Have you ever tried a product for free, loved it, and then decided to pay for the full version without ever speaking to a salesperson? That’s Product-Led Growth (PLG) Supplies in action.
But here’s the catch: PLG doesn’t just happen on its own. To really make it work, you need the right PLG Supplies—the tools, software, and strategies that power your product-led engine.
Let’s unpack what that means in plain English.
What Is Product-Led Growth (PLG), Really?
Before we get into the supplies, let’s quickly define Product-Led Growth.
PLG is a go-to-market strategy where the product drives user acquisition, expansion, and retention. Instead of relying on big sales teams or long marketing funnels, you let the product do the talking.
Famous PLG companies include:
- Slack
- Dropbox
- Notion
- Zoom
They offer free plans or trials, let users onboard themselves, and create value before asking for payment. But behind that smooth user experience is a set of well-chosen PLG Supplies that make it all work.
So… What Are PLG Supplies?
PLG Supplies are the tools, platforms, and practices that help teams build and support a product-led experience.
Think of them as your PLG toolkit—everything you need to:
- Onboard users smoothly
- Track usage behavior
- Run experiments
- Drive upgrades
- Collect feedback
Whether you’re a startup or scaling SaaS company, your PLG Supplies are what make your product-led growth engine run smoothly.
1. User Onboarding Tools
You only get one shot at a first impression. In PLG, that means user onboarding is everything.
PLG Supplies in this category include:
- Userpilot
- Appcues
- WalkMe
- Pendo
These tools help users get value fast, by offering tooltips, walkthroughs, and product tours that reduce friction and boost activation.
2. Product Analytics Tools
To grow your product, you need to understand how people use it. That’s where analytics tools—another must-have in your PLG Supplies stack—come into play.
Popular product analytics tools:
- Mixpanel
- Heap
- Amplitude
With these, you can learn what features drive retention, identify drop-off points, and make smarter product decisions.
3. In-App Communication Tools
Even in a product-led model, sometimes you need to guide users with well-timed nudges. In-app messages are an essential part of your PLG Supplies.
Tools like:
- Intercom
- Chameleon
- Customer.io
help you trigger in-app prompts based on user behavior, drive feature adoption, and create more value per session.
4. Feedback and Survey Tools
Want to build what users actually want? You’ll need feedback tools—an underrated but critical part of your PLG Supplies stack.
Examples include:
- Hotjar
- Survicate
- Typeform
Ask users how they’re feeling, where they’re stuck, or what features they’d love to see next.
5. Freemium and Trial Management Tools
In a PLG model, managing free plans or trials effectively is crucial. The right PLG Supplies help convert free users into paying customers.
Look into:
- Stripe
- Paddle
- Chargebee
They allow you to set up usage-based billing, handle payments, and monitor conversion metrics with ease.
6. Experimentation and A/B Testing Platforms
Product-Led Growth thrives on testing and iteration. Want to see if a new onboarding flow performs better? A/B testing is the way to go.
Key PLG Supplies here:
- Optimizely
- LaunchDarkly
- Split.io
These tools allow for fast experimentation and smarter rollouts—no guesswork needed.
7. Community and Support Platforms
Last but not least, great PLG Supplies also support the post-onboarding experience.
Community platforms like:
- Discourse
- Slack or Discord (for real-time support)
- Zendesk or Freshdesk
foster engagement, boost retention, and let users help each other.
Where to Start With PLG Supplies?
Don’t feel pressured to adopt everything at once. Instead, build your PLG Supplies stack step-by-step.
Here’s a quick path:
- Start with onboarding tools like Userpilot.
- Add analytics like Mixpanel to learn from user behavior.
- Layer in in-app communication via Intercom or Chameleon.
- Gather feedback using Typeform or Hotjar.
Once those are in place, explore billing, testing, and support tools to round out your stack.
Real Example: How Notion Uses PLG Supplies to Win
Notion is a textbook PLG success. Let’s look at how they use PLG Supplies to grow:
- Self-serve signups with no friction
- In-app onboarding for fast activation
- Community templates and content for ongoing value
- Data-driven iteration based on user behavior
Each part of the journey is powered by thoughtful PLG Supplies that keep users engaged and coming back.
Final Thoughts
To wrap it up—Product-Led Growth is a smart, scalable approach to growing your business. But it doesn’t happen by accident. It takes planning, testing, and most importantly, the right PLG Supplies.
Remember:
- PLG is about product-first experiences
- PLG Supplies are the tools and systems behind the scenes
- Build your stack gradually—don’t overcomplicate it
- The right supplies help users find value fast, upgrade smoothly, and stay loyal longer
Whether you’re a startup founder, product manager, or growth marketer, having the right PLG Supplies can make the difference between “meh” metrics and unstoppable growth.
Need help choosing the best PLG Supplies for your team? Drop a question below or reach out—we’re always happy to help!
