Scribe vs. UserGuiding: Pricing Model & Cost Comparison 2026
63% of SaaS companies overpay for user onboarding tools by choosing the wrong pricing model (MAU vs. Seat-based) for their specific use case.
Scribe charges per creator seat for documentation, making it ideal for internal SOPs. UserGuiding charges by Monthly Active Users (MAU) for in-app product tours, targeting SaaS product teams. For a versatile solution that creates video-led documentation for both internal and external use at a fraction of the time, Guidde offers the best hybrid value.
The choice between these tools represents a fundamental decision between static documentation (Scribe) and in-app interactive guidance (UserGuiding). Your budget will either scale with your employees (Scribe) or your customers (UserGuiding).
Comparing Apples and Oranges?
While Scribe and UserGuiding often appear in the same 'digital adoption' search results, their pricing models reflect entirely different philosophies. Scribe creates step-by-step guides for sharing, while UserGuiding builds overlay tours directly inside your software.
In 2026, understanding the distinction between Creator-based pricing and MAU-based pricing is critical to avoiding unexpected costs as your company scales.
What is Scribe?
Scribe is a documentation tool that automatically captures your screen to create step-by-step written guides with screenshots. It is primarily used for creating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), training manuals, and help center articles.
Key Pricing Features:
- Seat-Based: You pay for the people creating content, not the viewers.
- Output: Static HTML/PDF guides or embedded iframes.
- Best For: Operations teams, internal training, and L&D.
What is UserGuiding?
UserGuiding is a Digital Adoption Platform (DAP) that helps product teams create interactive product tours, tooltips, and checklists overlays without coding. It is designed to improve user activation and feature adoption directly inside a web application.
Key Pricing Features:
- MAU-Based: You pay based on how many active users log into your app.
- Output: Interactive overlays, checklists, and NPS surveys.
- Best For: SaaS Product Managers and Customer Success teams.
| Feature/Plan | Scribe (Pro Team) | UserGuiding (Growth) |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Per Seat (Creator) | Per Monthly Active User (MAU) |
| Starting Price | $12/user/mo (min 5 seats) | ~$349/mo (up to 2,500 MAU) |
| Entry Level | Free Basic Plan | Free 'Support Essentials' |
| Core Value | Documentation Generation | In-App Interactive Tours |
| Content Type | Static Step-by-Step Guides | Interactive Overlays & Tooltips |
| Viewer Cost | Free (Unlimited) | Included in MAU limit |
| Key Limitation | No video/audio capability | Becomes expensive as user base grows |
Pricing Model Analysis
The cost disparity between Scribe and UserGuiding becomes apparent when you define your audience.
The Hidden Costs of MAU Pricing (UserGuiding)
UserGuiding's model penalizes success. If your SaaS product goes viral or you have seasonal spikes in traffic, your costs for UserGuiding increase automatically because you are billed on Monthly Active Users. The 'Growth' plan starts around $349/month, but this creates a ceiling for companies with high user counts but low per-user revenue.
The Limitations of Seat Pricing (Scribe)
Scribe is affordable ($12-$23/seat), but it limits who can contribute. If you want a culture where everyone documents their work, buying a seat for every employee quickly adds up. Furthermore, Scribe's output is static text and images—it lacks the engagement of video or the interactivity of a DAP.
Choose Scribe If:
- You need internal training docs for employees (HR, Ops).
- You want to send a quick 'how-to' link to a colleague.
- Your budget is tight and fixed (predictable seat costs).
Choose UserGuiding If:
- You are a SaaS Product Manager trying to improve trial conversion.
- You need to force users to see a feature announcement inside the app.
- You have a high customer lifetime value (LTV) that justifies high MAU costs.
2026 Pricing Breakdown
Scribe Costs
- Basic: Free (Browser only, branding limitations).
- Pro Personal: $23/user/month (Desktop capture, Pro editing).
- Pro Team: $12/user/month (Minimum 5 seats = $59/mo base).
- Enterprise: Custom (SSO, Data Governance).
UserGuiding Costs
- Support Essentials: Free (Knowledge base & Resource Center only).
- Starter: ~$174/mo (2,000 MAU limit, billed yearly).
- Growth: ~$349/mo (Customization, A/B Testing, billed yearly).
- Enterprise: Custom quotes for high MAU volume.
Scribe Pros
- Low Entry Cost: Very cheap to start for small teams.
- Unlimited Viewers: Share guides with millions of people at no extra cost.
- Simplicity: Extremely easy to generate a guide in seconds.
Scribe Cons
- Static Format: Only captures screenshots/text; lacks video explanation.
- Browser Limits: Free plan only works on web, not desktop apps.
UserGuiding Pros
- Contextual: Help appears exactly where the user is struggling.
- Interactive: Guides users to click specific buttons.
- No Code: Marketing/Product teams can build tours without engineering.
UserGuiding Cons
- Expensive Scaling: Costs skyrocket as your user base grows.
- Implementation Friction: Requires installing a JS snippet on your product.
- Intrusive: Pop-ups can annoy users if not managed carefully.
If you are building a software product and need to onboard new customers, UserGuiding is the specialized tool you need, despite the higher MAU cost. If you are an Operations or L&D team creating internal process docs, Scribe is the logical, budget-friendly choice.
However, both tools miss the 'sweet spot' of modern engagement: AI-generated Video.
Why Guidde is the Superior Alternative
Both Scribe and UserGuiding have significant limitations: Scribe is too static (text/images only), and UserGuiding is too expensive and heavy to implement for simple support tasks. Guidde offers a third, more powerful path.
Guidde uses Generative AI to turn screen recordings into professional video documentation with AI voiceovers, instantly.
How Guidde Wins:
- Video > Text: Unlike Scribe's static pages, Guidde creates engaging videos that explain why, not just how.
- No MAU Fees: Like Scribe, Guidde doesn't punish you for having more viewers. You can embed Guidde videos in your product (like UserGuiding) without the massive DAP price tag.
- 11x Faster Creation: Guidde automates the editing, voiceover, and design, making it significantly faster than building manual tours in UserGuiding.
- Hybrid Distribution: Share Guidde videos as links, embed them in your help center, or place them inside your app as a widget.
Stop choosing between expensive software adoption and boring static docs.
Try Guidde for Free and see the power of AI video documentation.
FAQs
What is the best alternative to both Scribe and UserGuiding?
Guidde is the best alternative because it combines the ease of creation found in Scribe with the visual engagement of video, which can be embedded in-app like UserGuiding, but without the restrictive MAU pricing models.
Is UserGuiding cheaper than Scribe?
Almost never. UserGuiding starts around $174/month for small user bases, whereas Scribe can be used for free or for as little as $23/month for a single creator. Scribe is significantly cheaper but serves a different purpose.