As more organizations prioritize digital transformation and operational efficiency, the need for a reliable Digital Adoption Platform (DAP) has become critical. WalkMe is often one of the first names that comes up—and with good reason. It's a feature-rich, enterprise-grade platform used by large teams with complex systems.

But as the market evolves, so do the expectations around cost, flexibility, and speed of deployment. There's a growing chorus of voices—from CIOs to implementation consultants—questioning whether WalkMe's pricing truly reflects its value, especially for organizations that need faster onboarding, cross-platform support, and lower total cost of ownership.

In this article, we break down verified WalkMe pricing data, highlight user concerns, and introduce Knowby—a smart alternative that’s redefining affordability and usability in the DAP space.


💸 WalkMe Pricing: What Are Users Really Paying?

Despite WalkMe's reluctance to publish fixed prices, multiple third-party sources have lifted the lid on what organizations are actually spending:

• Vendr reports that the average annual WalkMe contract is $79,000, with some deals reaching as high as $405,000.
  
  
• UserGuiding confirms WalkMe frequently pushes into six-figure territory, especially for larger organizations, with multi-year contract lock-ins being the norm.
  
  
• Userpilot suggests that WalkMe pricing starts at around $9,000 per year, but real-world usage often pushes pricing much higher due to its tiered and usage-based model.
  
  
• TrustRadius and Gartner Peer Insights echo these concerns: while WalkMe is powerful, its depth comes at the cost of simplicity and speed.
  
  

📌 That means many companies are committing to hundreds of thousands in annual costs for what is essentially training and guidance software.

And beyond the upfront pricing, the total cost of ownership can balloon—with months-long implementations, resource-heavy maintenance, and long waits for ROI. For lean teams or fast-moving organizations, that can be a real dealbreaker.

🗣️ What WalkMe Users Are Saying: Cost, Complexity, and Long Timelines

WalkMe continues to earn praise for its capabilities — but user reviews across platforms consistently raise the same concerns. Here's what customers are flagging most often:

💸 Cost & Contract Lock-In

• On G2, WalkMe has a perceived cost rating of $$$$, indicating that users find it to be on the higher end of the pricing spectrum.
  
  
• Another reviewer echoed UserGuiding’s analysis of lock in contracts 
  
  

This pricing model may suit enterprise giants, but it can be cost-prohibitive for startups or scale-ups—especially when you’re locked into multi-year contracts with unpredictable usage costs.

Additionally, customers should note:

📌 When you buy any SAP products, you agree to SAP's IA and DAAP terms & conditions—a critical detail that becomes important when trying to deploy WalkMe across non-SAP platforms.
The cost impact of cross-platform use is unknown until you either contract or get audited, creating potential exposure for mixed-stack environments.

⏳ Time to Implement & See ROI

• The average time to implement WalkMe is reported at around 4 months.
• Return on investment is typically realised only after 17 months, according to our research. 

That’s a long runway for teams needing quick wins or faster time-to-value.

🔧 Ease of Use & Maintenance

• Capterra reviewers note that while WalkMe offers robust features, managing the platform can be complex—especially during system changes or updates. This complexity can add to the overall cost of ownership.
  
  
• Userpilot observes that WalkMe is more suitable for large companies with dedicated admin teams, as setup and maintenance require significant technical involvement.
  
  

This complexity adds to the total cost of ownership and makes it harder for non-technical teams to create or update content quickly.

These sources provide a comprehensive view of the financial considerations associated with implementing WalkMe. If you're exploring WalkMe alternatives, platforms like Knowby Pro may offer more cost-effective solutions with simpler deployment processes.

Read a more detailed comparison of the WalkMe and Knowby platform features 

🔍 WalkMe: Great for SAP—But What If You’re Not Just SAP?

A major shift occurred when SAP acquired WalkMe—transforming it into a platform increasingly centered around the SAP ecosystem. While this benefits SAP-heavy businesses, it’s a disadvantage for companies that rely on other platforms like Salesforce, mobile field tools, HR platforms, or bespoke apps.

Since the acquisition:

• SAP has begun tightly integrating WalkMe into its platforms.

• There is growing concern among IT leaders and consultants about “vendor lock-in.”

• Customers report that cross-platform support is no longer a given.

A few SAP consultants have gone even further—warning clients about what they call "criminal LMS pricing" and rising barriers to cross-system deployment.

Moreover, several analysts note significant overlaps between WalkMe and other SAP products like Enable Now, Signavio, and LeanXI. This leads to concerns about:

⚠️ Potential SAP deprecation of overlapping WalkMe functionality in the future.

Also, consider this:

SAP has stated that all future development will happen on SAP platforms—a strategic move that leaves non-SAP users vulnerable to reduced support, limited functionality, or escalated costs when extending WalkMe outside of the SAP ecosystem.

✅ Meet Knowby: A Lighter, Cheaper, Smarter Alternative 

Enter Knowby—a user-friendly, AI-powered digital adoption tool designed for rapid guide creation, mobile-first support, and cost-effective scaling.

Here’s how Knowby Pro compares:

Knowby allows any subject matter expert to create, share, and update step-by-step visual guides in minutes—no developers or technical editors required. Guides can be accessed across SharePoint, Teams, intranet, or even offline via QR code—ideal for field workers, warehouse staff, and distributed teams.

🧠 Strategic Benefits for Switching to Knowby

Beyond pricing and deployment speed, Knowby unlocks strategic advantages that help organisations move faster, stay agile, and reduce bottlenecks. Here’s what makes the difference and why teams are switching to Knowby:

• Avoid SAP Lock-in: Knowby works across systems, not just SAP. No vendor lock-in, no surprises when your tools change. No hassles because you can stay flexible as your tech stack evolves.
  
  
• Speed & Agility: Update guides instantly as processes change—no dev cycles or delays. Edit and publish process changes in real time, right when things shift.
  
  
• Cost Transparency: No hidden fees or complex licensing. You always know what you're paying and why.
  
  
• Empowerment: Department teams can create their own content—no bottlenecks as they do not need to rely on developers, IT, or central admin to deploy their own guides.
  
  
• Accessibility: Knowby is mobile-ready, field-friendly, and accessible online and offline—ideal for office workers but also for teams in warehouses, job sites, and remote locations.

Download the Internal Justification Template to help you build a case for switching to Knowby Pro