10 Best Release Notes Examples & Templates to inspire you

Keeping users informed about your product’s updates is essential, and release notes are one of the best ways to do it.

But let’s be real: not all release notes are created equal. Well-written notes engage users, clarify changes, and even boost product adoption.

This article dives into ten examples of excellent release notes that do it right—and why they’re so effective.

What Are Release Notes, and Why Do They Matter?

Release notes are brief, often periodic, summaries of changes, improvements, or fixes in a software product. Usually written and managed by Product Managers, Release notes are an effective way to keep users updated on the product development.

They help users understand what’s new, what’s changed, and how release updates might benefit them.

Best release notes are more than a list of technical changes—they’re a bridge that connects your product team with your user base.

Done right, they show that you’re actively listening to customer feedback and continually working to make the product better.

How to Write Release Notes & Distribute them

Writing and distributing software release notes can feel daunting, but a few best practices can make them impactful and user-friendly. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Release Notes Writing Tips

1. Keep It Simple: Avoid technical jargon; write in plain language that all users can understand.
2. Release dates: Make sure you add the release dates so that users can keep track of every release and product changes
3. Prioritize the Most Impactful Updates: Start with the updates users will care most about—new features, significant improvements, and important bug fixes.
4. Organize by Category: Split updates into sections like “New Releases,” “Improved,” and “Fixed” for clarity and easy navigation.
5. Use Visuals: Where possible, add screenshots, GIFs, or videos to show features in action.
6. Be Transparent: Let users know why an update matters and how it will impact their experience. Transparency builds trust.

Distribution Channels for effective product communications

1. In-App Notifications: Add release notes directly in your app for easy access. This is great for letting users know about changes as soon as they log in. ProductLogz in-app modals & nudges are a great way to embed in app notifications.
2. Emails: Send release notes to your subscribers for direct communication that’s personal and easy to track.
3. Product Blog: Publish release notes to your product blog or feedback page (like on Productlogz) This will make it easy to find and share with users.
4. Public Roadmap: Display release notes on your public product roadmap. This not only keeps users informed but also invites feedback and builds engagement.
5. Social Media: Consider sharing major updates on platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, or in a community group to reach users where they’re already active.

What to Avoid When Crafting Release Notes

Even well-intentioned release notes can fall short if you’re not careful. Here are common pitfalls to avoid:

1. Overly Technical Language: Release notes filled with jargon can be frustrating or confusing for non-technical users. Aim for clear, user-friendly language that focuses on benefits, not just technical details.
2. Ignoring Structure and Layout: Long, unorganized release notes can overwhelm users. Use headers, bullet points, and concise sentences to improve readability.
3. Leaving Out User-Centric Details: Avoid focusing solely on technical changes. Instead, explain how each update impacts the user experience, so users understand the value right away.
4. Skipping the ‘Why’: Not explaining why a change was made can leave users puzzled. If a feature was removed or altered, briefly explain the reasoning behind it.
5. Inconsistent Updates: Regularly updating release notes shows users that your product is active and improving. Avoid skipping updates for long periods, as it may make users feel that the product is stagnating.

By crafting user-friendly, well-structured release notes and distributing them thoughtfully, you’re not only keeping users in the loop but also encouraging product engagement and fostering trust.

How Release Notes Drive User Adoption

Release notes aren’t just for notifying users about changes—they’re key for driving adoption. When users understand the improvements and new features, they’re more likely to engage with your product, discover added value, and build loyalty over time.

Here’s how effective release notes help:

1. Building Trust: Frequent updates show users that your product is evolving and that their feedback is valued, which encourages users to stay engaged.
2. Educating Users: With release notes, you’re guiding users through new or enhanced features. Good notes make it easy for them to understand and adopt new functionality without extra learning curves.
3. Boosting Engagement: Engaging release notes encourage users to try new features they might not have explored otherwise, maximizing your product’s impact.
4. Improving Retention: By clarifying new benefits, release notes can help users see the continuous value of your product, keeping them loyal and excited for what’s next.

Also read: What are release notes & how are they important

10 Product Release Notes examples to inspire you!

Every organisation has a different structure and way of writing release notes. However, we went through some of the best release notes according to google traffic each attracted and have listed out 10 best release notes examples that you can take inspiration from.

1. Slack: Clarity and a Dash of Humor

Slack’s release notes are a great example of clarity mixed with personality. They use simple language that even non-tech users can understand and sometimes add a touch of humor to make things fun.

• What Makes Them Great: Slack’s release notes focus on keeping things conversational. Their language is light-hearted, which reflects the product’s brand personality.
• Organised by platform: slack's release notes are organised by platform like IOS, Mac, Windows etc., They also publish beta release notes
• Key Features: Each update is clear and concise, often organized in bullet points to improve readability. Has version numbers to keep a track of along with date of release
• Value to Users: The humor and simplicity in their release notes make it easy for users to understand updates without feeling overwhelmed.

2. Asana: Bringing Visuals into the Mix

Asana’s release notes are highly visual. Whenever they introduce a new feature, they include screenshots or short visual guides to show how to use it. This visual approach helps users quickly grasp changes.

• What Makes Them Great: By including visuals or video guides, Asana makes it easy for users to understand how to use new features without reading long paragraphs.
• Key Features: They use screenshots and sometimes even videos to provide clarity. They sum up monthly changes in one release note post. Their updates are very crisp listed out in short bullet points
• Value to Users: Visual aids make it much easier for users to see updates in action, reducing the learning curve for new features.

3. Intercom's release notes: Organized with a User-Friendly Layout

Intercom’s release notes stand out for their clarity, structure, and user-centric approach, making it easy for customers to understand each update's value.

• What Makes Them Great: Intercom provides straightforward summaries organized by tags under "New Features," "Enhancements," and "Bug Fixes," helping users find relevant information quickly. The language is friendly and accessible, ensuring users from all backgrounds can follow the updates.

• Key Features
  • Structured Organization: Sections make scanning easier.
  • Visuals & Links: Screenshots and icons add clarity, while links to support articles allow for deeper dives.
  • Consistent Tone: Intercom uses a friendly, inclusive tone to keep users engaged.
    
    
• Value to Users: Intercom's release notes not only inform but also educate, encouraging users to adopt new features and feel supported. The detailed links to resources and guides provide extra value, allowing users to gain mastery over the platform’s latest changes. This consistent communication helps build trust and keeps users invested in product updates.

4. Zoom: Focusing on What Matters to Users

Zoom’s release notes get straight to the point by highlighting user-centric updates, like “New feature” or “Bug fixes.” The focus is on practical changes, which makes it easy for users to see how updates impact them.

• What Makes Them Great: Zoom prioritizes user-relevant information and keeps notes straightforward. They give a comprehensive list in a table format on new features and resolved issues.
• Key Features: They often include links to documentation for more technical details. Similar to slack they categorize their release notes via platforms. Every release is associated with a version control.
• Value to Users: This practical focus means users don’t have to sift through unrelated updates to find what matters to them.

5. Canva: Simple and Focused

Canva keeps release notes short and targeted. They focus on major features, enhancements, and bug fixes, with concise descriptions that are easy to read and absorb.

• What Makes Them Great: Canva’s release notes are brief and to the point, which helps avoid overwhelming users.
• Key Features: Canva uses visuals and bullet points to enhance clarity. Clicking on any release note will take you directly to the dashboard to try the new feature. Animated gif's & visuals form a great part of Canva's updates
• Value to Users: Short and focused updates allow users to stay informed without spending too much time reading.

6. Dropbox: Storytelling for Engagement

Dropbox goes beyond technical descriptions and uses storytelling to explain changes. They make the updates feel more relatable, often describing the user experience and how it’s enhanced with new features.

• What Makes Them Great: Dropbox’s use of storytelling humanizes release notes and makes updates feel more personal. They build separate landing pages with interactive visuals to explain the value of new updates.
• Key Features: They create narratives around updates to engage users. Links to help docs & documentation. links to landing pages with CTA's to try out the new feature
• Value to Users: Users feel connected to the updates and more excited to try out new features.

7. Notion: Visuals, Deep Links and In-Context Help

Notion provides direct links to tutorials, help docs, and sometimes even community pages. If users want to learn more about a specific update, they can easily access more in-depth resources.

• What Makes Them Great: By including engaging videos, quick recaps and helpful links, Notion makes it easy for users to get additional support if needed.
• Key Features: Each update is paired with links to relevant resources. They also include upcoming features in the release notes and asks users to join the waitlist. This way they communicate upcoming features on roadmap and also gather early users for the new feature
• Value to Users: Users can quickly get the help they need, improving their experience and making it easier to adopt new features.

8. GitHub: Technical Precision for a Developer Audience

GitHub’s release notes are a bit more technical, as they’re geared toward developers. Each update is detailed, often including version control information and tags to provide full transparency.

• What Makes Them Great: GitHub’s notes cater to a technical audience and provide full transparency.
• Key Features: Version-specific notes and detailed change logs.
• Value to Users: Developers can see exactly what’s changed and make adjustments in their work accordingly.

9. Shopify: Categorised releases according to modules

Shopify release notes are well categorized under modules and show a timeline view of all the recent updates & changes in their release notes to walk users through new features. This visual approach is great for users who prefer getting a comprehensive view of changes and how active the team is in publishing updates

• What Makes Them Great: Timeline view and categorisation make it easy for users to navigate to desired update under a specific module
• Key Features: Each significant update is paired with a brief documentation
• Value to Users: Users can learn new features without having to read long descriptions, which makes the adoption process smoother.

10. Figma: Aligned with User Journeys

Figma structures their release notes to align with typical user workflows. By explaining updates in the context of specific use cases, they make it easier for users to integrate new features into their day-to-day tasks.

• What Makes Them Great: Figma’s user journey approach helps users see exactly how new features fit into their existing workflows. They also have the option to subscribe to their RSS feed so that users are immediately notified upon new releases
• Key Features: Release notes that align with specific user goals and workflows.
• Value to Users: This approach reduces the friction of learning a new feature, making it feel like a natural extension of the user’s workflow.

Best Practices for Writing Effective Release Notes

Writing great release notes can be tricky, but these release notes best practices will help you create notes that engage and inform users:

1. Know Your Audience: Write with your audience in mind. For a general user base, keep things simple. For a technical audience, don’t be afraid to go into details.
2. Prioritize Key Updates: Break down updates into categories like “New,” “Improved,” and “Fixed” so users can find what’s relevant.
3. Use Visuals and Videos: A picture (or video) is worth a thousand words—especially for complex updates.
4. Include Links to Resources: Help users get more details if needed by linking to product documentation, tutorials, or community forums.
5. Stay on Brand: Use a tone and style that align with your brand. Humor or conversational language can work well if it fits your product’s personality.

How Productlogz Can Help with Release Notes

If you’re ready to make your release notes even more impactful, Productlogz can help:

• Create: With customizable templates and a structured approach, Productlogz helps you craft clear, user-friendly release notes.
• Manage: Keep updates organized in a public roadmap, track customer feedback, and prioritize features based on user needs.
• Distribute: Share notes directly with users, keeping them engaged and informed, which ultimately drives product adoption and user satisfaction.

Whether you’re managing frequent product updates or planning a big feature release, Productlogz makes it easy to handle every step of the release note process.

Conclusion

Effective release notes are more than just a list of updates—they’re a way to engage users and keep them excited about your product. By taking inspiration from these examples and following best practices, you can create release notes that keep your users informed, engaged, and invested in your product’s success. And with tools like Productlogz, crafting, managing, and sharing release notes becomes a breeze.

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