As the gateway to a website, the navigation menu is among the first elements users interact with, shaping their initial impressions. Get this right, and you'll encourage further exploration.
However, designing and organizing a SaaS navigation menu can be challenging. Having worked with many high-growth tech companies on website redesigns and site architecture, we know the complex decisions that undoubtedly arise. You may be already asking yourself, “what should we include in our top level navigation items?” or “what belongs in each submenu?”. These choices will ultimately have significant impacts on the user experience and the journeys that they take to explore your website.
With the right approach, you can design a navigation bar that prioritizes high-value pages, but also encompasses your entire website. In this article, we’ll share the most effective tips for arranging your SaaS navigation and ensuring users have no doubts about finding the information they need.
What’s Usually Included in a SaaS Navigation Menu?
Common user expectations and industry standards translate into most SaaS navigation menus sharing multiple similarities.
Moreover, many digital experiences are guilty of trying to cater to as many user needs and preferences as possible. That, unsurprisingly, overcrowds the primary menu, triggering confusion and frustration. Yet, an uncluttered SaaS nav bar with essential features remains the golden rule for optimal usability and user experience.
Some common primary navigation items to include are:
- Resources
- About / Company
- Contact
- Demo
- Log in
The following are the other less common menu items:
- Why
- Developers
- Enterprise
- How it works
- Integrations
- Customers
Tips for SaaS Navigation Menu Design
For the end user, finding a way through the nav menu can either be smooth sailing or a frustrating ordeal, depending on design effectiveness. A well-thought-out SaaS navigation fosters user satisfaction and elevates overall efficiency.
But to get there, you must take a strategic approach and focus on the details. Our tips will help you stay on track, removing potential friction that could ruin the first impression. Check out our advice and the actionable steps you can take to improve your navigation menu.
Tip #1. Create an Intuitively Structured Information Architecture
Logically Organize Website Pages
First, take a step back and evaluate the existing pages on your website. Identify what pages fall into which categories (Products, Solutions, Resources, etc). It may help to create a visual like a sitemap with a design tool like Miro. If you are going through a website redesign, you should also consider what new pages may affect the navigation menu layout.
Prioritize Clear Labeling to Eliminate Ambiguity
Whatever you do, never confuse your users with ambiguous labels because 88% are likely to never return to your website. Prevent that by using descriptive language that precisely conveys the function of each menu item and that users will easily understand.
Run Usability Testing to Refine the Information Hierarchy
What works now offers no guarantees it will work well forever, requiring regular usability testing. You can tap into user interaction patterns and preferences by encouraging feedback.
Observe how users navigate the platform to identify pain points or puzzling areas within the navigation structure. use surveys and data analytics to gauge user behavior and the effectiveness of the information hierarchy in guiding users to their desired destinations.
Tip #2. Implement Mega Menus to Enhance Navigation for Large Websites
Group Related Features Within Expansive Menus for Improved User Efficiency
Mega menus are fantastic for showing links to more pages while minimizing the design complexities. Combining similar pages into a single menu item helps users navigate the website more intuitively and reduces unnecessary scrolling and clicks by 50%. Logical grouping can also reveal related functionalities users may have overlooked.
Leverage Visual Elements to Enable Quick Recognition
We will touch on this more shortly, but visual cues are a critical component of mega menus, providing:
- Better RecognitionImproved UsabilityUniversal UnderstandingAesthetic Appeal
Tip # 3. Embrace Icons as Visual Cues for Enhanced User Guidance
Select Universally Recognized Icons to Transcend Language and Cultural Barriers
You may have a clear target audience, but your users will inherently come from diverse backgrounds, and you should cater to their needs.
For instance, most people instantly understand icons like a magnifying glass for search or gear for settings, allowing all users to navigate the interface effortlessly regardless of language proficiency or cultural profile.
Maintain Consistency in Iconography to Establish a Cohesive Visual Language
Create a cohesive visual language within the SaaS navigation bar with standardized icons across different features and functions. This will help your users quickly become familiar with the visual cues needed to move around the website.
Whether using the same icon for settings throughout the design or consistently representing notifications with a bell symbol, iconography consistency ensures that user understand how the interface works.
Provide Tooltip Descriptions for Icons to Ensure Clarity in User Interpretation
Universal icons are invaluable, but some users may still require extra guidance. This is why you should develop a tooltip with additional context and clarification. In fact, make no mistake, that's vital for less intuitive symbols or new users.
These short explanations appear when users hover over or interact with an icon, clarifying its function or purpose.
Tip #4. Tailor Designs for Compact Screens to Ensure Optimal UX
Optimize for Responsiveness to Maintain Usability Across Various Screen Sizes
Since nearly 96% of the global digital population had connected to the internet using a mobile phone in mid-2023, not having a mobile-optimized website is a big no. That means users should face no friction with a mobile SaaS navigation menu.
A responsive mega menu design requires consistent elements in a predictable and logical location. For example, users will expect to find the SaaS hamburger menu in the top corner of the interface, as this is a simple way to access additional menu options on smaller screens.
Prioritize Essential Menu Items and Collapse Less Critical Ones for Simplicity
When optimizing the SaaS nav bar for smaller screens, go for a simplified structure. This involves using straightforward language and adjusting button sizes to accommodate finger touch.
However, also consider the navigation context. For instance, mobile device users typically look for specific information and need quick access. Cater to their on-the-go needs by making the most important navigation features more accessible and collapsing those they use less frequently.
Use a Mobile-friendly Hamburger Menu to Conserve Space On Smaller Screens
Known for its three horizontal lines, the SaaS hamburger mobile menu collapses the menu items into a compact icon that users can expand by clicking or tapping. Thanks to that, it saves screen space while giving access to all menu options. Plus, users can easily access the menu without unnecessary clutter, ensuring steady navigation.
Tip #5. Employ Microinteractions to Provide Subtle and Effective Feedback
Implement Subtle Animations to Acknowledge User Interactions and Actions
Clicking on a menu item and not getting any response causes poor UX, leaving users wondering whether the system recognized their actions. Animated cues, whether a subtle hover effect or a smooth transition, add a much-needed layer of responsiveness.
Ensure Timely Feedback for a Sense of Responsiveness and Control
Website navigation is not a strictly one-sided interaction. Users expect feedback messages that let them know whether, for example, they submitted a form successfully. An immediate response, such as a concise submission message reassures users the system received and processed their input.
Tip #6. Optimize Accessibility with Sticky Navigation Menus
Make Key Features Easily Accessible by Keeping the Navigation Menu Visible
The functionalities that users click on the most (e.g., dashboard) should be brought to the forefront and readily available at all times. This way, users don't have to spend extensive time searching for key features and can quickly perform tasks.
Enhance User Experience by Minimizing the Need for Scrolling To Find Navigation
Users often find long scrolling tedious and time-consuming, which poses a risk you don’t want to take, especially if your SaaS website has multiple features. Design compact and concise sticky menus to provide quick access to the necessary functionalities and simplify moving to other parts of the site .
Test the Sticky Navigation Across Browsers and Devices to Ensure Consistency
The following tests can help you verify whether the sticky menu functions well on every device and browser:
- Device TestingBrowser CompatibilityScreen Size Variability
Tip #7. Use Breadcrumbs to Illuminate User Pathways
Implement Breadcrumbs To Display the Website's Hierarchical Structure
While not directly embedded in the menu, breadcrumbs are still a valuable navigation tool that cannot be overlooked. These trails help visualize the pathway from the homepage to the current page, making it easy to understand the overall organization and navigate between different website levels.
Enable Users To Retrace Their Steps Easily, Promoting a Sense of Control
You can use breadcrumbs to help users find their way on their website by including adding location-based breadcrumbs. For instance:
You are here: Home > Category > Subcategory > Page Title
Keep Breadcrumbs Concise and Visually Distinguishable To Enhance Usability
Breadcrumb trails should be simple, visible, and easy to interpret. Make them more noticeable with contrasting stylings, such as distinct colors, typography, or background styles.
Although you can place them near the top of the page or just below the header, they should be far enough from other navigation menus to avoid clutter.
Best SaaS Navigation Menu Examples
Monday.com
Thanks to its neat and well-organized navigation, we couldn't start our best SaaS navigation menu examples without placing Monday at the forefront. The primary navigation bar features four sections that users most frequently click on to get their work going, and each collapses into a helpful dropdown menu when clicked on. However, Monday earns this spot primarily for its clear typography, intuitive icons, and accessibility!
Key highlights of the mega menu:
- 🧠 Logical grouping👀 Visually appealing and intuitive icons✏️ Descriptive labels under each feature
ClickUp
You must love ClickUp's accessible navigation menu, which includes all the vital sections in hierarchical order, starting with the Product feature. It leaves no room for confusion, ensuring clear labels and subtle microinteractions, such as changing the color when you hover over a category. But we must give special kudos to ClickUp for its responsive design and SaaS navigation menu that adapts to different devices with ease.
Top callouts for adaptive design:
- 🍔 Neat SaaS hamburger menu📰 Prioritization of essential menu items✔️ Striking icons and effective microinteractions
UpKeep
Fast, responsive, and easy to navigate — what's not to like? UpKeep will capture your attention on the website and encourage you to keep clicking because its navigation menu effortlessly provides concise labels and intuitiveness. A humble brag from us and a shout out to our Webstacks design team for crushing this navigation menu design!
Things that make UpKeep's microinteractions stand out:
- 🌈 Hovering over icons triggers different colors🖱 Quick response to every hover👤 Consistency with the overall brand identity
Learn more about our work with the UpKeep website here!
Hotjar
At first sight, Hotjar's navigation menu appears simple and minimalist, reflecting the overall aesthetic of the website. But this platform plays with visual cues differently by fading out every other item when you click on a particular feature in the dropdown menu. The font choice, size, and weight boost the menu's visual appeal while ensuring readability.
What elevates Hotjar's iconography:
- 🔠 Clean and legible font👓 Easily scannable menu items🧹 Consistent spacing for a clean and organized layout
Stripe
Stripe is the champion of navigation menu simplicity and clear labels, making it easy to find information and resources. Dropdown menus appear the moment you hover over the main items, collapsing into colorful and intuitive icons. But Stripe primarily made it to our list thanks to its consistent design language.
Key points for consistency:
- 🔡 Clean and simple typography💲 Intuitive and aesthetic icons🟣 Modern color scheme
ServiceTitan
We must applaud the logical order of the navigation menu, which leaves no room for ambiguity. ServiceTitan ensures comprehensive coverage, providing access to everything you may need when interested in their software, from products to trades. What we particularly appreciated were the clear CTAs that can encourage users to choose this company.
Why ServiceTitan's CTAs stand out:
- 🗣 Straightforward language that leaves no doubts about the desired action📣 Easily noticeable👍 Consistency across different sections
Lattice
Lattice's navigation menu uses clear language and focuses on the website’s core features. The straightforward pathways and intuitive labels prioritize the SaaS menu UX. Moreover, the sticky menu ensures continuous access to navigation options regardless of how far you scroll down.
Top Callouts:
- 📷 Use of images in sub menus👁 Visual continuity 📱 Responsive design
Ready to Design a SaaS Navigation Menu That Wows Users?
We equipped you with all the information you need to create an effective, visually appealing, and accessible SaaS nav menu. Have we triggered your creative juices? Then you may also want to check our blog on mobile navigation design or reach out to us for more insights!
