User stories are the building blocks of modern agile teams. Whether you’re in software development, product management, business analysis, or even UI/UX design, you’ve probably written, or struggled to write, a good user story. And let’s be honest, coming up with clear, useful user stories isn’t always easy.
That’s why we’ve pulled together 53+ user story examples tailored for different roles and industries. Think of this as your go-to inspiration board, whether you’re kicking off a sprint, building a product backlog, or just trying to communicate better with your team.
From tech teams and product owners to project managers and business analysts—there’s something here for everyone. So if you’ve ever stared at a blank Jira card wondering what to write, you’re in the right place.
What is a User Story?
A user story is a short, simple description of a feature told from the perspective of the person who needs it. Think of it as a placeholder for a conversation, written in plain, non-technical language, that focuses on what the user wants and why. The classic format goes like this:
As a [user type], I want [action], so that [value or benefit].
For example, As a shopper, I want to save my cart for later, so that I can return and purchase when I’m ready.
User stories help teams stay user-focused and prioritize what truly matters. They don’t go deep into details right away, that comes later through discussions, acceptance criteria, and refinement sessions. What they do offer is clarity: what are we building, who is it for, and why does it matter?
By using user stories, teams create shared understanding, plan more effectively, and deliver real value faster. They’re an essential part of Agile development—whether you’re a developer, designer, business analyst, or product manager.
User Story vs. Epic
Think of an Epic as a big idea or goal, and a User Story as a single piece of that goal.
Epics are large bodies of work—too big to complete in a single sprint. For instance, “Build a customer dashboard” is an Epic. It captures a broad scope that might take weeks (or months) to deliver. To make progress, you break it down into smaller, manageable user stories like:
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As a customer, I want to view my purchase history.
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As a customer, I want to edit my profile information.
These user stories can be completed independently and quickly, helping you build the Epic bit by bit. So, in short:
Epics guide the strategy and planning; user stories guide the execution. Both serve different purposes, but together, they help teams stay organized and deliver meaningful results—without getting overwhelmed by complexity.
User Story vs. Feature
A Feature is a group of related functionalities that delivers a meaningful outcome to the user, like a working module of the product. A User Story, on the other hand, is one small slice of that Feature.
Let’s say your product needs a “user authentication” feature. That Feature could include multiple user stories, like:
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As a user, I want to log in with my email and password.
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As a user, I want to reset my password if I forget it.
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As an admin, I want to disable user accounts.
Each user story is a tiny task with a specific user goal. The Feature wraps them all up into a functional bundle. In other words:
Features help teams deliver value in larger chunks, while user stories keep the work actionable and focused. Features are often planned in release roadmaps, while user stories drive sprint work.
User Story vs. Acceptance Criteria
A User Story defines what a user wants and why. Acceptance Criteria define how you’ll know when the user story is “done.” Let’s say you have this user story:
As a customer, I want to track my order, so that I can stay updated on delivery status.
That’s great—but what exactly does “track my order” mean? That’s where acceptance criteria come in. They’re specific conditions the story must meet to be considered complete. For example:
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A user can enter their order number and view its status.
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The system updates tracking info every 24 hours.
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Users receive an email when the status changes.
So while the user story is about the what and why, the acceptance criteria get into the how and help eliminate ambiguity. Together, they ensure the team and stakeholders are aligned on expectations. User stories guide value, and acceptance criteria guide validation.
Onboarding & Training
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As a new user, I want to see a guided tour on my first login so that I understand how to use the platform.
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As a team lead, I want to assign training modules to new hires so that they ramp up quickly.
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As an employee, I want to access video tutorials so that I can learn at my own pace.
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As a new user, I want a guided tour, so I can learn how to use the product.
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As a user, I want a checklist to complete setup, so I don’t miss anything important.
Performance
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As a user, I want pages to load in under 2 seconds, so I don't lose interest.
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As a developer, I want to lazy load images, so performance improves on slow networks.
Workflow Automation
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As an operations manager, I want to automate task assignments, so repetitive processes are faster.
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As a sales manager, I want to auto-send emails after form submissions, so leads are followed up immediately.
Accessibility
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As a visually impaired user, I want to use screen readers, so I can navigate the app independently.
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As a user, I want to use keyboard navigation, so I can interact without a mouse.
Wrapping Up
Writing effective user stories is both an art and a skill. Good user stories clearly communicate what a user needs, why they need it, and what value it delivers, without diving into technical details. A well-written user story keeps the team focused on solving the right problem for the right person.
We’ve shared 84 user story examples across roles and categories to inspire your next sprint planning or backlog grooming session. Use them as a guide to write clear, valuable, and actionable stories that align your team and drive better outcomes.
Remember: a good user story is simple, specific, and focused on delivering value. The clearer the story, the more confident your team will be in building the right thing, and building it right.
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