5 Interactive Demo Softwares that will help you sell better

In 2024, if you're selling software, interactive demos should be a part of your go-to-market strategy. According to Trustradius' latest B2B Buyer Disconnect Report 2024, self-service information, including pricing and interactive demos, remains among the top 5 factors buyers consider when purchasing software. Additionally, the percentage of buyers evaluating interactive demos increased from 13% in 2023 to 19% in 2024, indicating that leveraging interactive demos and self-serve tools is a growing trend.

‍

‍

Interactive demos have a substantial impact on website conversion rates. In a study conducted by HockeyStack, the conversion rate for website visitors who engaged with interactive demos was found to be 63% higher than for those who did not engage with interactive demos.

‍

There are many interactive demo software options available, making it challenging to understand their differences. This article will guide you through the main considerations when purchasing interactive demo software and highlight the top 5 interactive demo software solutions that can enhance your sales efforts.

‍

‍

What is interactive demo software and why are teams using it?

Interactive demo software allows teams to create product demos showcasing functionalities without the need for a live person. Companies utilize interactive demos to bring their products to life, addressing customer issues and offering personalized and tailored content, all while tracking viewer interactions to gain valuable insights into buyer profiles.

‍

As a viewer, you have complete control over your experience with an interactive demo. You can explore the product at your own pace, focusing on features that are important to you and immersing yourself in the experience. This personalized approach contrasts with the more scripted and sometimes awkward interactions of live demos with salespeople.

‍

What to consider when buying interactive demo software:

• No-code/low-code platform: Users can build interactive demos using a user-friendly interface that doesn't require programming knowledge, allowing non-technical teams such as marketing or sales to spin up interactive demos easily.
• Robust editing functionality: The software should offer comprehensive editing tools that allow users to make detailed adjustments and customize the demos to high standards.
• The ability to add interactive elements: Users should easily incorporate interactive features like clickable hotspots, callouts, and buttons, creating a more engaging and interactive experience for viewers.
• Integration with other sales and marketing tools: Interactive demos are hardly the only tools you have in your go-to-market tech stack, so you'd want an interactive demo platform that integrates smoothly with your other existing sales and marketing platforms
• Analytics and reporting: Analytics and reporting track how viewers interact with the demos, providing valuable insights that help teams understand audience preferences and optimize content for better engagement. Interactive demos should never be a one-and-done type of thing but rather live assets that always evolve alongside your product and business.

‍

Advanced features that set interactive demo software solutions apart include visually stunning editing and storytelling capabilities, as well as multi-device compatibility to cater to the increasing number of buyers using mobile devices.

‍

If you want to create exceptional experiences that delight your prospects and buyers, these advanced features will help you differentiate yourself from competitors.

‍

‍

5 interactive demo platforms you should check out

After reviewing the core and advanced features you should expect from interactive demo software, let's examine the five best interactive demo software currently on the market! 

‍

Arcade

If you want to create visually stunning interactive demos with an incredibly user-friendly creator experience, look no further than Arcade. As a design-forward product, Arcade enables users to craft, manage, and distribute highly customizable and engaging experiences without coding knowledge. 

‍

‍

Arcade allows users to record from either a Chrome extension or a desktop app (currently the only interactive demo platform with a desktop app!). You can also add images, videos, and PDF files to any demo, opening the possibility to craft unique experiences and stories for your prospects.

‍

On Arcade's G2 page, existing customers often mention the ease of creating engaging demos within minutes, the range of interactive elements they can add to their demos, and the multi-device compatibility with Arcade's interactive demos that are unmatched by other competitors. Arcade also gives you plenty of alternate options to publish your demos, such as GIFs, videos, etc., so you can reach your customers and prospects wherever they are.

‍

Finally, using Arcade analytics and insights dashboards, you can see exactly how your interactive demos are performing on multiple key metrics (views, completions, CTA clicks, etc.) to make adjustments as needed. Remember: the best interactive demos are continuously updated and improved!

‍

While some advanced features are reserved for paid tiers, Arcade's pricing structure, including a free plan, makes it accessible to a wide range of teams. Simply sign up for a free account to start, install the Chrome extension, and create your first demo!

‍

[Read More: How Arcade increased trial likelihood by 5x for Nudge Security]

‍

‍

Navattic

Navattic is another platform designed to create interactive product tours to improve user onboarding and product adoption. Two main advantages of Navattic are that it requires no/low code and minimal engineering support, and it boasts a strong list of native integrations with other tools that GTM teams use, like Salesforce and Hubspot.  

‍

However, there are some drawbacks. The pricing is on the higher side, with no free plan available, and teams may find the recording and editing process has a steep learning curve. Additionally, feedback from G2 reviews reports that the UX on mobile devices is not great, there is no public changelog, and the platform does not support adding external media like audio or video. It also lacks bulk customization options, which could be inconvenient if you are working with a complex product that requires longer demos. 

‍

Navattic's pricing starts at $500 per month with annual billing for the Base plan, and the Growth plan costs $1,000 per month with annual billing.

‍

‍

Walnut

Walnut is designed to help companies create interactive and customizable product demos, with the primary focus being Sales use cases. Similar to other software on this list, it offers a codeless design experience, broad customization options, and integrations with other popular go-to-market tools.

‍

While the platform is capable and can help you create demos, some teams might find there is a steep learning curve when using the editing tool, according to some G2 reviews. Additionally, other customers have also expressed the need for more documentation and training resources in order to effectively make the most out of the platform. 

‍

Something else to keep in mind is that there are reports of occasional lags, stutters, and crashes with their demos. This might be okay if you are distributing the interactive demos for async consumption, but if you are using interactive demos as part of a live conversation with prospects, this is not ideal.

‍

Walnut does not have transparent pricing, and you'll have to contact their sales team for a quote.

‍

‍

Storylane

Storylane is another no-code platform that offers the easy creation of interactive product demos. The target demographic for this tool is B2B Marketers and Sales Engineers, and they do a good job of enabling non-technical teams to spin up interactive demos fairly easily and quickly. It is also one of the only two products on this list with a free plan (besides Arcade). Storylane's pricing structure includes a limited free version and a relatively lower entry price point for paid plans, potentially making it an attractive option for smaller teams or those with budget constraints.

‍

In terms of drawbacks, customers have reported in some G2 reviews that there are limitations and missing features within Storylane's editing suite. The absence of a trial period for paid plans may deter potential customers who prefer to thoroughly test the platform before committing. Additionally, some users find the user interface and experience to be somewhat clunky, and some features are hard to find, potentially impacting productivity and user satisfaction. 

‍

‍

Consensus

Consensus offers a demo automation platform that allows businesses to create personalized product demonstrations for individual prospects. This tool stands out for its ability to tailor the demo experience to specific stakeholder needs. 

‍

The platform has several notable strengths. Its robust customization capabilities allow for the creation of highly targeted demos. Consensus also supports lead qualification and stakeholder mapping, which can be valuable for complex B2B sales cycles. You can also incorporate PDFs and documents, or even multiple videos and demos, into a single experience, which could be certainly helpful if you are selling a more complicated product. 

‍

While Consensus's customization power is certainly impressive, it is designed mainly for sales and pre-sales use cases. Other teams, such as Marketing, Product, or Customer Success, might find the tool harder to use and more complicated than what they need. Their comprehensive customization features also come with a much steeper learning curve when getting started, meaning it might not be the right tool for go-to-market teams looking to go fast. You would also need to have a fairly large library of existing content to upload to the platform, so smaller teams could find the platform overwhelming for their needs.

‍

Consensus also does not have public pricing.