Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

Activation Hacks is a resource that analyzes how popular apps use behavioral economics principles to engage users. It breaks down the psychological techniques and design patterns that drive user adoption and retention.… Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Activation Hacks – Teardowns of popular apps using behavioral economics launched in 2017; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Activation Hacks▲7

   Teardowns of successful products from a psychology POV

   2016 · its alternatives →

2. 2
   Dopamine▲259

   Hack user engagement with Dopamine's Reinforcement API

   2016 · its alternatives →

3. 3
   User Onboarding Checklists by Appcues▲359

   Scientifically proven to boost activation and retention.

   2018 · appcues.com · its alternatives →

4. 4
   Petit Hacks▲506

   Acquisition, retention, & revenue hacks used by companies

   2014 · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Hacking Human Nature for Good▲145

   How to apply behavioral economics when building products

   2015 · its alternatives →

6. 6
   Appcues for Product Adoption▲192

   Make your product easier to use. Code-free.

   2017 · appcues.com · its alternatives →

7. 7
   Hacktivate▲139

   A capture-the-flag game teaching real cybersecurity skills

   2025 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

8. 8
   The Hack Stack▲282

   Showcase of cool new products primarily from indie makers

   2020 · thehackstack.com · its alternatives →

9. 9
   Hacking UI▲398

   Podcast, Newsletter & Blog about Product Design & Creation

   2016 · hackingui.com · its alternatives →

10. 10AT
    App that asks ‘why?’ every time you unlock your phone▲817

    2024 · play.google.com · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Appcues 2.0▲481

    Better user onboarding. Code free.

    2017 · appcues.com · its alternatives →

12. 12
    50 Hacks▲435

    Top productivity tips chosen by the internet, and you

    2022 · 50hacks.co · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Human Behavior▲273

    Product analytics told you what happened. We handle it.

    Aug 2026 · humanbehavior.co · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Digital Behavioral Design▲417

    Human behavior is programmable. A book on product design.

    2018 · thriveglobal.com · its alternatives →

15. 15
    ProfitWell Engagement▲232

    Free product usage analytics for teams who care about growth

    2018 · paddle.com · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Onboarding.Study▲334

    Learn user onboarding from the best SaaS products

    2024 · its alternatives →

17. 17
    AppStash▲175

    Handpicked apps and tools to help create great companies

    2017 · its alternatives →

18. 18
    Choice Hacking▲10

    Supercharge your marketing w behavioral science & psychology

    2022 · choicehacking.com · its alternatives →

19. 19
    Making things more brilliant, the guide.▲194

    How to hack idea optimization with behavioural algorithms

    2021 · its alternatives →

20. 20
    Kickstart Side Hustle▲96

    Behavioral economics & viral marketing to kickstart your biz

    2021 · its alternatives →

21. 21
    Marketplace Hacks▲86

    A slack community of marketplace founders & operators

    2014 · its alternatives →

22. 22
    HackToStart - Nancy Hua from Apptimize▲59

    Interview with Nancy Hua, the co-founder & CEO of Apptimize

    2015 · hacktostart.com · its alternatives →

23. 23
    From Churn to Earn▲107

    Retention tactics using behavioral email, NPS, & Slack bots

    2017 · try.customer.io · its alternatives →

24. 24CH
    Code.hackmit.org – Software for Hackathons▲140

    2016 · code.hackmit.org · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →