Shepherd
Shepherd is an open-source JavaScript library for adding guided tours, onboarding flows, training, and feature announcements to web apps.
What Shepherd is
Shepherd is an open-source JavaScript library for adding guided tours, onboarding flows, training, and feature announcements to web apps. Its tours use sequences of dialogs attached to interface elements; each step highlights part of the interface with a modal overlay and guides users toward the next action. Floating UI positions those steps to help keep them visible rather than off screen or clipped by overflow. Keyboard navigation, focus trapping, and aria attributes support accessible use, while minimal default styling leaves room to match an app’s visual design. Shepherd supports React, Ember, Angular, Vue.js, ES Modules, and plain JavaScript. Installation documentation covers npm, yarn, pnpm, bun, GitHub releases, and jsDelivr CDN, with wrappers listed for four frameworks. The library runs in the embedding app’s browser and does not collect, transmit, or store information about that app’s users. It is free for open-source, personal, and non-commercial projects under AGPL-3.0; commercial projects need a license. The Business Plan is $50, paid once, and the Enterprise Plan is $300, paid once.
Good
- Supports React, Ember, Angular, and Vue.js.
- Includes keyboard navigation and focus trapping.
- Works with plain JavaScript and ES Modules.
- Does not collect data about embedding app users.
Watch out
- Commercial projects require a license.
- No no-code builder is listed.
- No onboarding checklist feature is listed.
Who it suits
Shepherd suits web app teams building tours or contextual guides with JavaScript and supported frameworks. It is free for open-source, personal, and non-commercial projects; commercial teams need a license.
Verdict
Shepherd offers a framework-spanning library for guided web app experiences, with accessibility features and customizable styling. Commercial use requires a paid license, while eligible non-commercial projects can use it under AGPL-3.0.
Plans and prices
From Shepherd's own pricing page, checked 7 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Business Plan | $50, paid once | Up to 5 projects · 1 month commercial support · Regular product updates · Lifetime license · $50/lifetime |
| Enterprise Plan | $300, paid once | Unlimited projects · 6 months support · Prioritized Github Issues · Lifetime license · $300/lifetime |
| Shepherd Consulting | Priced on request | White-Glove Services · On-Boarding & Training · Advanced analytics · Support via Professional Services · Request a Quote |
The facts
Each one read from Shepherd's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Accessibility
- Shepherd provides full keyboard navigation, focus trapping, and accessibility support through aria attributes.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Customization
- Its minimal default styles are designed to make it easy to match the look and feel of an app.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Frameworks
- The library supports React, Ember, Angular, Vue.js, ES Modules, and plain JavaScript.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The documentation provides installation instructions for npm, yarn, pnpm, and bun, plus GitHub releases and jsDelivr CDN usage.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Library data handling
- The library runs in the browser of the embedding app and does not collect, transmit, or store data about that app’s users.checked 7 Oct 2026
- License
- Shepherd is free for open-source, personal, and non-commercial projects under AGPL-3.0; commercial projects require a commercial license.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Maintainer and support
- Ship Shape maintains Shepherd; the site lists email contact and Discord, while paid plans specify limited commercial support periods.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Payment processing
- Commercial license payments are processed by Polar, which receives payment details and shares information needed to fulfill the license with Shepherd.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Positioning
- Shepherd positions steps with Floating UI so they do not end up off screen or cropped by overflow.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Product
- Shepherd is an open-source JavaScript library for guiding users through an app with product tours, onboarding flows, trainings, and feature announcements.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Tour steps
- Tours are sequences of dialogs that attach to interface elements, highlight them with a modal overlay, and guide users through what to do next.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Users
- The about page says Shepherd is used in production by Google, Ally, and CodePen.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Website analytics
- The Shepherd website uses PostHog for anonymous usage analytics, and the policy says data is processed on PostHog’s US cloud.checked 7 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Framework wrappers
- The documentation lists Angular, Ember, React, and Vue wrappers for Shepherd.checked 7 Oct 2026
