Hostari Onboarding
How we boosted the conversion rate up to 50%
Role
Product Design, UX Research
Tools
Figma, Clickup
Time
8 Weeks
01
Challenges in scaling the product
Hostari is a game server hosting platform designed to make it easy for gamers to spin up servers for titles like Minecraft and Valheim. Initially, the platform only supported onboarding for a single game, which created a bottleneck as we aimed to grow the user base and expand the game catalog. Our goal was to redesign the onboarding experience to support multiple games while striking a balance—making the process beginner-friendly for new users and flexible enough for more advanced gamers. We needed to set the foundation for scalable growth without overcomplicating the user experience.
02
What Gamers Want (When They’re Not Playing)
With no established user base and limited time, we turned to community forums, Discord, Reddit, and customer support channels for fast, scrappy research. We also conducted exploratory interviews with five active gamers who had experience with server providers like G-Portal and Nitrado. Across the board, users valued clarity and control—they wanted to see available games immediately, compare plans with confidence, and get their servers running with minimal friction. Performance, pricing flexibility, and 24/7 support were top priorities, and more advanced users expected modding options, while beginners needed clear guidance and setup help.
Server Starter
“I just want to get my server up, send the link to my friends, and start playing. I don’t want to dig through settings for an hour.”
Motivations
Fast access to a game with friends
No setup stress or confusion
Confidence in their choice of plan
Behaviors
Gets invited to host by friends or through communities
Avoids tweaking or modding
Needs visual onboarding support
May give up if setup isn’t clear or easy
Pain Points
Technical language
Long or unclear setup process
No explanation of server features
Confusing payment or plan structure
Needs
Quick-start onboarding with defaults
Video or visual step-by-step instructions
One-click recommendations (plans, games)
Transparent pricing and fast server launch
Weekend Gamer
“I just want to click a few buttons and start playing. I don’t need mods— I just need it to work.”
Motivations
Playing casually with friends on weekends or evenings
Finding a quick and easy way to host without tech knowledge
Avoiding delays, confusion, or setup errors
Feeling confident they chose the right plan without overthinking
Behaviors
Plays games like Minecraft, American Truck Simulator, 7 Days to Die
Subscribes to a server mainly when invited or recommended
Rarely mods or customizes server settings
Prefers visual tutorials over text instructions
Wants setup done in a few clicks
Pain Points
Overwhelming number of steps in setup
Jargon-heavy UI or missing explanations
Doesn’t know what features are included or needed
Frustrated by unexpected payments or plan restrictions
Needs
A clear, linear onboarding experience
Visual walkthroughs or short video guides
Pre-filled or recommended server settings
Transparent pricing with zero setup confusion
Fast server connection without having to choose locations or slots
03
Designing for Clarity, Speed & Scale
The redesigned onboarding flow made game selection the starting point—surfacing all available titles upfront. We introduced a latency tester, simplified subscription comparisons, and restructured the setup into clearer, progressive steps. To support future scale, we began building Hostari’s design system in parallel—auditing components, establishing tokens, and aligning with engineers for consistent implementation. Each decision tied back to user needs: transparency, fast setup, and the confidence to commit. From low-fidelity wireframes to high-fidelity prototypes, we validated flow and clarity at each step before handoff.
Typography
Heebo
Enjoy automated server backup and updates, 24/7 running Steam game, and on-demand chat support, whichever plan you choose. The longer the plan, the bigger the savings!
04
The Impact of Better Onboarding
The new onboarding launched with immediate traction: 181 sign-ups over the first weekend, with about 50% converting into paying users. As we expanded the game catalog to ten titles and continued refining the UX, monthly subscriptions grew to 643 by December—a 255% increase. Post-launch analysis revealed users were dropping off after the free trial ended, so we tested a feature-based paywall instead of a time-limited one. That experiment led to a major conversion boost—from 22 to 210 monthly paid users, an 854.55% increase. Each change was driven by real usage data, not just design instinct.
05
Improvise, Collaborate, Ship
This project taught me the power of making the most of what you have. Without a full research budget or access to users, we found insights through support teams and communities. Cross-functional collaboration was key—support helped us identify pain points early, and close alignment with engineering ensured feasibility from sketch to handoff. Post-launch iteration proved just as important as the initial design: we learned what really resonated through user behavior, not assumptions. Today, I’d simplify onboarding even more, explore dynamic pricing models, and test personalization features using behavior-driven AI.
