Changelog vs Release Notes: What’s the Difference?
A changelog is a running historical log of product changes, while release notes are curated customer-facing updates written to explain the most important changes in a specific release.
Why does it matter?
Teams often mix these terms together and end up publishing low-value updates. Knowing the difference helps PMMs decide when to publish a running log, when to publish a polished release communication, and how to make both useful for customers.
Examples
A changelog entry might list every shipped fix for the week.
Release notes might highlight only the three most customer-visible changes from that same release.
A SaaS team may keep a public changelog while sending detailed release notes to admins.
How is it different?
Use a changelog when you need a complete running record of changes. Use release notes when you need a clearer, more selective customer-facing summary that emphasizes impact over exhaustiveness. Many B2B SaaS teams publish both, but they should not read like the same page.
FAQ
Should I publish both a changelog and release notes?
Often yes. A changelog is useful as a historical record, while release notes help explain the customer value and context around important updates.