Keywords · Retention · Updated 2026-07-21

What is Retention?

Short answer: The rate at which customers or users continue using a product or paying for it over a given period of time.

Definition

The rate at which customers or users continue using a product or paying for it over a given period of time.

Why it matters for growth

Retention is the foundation growth compounds on; strong acquisition cannot outrun a leaky bucket of churning customers for long.

Example

A subscription app keeps 70% of month-one users active in month two, a retention rate it tracks obsessively by cohort.

FAQ

What is Retention?
The rate at which customers or users continue using a product or paying for it over a given period of time.
Why does Retention matter for growth?
Retention is the foundation growth compounds on; strong acquisition cannot outrun a leaky bucket of churning customers for long.
What is an example of Retention?
A subscription app keeps 70% of month-one users active in month two, a retention rate it tracks obsessively by cohort.
What is Retention? Definition and growth use · Cofounderbase