Onboarding, on time

Progressive Disclosure is the art of exposing complexity step by step. Granola’s inline onboarding explains folders right when needed, so users aren’t overwhelmed or lost, especially with rare features.

Cognitive Load is the working memory needed to complete a task. Showing a clear explanation every time reduces the effort to recall what folders do, so users feel less mental strain when returning after months.

Granola uses a similar pattern in their Google sync onboarding by keeping context visible. Both flows reduce user anxiety by explaining steps in the moment, so users know why they’re doing each action.

HubSpot shows feature onboarding only when users copy-paste emails. Both HubSpot and Granola use contextual onboarding to nudge feature usage at the right time, making it feel relevant and helpful.

Zara often fails to explain features, leaving users confused. Granola’s always-on onboarding is the opposite, giving clear motivation and context for every folder, which usually boosts confidence and usage.