Changelog: the structured record
A changelog is a chronological, scannable history of product changes — often in Keep a Changelog style (Added, Changed, Fixed). It is the source of truth for what shipped and when. Votiq’s changelog software page covers how we approach this.
Release notes: the customer narrative
Release notes often use the same facts with more narrative for a launch (“Here’s why CSV export matters”). They may appear in email, in-app banners, or a “What’s new” page. Release notes software should still distribute updates where users already are.
Do you need both?
Most SaaS teams can maintain one structured feed and expand narrative for major launches. The failure mode is neither: shipping silently while customers keep asking for features you already built.
Tie announcements to feedback
Whether you call it release notes or changelog, link entries to the requests that drove the work. That closed loop is what separates announce tools from a full product feedback platform.