What Are In-App Widgets and What Are They Used For?

In-app widgets are small components embedded in a web page, web application, or phone home screen to display a piece of information or a mini view of an app. They let users see and interact with content from an app without opening the app itself. On a web page, the groups of icons, pop-up windows, boxes, and bars you see are in-app widgets.

This article covers what in-app widgets are, why they matter, the main types of widgets, and real examples of in-app widgets in use.

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What Are In-App Widgets?

In-app widgets are easy-to-use components that sit on your web page, web application, or phone home screen. They show small amounts of data or mini-application views. Users can interact with an app and access specific information from it without leaving the page they are on.

What is the difference between a widget and an app?

An app is the full application with all of its features. A widget is a small window into that app: it displays one slice of information, such as the latest updates or a chat box, and links back to the full app for the rest. You do not have to open the app to use a widget, which is why widgets are placed on home screens, desktops, and web pages.

Why Are In-App Widgets Essential?

Widgets take up little space, but their benefits are bigger than they look. A widget lets you bring a piece of information from a specific app into your own web page or application. This helps you increase visibility, make your website more engaging, and improve how people interact with your website.

In-app widgets guide users to the information you want them to see by offering more than one way to discover it. Used together with in-app notifications, they have become an important part of UI design and user experience. If you are unsure how a widget performs on your page, user experience testing is a good way to check.

What Are Widgets Used For? Desktop, Mobile, and In-App

Widgets fall into three groups depending on where they live.

Desktop Widgets

Desktop widgets are small components on your desktop that display information you want to see every time you turn on your computer. Common examples show the weather, the time, a map, a calculator, or a notification.

Mobile Widgets

Mobile widgets are the same idea on a phone. They make the most of limited screen space and make the home screen more useful. Typical mobile widgets display the weather, the time, a map, or a minimal version of an app.

In-App Widgets

In-app widgets are embedded on your web page to display important information for your users. Most of them give visitors of the host page access to resources on another page, where they can see the rest of the information. Typical uses include showing the latest news, announcements, advertising, support, offers, user comments, social media buttons, and external links.

In-App Widget Use Cases and Examples

The rest of this article focuses on in-app widgets. Below are the most common types, each with a real example.

Live Chat Widgets

It is now rare to find a web page without a live chat widget. A chat widget shows visitors that you are making an effort to communicate with them. It also helps you reach potential customers and turn them into paying customers.

Intercom Chatbot

The Intercom chatbot is embedded in your web page and lets you start conversations with your customers with little effort.

HubSpot Chatbot

HubSpot also provides a live chat widget so you can stay in touch with your users.

Announcement Notification and In-App Changelog Widgets

Announcement notification widgets are embedded in your web page or web application and display the posts you create for your release notes. They lead users to your changelog so they can find product updates, company news, and other announcements without leaving your product. If you are choosing between this and push messages, see in-app notifications vs push notifications.

AnnounceKit Notification Widget

AnnounceKit lets you create several types of announcement notification widgets. They show your announcements with a rich feature set and support content such as images, videos, and embedded documents. You can see the available widget types and read the in-app messaging best practices guide to decide where to place them.

Feedback Widgets

Feedback widgets are small buttons that encourage users to share their opinion. Place your feedback widget where it is familiar and easy to find. There is no need to hide the feedback option deep inside your page.

Qualtrics Feedback Widget

Qualtrics helps companies capture customer feedback and act on it.

Social Media Widgets

Social media widgets are a quick and easy way to lead users to your social media accounts.

Advertising Widgets

Advertising widgets are pop-up windows that promote a product or service. Advertising is everywhere now, and you can use these widgets to promote your own product.

Offer Widgets

Pop-up offer widgets are also common across many kinds of promotions.

Final Words

In-app widgets are small helpers that sit on your page and display information. They may look minor, but together they enrich your web page and strengthen your UI strategy. If you want to improve your web page and your customer experience, widgets are a good fit.

Feedback is another way to improve customer experience. Browse our customer feedback examples to see how other teams collect it.