High converting in-app message examples 

In-app messages remain one of the most effective ways to guide users through a product experience. They appear at the exact moment a person needs help, encouragement, or a next step. The 2025 Lifecycle Insights report shows that 15 percent of marketers use in-app as their primary ROI channel.

When done well, in-app messages reduce friction, improve feature adoption, and support users during critical stages of onboarding and retention. This article brings together real examples of high converting in-app messages, supported by customer stories, performance data, and proven best practices from brands that use in-app messaging to strengthen their product experience.

The most effective in-app messages are timely, relevant, and tied to real user behavior. They do not rely on static schedules. They respond to what a user is doing in the moment.

A clear example comes from Monarch Money. The team replaced a generic, time-based trial sequence with behavior-driven onboarding built inside Customer.io. This shift resulted in measurable improvements, including a 3.36% drop in cancellations and increased engagement with key features.

Personalization also plays a major role. Notion used Customer.io to localize onboarding by region and language, lifting conversions 6 to 7 percent for global audiences. They expanded this approach by using dynamic logic that routed users based on their persona and interests, resulting in open rates as high as 51 percent and click-through rates of up to 1.5 percent.

Ultimately, in-app messaging is most effective when integrated into an omnichannel strategy. According to the Lifecycle Insights report, email remains the top ROI channel for 83 percent of teams. In-app messaging complements email by providing real-time, contextual support directly within the product.

Activation messages help users complete meaningful steps during onboarding or early product use. They convert well because they acknowledge progress and point clearly to what comes next.

Duolingo uses action-based nudges such as streak reminders and skill prompts that appear immediately after the user interacts with a lesson.

Slack surfaces prompts like "Try your first integration" or how to set up a notifications schedule once a user has sent enough messages to show early engagement.

Monarch Money used in app activation messages tied to actions like connecting a bank or updating categories. These nudges helped increase feature usage and contributed to stronger retention outcomes.

New users often need guidance to reach their first moment of value. An activation message removes uncertainty and makes the path forward obvious.

• "You are almost there. Finish connecting your data to unlock full insights."
• "Your setup is nearly complete. Add one more detail to personalize your experience."

Feature discovery messages help users find and adopt specific product capabilities. When they reflect a user’s role, goals, or behavior, they support both engagement and long-term retention.

Notion’s lifecycle team uses dynamic logic to route users into customized adoption experiences. For example, someone building a workspace for design might receive guidance toward templates, while a project manager sees suggestions for database views. This relevance contributed to successful engagement metrics, including an open rate of up to 51 percent.

Instagram prompts creators to try Reels when their early behavior suggests interest in video.

Figma uses micro tooltips to highlight time-saving features that match a user’s editing actions.

Users do not explore everything on their own. Persona-based hints reduce the time needed to learn and help users quickly understand how a feature supports their goals.

• "Since you created your first project, here are three features that can help you get more done."
• "Try this view to organize your work in a more visual way."

Referral messages often convert poorly when delivered at random times. They are far more effective when surfaced moments after a user completes a meaningful or satisfying action.

Dropbox famously used in-app referral prompts after users uploaded files or shared folders.

Cash App presents referral offers immediately after successful transactions, and similar budgeting apps show referral CTAs inside progress or milestone views.

Monarch Money used Customer.io to add in-app nudges tied to referral behavior. This contributed to a 200 percent increase in referrals within one week.

Users are most likely to advocate when they are already experiencing value. Delivering the prompt in the app captures that momentum.

• "Love using (company name/product)? Share it with a friend and get a month free."
• "Invite a friend and unlock a bonus for both of you."

Proactive in-app messages anticipate challenges before they turn into support tickets or user frustration.

Shopify surfaces targeted prompts when a merchant’s settings may cause checkout problems.

Zoom highlights audio or configuration issues as soon as a potential error is detected.

These messages help users correct issues early, resulting in a smoother experience and lower abandonment rates.

• "Your integration needs one more field. Update it to finish setup."
• "Your export is ready. Review it before sending."

Retention improves when users can see the progress they are making. In-app messages that highlight achievements, insights, or habits help users stay motivated and connected to the product’s value.

Headspace and Calm show streaks, minutes meditated, and personal progress insights to keep users motivated.

Fitness and finance apps highlight milestones to reinforce the value generated by consistent usage.

Retention remains one of the top priorities for marketers, chosen by 45 percent of teams. In-app messages that highlight value help teams address this priority with greater consistency. People are more likely to continue using a product when they see evidence that it helps them improve or save time.

• "You saved three hours this week using automated workflows."
• "Your spending categories are now more accurate. Your budget forecast has improved."

Customer.io gives lifecycle teams the tools to deliver personalized, behavior-based in-app messages without engineering involvement. It aligns with the same data and workflows that power email and SMS, making it easy to create coordinated, multichannel experiences.

Event-based workflows enable you to schedule messages to coincide with significant actions, such as completing onboarding steps or resuming after a break.

Customer.io supports language localization, conditional content, and persona-based routing. These capabilities supported Notion’s global onboarding improvements.

Monarch Money tested onboarding changes using holdout cohorts, giving them clear insights into what worked.

Email remains the foundation for 83 percent of marketers. Customer.io helps teams pair email with SMS and in-app messages to create seamless user journeys.

The brands that succeed with in-app messaging share a simple philosophy. They guide, not interrupt. They meet users where they are instead of where the marketing calendar says they should be. When teams use behavior-based triggers, targeted personalization, and thoughtful experimentation, in-app messages become powerful drivers of activation, retention, and long-term value.

Customer.io helps teams build these experiences with clarity and confidence, allowing marketers to test ideas quickly, measure their impact, and scale what works.

If you want to explore how to put these ideas into practice, start a free trial to create your first omnichannel experience.