Retention Rate
What is Retention Rate in User Behavior?
Retention Rate in user behavior refers to the percentage of users who continue to use a product, service, or app over a specific period of time. It measures how well a company keeps its users engaged and coming back after their first interaction.
Synonyms: User Retention Rate, Customer Retention, User Engagement Rate, Retention Percentage

Why Retention Rate is Important
Retention Rate is crucial because it indicates customer loyalty and satisfaction. A high retention rate means users find value in the product and are more likely to become long-term customers, which is essential for sustainable business growth.
How Retention Rate is Used
Businesses use retention rate to evaluate the effectiveness of their user experience, marketing strategies, and product updates. It helps identify if users are sticking around or if there are issues causing them to leave.
Examples of Retention Rate
If an app has 1,000 users at the start of the month and 700 of those users are still active at the end of the month, the retention rate is 70%. This metric can be tracked daily, weekly, or monthly depending on the business goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a good retention rate? A good retention rate varies by industry but generally, higher retention rates indicate better user satisfaction.
- How is retention rate calculated? Retention rate is calculated by dividing the number of users who remain active over a period by the number of users at the start of that period, then multiplying by 100 to get a percentage.
- Why does retention rate matter more than acquisition? Retaining users is often more cost-effective than acquiring new ones and leads to higher lifetime value per user.