Release notes are not just a list of shipped work. They are part of the customer feedback loop. Done well, they tell users what changed, why it matters, who asked for it, and what to do next.
This template is built for SaaS product teams that ship features, fixes, workflow improvements, and customer-requested changes. For a connected release workflow, use Gleap’s release notes software or product feedback software to notify the users who asked.
Copy-and-paste release notes template
Release title:
Release date:
Summary:
What's new:
Why it matters:
Who gets it:
How to use it:
Customer feedback behind this update:
Improvements:
Bug fixes:
Known limitations:
Links:
- Help article:
- Roadmap item:
- Related changelog:
Next step:Write the summary first
The first paragraph should answer the user’s buying or usage question quickly: what changed, who benefits, and why it is useful.
Weak: “We made several improvements to reports.”
Better: “Admins can now schedule monthly CSV exports, so compliance reports arrive automatically without manual dashboard work.”
Group changes by user value
Avoid dumping internal ticket titles into public release notes. Group changes by outcome:
- New capability.
- Workflow improvement.
- Performance improvement.
- Bug fix.
- Security or compliance update.
- Integration update.
This helps users scan for what affects them.
Include who gets the update
Release notes should make availability clear. Mention plan, platform, region, beta status, feature flag, mobile version, or admin permission requirements.
Link the help article
If the release changes behavior, include documentation. A release note announces the change; the help article explains the details.
Gleap’s AI knowledge base software can support this loop because Kai reads the updated article after publication.
Connect to product feedback
When an update ships because of customer feedback, say so. Users are more likely to keep giving useful feedback when they see that the team listens.
Example:
This update came from 18 feature requests and 42 support conversations from teams that needed recurring exports for customer reporting.That kind of line is good for trust, support deflection, and future feedback quality.
Example release note
Release title:
Scheduled CSV exports for activity reports.
Summary:
Admins can now schedule recurring CSV exports for activity reports and send them to selected teammates automatically.
What's new:
- Monthly and weekly export schedules.
- Recipient selection.
- Filters saved with each schedule.
- Email delivery confirmation.
Why it matters:
Teams no longer need to export reports manually for compliance reviews or customer updates.
Who gets it:
Available on Team, Pro, and Enterprise plans.
Customer feedback behind this update:
This shipped after repeated requests from admins using reports in monthly business reviews.
Next step:
Open Reports, choose a saved filter, and click Schedule export.Common mistakes
- Writing for internal teams instead of customers.
- Hiding meaningful changes under “misc improvements.”
- Publishing fixes without explaining user impact.
- Forgetting availability and setup steps.
- Failing to notify the customers who asked.
Release notes should make shipped work visible and useful. When they connect back to feature requests and support conversations, they also prove that feedback turns into product momentum.