Account

Choose the closest product type and plan its first release

Use these guides to understand the workflows, requirements, risks, budget questions, and delivery decisions that matter for common software products.

  • Use a full guide to understand the workflows and decisions that make the product type distinct.
  • Open the free calculator with that product type preselected to prioritize features and estimate a range.

Need to compare two product models first? Browse focused planning guides.

Not sure which product type fits?

Choose by the product's defining workflow, not its screen or delivery channel. Use SaaS when many customers use the same hosted product; use Custom web application when software supports a specific business process. Website, mobile, desktop, and API are delivery channels you can choose separately.

Estimate my first release See how WebGrid works Read the planning framework Read the methodology
Application type index blueprint illustration A themed SVG drawing of multiple application patterns being mapped into one product decision workspace.
SaaS product blueprint illustration A themed SVG drawing for SaaS, using the page accent colors and showing Customer Outcome, Workspace Model, Adoption Lifecycle as product workflow surfaces.

SaaS

Plan a SaaS product around the repeatable customer outcome, not the subscription.

Turn one repeatable customer outcome into a hosted product that can be onboarded, operated, and sold many times.

Customer Outcome Workspace Model Adoption Lifecycle Entitlements & Lifecycle
Custom Web Application product blueprint illustration A themed SVG drawing for Custom Web Application, using the page accent colors and showing Process Definition, Records & Workflow, Participants & Responsibility as product workflow surfaces.

Custom Web Application

Plan a custom web application around the work people need to complete.

Turn a specific business process into a clear, traceable workflow without rebuilding every surrounding system.

Process Definition Records & Workflow Participants & Responsibility Decisions & Exceptions
Blog product blueprint illustration A themed SVG drawing for Blog, using the page accent colors and showing Content Model, Editorial Workflow, Audience Engagement as product workflow surfaces.

Blog

Build a blog that compounds authority instead of just shipping posts.

Build a publishing system that turns expertise into discoverable archives, repeat visits, and subscriptions.

Content Model Editorial Workflow Audience Engagement Discovery & Distribution
WebShop product blueprint illustration A themed SVG drawing for WebShop, using the page accent colors and showing Catalog, Merchandising, Cart & Checkout as product workflow surfaces.

WebShop

Build a WebShop that helps people find the right product and finish with confidence.

Convert product discovery into confident checkout, fulfillment, and post-purchase trust.

Catalog Merchandising Cart & Checkout Fulfillment
Marketplace product blueprint illustration A themed SVG drawing for Marketplace, using the page accent colors and showing Participant Model, Listings, Trust & Reputation as product workflow surfaces.

Marketplace

Build a marketplace that manages trust as carefully as it manages transactions.

Orchestrate trust, routing, payouts, and dispute handling across both sides of the market.

Participant Model Listings Trust & Reputation Transaction Flow
Game product blueprint illustration A themed SVG drawing for Game, using the page accent colors and showing Core Loop, Progression, Economy & Rewards as product workflow surfaces.

Game

Build a game around the loop players actually return for.

Define the product through its loop, progression, rewards, social systems, and live-service retention model.

Core Loop Progression Economy & Rewards World Design

Social Network

Build a social network where identity, discovery, and interaction actually fit together.

Shape repeat engagement through identity, graph design, feed logic, interaction layers, and creator incentives.

Identity & Graph Content Model Discovery Interaction Model
Community Forum product blueprint illustration A themed SVG drawing for Community Forum, using the page accent colors and showing Community Structure, Thread Model, Participation as product workflow surfaces.

Community Forum

Build a community forum that stays useful after the first wave of discussion.

Turn participation into durable, searchable, moderated knowledge.

Community Structure Thread Model Participation Moderation
Learning Platform product blueprint illustration A themed SVG drawing for Learning Platform, using the page accent colors and showing Learning Model, Curriculum, Assessment as product workflow surfaces.

Learning Platform

Build a learning platform around completion, not just content delivery.

Deliver measurable learning journeys with curriculum structure, assessment, progress visibility, and credentials.

Learning Model Curriculum Assessment Schedule & Cohorts
Booking Platform product blueprint illustration A themed SVG drawing for Booking Platform, using the page accent colors and showing Inventory Model, Booking Flow, Fulfillment as product workflow surfaces.

Booking Platform

Build a booking platform customers can trust before they click confirm.

Turn availability into confirmed bookings with clear pricing, capacity, reminders, and change handling.

Inventory Model Booking Flow Fulfillment Post-Booking Operations
CMS product blueprint illustration A themed SVG drawing for CMS, using the page accent colors and showing Content Model, Editorial Workflow, Governance as product workflow surfaces.

CMS

Build a CMS around content operations, not just page editing.

Model, govern, reuse, localize, and publish structured content across sites and channels.

Content Model Editorial Workflow Governance Delivery
CRM product blueprint illustration A themed SVG drawing for CRM, using the page accent colors and showing Record Model, Pipeline, Activity Management as product workflow surfaces.

CRM

Build a CRM that gives revenue teams one customer picture they can actually operate from.

Create a shared customer system of record for pipeline execution, forecasting, activity history, and lifecycle ownership.

Record Model Pipeline Activity Management Ownership & Planning
Project Management product blueprint illustration A themed SVG drawing for Project Management, using the page accent colors and showing Work Structure, Delivery Model, Resource Planning as product workflow surfaces.

Project Management

Build a project management product that keeps work legible from task to portfolio.

Make work visible from planning through delivery with dependencies, capacity, approvals, and portfolio oversight.

Work Structure Delivery Model Resource Planning Tracking
Help Center product blueprint illustration A themed SVG drawing for Help Center, using the page accent colors and showing Knowledge Structure, Self-Service Journey, Governance as product workflow surfaces.

Help Center

Build a help center people can solve problems in, not just browse.

Reduce support friction by making answers discoverable, governed, and easy to escalate from when necessary.

Knowledge Structure Self-Service Journey Governance Feedback & Optimization
News / Media product blueprint illustration A themed SVG drawing for News / Media, using the page accent colors and showing Editorial Structure, Publishing Workflow, Audience Products as product workflow surfaces.

News / Media

Build a News / Media product that handles speed without losing editorial control.

Combine editorial tempo, trust, curation, alerts, and archives into a publishing product built for timeliness.

Editorial Structure Publishing Workflow Audience Products Distribution
Streaming Platform product blueprint illustration A themed SVG drawing for Streaming Platform, using the page accent colors and showing Catalog, Playback Model, Discovery as product workflow surfaces.

Streaming Platform

Build a streaming platform where discovery, playback, and monetization support the same viewing promise.

Connect catalog strategy, playback continuity, discovery, and monetization into one viewing product.

Catalog Playback Model Discovery Engagement