Shepherd

Name: Shepherd
Price: 300 USD

Free plan Web

What Shepherd is

Shepherd is an open-source JavaScript library for adding guided tours, onboarding flows, training, and feature announcements to web apps. Tours use dialogs attached to interface elements; each step highlights an area with a modal overlay and points users toward what to do next. Floating UI positions steps to help keep them visible rather than off screen or cropped by overflow. Keyboard navigation, focus trapping, and aria attributes support accessibility, while minimal default styles leave room to match an app’s 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, and lists wrappers for four frameworks. The library runs in the embedding app’s browser and does not collect, transmit, or store data 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. Business costs $50, paid once and Enterprise costs $300, paid once.

Who it suits

Shepherd suits developers adding guided product tours or contextual guidance to web apps, particularly those using one of its supported frameworks. Non-commercial projects can use it under AGPL-3.0; commercial projects need a commercial license.

What it does well

Supports React, Ember, Angular, Vue.js, and JavaScript
Keyboard navigation and focus trapping included
Runs in the embedding app’s browser
Business license costs $50, paid once

What to know first

Commercial projects require a commercial license
Business Plan includes one month of commercial support
Enterprise Plan costs $300, paid once

Limits

The free AGPL-3.0 license applies to open-source, personal, and non-commercial projects. Commercial use requires a license; the Business Plan covers up to 5 projects and includes 1 month of commercial support.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Enterprise Plan	$300/lifetime · Unlimited projects · 6 months support · Prioritized Github Issues · Lifetime license	$300, paid once
Business Plan	$50/lifetime · Up to 5 projects · 1 month commercial support · Regular product updates · Lifetime license	$50, paid once
Shepherd Consulting	Request a Quote · White-Glove Services · On-Boarding & Training · Advanced analytics · Support via Professional Services	On request

As shepherdjs.dev lists them, read 7 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Visit the Shepherd website and documentation.
Choose an integration for React, Ember, Angular, Vue.js, ES Modules, or plain JavaScript.
Install using npm, yarn, pnpm, or bun, or use a GitHub release or jsDelivr CDN.
Use the documented framework wrapper where applicable.
Choose a free license for open-source, personal, or non-commercial use, or obtain a commercial license.

Verdict

Shepherd provides configurable guided tours for web apps, with framework support and accessibility features. It is free for non-commercial use, while commercial projects must choose a license such as Business or Enterprise.

Questions

Is Shepherd open source?

Yes. Shepherd is open-source and is free for open-source, personal, and non-commercial projects under AGPL-3.0.

How much do the paid plans cost?

The Business Plan is $50, paid once (billed $50/lifetime). The Enterprise Plan is $300, paid once (billed $300/lifetime).

Which frameworks and platforms does Shepherd support?

It supports web apps using React, Ember, Angular, Vue.js, ES Modules, or plain JavaScript.

How can I install Shepherd?

The documentation provides instructions for npm, yarn, pnpm, and bun, as well as GitHub releases and jsDelivr CDN usage.

Who maintains Shepherd?

Ship Shape maintains Shepherd. The site lists email contact and Discord.

Does Shepherd collect data from users of an app that embeds it?

The library runs in the embedding app’s browser and does not collect, transmit, or store data about that app’s users.

Facts from Shepherd's own pages

Accessibility: Shepherd provides full keyboard navigation, focus trapping, and accessibility support through aria attributes. · shepherdjs.dev, 7 Oct 2026
Customization: Its minimal default styles are designed to make it easy to match the look and feel of an app. · shepherdjs.dev, 7 Oct 2026
Frameworks: The library supports React, Ember, Angular, Vue.js, ES Modules, and plain JavaScript. · shepherdjs.dev, 7 Oct 2026
Framework wrappers: The documentation lists Angular, Ember, React, and Vue wrappers for Shepherd. · docs.shepherdjs.dev, 7 Oct 2026
Installation: The documentation provides installation instructions for npm, yarn, pnpm, and bun, plus GitHub releases and jsDelivr CDN usage. · docs.shepherdjs.dev, 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. · shepherdjs.dev, 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. · shepherdjs.dev, 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. · shepherdjs.dev, 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. · shepherdjs.dev, 7 Oct 2026
Positioning: Shepherd positions steps with Floating UI so they do not end up off screen or cropped by overflow. · shepherdjs.dev, 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. · shepherdjs.dev, 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. · shepherdjs.dev, 7 Oct 2026
Users: The about page says Shepherd is used in production by Google, Ally, and CodePen. · shepherdjs.dev, 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. · shepherdjs.dev, 7 Oct 2026