You know your product needs a roadmap, but which type should you build? Feature based, outcome driven, or something else entirely? Each approach serves different purposes, and picking the wrong one can lead to confused stakeholders, misaligned teams, and wasted effort on features nobody wants.
This guide breaks down 11 types of product roadmaps you can use right now. You'll see real examples of each format, learn exactly when to use them, and understand the tradeoffs you're making with each choice. By the end, you'll know which roadmap type fits your team's needs and how to build one that actually moves your product forward.
A feedback driven public roadmap puts user input at the center of your product planning. This roadmap type displays planned features, in progress work, and completed items while letting users vote on priorities and submit new ideas. You share this roadmap publicly on a branded portal where customers can see exactly what you're building and why.
Your feedback driven roadmap connects directly to user requests and voting data. Unlike other types of product roadmaps that start with internal decisions, this format shows which features users want most based on real vote counts and engagement. You organize items into status columns like "Planned," "In Progress," and "Completed" so users always know where their requests stand.
The roadmap lives on a public facing portal that users can access anytime. Each item shows vote counts, comment threads, and status updates that keep everyone informed. You customize the portal with your brand colors and domain, making it feel like a natural extension of your product.
This transparency builds trust because users see you're listening to their feedback and taking action on what matters to them.
The typical layout uses a Kanban style board with vertical columns for different statuses. Your planned features sit in the first column, items being worked on appear in the middle, and recently shipped features show in the completed section. Each card displays the feature title, vote count, and comment count at a glance.
You can create multiple boards for different product areas or user segments. A SaaS company might have separate boards for mobile features, API improvements, and administrative tools. This structure helps users find relevant items quickly without scrolling through unrelated requests.
This roadmap format works perfectly when you want to build in the open and involve users in product decisions. SaaS companies, B2B software platforms, and consumer apps benefit most because their users care deeply about upcoming features and want to influence the roadmap direction.
Use this type when your users actively request features and you need a systematic way to track demand and prioritize accordingly. It's ideal for products with engaged communities who want visibility into your plans.
The biggest advantage is validated prioritization because you know exactly which features users want based on vote data. You reduce guesswork and build features with proven demand. Your team spends less time debating priorities and more time shipping what matters.
However, you risk overcommitting to specific features if users vote on items you later decide not to build. Some feature requests may conflict with your strategic vision or technical constraints. You need clear communication about how voting influences decisions without making promises you can't keep. Public visibility also means competitors can see your plans, though the benefits of user engagement typically outweigh this concern.
A feature based product roadmap lists specific functionalities you plan to build and when you'll ship them. This straightforward approach maps features to time periods, giving stakeholders a clear picture of what's coming and when. You organize items by individual capabilities rather than themes or outcomes, making it easy for everyone to understand exactly what you're delivering.
Your feature based roadmap breaks down each planned capability into discrete, deliverable items with clear descriptions. You attach estimated release dates or time frames to every feature, creating accountability and setting expectations. The format emphasizes technical specifications and functional requirements over strategic objectives, giving development teams concrete tasks to execute.
This type of roadmap shows dependencies between features and highlights which capabilities must ship together. You track progress at the feature level, making it simple to report on completion status and identify bottlenecks in your delivery pipeline.
Most feature based roadmaps use a timeline view with features plotted across months or quarters. Your horizontal axis shows time periods while rows display different feature categories or product areas. Each feature appears as a bar or card showing its expected development window.
Another common layout uses a table format with columns for feature name, description, priority level, assigned team, and target release date. This structure works well when you need to share detailed specifications alongside timeline information.
You should choose this format when stakeholders need granular visibility into upcoming capabilities. Development teams rely on this roadmap type because it translates directly into sprint planning and execution tasks. Sales and customer success teams also prefer feature based roadmaps since they can communicate specific deliverables to customers asking about functionality.
This approach fits well when you have a mature product with predictable development cycles and clear requirements for each capability.
Feature based roadmaps create crystal clear expectations about what you're building and when. Everyone understands the deliverables, and you can easily track progress against planned items. Your team gets concrete specifications that eliminate ambiguity about what to build next.
The danger lies in becoming a feature factory where you pump out capabilities without questioning whether they solve real problems or advance your strategy.
However, this format can limit strategic thinking because you focus on outputs rather than outcomes. You risk overcommitting to specific dates and features, reducing your flexibility to adapt when priorities shift or new information emerges.
A goal oriented product roadmap organizes your work around specific business objectives instead of listing individual features. You structure items by the goals they achieve, connecting each initiative to measurable outcomes like increasing user retention or expanding into new markets. This approach shifts focus from what you're building to why you're building it, keeping your team aligned on strategic priorities.
Your goal oriented roadmap groups features under high level objectives that tie back to your product strategy. Each goal section contains the initiatives needed to achieve that objective, showing how different features work together toward a common purpose. You prioritize based on which goals matter most to your business rather than which features seem most urgent.
This format displays time periods for achieving each goal while keeping individual features flexible. You can change the specific features under a goal as long as you still advance toward the objective, giving your team room to adapt based on new insights.
The typical structure uses goal based swimlanes with each row representing a strategic objective. Your quarters or time periods run across the top, showing when you expect to achieve each goal. Individual features appear as cards or items beneath their corresponding goal, grouped by the objective they support.
You can also organize goals by product area or user segment. A project management tool might have goals like "Improve team collaboration," "Streamline workflow automation," and "Enhance reporting capabilities" as separate rows.
This roadmap type works perfectly when you need to maintain strategic focus while staying flexible on execution details. Product teams use it when stakeholders care more about outcomes than specific features, or when you want to avoid overcommitting to particular implementations before validating them.
Choose this format when your product strategy is clear but the exact features needed to achieve your goals may change as you learn more.
Goal oriented roadmaps keep everyone focused on what matters rather than getting lost in feature requests. You maintain flexibility because you can swap features under each goal as long as they support the objective. This format helps justify decisions by connecting them to strategic priorities.
However, stakeholders sometimes need more concrete details than goals provide. Development teams may struggle translating high level objectives into actionable tasks without additional planning sessions. You risk vague commitments if your goals lack clear success metrics.
An outcome based product roadmap centers on measurable results you want to create for users rather than the features you'll build. You organize work around desired customer outcomes like reducing time to complete tasks or increasing feature adoption rates. This format keeps your team focused on delivering value instead of shipping capabilities for their own sake.
Your outcome based roadmap defines success metrics before specifying solutions. Each roadmap item describes the user outcome you want to achieve, with the specific features left flexible until you validate what works best. You track progress by measuring impact on user behavior or satisfaction rather than counting completed features.
This approach displays time horizons for achieving outcomes while encouraging experimentation with different solutions. You can test multiple features under one outcome to discover which approach delivers the best results for users.
Most outcome based roadmaps use themed columns organized by time period, with each item stating an outcome. Your format might show "Reduce onboarding time by 40%" or "Increase daily active users by 25%" as roadmap entries instead of listing specific features. Each outcome card includes success metrics and current baseline data.
You can structure outcomes by user journey stage or product area. An email platform might organize outcomes around "Improve message deliverability," "Streamline campaign creation," and "Enhance analytics insights."
This roadmap type works perfectly when you want to maintain flexibility in how you solve problems while staying committed to results. Product teams choose it when the best solution isn't obvious and you need room to experiment. It fits well in environments where learning and iteration matter more than predictable delivery schedules.
Use this format when stakeholders trust your team to find the right solutions as long as you achieve measurable improvements for users.
Outcome based roadmaps keep everyone aligned on what success looks like while giving your team freedom to discover the best approach. You avoid building features that don't move important metrics, and you can pivot quickly when experiments reveal better solutions.
However, defining and measuring outcomes takes more effort than listing features. Stakeholders sometimes want concrete feature commitments that this format doesn't provide, creating tension when they expect detailed plans. You need strong analytics capabilities to track whether you're achieving the outcomes you target.
A strategy and vision roadmap communicates your long term product direction without getting stuck in implementation details. You present high level themes and strategic initiatives that show where your product is heading over the next 12 to 24 months. This roadmap type answers why you're building rather than what specific features you'll ship, making it perfect for aligning executives and stakeholders on product strategy.
Your strategy roadmap focuses on broad themes that connect to company objectives like market expansion, competitive positioning, or platform transformation. You organize items around strategic pillars rather than individual features, showing how different initiatives support your overall vision. This format typically covers longer time horizons than other types of product roadmaps, often spanning multiple quarters or years.
The roadmap highlights major milestones and strategic shifts while leaving room for tactical decisions later. You avoid committing to specific features or dates, instead showing the general direction your product will take.
Most strategy roadmaps use a timeline view with strategic themes plotted across quarters or years. Your layout groups related initiatives under each theme, showing how they build toward larger goals. A software company might display themes like "Enterprise readiness," "AI integration," and "Platform expansion" as horizontal swimlanes with related initiatives beneath each one.
This format works perfectly when you present to executives, board members, or investors who care about strategic direction more than feature details. You should use it during planning cycles or when entering new markets where the vision matters more than specific capabilities.
Choose this roadmap type when stakeholders need confidence in your long term direction without getting bogged down in tactical execution.
Strategy roadmaps create executive alignment on product direction and help secure budget for major initiatives. You maintain flexibility on execution details while committing to strategic themes. However, this format can feel too vague for development teams who need concrete plans to execute. Stakeholders may push for more specifics than you're ready to provide.
A release roadmap maps specific features to planned release dates, organizing your work around product launches and version numbers. This roadmap type coordinates cross-functional efforts around launch milestones, showing everyone when new capabilities will reach users. You structure work by releases like "Version 2.0" or "Q3 Release," making it clear which features ship together and when customers can expect them.
Your release roadmap groups features into discrete launch packages tied to specific dates or time windows. Each release appears as a distinct milestone with its own set of capabilities, requirements, and deadlines. You display the relationship between releases, showing how early versions enable later ones and where dependencies exist.
This format emphasizes coordination across teams since marketing, sales, and support need to prepare for each launch. You typically include release names or version numbers that help everyone reference specific launches when planning their work.
Most release roadmaps use a vertical timeline with releases listed chronologically. Your layout shows each release as a container holding multiple features, with launch dates clearly marked. A mobile app might display "Spring Release," "Summer Release," and "Fall Release" as major milestones with grouped features beneath each one.
Another approach uses a Gantt chart style view where releases appear as bars across time periods, with feature bars nested underneath to show what ships in each version.
This roadmap type works perfectly when you operate on fixed release schedules or need tight coordination between product, marketing, and sales teams. Software companies with quarterly releases or mobile apps tied to app store review cycles benefit most from this structure.
Choose this format when stakeholders need to plan activities around specific launch dates and you have predictable development cycles.
Release roadmaps create clear launch targets that align all teams around common dates. You can coordinate go-to-market activities effectively because everyone knows when features will ship. Marketing can plan campaigns, sales can communicate timelines to prospects, and support can prepare for new capabilities.
However, this format can create artificial deadlines that pressure teams to rush features or cut corners to meet release dates. You risk disappointing stakeholders if releases slip, and the fixed schedule may prevent you from shipping valuable features earlier when they're ready.
An agile product roadmap adapts continuously to changing priorities and new information instead of locking you into fixed plans. You organize work around flexible time horizons like "Now," "Next," and "Later" rather than specific dates, giving your team room to adjust direction as you learn from users. This approach matches agile development principles by valuing responsiveness over rigid commitments.
Your agile roadmap emphasizes short term priorities while keeping longer term items intentionally loose. You update it frequently, often after each sprint or iteration, reflecting what you learned from recent releases. The format avoids specific delivery dates for items beyond the current sprint or quarter, acknowledging that priorities shift as market conditions change and user needs evolve.
This roadmap type focuses on outcomes or themes rather than detailed feature specifications. You maintain flexibility by describing what problems you'll solve without committing to exact solutions until you're ready to start building.
Most agile roadmaps use a column based structure with sections for immediate work, upcoming priorities, and future considerations. Your "Now" column shows what's currently in development, "Next" displays validated items ready to start soon, and "Later" holds ideas under consideration. Each item appears as a card showing the problem or outcome rather than specific feature details.
This format works perfectly when you operate in uncertain environments where requirements change frequently or you discover new user needs regularly. Development teams using Scrum or Kanban methodologies rely on this roadmap type because it matches their iterative workflow patterns.
Choose this approach when maintaining flexibility matters more than providing concrete timelines to stakeholders.
Agile roadmaps let you pivot quickly when priorities shift or experiments reveal better approaches. You avoid disappointing stakeholders with missed deadlines because you never commit to specific dates for distant items. However, some executives and sales teams struggle with the lack of concrete commitments, making it harder to plan marketing campaigns or close deals that depend on specific features shipping by certain dates.
A portfolio roadmap shows multiple products or initiatives in a single view, helping you manage how different projects contribute to overall business goals. You coordinate resources across products and identify dependencies between teams. This roadmap type gives executives and stakeholders a unified perspective on your entire product portfolio instead of viewing each product in isolation.
Your portfolio roadmap displays high level initiatives across different products or business units simultaneously. You organize items by product line, showing how each one aligns with strategic objectives and where resources need coordination. This format reveals conflicts and dependencies between products that might compete for the same engineering resources or target overlapping market segments.
The roadmap typically operates at a strategic level, avoiding feature details in favor of major milestones and release windows. You track how different products support company wide goals rather than diving into individual product specifications.
Most portfolio roadmaps use a swimlane structure with each product line getting its own horizontal row. Your timeline runs across the top while each row shows major initiatives for that specific product. Color coding helps distinguish between different product families or business units, making it easy to spot resource conflicts at a glance.
This format works perfectly when you manage multiple products that need coordination at the executive level. Product portfolio managers and directors use it to allocate resources, prioritize investments, and ensure all products advance toward common business objectives.
Choose this roadmap type when stakeholders need to understand how different products work together as a cohesive strategy.
Portfolio roadmaps create strategic alignment across your entire product ecosystem and help you spot resource conflicts before they become problems. You can prioritize investments based on which products deliver the most value. However, this view sacrifices granular detail that individual product teams need for execution, and maintaining it becomes challenging as you add more products to track.
A technology roadmap maps out infrastructure improvements and technical capabilities your product needs over time. You plan upgrades to your tech stack, platform migrations, API developments, and architectural changes that enable future features. This roadmap type focuses on the underlying technical foundation rather than user facing features, helping engineering teams coordinate complex technical work while keeping stakeholders informed about important infrastructure investments.
Your technology roadmap highlights major technical initiatives like database migrations, security enhancements, performance optimizations, and platform updates. You organize items by technical domains such as infrastructure, security, integrations, or development tools. This format shows how technical investments enable future product capabilities and maintain system health, connecting backend work to business outcomes that justify the investment.
Most technology roadmaps use a timeline view with technical initiatives grouped by category. Your rows might represent different technical areas like "Infrastructure," "Security," "APIs," and "Development tools" with planned work plotted across quarters. Each item includes technical objectives and business impact so non-technical stakeholders understand why these investments matter.
This format works perfectly when you need to communicate technical debt reduction or major infrastructure projects to executives who control budgets. Engineering leaders use it to coordinate complex technical work across teams and justify investments in areas that don't produce immediate user facing features.
Choose this roadmap type when technical foundations need significant investment and you must explain these decisions to business stakeholders.
Technology roadmaps help you secure resources for essential technical work that might otherwise get deprioritized for feature development. You create visibility into technical dependencies that block future capabilities. However, this format can disconnect from user value if you don't clearly link technical work to business outcomes, making it harder to maintain stakeholder support for infrastructure investments.
A timeline based roadmap displays your planned work along a linear timeline with specific dates or time periods clearly marked. You plot features, milestones, and deliverables across months or quarters, creating a visual schedule that shows exactly when each item should ship. This format makes deadlines explicit and helps coordinate dependencies between teams that need to deliver work in a specific sequence.
Your timeline roadmap uses horizontal bars or markers positioned along a date axis to show when work begins and ends. You include major milestones, release dates, and dependencies that connect related items. This format emphasizes temporal relationships between tasks, making it easy to spot scheduling conflicts or understand which items must finish before others can start.
Most timeline roadmaps resemble Gantt charts with horizontal bars stretching across calendar months. Your features appear as colored bars with start and end dates, often grouped by product area or team. Some versions use vertical timeline views with dates running down the page and features branching off as cards or nodes at specific points.
This format works perfectly when you manage projects with fixed deadlines like product launches tied to industry events or contractual obligations. Teams coordinating with external partners or managing complex dependencies benefit from seeing exactly when each piece needs completion.
Choose this roadmap type when stakeholders need concrete dates to plan marketing campaigns, sales commitments, or operational changes around your releases.
Timeline roadmaps create absolute clarity on when items will ship, making it easy to coordinate cross functional activities and set stakeholder expectations. However, this specificity becomes a liability when priorities shift or unexpected issues cause delays. You risk losing credibility if you miss dates, and the rigid structure discourages the flexibility needed to respond to new opportunities or changing market conditions.
A now next later roadmap organizes your work into three simple time buckets without committing to specific dates. You categorize items as "Now" for current work, "Next" for validated priorities coming soon, and "Later" for ideas under consideration. This format gives stakeholders visibility into your priorities while keeping you flexible enough to adjust direction as you learn from users and market feedback.
Your now next later roadmap avoids specific dates entirely, using relative time horizons instead. The "Now" section shows what you're actively building, "Next" displays items ready to start within the coming weeks or months, and "Later" holds validated ideas that need more planning or depend on earlier work finishing. You move items between buckets as priorities shift and information changes, maintaining a living document that reflects current thinking without creating false commitments.
This approach emphasizes flexibility while still communicating direction. You can adjust the roadmap frequently without disappointing stakeholders who might interpret specific dates as promises.
Most now next later roadmaps use three vertical columns representing each time bucket. Your items appear as cards within each column, often sorted by priority within their bucket. Each card shows the feature or initiative title with a brief description, letting stakeholders understand what's planned without overwhelming them with details.
This format works perfectly when you need to balance transparency with flexibility. Product teams choose it when stakeholders want visibility into plans but understand that priorities shift based on learning and market changes.
Use this roadmap type when you want to communicate direction without locking yourself into commitments that might need to change as you gather more information.
Now next later roadmaps eliminate pressure around missed deadlines because you never commit to specific dates. You maintain flexibility to reprioritize based on new insights while still showing stakeholders your thinking. However, some executives and sales teams struggle with the vague timeframes, particularly when they need concrete dates to plan campaigns or close deals that depend on specific features.
You now understand the 11 types of product roadmaps and when each format delivers the most value for your situation. Your choice depends on your audience, development process, and how much flexibility you need in responding to change. Feature based roadmaps work when stakeholders need specific details, while outcome focused formats give you room to experiment with different solutions. Strategy roadmaps align executives on long term direction, and agile approaches let you pivot quickly when priorities shift.
The right roadmap type connects your team's work to user needs while keeping everyone aligned on what matters. If you want to build transparency into your process and let users influence what you ship, start with a feedback driven public roadmap using Koala Feedback. You'll centralize feature requests, prioritize based on real demand, and share your progress openly with the people who matter most.
Start today and have your feedback portal up and running in minutes.
