A seamless onboarding experience begins with minimizing the number of steps users need to complete. The fewer barriers between users and the product's core value, the higher the likelihood of retaining them. However, this doesn't mean that shorter onboarding is always better. Sometimes, a few well-designed steps are necessary to provide value through a personalized experience. To streamline the process, focus on guiding users through essential actions first — such as account setup or feature exploration — while deferring secondary tasks (like filling out personal information) to later stages. This keeps onboarding short and focused, ensuring users reach the product's value as quickly as possible without feeling overwhelmed.^[1] 

The Calm app demonstrates this balance perfectly. It starts with asking users about their goals to customize content. Only after showing value through personalization does it request account creation. This approach maintains engagement while collecting necessary information for a tailored experience.