Have you ever wondered whether it’s better to launch your product quickly or take more time to create something that users will love? Minimum viable product vs Minimum lovable product (MVP vs. MLP) is a dilemma that most businesses face while trying to strike the right balance between speed, functionality, and user satisfaction. An MVP could be the best option for validating your idea with little capital expenditure. But if you want to build something people love and that keeps them coming back, an MLP might be the better choice.

So how do you know if your business is best suited for one method or the other? In this blog, we will take you through the major differences between MVP Vs. MLP. We will also define the role of user feedback in both, and help you decide which road to take. We will also help you understand the fundamentals of MVP vs. MLP with the help of relevant case studies. Let’s dive in!

What Is MVP?

Minimum Viable Product (MVP) — the most basic form of a product that has only those features that are essential for attracting early customers and getting useful feedback from users. MVP allows companies to put their product idea in the market with low investment and effort. This method assists in evaluating the responses of the users and also validates whether meet the requirements of the market. This unique data, gleaned from actual users, allows businesses to improve their products while preventing the wheeling of audience-blind features.

Features Of MVP (Minimum Viable Product)

🔹 Core Functionality

A Minimum Viable Product (MVP) focuses on solving the main problem. So it provides only the core few features required to address a user pain point. It does not incorporate any features which contribute toward the extended development time and cost. This helps the product achieve its central objective.

🔹 User Feedback Integration

The goal of an MVP is to gather feedback from the early adopters. These will highlight where the product can improve. They will check assumptions and set the course for repeat delivery. This approach ensures that the product is built in a way that meets market requirements.

🔹 Cost Efficiency

Developing one such stripped-down version with fewer features helps the companies save costs in development. This method minimizes financial risks because resources are only invested after the product’s validation through user feedback. Understanding the MVP development cost is crucial for businesses looking to launch a product quickly while staying within budget.

🔹 Test Market Demand

MVPs enable companies to analyze the market and measure demand for their product before any investment. It helps businesses analyze whether the product is on track or needs a pivot by monitoring user engagement.

Case Study: MVP That Failed

Company: Color.com

MVP Concept: Color.com is a healthcare startup that offers a mobile app designed to revolutionize healthcare through genetics and personalized insights. The app allowed users to upload photos for analysis. Medical professionals then examined these photos and provided guidance on the users’ health.

Why It Failed:

🔹 Misplaced Market Fit: While the company invested a lot in cutting-edge mobile app development, there were poor user base formation issues. Since genetic testing & health insights were not pressing needs for the target audience. It was not due to low customer interest; customers were not searching for such solutions.

🔹 Tech Overload Without Value Proposition: The app was built with cutting-edge technology. However, it failed to recognize the belief that technology alone would attract users. There was no direct tie to genuine user needs.

🔹 Unfulfilled user expectations — Users expected a deeper level of insights into their health. Moreover, tangible follow-up action points were also anticipated but the app was too generic. This eventually leads to user disengagement.

Ultimately, Color.com’s MVP highlighted the importance of aligning product offerings with actual user needs. It emphasized the need to provide concrete value rather than focusing solely on technological sophistication.

MVP That Worked

Company: Uber (previously UberCabs)

MVP Concept:  Uber’s first MVP solved a big pain point; it was hard to get a cab. UberCabs’ initial app, was a simple iPhone app that paired users with cab drivers and facilitated credit card payments. Graphics were minimal, and only necessary functionality was available. This addressed the problem at hand of booking a cab but in a headache-free way.

Why It Succeeded:

🔹 Targeted a Clear Need in the Market: Uber focused on a common problem—hailing a cab—and implemented a simple solution. This struck a chord with the early adopters.

🔹 Basic But Effective MVP: The first iteration of the app did not make it to the App Store. Users were required to email the founders to request a unique code for access. Simple as it was then, it allowed users to connect with drivers, which made booking a taxi easy.

🔹 Progressive Feature Rollout: After the MVP was successful, Uber launched additional features like auto-payment, cost tracking, driver location tracking, and more.

MVP Strategy and Growth

Uber had its lean start in launching in one city and growing over time in cities such as New York, Seattle, and Boston. Uber beta tested in various markets, iteratively adjusting its offering and adding features as it received feedback and validated its assumptions. By 2012, uberX launched, and Uber had outgrown its MVP. The data-driven approach of the company based on genuine user interactions made Uber one of the fastest-growing brands of all time and a world-class brand.

What Is MLP?

A Minimum Lovable product (MLP) takes into account not just core functionality but also the need to deliver a delightful experience — so that the early adopters spread the word and gather a few in-house phenomenons to keep the product growing organically. In contrast, where an MVP focuses on market validation and solving a problem with the most basic version of a product, an MLP caters to the user’s heart with intuitive functionality and a positive experience with the product.

An MLP distinguishes itself from an MVP by providing a simple yet pleasingly designed interface, something that will appeal to the target audience. It has less functionality early on, but that functionality focuses on being frictionless, easy, and delightful. An MLP is one where a user doesn’t simply endure the product because it solves a problem — they LOVE or at least appreciate using your product.

Features of MLP (Minimum Lovable Product)

🔹 Focus on User Delight

An MLP is not just about meeting user needs, but also about making the product enjoyable and enjoyable enough that users will remember it. The goal is to blow users away, and exceed their expectations, creating a fanbase of users who advocate for and spread the word about the product.

🔹 Enhanced User Experience

An MLP emphasizes a smooth, intuitive, and pleasurable user experience, whereas an MVP is all about functionality in the idea stage. All touchpoints are smooth, and frictionless and make the product easy and enjoyable to use.

🔹 Emotional Connection with Users

MLPs foster a stronger emotional connection between users and interfaces, focusing on solving users’ pain points as well as providing real value through personalized interactions. This emotional bond enhances sustained engagement, offering retention and brand loyalty.

Case Study: MLP That Failed

Company: Google (Glass)

MLP Description: Google Glass, released in 2013, was a pioneer in augmented reality (AR) products, intended to reinvent how humans engaged with technology. With a tiny display affixed to the user’s glasses, the device offered hands-free information access, letting users check notifications, take photos, and navigate using voice commands.

Why It Didn’t Work:

🔹 No Emotional Connection: Google Glass did not establish an emotional connection with users. However, while the idea was cutting-edge and exciting, there was no long-standing problem to be addressed nor are there ever pain points to be solved for many of the consumers. “What’s missing is users didn’t have a strong ‘need’ for use of the product” or “love” for it.

🔹 Poor User Experience: Its interface was not user-friendly, and it took a lot of time to learn how to navigate to its functionality. Moreover, users complained that wearing the device proved cumbersome for extended periods.

🔹 Privacy Issues and Social Backlash: Google Glass also caused serious privacy fears; it solicited discomfort with people being recorded without their permission. This automatically leads to public negativity, and they instilled stigma in the product, and candidate users rejected this technology.

🔹 High Price not reasoned by Quality: At $1,500, Google Glass was simply too much for an unrefined product that didn’t have a killer use case for the everyday person. Users wanted more value and sophistication for the price.

Google Glass’s failure highlights the importance of ensuring that an MLP not only offers a great user experience but also establishes an emotional connection with the target audience. Without solving a critical pain point or offering a delightful and valuable experience, even innovative products can struggle to gain traction.

MVP That Succeeded

Company Name: Airbnb

MLP Description: Airbnb’s origins in 2007 were humble, consisting of a simple website where individuals could list additional rooms or spaces for rent to travelers. Founders Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia created a simple website that emphasized the user experience, not just listing properties. The key ingredient in Airbnb’s MLP was trust which was focused heavily on transparency and providing a delightful experience for both the host and the guest:

🔹 High-Res Photos: Airbnb provides free professional photography help to its hosts, so those listings can look attractive and legit.

🔹 Detailed Host and Guest Profiles: Host and guest profiles with photos would create a sense of trust and community.

🔹 Feedback and Rating System: Airbnb introduced an open review system that enabled guests to document their experiences and give ratings. This promoted accountability and fostered trust in the platform.

MLP Strategy & Growth: Why It Succeeded

🔹 Emotional Connection: Airbnb went beyond offering just a place to stay. It created a unique and memorable experience that resonated emotionally with users. The platform fostered connections between travelers and hosts, making each stay feel personal and meaningful.

🔹 Solved Real Pain Points: Airbnb effectively addressed critical pain points. It enabled hosts to earn extra income while providing travelers with affordable and unique accommodations.

🔹 Rapid Adoption and Growth: By focusing on delivering a lovable product, Airbnb built a loyal user base. This not only returned to the platform but also enthusiastically recommended it to others.

🔹 Continuous Improvement and Expansion: It iterated and expanded its offerings over time. Moreover, it also responded to user feedback and evolved into a global leader in the travel industry.

MVP Vs. MLP: Key Differences

Now that you’ve learned about the definitions of Minimum Viable Product (MVP) vs minimum Lovable Product (MLP), it’s important to distinguish them. Both these techniques aim at creating a bare-minimum product with minimal features but are used for different reasons and have different advantages. For a better understanding, we have compiled the information in a table. In case you need a detailed explanation, feel free to read below;

Criteria	Minimum Viable Product (MVP)	Minimum Lovable Product (MLP)
Goal	Test a product idea quickly by launching a basic version to gather initial feedback.	Create an emotional connection with users by offering a delightful experience that builds loyalty.
Functionality	Includes only core functionalities needed to solve the user’s problem. Focuses on basic, essential features.	Offers a limited but refined feature set aimed at enhancing user experience and engagement.
Design	Basic design with minimal emphasis on aesthetics. Prioritizes usability over visual appeal.	Focuses on beautiful, user-centric design to capture attention and build a connection with users.
Time to Market	Faster time-to-market due to fewer features and simpler design, allowing for quick iterations.	Slightly longer than MVP due to the focus on design and emotional impact, but still relatively fast to launch.

Now, let’s start with a detailed explanation:

1. Goal

MVP – Its purpose is to test a product idea quickly in the market by launching a very basic version of it. This serves to ensure that there are things to explore and some feedback rather than on the product to help shape it into a better customer-facing solution.

MLP: Instead of just function, an MLP is more about establishing an emotional connection. It is designed to charm the users, making them fall in love with the product and stay in their minds, ensuring loyalty in the future.

2. Functionality

MVP: It consists only of the core functionalities that an MVP needs for solving the user’s issue. These features guarantee that the product meets its primary purpose without including any advanced or luxury features. That means that an MVP could include a search bar, but not an intelligent AI-driven search.

MLP:  A minimal lovable product has a narrow feature set, but those features are intended to make the overall user experience better. The aim is to enhance the fun element of product development without making it highly complex.

3. Design

MVP: In MVPs, design is usually kept basic, because MVPs put more emphasis on functionality and rapid testing. The focus is on making it usable, not pretty. Cutting-edge design features tend to be put off for future iterations.

MLP: In an MLP, design is very important. It uses intuitive  beautiful and user-centric design to create a bond with users. MLPs try to grab your attention as soon as you encounter them, and design is one of the main differentiators that can help increase user engagement.

4. Time To Market 

MVP: Both MVPs and MLPs aim for quick market entry due to their limited feature set. MVPs often take a shorter development time, allowing companies to launch the product swiftly and adapt it based on real-time user feedback.

MLP: Though MLPs may take slightly longer than MVPs due to a stronger design focus, they still ensure a relatively fast time-to-market. The added emphasis on design and emotional connection helps to build brand loyalty early on.

The Role of User Feedback in MVP Vs. MLP

User feedback plays a pivotal role in shaping the success of both Minimum Viable Products and Minimum Lovable Products. While MVP feedback focuses on functionality and usability, MLP feedback revolves around enhancing emotional connection and delight.

User Feedback in MVP (Minimum Viable Product)

In an MVP, receiving user feedback is key to validating the essence of the product. An MVP’s main goal is to validate product functionality with the lowest number of features and derive actionable insights. This helps to determine pain points, usability issues, and feature requests. Here are the most relevant MVP improvements driven by user feedback:

• Feature Prioritization: Knowing what features matter for the next version.
• Finding Product–Market Fit: Assessing if the product meets the needs of the audience.
• Refinement through Iteration: Shaping functionality and performance based on real-world experience.

User Feedback in MLP (Minimum Lovable Product)

For MLP (Minimum Lovable Product), the user feedback is about making the users more connected and happy. Because an MLP is concerned with delivering not just functionality but an amazing experience, whatever user feedback is provided needs to measure the emotional resonance of the product. Some of the core contributions of the user feedback in an MLP are:

• Optimizing User Experience: Refining intuitive design elements that captivate and engage users.
• Emotional Impact Measurement: Gauging whether the product creates a lasting impression and loyalty.
• Enhancing Aesthetics and Usability: Balancing simplicity with visually appealing and user-centric features.

Also Read: Top 10 Product Design Companies in India

MVP Vs. MLP: Which One Is Better?

The choice between an MVP vs. MLP comes down to the goals of the business, the timeline of the development, and the resources available. An MVP is good for testing ideas without investing too much time and money. MLP, on the other hand, is good for getting user engagement by offering a delightful experience. Knowing when to focus on which to create maximum openness is crucial.

When to Opt for MVP?

1. Early-Stage Startups

The MVP approach is typically the most feasible for startups that are working on a lean model. It allows your business to test the fundamental idea, solve user pain points, and verify the potential of the idea without unnecessary expenditure. It will help to get actionable insight and fast iteration without the risk of resource-depleting mistakes.

2. Testing New Product Ideas

MVPs shine when companies want to quickly test new product ideas or their concepts. Focusing on only core functionalities allows companies to validate product-market fit, gather user feedback, and fit in the product iteratively. It reduces the chances of developing unattractive features and only useful pieces are incorporated into the next iterations.

When to Opt for MLP?

1. Competitive Markets

The launch of an MLP also helps businesses achieve differentiation in saturated markets when consumer expectations are high and boiled down to emotional connections and user experiences. An MLP not only solves functional needs but also leaves an impression that leads to loyalty. Companies such as Pismo found success by focusing on a better user experience that set them apart from the competition.

2. Building Brand Loyalty

When wanting to create customer advocacy and drive brand loyalty, an MLP is the way to go. It is concerned with establishing pleasant emotional associations with the product and getting users to come back and sometimes even simply tell others about the product. Lovable products will not only get users but will also turn them into life-long advocates which means sustainable growth.

Alternatively, a hybrid of both MVP vs. MLP methods can offer the best of both sides. An MVP enables businesses to validate ideas real fast and an MLP helps enhance user delight eventually balancing the scale of product functionality and user experience.

Conclusion

Choosing between an MVP vs. MLP depends on aligning your product strategy with business goals and user needs. MVPs validate ideas quickly with minimal investment, while MLPs build emotional connections by enhancing user experiences. A hybrid approach allows businesses to test ideas efficiently, refine offerings, and eventually create products that solve problems and resonate with users. By knowing when to apply each strategy, companies can maximize growth and user loyalty.