Best AI Tools for Software Tutorials, User Guides, and SOPs

1. Instancy: AI-Powered User Guide Platform Within a Complete Learning Ecosystem

Instancy is more than just an AI-powered user guide builder. It’s part of a fully integrated digital learning ecosystem that goes far beyond standalone competitors to deliver seamless learning, performance support, and adaptive training to every device and user, anywhere.

Integrated Learning Ecosystem

  • Unified Platform: Instancy integrates a powerful Learning Management System (LMS), a robust Learning Content Management System (LCMS), and performance support—all in a single solution. This means you can author, manage, deliver, and track every aspect of learning and support content, from user guides to SOPs to advanced certification courses, without ever leaving the Instancy suite.
  • Omnichannel Delivery: Whether your learners are on a branded web portal, cross-platform mobile apps (iOS/Android), or Chrome extensions, Instancy ensures consistent access across all devices and touchpoints, so learning and support resources are never out of reach.

True Blended and Personalized Learning Environment

  • Blended Learning Paths: Instancy allows you to combine self-paced eLearning, instructor-led virtual classrooms (integrated with Zoom, GoToMeeting, etc.), knowledge checks, social learning forums, and compliance training—all curated within adaptive, role-based paths to achieve both compliance and mastery.
  • Adaptive Personalization: Learning content and user guides can be tailored to individual job roles, learner progress, performance gaps, or personal goals. Role-based or adaptive pathways ensure users get exactly what they need—when they need it—including the automatic assignment of guides, tutorials, and SOPs at key workflow moments.
  • Seamless Blending of Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning: Mix live virtual classes, interactive tutorials, on-demand videos, offline mobile access, and collaborative assignments for a truly blended, flexible experience.

Effortless Certification, Retraining, and Automation

  • Certification and Retraining: Instancy automates complete certification workflows—enabling organizations to develop, deliver, and renew role-specific certifications and compliance training with minimal manual intervention.
  • Automated Learning Workflows: Notifications, progress tracking, assessment gates, retraining cycles, and scheduling are all managed through the system, letting admins focus on outcomes while learners move through personalized journeys.
  • Full Analytics and Reporting: Robust analytics dashboards surface learner performance, compliance risks, and program impact in real time across all learning modes and devices.

Ecosystem Integrations and Extensibility

  • App and Service Integrations: Instancy connects with major third-party platforms: CRM (Salesforce, HubSpot), marketing automation (MailChimp), web conferencing (Zoom, WebEx, GoToMeeting), eCommerce (Stripe, PayPal), SSO & directory services (Azure AD, Google), and more—ensuring your learning hub fits into your broader digital stack.
  • Content Creation and Curation: Author interactive user guides, SOPs, eLearning modules, microlearning, AR/VR assets, and more—using AI-powered authoring tools to speed up content curation by over 50%.

Modern, Cohesive Learning Community

  • Social and Collaborative Learning: Foster engagement through discussion forums, group work, and integrated social learning features.
  • Personalization via AI Agents: AI chatbots and adaptive agents surface relevant content, answer learner questions instantly, and personalize recommendations for upskilling, retraining, and everyday support.

Why This Matters

Unlike point solutions that only address single use cases, Instancy lets organizations centralize all learning, performance support, and continuous professional development (CPD) in one evolving ecosystem—reducing admin overhead, improving ROI, and future-proofing growth. Whether you’re managing onboarding, compliance, talent mobility, or day-to-day support, Instancy adapts to your organization’s needs and scales with you.


2. WhatFix: Digital Adoption Platform for In-App Guidance & User Enablement

WhatFix is a widely recognized digital adoption platform that helps organizations create in-app guidance, interactive walkthroughs, and software onboarding flows without developer resources.

Key Features & Strengths

  • Interactive Walkthroughs & Tooltips:
    WhatFix enables teams to build step-by-step guides, pop-up tips, onboarding tours, and contextual help directly inside applications, improving real-time user enablement for both employees and customers.
  • No-Code Authoring:
    Its intuitive editor lets non-technical users create, edit, and deploy flows using a browser extension—all without coding or complex setup.
  • User Segmentation & Personalization:
    Target in-app content by user role, department, or experience level to personalize onboarding and support experiences.
  • Multi-Channel Content Output:
    Automatically generates multiple formats from a single flow—including slideshows, PDFs, videos, and knowledge base articles—to maximize content reuse.
  • Analytics & Insights:
    Built-in analytics dashboards track user engagement, flow completion rates, and areas where users may be struggling.

Typical Use Cases

  • Employee Onboarding:
    Speed up software adoption by guiding new staff through key workflows.
  • Customer Self-Service:
    Reduce support requests and drive product adoption by providing on-demand tips and tutorials.
  • IT Change Management:
    Roll out new features or software with targeted, role-specific walkthroughs and instant in-app support.

Limitations Compared to Instancy

  • Learning Ecosystem:
    WhatFix does not offer an integrated LMS/LCMS, blended learning paths, or robust certification workflows—it focuses on in-app support rather than comprehensive learning management.
  • Content Types:
    While it excels at digital guidance and interactive tutorials, it does not natively deliver adaptive learning, virtual classroom integration, or advanced automation for certification and retraining.
  • Community & Collaboration:
    Limited social learning and community-building features compared to Instancy’s learning hub approach.

Ideal For

Organizations seeking a fast, code-free way to add interactive help and onboarding tours inside web applications, especially when the main focus is improving day-to-day software adoption and support—not broader, blended, or certified learning.


3. Scribe: Effortless Process Documentation & Step-by-Step Guides

Scribe is an intuitive tool built to automatically create step-by-step guides for any digital workflow by simply capturing user actions as they occur.

Key Features & Strengths

  • Automatic Process Capture:
    Scribe’s Chrome extension (and desktop app) lets users instantly record any workflow. As you click and type, it captures each action, generating annotated screenshots and descriptions in real time.
  • Instant Step-by-Step Guides:
    After a recording session, Scribe automatically produces a visual, click-by-click guide—complete with screenshots, action highlights, and explanatory text.
  • Customizable Documentation:
    Users can easily edit, redact, reorder steps, or add custom annotations before sharing or publishing.
  • Flexible Sharing & Embedding:
    Guides can be shared via link, embedded into wikis, knowledge bases, or exported as PDF—all with a focus on ease of access.
  • Team Collaboration:
    Pro plans allow organizations to organize, manage, and share guides within teams or across departments, supporting knowledge transfer and SOP standardization.
  • Privacy & Security Controls:
    Role-based access, redaction tools, and enterprise-grade security enable safe sharing of sensitive processes.

Typical Use Cases

  • Internal SOPs and Knowledge Transfer:
    Quickly train employees on new processes, capture tribal knowledge, or document system workflows.
  • Customer Onboarding & Support:
    Provide clients or users with quick, visual how-tos for product features, troubleshooting, and setup.
  • Process Standardization for Teams:
    Easily share best practices and ensure everyone follows the same steps.

Limitations Compared to Instancy

  • Learning Ecosystem:
    Scribe is built specifically for guide/documentation creation and does not include an LMS, LCMS, adaptive learning, certification management, or community features.
  • Training Modalities:
    No support for blended learning, virtual classrooms, or assessment/certification workflows.
  • Delivery Channels:
    Primarily focused on web-based guides and knowledge base integration—lacks mobile apps, branded portals, and AI-powered learning path integration.
  • Interactivity:
    While Scribe outputs are highly visual and step-driven, deep interactivity (like in-app GPS-style guidance or live knowledge checks) is not its primary focus.

Ideal For

Teams and organizations that want a fast, no-fuss way to capture and share process documentation or SOPs, especially when ease of use and instant output are the main priorities—without the need for a broader, adaptive learning environment or in-app performance support.


4. Trainual: Standard Operating Procedures, Onboarding & Employee Training Made Simple

Trainual is a platform designed to help small and midsize businesses document processes, build SOPs, and streamline onboarding or ongoing employee training with structure and ease.

Key Features & Strengths

  • Structured SOP & Process Documentation:
    Trainual offers a user-friendly interface to map out every process, policy, or role-based responsibility using text, images, video, and embedded content for a comprehensive knowledge base.
  • Role-Based Assignments & Learning Paths:
    Assign content to team members by role, department, or location—automatically enrolling users in the right track for onboarding or continued learning.
  • Multi-Format Support:
    Authors can build guides using rich text, images, videos, tests, and interactive elements, elevating SOPs beyond just written checklists.
  • Progress Tracking & Reporting:
    Managers can track assignment and completion, automate reminders, and identify knowledge gaps for retraining or compliance.
  • Onboarding Automation:
    Streamline new-hire onboarding with customizable checklists, quizzes, digital signatures, and reminders.
  • Integrations & SSO:
    Integrate with business tools like Slack, Zapier, Gusto, Zenefits, Google Workspace, and SSO providers for seamless workflow.

Typical Use Cases

  • Employee Onboarding:
    Accelerate new-hire time-to-productivity with assigned learning modules and clear documentation.
  • Standardizing Company Processes:
    Centralize policies, procedures, and best practices—keeping teams aligned as you scale.
  • Compliance & Knowledge Management:
    Simplify the management of regulatory or safety training with documentation, tracking, and proof of completion.

Limitations Compared to Instancy

  • AI Automation & In-App Guidance:
    Trainual is primarily a policy/process platform and does not provide AI-driven process capture, instant step-by-step screen recording, or GPS-style in-app guidance as Instancy does.
  • Blended & Adaptive Learning:
    Lacks advanced adaptive learning, virtual classroom integration, or dynamic learning paths based on assessment outcomes.
  • Performance Support & Multi-Device Delivery:
    Focuses on web-based, assigned content with no embedded performance support in third-party apps or direct mobile app/in-app guidance delivery like Instancy.
  • Learning Ecosystem:
    While ideal for documentation and onboarding, Trainual does not include a full LMS, community, or extensive learning analytics.

Ideal For

Growing businesses and organizations that want to centralize company knowledge, streamline onboarding, and ensure everyone follows the same processes—especially where direct in-app process capture or an integrated learning ecosystem isn’t a primary need.


Feature Comparison: Instancy vs. WhatFix, Scribe & Trainual

Feature/CapabilityInstancyWhatFixScribeTrainual
AI-Powered Process CaptureYes: Chrome extension, auto detects steps, auto screenshots, AI-generated titles/descriptionsYes: In-app flows, no-code, guided walkthroughsYes: Chrome extension/desktop app, auto screenshot/stepsNo: Manual creation, template-driven
No-Code Authoring ToolYes: Edit, review, personalize guides & SOPsYes: Visual editor, no coding neededYes: Edit and annotate captured guidesYes: Drag-and-drop, easy content building
Interactive In-App GuidanceYes: Chrome extension overlays, no API/integration neededYes: In-app overlays, tooltips, pop-upsPartial: Visual step-by-step only, no in-app overlaysNo: Content delivered via portal/assignments only
Multi-Format OutputWeb, video, interactive, audio narrations, captions, quizzesWeb, slideshow, PDFs, video, articlesWeb, PDF, shareable or embeddable guidesWeb, assignments, quizzes, checklists, video
Adaptive/Personalized Learning PathsYes: Job roles, adaptive, blended/virtual classrooms, retrainingNo: In-app only, basic user segmentationNoYes: Role/dept.-based assignments
Certification & Retraining WorkflowYes: Certification programs, auto-retraining, analyticsNoNoYes: Certification tracking, reminders
Learning Ecosystem (LMS/LCMS)Full suite: LMS, LCMS, portals, community, analyticsNo: Digital adoption onlyNo: Guide/documentation focusedNo: Process/SOP/documentation principal focus
Omnichannel Delivery (Web, Mobile, Ext.)Web portal, branded mobile apps, Chrome ExtensionsWeb app/extensionWeb, embeddable, PDFWeb portal, mobile optimized
Embedded AI Chatbot & PersonalizationYes: Personalized help, content recommendationsNoNoNo
Virtual Classroom (Blended Learning)Yes: Synchronous/asynchronous learning combinedNoNoNo
Best ForEnterprise-grade, end-to-end learning + in-app support and process automationEnterprise user onboarding, digital adoptionQuick process/SOP capture and sharingCentralized SOPs, onboarding, small/midsize orgs
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