How to Build a Public Product Roadmap with Shpd
A public product roadmap shows users what's coming next and why their votes matter. Shpd makes this simple by letting you publish a live roadmap directly tied to your app's feature voting system, so users see their feedback turn into shipped features.
Why a Public Roadmap Matters for Mobile Apps
Users want visibility into the future of your app. When you share what's planned and in progress, you build trust and reduce support requests because people understand the direction you're heading. A public roadmap also acts as a reality check: it shows which features genuinely matter to your user base, versus which ones only sound good in a meeting. For studios managing multiple apps, a shared roadmap source prevents confusion and keeps all your projects aligned. The roadmap becomes a living document that changes as priorities shift, not a document buried in Notion that nobody updates.
Start with a Feature Voting System
Before you can build a roadmap, you need to know what users actually want. Shpd embeds voting directly into your iOS and Android apps via a native SDK, so users propose and vote on features without leaving your app. You see which requests get traction, which don't, and which users care most (useful if you weight votes by subscriber tier). Once you have a running tally of what matters, you have the data to populate your roadmap. This is the opposite of asking users to go to a separate website or web portal; voting happens where they already are, inside your app.
Publish Your Roadmap and Keep It Live
Shpd generates a public roadmap view that you can share with users or embed on your website. It shows which features are planned, in progress, or shipped, ranked by vote count. When you move a feature from planned to shipped, Shpd automatically notifies all the users who voted for it. This closes the feedback loop and shows that user input led to real product decisions. For studios with multiple apps, Shpd's cross-app voter identity means a user voting across your portfolio sees a unified roadmap picture, not a fragmented one. Update the roadmap in the Shpd dashboard as your team ships work; the public view updates in real time.
Prioritise by User Demand, Not Guesswork
The roadmap becomes a transparency tool backed by actual user data. Instead of publishing what you think is important, you publish what your users voted for, ranked by consensus. This legitimises your prioritisation: when users see their feature at the top of the roadmap, they know it's there because hundreds of people voted for it, not because the founder had a hunch. If a feature gets only three votes, it probably shouldn't be roadmap real estate. This also protects your team from scope creep; the roadmap is your filter. You can link to your roadmap in support replies and bug reports, pointing users to what's already planned rather than fielding the same requests over and over.
Built for Multi-App Studios
If you run two apps, five apps, or thirty apps, managing separate feedback channels across each one is a nightmare. Shpd lets voters use the same identity across all your apps, so a loyal user sees a unified roadmap across your entire portfolio. One dashboard shows you which features are getting traction studio-wide. The free tier suits early-stage studios; paid plans scale as your app count and voter base grow. You're not locked into a web-only Canny clone; the native SDK voting experience is where Shpd differs. Users vote in context, inside the app, which drives higher participation and more honest feedback.
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Frequently asked questions
Can users see the roadmap without voting?
Yes. Shpd publishes a public roadmap view that anyone can access. Users don't need to vote to see what's planned, in progress, or shipped. However, voting requires the app and the native SDK.
How do I decide which features to actually build?
Use the vote count and user feedback in Shpd as your primary signal. Features with hundreds of votes warrant serious consideration. Also look for patterns: if three different features are really the same request, merge them. Your team's capacity and technical debt still matter, so the roadmap is vote-informed, not vote-dictated.
Can I hide features from the public roadmap?
Yes. Not every feature request needs to go public. You can choose which features appear on your roadmap and which remain internal. This is useful for competitive or sensitive work.
What happens when a feature is shipped?
You mark it as shipped in the Shpd dashboard. Shpd automatically notifies every user who voted for that feature, closing the feedback loop and showing them their vote mattered.
Do I need a separate website for the roadmap?
No. Shpd provides a public roadmap view you can link to or embed. You can also use Shpd alongside your own website, linking from your site to the Shpd roadmap if you prefer a custom design.
How does this work for studios with multiple apps?
Voters log in once and their identity carries across all your apps. One voter can vote on features across all your products, and they see a unified view of what's coming studio-wide. Your dashboard shows cross-app trends too.