Changelog vs Release Notes: Which Tells Your Story Best?
As your product evolves, keeping customers informed about changes becomes essential not just to highlight progress, but to show that you care about their experience. This involves choosing the right format, understanding your audience, and crafting messages that are clear and engaging. When it comes to sharing updates, there are two key factors to consider: who you're communicating with, and how you present the information.
So, what is a changelog?
A changelog is a structured, chronological list of all notable changes in your product. Think of it as a developer's logbook—organized, technical, and often a bit dry.
## [1.4.0] - 2025-06-23
### Added
- Support for OAuth2 authentication in API v2
- New `/analytics` endpoint for tracking user events
### Fixed
- Resolved memory leak when using background jobs with Redis
- Fixed incorrect timezone handling in reports export
### Deprecated
- `/v1/auth/login` endpoint (will be removed in v2.0)
It typically includes
- Version number + release date
- Categorized changes (Added, Changed, Fixed, Removed…)
- Short technical descriptions
- Sometimes: links to tickets, commit IDs, or authors
Who is it for?
- Developers who need to know exactly what changed
- Technical teams – QA, DevOps, product managers.
- Power users or integrators watching for API changes
It's less about marketing the update, more about accountability and documentation.
You're not trying to "sell" the change you're just saying, "Hey, here's what actually happened."
And what are release notes?
Release notes, on the other hand, are the storytelling version of a changelog. They highlight what's new in a curated, simplified, and more user-friendly way.
## What's New in Version 1.4.0
We've added support for secure login via OAuth2—making sign-in faster and safer 🎉
You'll also find a brand-new Analytics dashboard, giving you better insight into how users interact with your content.
**Fixes:**
- No more timezone weirdness when exporting reports
- Improved stability when running background jobs
They typically include
- A short overview of the release
- Major features or improvements
- Bug fixes (in plain language)
- Optional screenshots or documentation links
Who is it for?
- End users and non-technical customers
- Business stakeholders
- Marketing and support teams
Key Differences
| Criteria | Changelog | Release Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Developers, tech teams | End users, customers |
| Language | Technical, structured | Friendly, storytelling, plain-language |
| Content Depth | Complete and detailed | Curated, high-level |
| Structure | Standard format | Flexible (blog, email, etc.) |
| Frequency | Frequent | Major releases |
| Purpose | Documentation and traceability | Marketing, engagement, and transparency |
Because we love UX, we came up with bite-sized features
But if you're a smaller team, a startup, or building solo, we recommend using bite-sized features. Each update has a title, icon, and optional description. They're quick to write, easy to read, and help you keep users in the loop—even without a dedicated communication team.
Why? Because clear updates lead to...
- 😊 Happier users – they see your product improving
- 📈 Stronger engagement – informed users stick around
- 🛠️ Fewer support questions – proactive updates save time
- 🤝 More trust – active development builds credibility
- 🔍 Better SEO – clean, useful content boosts discoverability
It's not just about announcing features. It's about sharing the excitement of progress and making your users feel like they're part of something that's growing and improving.
Crafting the Perfect Update with Freshfield
We are trying to make it as easy as possible. Just connect your Git repository, hit "Generate Update" and voilà your commits magically turn into a ready-to-go draft.
But while AI is a great shortcut, it's not perfect (yet 🤖).
AI insisted on the word "yet" when consulting on this article. I wasn't arguing. It knows too much.)
So we always recommend using the generated update as a starting point and then shaping it with your own style. After all, your product has personality. Your updates should too.
There are some tips to make your update notes more engaging...
- Lead with value
Don't bury the good stuff. Tell users what's new and why they should care right away.
Ok: Added minor improvements and adjustments.
Perfect: App opens 40% faster thanks to smarter caching. - Keep it snappy
Most users skim. Aim for 3–5 updates, each with 1–2 sentences (ideally 1). Keep it friendly, not fluffy and straight to the point. - Emojis and icons are encouraged (seriously)
They add clarity and personality. Just don't overdo it, we're not writing a sticker pack. In Freshfield's bite-sized features, each feature can include an icon, and we recommend it. It makes updates easier to scan and more fun to read. - Don't forget to deliver
Updates don't matter if nobody sees them. With Freshfield, you can notify users instantly via:- Email (SMTP now, native email soon)
- In-app widgets (with JavaScript or Flutter SDK)
- Slack/Discord (coming soon)
- Want anything else? Let us know. We're building Freshfield together! [email protected]
Wrapping It Up
Great updates aren't just about what you say, they're also about how they look and where they show up. With Freshfield, you handle the message, and we take care of the synchronization across your app, emails, and update page.
Not on Freshfield yet?
Soon we'll be in closed beta which will be totally free. If you have product or application where you care about your customers and want to keep them informed, we'd love to have you with us.
Join the waitlist – no pressure, just a fresher way to keep your users in the loop.
Already joined? Amazing thank you! We can't wait to hear your feedback once the closed beta goes live.