a complexity problem.
It's a workspace tool that can be a wiki, a database, a task manager, or all three. For new users, that flexibility creates paralysis. Where do you even start?
Notion's 2026 onboarding solves this with modular video walkthroughs. Instead of one long explainer, users get a menu of micro-videos. Each one covers a single concept like databases, page nesting, or templates.
Source - Notion, Youtube
Why this works in 2026:
People don't want to watch a 10-minute tutorial before they can use your product. They want to learn the one thing they need right now. Notion's approach respects that. It gives users control over their learning path instead of forcing them through a linear experience.
The "learn as you type" feature is even smarter. Video hints play in the sidebar while users work. They're contextual, not intrusive. You only see them when they're relevant to what you're doing.
How you can apply this:
If your product has multiple use cases, don't make one onboarding video. Make several short ones. Let users choose what they want to learn first. Use in-app video tooltips that trigger based on user behavior, not just page load.
2. Figma: The Collaborative Sprint That Shows Speed Over Explanation
Figma doesn't explain collaboration. It shows you what collaboration looks like at full speed.
The 2026 onboarding video is high-energy. You see 10+ cursors moving simultaneously across the canvas. Designers working in real time. Changes happening instantly. No voiceover. Just rhythmic music and rapid UI actions.
Source - Figma, Youtube
Why this works in 2026:
Figma's biggest value proposition is real-time collaboration. Words can't capture that. You need to see it. The video doesn't waste time explaining how multiplayer design works. It just drops you into the experience.
The absence of voiceover is intentional. It forces you to watch the product in action. You feel the speed. You see the possibilities. You don't need someone telling you this is powerful. You already know.
How you can apply this:
If your product's core value is in how it feels to use, show that feeling first. Don't narrate. Don't explain. Let the product demonstrate its own value through motion and speed. Use music and pacing to create energy that matches the user experience.
3. Aspire: Practical Dashboard Walkthroughs for Complex B2B Tools
Aspire manages health insurance for businesses. That's not a simple task.
Their onboarding video takes a highly practical approach. It focuses on three key pillars: integrated quoting, policy issuance, and telemedicine. More importantly, it shows exactly where these features live in the dashboard.
Source - Whatastory, Youtube
Why this works in 2026:
B2B buyers don't want abstract value propositions. They want to know where to click. Aspire's video removes the guesswork by walking users through the exact path they'll take to accomplish their most important tasks.
This is especially effective for products that replace multiple tools. Users need to see how everything connects in one system before they're willing to migrate their workflow.
How you can apply this:
If your product consolidates complex workflows, show the dashboard structure first. Walk users through where each key function lives. Use visual callouts or highlights to guide their eyes. Make the learning curve feel manageable by showing the map before the journey.
4. Slack: Motion Graphics That Simplify Organizational Complexity
Slack has to explain concepts like channels, threads, and integrations to users who might be switching from email for the first time.
Instead of showing UI screenshots right away, Slack's onboarding video uses clean motion graphics. It visualizes how information flows through a team without overwhelming new users with the actual interface.
Source - Slack, Youtube
Why this works in 2026:
Complex B2B tools need conceptual onboarding before functional onboarding. Users need to understand the mental model of your product before they learn where buttons are.
Slack's "day in the life" approach is smart. It shows how a marketing team uses Slack from morning standup to project handoff. You see the value in context, not in isolation.
How you can apply this:
If your product requires users to think differently about their workflow, use motion graphics to explain the concept first. Show how information or work moves through your system. Then introduce the UI. Don't assume users will intuitively understand your product's logic.
5. HubSpot: Personalized Snippets Based on Industry and Goals
HubSpot's 2026 onboarding uses AI-driven video snippets that change based on what industry you select during signup.
If you're in SaaS, you see different onboarding than someone in e-commerce. The video shows use cases, integrations, and workflows specific to your business model.
Source - Hubspot, Youtube
Why this works in 2026:
Generic onboarding videos create generic results. Personalization increases relevance, which increases activation. HubSpot's objective-based walkthroughs have reportedly reduced support costs by 40% because users get answers to their specific questions before they ask.
This isn't just good UX. It's good business. The faster a user sees value in their context, the faster they convert from trial to paid.
How you can apply this:
If you serve multiple industries or use cases, create branching onboarding videos. Use signup data to serve the right video to the right user. Even simple segmentation like role or company size can make onboarding feel more relevant.
6. Airtable: AI-Powered Intelligence That Makes Databases Feel Simple
Airtable's latest onboarding introduces "Omni," an AI sidekick that transforms database work into intelligent workflows.
The video moves rapidly through real-world business problems. You see Omni analyzing data, suggesting automations, and building views without manual configuration. Complex database functionality starts to feel like a simple conversation.
Source - Airtable, Youtube
Why this works in 2026:
Databases intimidate most people. Airtable's onboarding doesn't try to teach database theory. It shows you what becomes possible when AI handles the technical complexity. You don't need to understand relational databases. You just need to describe what you're trying to accomplish.
The speed of the video mirrors the speed of the tool. You're not watching someone slowly configure fields. You're watching problems get solved in seconds.
How you can apply this:
If AI powers part of your product, show the magic happening in real time. Don't explain how the AI works. Show what it enables. Focus on outcomes, not architecture. Make users feel like they're getting superpowers, not learning a new skill.
7. Monday.com: Visual Logic That Turns Complexity Into a Game
Monday.com uses bright, color-coded blocks to show how workflows actually work.
The onboarding video visualizes how status changes trigger automations. You see green blocks turn red. You see notifications fire. You see tasks move across boards. It looks like a game, not a project management system.
Source - monday.com , Youtube
Why this works in 2026:
No-code tools only work if people understand the logic without needing to code. Monday.com's video makes that logic visible. You don't need to read documentation about "if-then" statements. You just watch blocks move and connections light up.
The color-coding is key. It creates a visual language that users can reference when they're building their own workflows. They remember the green block moving to the red column. That's easier to recall than abstract automation rules.
How you can apply this:
If your product involves logic, workflows, or automations, visualize that logic in your onboarding video. Use color, movement, and clear cause-and-effect sequences. Make complex systems feel like simple patterns. Help users see the structure before they try to build with it.
What These 7 Examples Teach Us About Onboarding in 2026
The best onboarding videos don't try to teach everything.
They solve one core problem. Notion solves complexity. Figma solves skepticism about collaboration. Aspire solves navigation confusion. Slack solves mental models. HubSpot solves relevance. Airtable solves database intimidation. Monday.com solves workflow logic.
If you're building onboarding videos for a B2B product, start by identifying the one problem preventing users from activating. Then design your video to solve that problem in the first 60 seconds.
Production quality matters less than clarity. Animation matters less than intentionality. Length matters less than focus.
The most effective onboarding videos in 2026 are the ones that reduce cognitive load, create momentum, and get users to their first meaningful action as fast as possible.
Everything else is just decoration.
Rethink Your Onboarding Strategy
Most companies treat onboarding videos as content. They should be treated as conversion infrastructure.
If you're building a B2B product or managing growth, your onboarding video is one of the highest-leverage assets you can invest in. It scales your best explanation to every new user without requiring more people or more time.
At Komet Media, we help B2B companies build video systems that drive activation, not just views. If you're rethinking how video fits into your onboarding or content strategy, book a demo call now.
We'll show you how done-for-you video content systems can turn your best insights into scalable systems that work across every channel.
Author:
Apoorva Saraswat
Turning Ideas into Impactful Content
