Sign in or log in: Which UX copy works best? - UX Pickle (2024)

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Long story short, “Log In / Sign Up” works better.

You are probably here because you are a designer or a developer having a debate on whether to use ‘sign in/sign up’ or ‘login/register’ or any other combination of these words.

What makes sense is that we need to distinguish these two words since they perform quite distinct roles and address consumers with very different attitudes. The first is a new user who wants to ‘Sign up’ or ‘Register,’ while the second is an existing user who wants to ‘Log In’ or ‘Sign in’ to their account on the system.

When it comes to user experience, consistency is essential, and whichever method you choose, you’ll need to apply it to all of the products or websites you’re working on.

Why is it a problem?

Sign in or log in: Which UX copy works best? - UX Pickle (1)

The usage of sign up and sign in has a pleasing symmetry that will undoubtedly attract a large number of individuals. Unfortunately, because of the symmetry, the user’s ability to distinguish the button he needs is reduced to only two letters. It’s easy to mistakenly choose to sign up when the user is meant to choose to sign in.

The first letter of the first word of the first button is also the first letter of the second word of the second button. It becomes as confusing as the last sentence is. This is something we’ll call the visual symmetry problem. The visual symmetry problem is not related to the conceptual symmetry problem. If you have a button that says “Sign Up” then, assuming that the user needs to “sign up” to use your site, the button is not wrong. However, if you have buttons that say “Sign Up” and “Sign In”, and you want the user to “Sign In”, then the visual symmetry problem is very real.

Just because everyone does it doesn’t imply it’s excellent UX. There are a lot of terrible UX patterns out there that are norms.

Many companies’ fates are almost entirely determined by one point of conversion, and that is when a customer turns into a user. Far too frequently, this critical duty is borne by a generic “sign up” button, which is lucky to receive even a minute of thought during creation.

If you think about the language of your signup button, you can dramatically boost the number of visitors who become users. Since they demand blind commitment, the typical “Sign Up” buttons don’t work.

How to make the Sign up button work?

  • Make it relevant to your product: “Start Selling Art” if you have an artist marketplace. This makes it less likely that the button will be ignored.
  • Give instead of taking: The words “Get Access” and “Sign Up” both mean the same thing, yet one gives the impression that the visitor is gaining anything while the other does not.
  • Motivate people to take action: ‘Get’, ‘start,’ and ‘try’ are examples of action verbs that will prompt people to act and make an account on your page.
  • Don’t add too many words to the CTA: What we’ve found is that, in general, the more words you add, the less attractive the button becomes.

So, which one should I choose?

Use ‘Create Account’ instead of ‘Sign up’

Create Account is just a more accurate representation of the action being offered. Using the term “Account” opens the door to features like ‘Account Settings’, which are tied to the notion that each user has an individual account.

This function is generally associated with log in/sign In functionality, and if you choose to sign In, you’ll end up with two almost identical buttons, as shown below.

Sign in or log in: Which UX copy works best? - UX Pickle (2)

Use ‘Log in’ instead of ‘Sign in’

Keep in mind that “log in” is a verb and “login” is a noun. The names of the buttons should be verbs, but the reference to the login experience should be a noun. Using “Log in” and “Sign up” helps users distinguish the terms and according to research, works better.

Sign in or log in: Which UX copy works best? - UX Pickle (2024)

FAQs

Sign in or log in: Which UX copy works best? - UX Pickle? ›

Use 'Log in' instead of 'Sign in'

Is sign in or log-in better? ›

For accessing accounts over the Internet, the recommendation is using sign in with a separate to when needed. For computers and workstations, they recommend log in.

What is the difference between sign up and log in UX? ›

The signup process is often the very start of the user journey, while the login process is an ongoing part of it. Making both as smooth as possible increases user conversion and retention. If users run into obstacles while signing up, they're likely to abandon the process entirely.

Is it a login button or log-in button? ›

Login, spelled as one word, is only a noun or an adjective. For example, the information you use to sign in to your email is your login (noun), and the page where you sign in is the login page (adjective). Log in is two words when it functions as a verb. For example, you log in with your login information.

What is the main difference between sign in and log in? ›

In computing, sign in and log in are synonyms. Both mean "to open a session with an account that is already created". There is one difference: the derived noun login "a username; a session under that username" exists, but there is no such noun as *signin.

What is the difference between login to and login into? ›

“Log in” is a phrasal verb meaning “connect to an electronic device, system, or app.” The preposition “to” is often used directly after the verb; “in” and “to” should be written as two separate words (e.g., “log in to the app to update privacy settings”).

What is the difference between user authentication and login? ›

In essence, authentication is the overall process of confirming identity, while login is the specific action taken to enter a system using authenticated credentials.

Why is login called login? ›

The term login comes from the verb (to) log in and by analogy with the verb to clock in. Computer systems keep a log of users' access to the system. The term "log" comes from the chip log which was historically used to record distance traveled at sea and was recorded in a ship's log or logbook.

What is a good UX copy? ›

Good UX copy is brief

in The Elements of Style. It's true for most writing, but even more so for UX copywriting. That's because there's only so much space on a button, notification or setting. Your users also don't read them for enjoyment or learning, so their attention span is shorter than on a blog article.

Why is UX copy important? ›

UX copywriting is a specialized form of copywriting that focuses on creating content and text for user interfaces. It plays a crucial role in guiding users, providing information, and facilitating their interaction with your product or website.

What is the difference between duplicate and copy in UX? ›

Copy: Is to take something from a file and put it somewhere else. The most common example being copy and paste. Duplicate: Is to make a duplicate of the document and add it to the file. For example you duplicate a picture and now there are two of the same picture in the file you are using.

Should it be log in or log on? ›

Log in: Refers to the process of entering specific credentials, such as a username and password, to access a system, website, or application. 2. Log on: Can be a more general term for connecting or accessing a system, which might not always require credentials.

What is the meaning of log in in? ›

to connect to a computer system by putting in a particular set of letters or numbers: What is the user name and password that you use to log on? If you are already a registered user, please log in.

What happens when we click on the login button? ›

Once a user clicks the login button, a series of network calls happen between the authorization server and the API server. The basic flow starts with the user entering the credentials and the authorization server confirming it.

How do I login or sign in? ›

Type in your email address or your username (e.g., the username part of the email address). Click Next. Type in your account password. Click Sign in.

Is it correct to say login in? ›

Is it login or log in? Log in and login have only seen heavy use since personal computers became ubiquitous in the 1980s, but they are now so common that misusing them in your writing can cost you credibility. Log in (two words) should only be used as a verb. Login (one word) can be a noun or an adjective.

What does login mean? ›

In computer security, logging in (or logging on, signing in, or signing on) is the process by which an individual gains access to a computer system or program by identifying and authenticating themselves.

Is sign in two words? ›

The verb form is two words, sign in or sign out. Avoid using as a noun or adjective (sign-in, sign-out).

References

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