Retention Metrics

Metrics to understand user retention patterns

Product Management

IH InterviewHood

Day 1 Retention

Percentage of users returning on the first day after signup.

Click to show description

Retention metrics help measure how effectively a product keeps users coming back over time. These metrics are crucial for understanding user engagement, product value, and long-term growth potential.

Common retention metrics include:

Day 1, Day 7, and Day 30 retention: Track the percentage of users who return after their first interaction.
Cohort analysis: Groups users by signup date or behavior to reveal trends and drop-offs over time.
Rolling retention and N-day retention: Provide deeper insights into ongoing engagement.

High retention indicates that users find the product valuable and sticky, while low retention can signal usability issues, poor onboarding, or lack of value.

Improving retention often leads to better monetization, increased word-of-mouth growth, and reduced acquisition costs. It's also a key lever for product teams to prioritize features, refine onboarding experiences, and build long-term user loyalty.