Guide.js
Guide.js is a free, open-source React component for adding product tours, onboarding flows, and contextual help to web apps.
What Guide.js is
Guide.js is a free, open-source React component for adding product tours, onboarding flows, and contextual help to web apps. It runs within an app without backend requirements, and tour steps are passed as React props without provider setup. The available step types are dialog, pointer, banner, and announcement; steps can target page elements through CSS selectors. Guide.js handles element positioning and repositioning. Teams can customize appearance with CSS variables, per-step theme tokens, or custom CSS. The project works with any bundler and ships ESM and CJS builds, with an npm install command provided on its homepage. Tour progress can be persisted wherever a team chooses, including localStorage, its API, or parent component state. The MIT-licensed component is described as a fit for new-user walkthroughs, feature spotlights, contextual help, and tours of complex interfaces. Its introduction recommends Userorbit Tours for needs such as analytics, A/B testing, and a hosted dashboard. The opened product pages do not state security certifications or compliance claims.
Good
- No backend requirements.
- Offers four types of tour steps.
- Supports CSS selector targeting.
- Progress storage is chosen by the implementing team.
Watch out
- Analytics are not included among its stated capabilities.
- A/B testing and hosted dashboard are listed as needs for another product.
Who it suits
Guide.js may suit React teams building onboarding, feature tours, or contextual guidance directly into a web app. Teams needing analytics, A/B testing, or a hosted dashboard may find its stated scope insufficient.
Verdict
Guide.js provides a customizable, open-source way to add in-app guidance without a backend. Teams that need analytics, experimentation, or a hosted dashboard should note those stated limits.
The facts
Each one read from Guide.js's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Analytics limit
- The introduction recommends Userorbit Tours for needs such as analytics, A/B testing, and a hosted dashboard.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Backend
- The component is designed to run inside your app with no backend requirements.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Best-fit use cases
- The documentation describes new-user walkthroughs, feature spotlights, contextual help, and tours of complex interfaces as use cases.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Build support
- The homepage says Guide.js works with any bundler and ships ESM and CJS builds.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Customization
- The component supports render-prop slots, CSS variables, per-step theme tokens, and custom CSS.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Distribution
- The homepage says it works with any bundler and ships ESM and CJS; it gives `npm install guide.js` as the install command.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Element targeting
- Steps can target elements with CSS selectors, and Guide.js handles positioning and repositioning.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The documentation describes it as a fit for new-user walkthroughs, feature spotlights, contextual help, and showing users around complex interfaces.checked 4 Oct 2026
- License
- The Guide.js site identifies the project as MIT licensed.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Limitations
- The documentation says teams needing analytics, A/B testing, and a hosted dashboard should consider Userorbit Tours.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Maintainer
- The Guide.js homepage says it is built by Userorbit.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Progress storage
- The quick start says you can persist tour progress wherever you choose, including localStorage, your API, or parent component state.checked 4 Oct 2026
- React integration
- Guide.js is rendered as a React component and accepts tour steps as props, without requiring provider setup.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Security and data
- The maker describes Guide.js as having zero backend requirements; the opened product pages do not state security certifications or compliance claims.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Step types
- The homepage lists dialog, pointer, banner, and announcement step types.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Targeting
- Steps can target DOM elements using CSS selectors.checked 4 Oct 2026
- TypeScript
- The homepage says Guide.js includes type definitions for tours, steps, configuration, and lifecycle callbacks.checked 11 Oct 2026
- What it does
- Guide.js is a lightweight, open-source React component for product tours, onboarding, and contextual help, designed to embed in an app without a backend.checked 11 Oct 2026
The company
- Maker details
- The Guide.js pages opened identify Userorbit as the maker but do not state its headquarters or founding year.checked 11 Oct 2026
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