What metric is the MOST critical in assessing user retention within a cohort analysis?

The MOST critical metric in assessing user retention within a cohort analysis is the percentage of users within each cohort who remain active after specific time intervals (e.g., 7 days, 30 days, 90 days). Cohort analysis groups users based on a common characteristic, typically their app install date, and then tracks their behavior over time. The retention rate within each cohort reveals how user engagement evolves. A high retention rate indicates that a significant portion of users are finding value in the app and continuing to use it. Conversely, a low retention rate suggests that users are churning or disengaging. Comparing retention rates across different cohorts can help identify trends and determine the impact of app updates, marketing campaigns, or other interventions on user loyalty. For example, if a cohort that installed the app after a major update has a significantly higher retention rate than previous cohorts, it suggests that the update was successful in improving user engagement. Therefore, monitoring the percentage of active users within each cohort over time is essential for understanding long-term user retention.