Faysal Ahmed
Chapter 6

Mobile Product Metrics

Mobile AARRR Framework

StageMobile-Specific Metric
AcquisitionInstalls, store listing conversion rate (impression → install)
ActivationFirst session completion, sign-up rate, permission grant rate
RetentionD1, D7, D30 retention; churn rate; re-engagement rate
ReferralShare rate, invite acceptance rate, deeplink conversion
RevenueARPU, ARPPU, LTV, subscription retention, IAP conversion

Session Metrics

  • Session length: How long users spend per session. Short sessions signal utility; very short sessions suggest friction.
  • Session depth: Screens or actions per session. Deeper sessions indicate engagement.
  • Session interval: Time between sessions. Short interval signals habit; long interval signals low stickiness.

Crash Rate

The most visible health metric. A crash rate above 1% of active users requires immediate triage. Use Firebase Crashlytics or Sentry to track by OS version, device model, and code path.

Cohort Analysis

Group users by install week and track retention curves. A flattening retention curve means you’ve found a sticky user segment. A steep drop after D1 points to poor onboarding or unmet expectations.

Store Ratings as a Signal

App store ratings directly affect conversion. Track rating trends per version — a drop from 4.5 to 4.0 after a release is a strong signal to roll back or hotfix. Prompt users for ratings at moments of delight, not after crashes.

Leading vs Lagging Indicators

LeadingLagging
Crash-free session rate1-star rating count
Onboarding completionD7 retention
Permission acceptance rateMonthly active users
Time-to-first-valueLTV

Next: Chapter 7 — Growth & Retention for Mobile Apps