15 Best Public Roadmap Examples for SaaS in 2024

Implementing a public roadmap is slowly becoming the norm for many SaaS companies in 2024.

It's an effortless way to communicate your product vision, manage customer expectations, and keep users in the loop about the progress of ongoing developments.

In this blog post, we will give you an easily digestible overview of 15 real-world public roadmap examples, from smaller startups to large enterprises like Microsoft, GitHub, and others.

We will also give you a simple guide about the best way to set up your very own public product roadmap in just a few minutes.

But first, let's quickly cover what public roadmaps even are. 👇

What is a public roadmap?

🗺️ A public roadmap shows the future plans and direction of a company’s product transparently to everyone. It's usually in a Kanban layout, outlining what’s coming next, what’s currently being worked on, and what’s recently been launched.

Rather than keeping the roadmap private as usual, it's made fully publicly visible to all users, potential customers, and other key stakeholders.

The main purpose of a public roadmap is to:

• Provide transparency and communicate the company’s product vision
• Engage users by gathering feedback
• Align development efforts with customer needs
• Build trust by being open about upcoming features and timelines

So, it's not just a list of upcoming features. It shows that you're constantly improving your product and listening to the customers. The most important part is that users can see what you've planned and provide valuable feedback, making them feel part of the journey.

It's how modern companies show they care about their users' needs and manage their expectations.

Looking to create a public roadmap for your product? Check out Featurebase →

15 best public roadmap examples for SaaS companies

Now that we have a great overview of what a public roadmap is and why they're used in the first place, let's dive into real-world examples to give you a good understanding of different approaches. 🌍

1. Rolla

Created with: Featurebase

Takeaway: Rolla is an amazing example of how to build a transparent company culture with a public product roadmap. Users see that ideas from other people get implemented and that the company deeply cares about their experience.

The entire lifecycle of features being developed can be followed in a single place. Customers constantly leave feedback and vote on the most valuable ideas. Each idea also has a timeline to avoid questions like "When is X feature finally coming?".

Rolla public roadmap: Rolla roadmap

2. GitHub

Created with: GitHub Discussions

Takeaway: GitHub's public roadmap is an interactive view that reflects their commitment to open-source and community-driven development. It allows users to see upcoming changes, contribute ideas, and track the development status of different features, creating a strong sense of community involvement.

GitHub public roadmap: Github roadmap

3. Featurebase

Created with: Featurebase (that's us 👋)

Takeaway: We use our own product to collect feedback, publish product updates, and show a public roadmap to our users. We are shipping new features literally every week, so it's very important to keep our customers in the loop about what's new and what's next.

Featurebase public roadmap: Featurebase roadmap

4. Atlassian Cloud

Created with: Atlassian Migration

Takeaway: The Atlassian Cloud Roadmap showcases how a large enterprise can implement a public roadmap effectively. It's a simple, easy-to-understand list that provides an overview of upcoming features, their expected release dates, and the products they will impact.

Atlassian public roadmap: Atlassian roadmap

5. Ahrefs

Create with: Canny

Takeaway: Since Ahrefs has a lot of different product modules, their product roadmap is focused on helping users sort & find the part they are most interested in. It's quite easy to use and lets people vote on what features they want to see next. This way, Ahrefs ensures they're building what their users really want.

Ahrefs public roadmap: Ahrefs roadmap

6. Unity

Created with: Productboard

Takeaway: Unity offers a clear roadmap that's embedded on their website. Although they're not collecting customer feedback or upvotes with it, it's a simple way to keep users updated with their plans. Notice how it has categories on top to let users navigate between different products.

Unity public roadmap: Unity roadmap

7. Airtable

Created with: Airtable

Takeaway: Airtable uses its platform to showcase its roadmap as well, demonstrating the versatility and power of Airtable. Although it's not entirely optimized for building public roadmaps, it's still a great example of a simple roadmap that is executed well.

Airtable public roadmap: Airtable roadmap

8. Rust

Created with: Nolt

Takeaway: Rust's roadmap is a good example of a straightforward, easy-to-follow plan that's nicely customized to fit their brand. Although it's not in the conventional Kanban format, it gives a great overview of the upcoming releases.

Rust product roadmap: Rust roadmap

9. CoffeeCup

Created with: Featurebase

Takeaway: CoffeCup has a neat, minimalistic product roadmap. It is worth highlighting because it also features upvoting, but the count is hidden before voting the ideas. This is an effective way to reduce herd behavior, where users tend to upvote ideas that already have many votes.

CoffeeCup public roadmap: CoffeeCup roadmap

10. Trello

Created with: Trello

Takeaway: Trello uses its own tool to show the roadmap. This approach is like Airtable's – using their product to showcase future plans. It's a smart way to show the capabilities of Trello while keeping users informed.

Trello public roadmap: Trello roadmap

11. Microsoft 365

Created with: Microsoft 365

Takeaway: Microsoft's public roadmap highlights everything the company is working on and displays when these features can be expected. It could be a good solution for larger enterprises that have fully adopted Microsoft's ecosystem, but it's quite cluttered and hard to navigate compared to modern solutions.

Microsoft public roadmap: Microsoft roadmap

12. Buffer

Created with: FeatureOS

Takeaway: Buffer has a clear and interactive public roadmap that involves users in the entire planning process. Similarly to other examples in this list, it also has feature suggestions and voting functionalities.

Buffer public roadmap: Buffer roadmap

13. Loom

Created with: Productboard

Takeaway: Loom has a simple product roadmap showing their plans for different features. It's a straightforward solution, but it could benefit from a little more of their own branding.

Loom public roadmap: Loom roadmap

14. Hubspot

Created with: Design software (Figma or rises similar)

Takeaway: Hubspot has a slightly different approach to its public roadmap. It's a nicely designed PDF file with timelines and top-level features to bring all stakeholders into the company's vision. This approach works great for larger enterprises.

Hubspot public roadmap: Hubspot roadmap

15. Friends & Fables

Created with: Featurebase

Takeaway: Gaming companies know the value of keeping users engaged and updated with their plans. Friends & Fabels' public roadmap is customized to be fully in their own brand. It also supports idea voting, so everything players want rises to the top.

Friends & Fables public roadmap: F&F roadmap

Why should you have a public roadmap?

Still unsure if a public roadmap is right for you? Here are 7 ways public roadmaps benefit your company:

• Builds customer trust and loyalty
  When customers see your future plans, they feel more connected and invested in your product. This transparency builds trust, and a trusting customer is a loyal customer.
• Captures customer feedback
  No one wants to send feedback into a black hole. Public roadmaps invite suggestions, turning passive users into active community members. This engagement not only improves your product but also creates a sense of belonging among your users.
• Drives product development
  By showcasing what’s coming next, you align your team’s efforts with customer expectations. It helps in prioritizing features that matter most to your users, ensuring your development is on the right track.
• Manages expectations
  A clear roadmap sets realistic expectations about your product’s growth and updates. It helps in managing customer expectations and reduces uncertainty about the product’s future.
• Differentiates your brand
  In crowded markets, a public roadmap can be a huge differentiator. It shows that you value openness and customer feedback—qualities that can set you apart from competitors.
• Increases accountability
  Public roadmaps hold you accountable to your plans, ensuring that you’re constantly making progress and updating your product.
• Attracts potential customers and investors
  A well-structured roadmap can be a powerful tool for attracting new customers and investors. It showcases your vision, the direction of your product, and your commitment to growth.

For more, read our blog: Should Your Company Have a Public Roadmap →

In short, a public roadmap is much more than your list of features with timelines. It’s a strategic asset that can help you build a loyal community, enhance product success, and elevate your brand’s reputation. We've experienced it firsthand.

How to create a public roadmap?

Good news! It's easier than you think. As you've seen from the 15 examples above, there are many ways to approach this.

Let’s break it down into simple steps:

1. Pick your style: Reflect on the examples you've seen. Do you like a simple list or something more visual? Your roadmap's style should match your company's personality and be easy for your audience to understand.
2. Define your goals: What do you want to achieve with your public roadmap? Is it for gathering feedback, setting clear expectations, or showcasing your future plans? Your goals will guide the content and design of your roadmap.
3. Collect insights: Your roadmap should be based on what your users need and want. Use surveys, feedback tools, or direct communication to gather their insights. Remember, this roadmap is as much for them as it is for you.
4. Set priorities: You can’t tackle everything at once. Prioritize features and updates based on user demand and strategic value. This helps in creating a focused and realistic roadmap. For a more in-depth guide about prioritization, check out our guide about planning your product roadmap effectively.
5. Keep it dynamic: Update your roadmap regularly. New challenges constantly arise, and feedback can shift priorities. A dynamic roadmap shows that you’re responsive and adaptable.
6. Be open about changes: If you need to shift priorities or delay a feature, communicate it openly. Honesty in your roadmap strengthens trust with your users.
7. Encourage interaction: Allow users to comment, give feedback, or even vote on features. This engagement makes them feel valued and involved in your product's journey.
8. Choose the right tool: There are a variety of public roadmap tools available for creating roadmaps. Pick one that suits your needs. Consider the tool's ease of use, customization options, and integration with your other tools.

If you're looking for a comprehensive tool that handles all of this, check out our product Featurebase.👇

It's a simple way to create, publish, and manage a public product roadmap to communicate your vision, engage with your users, and set expectations for your product's development.

Not only do you get a public roadmap, but also a feedback forum, changelog, surveys, and a Help Center. We have a Free Plan allowing unlimited suggestions and access to all modules.

Create your public product roadmap with Featurebase today →

Conclusion

The bottom line is that public roadmaps are a lot more than just planning tools for SaaS companies. They're a dynamic way to engage with users and build trust.

While the worry of idea theft exists, remember that the most sensitive plans can be kept internal. The positives of transparency, user engagement, and the valuable feedback you gain often outweigh any risks.

Featurebase allows you to create your own public roadmap in seconds. It's fully customizable to align with your brand and lets users provide feedback and vote on ideas. When you update the status of an idea, all upvoters are automatically notified via email, ensuring that relevant users stay informed about their requests.

Create your public product roadmap with Featurebase for free →

More reading:

• Top 7 Public Roadmap Tools for SaaS Companies in 2024 →
• Should Your Company Have a Public Roadmap? →
• A Simple 6-Step Guide to Plan & Prioritize Your Product Roadmap Effectively →
• The Best Product Roadmap Examples for SaaS Startups →

FAQ

1. What is a public product roadmap?

A public roadmap is a strategic tool that shows the future plans and direction of a company’s product transparently to everyone. It's usually in a Kanban layout, outlining what’s coming next, what’s currently being worked on, and what’s recently been launched.

Rather than keeping the roadmap private, it's made fully publicly visible to all users, potential customers, and other key stakeholders.

2. How does a public roadmap benefit SaaS companies and their users?

For SaaS companies, a public roadmap is key to building trust and maintaining open communication with their user base.

It allows customers to see what new features or improvements are coming, fostering a sense of involvement and anticipation.

For the company, it’s a way to gather valuable feedback, prioritize development based on user needs, and demonstrate commitment to continuous improvement.

3. What are the best practices for creating an effective public roadmap?

Creating an effective public roadmap involves a few best practices:

• Prioritize transparency: Be clear about your development goals and timelines.
• Gather user feedback: Regularly collect and incorporate user insights to ensure the roadmap reflects customer needs.
• Update regularly: Keep the roadmap current to reflect any changes in priorities or timelines.
• Engage your audience: Encourage interaction with the roadmap through user feedback, suggestions, and regular updates.

Using a public roadmap tool like Featurebase can save significant time and help you create your own roadmap in seconds.