Understanding the Difference Between Funnels and Flows in Kapa.ai
kapa.ai Why would I use Funnels when I have Flows? What's the difference? What are the use cases for both?
kapa.ai Why would I use Funnels when I have Flows? What's the difference? What are the use cases for both?
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Funnels and Flows in Mixpanel are both powerful tools for understanding user behavior, but they serve different purposes and are best suited for different types of analysis.---
Funnels
What are Funnels? - Funnels track how users progress through a predefined, sequential series of steps (events) within a set time window. - They measure conversion rates, identify where users drop off, and help you analyze how effectively users complete critical flows (e.g., sign-up, purchase) in your product.Use Cases: - Measuring the percentage of users who complete a sign-up or purchase process. - Identifying at which step most users abandon a process. - Comparing conversion rates across user segments or A/B test variants. - Analyzing how long it takes users to convert. - Understanding the impact of changes on conversion rates over time.Key Features: - Define specific steps and order. - Apply filters and breakdowns to segment users. - Use advanced options like exclusion steps and holding properties constant. - Analyze conversion windows and re-entry logic. - Visualize conversion trends and drop-offs at each step.More on Funnels---
Flows
What are Flows? - Flows visualize the most frequent paths users take to or from any event, without requiring a predefined sequence. - They help you understand the actual user journeys, including all the steps users take before or after a key event.Use Cases: - Discovering what users typically do after signing up or before making a purchase. - Identifying common paths that lead to or away from important events. - Analyzing drop-off points and alternative behaviors when users don’t follow the expected path. - Exploring user behavior in a more open-ended, exploratory way.Key Features: - No need to define a strict sequence—see real user paths. - Visualize multiple paths and their frequencies using Sankey diagrams. - Filter and break down flows by properties (e.g., browser, city). - Drill into specific nodes to see what users did before or after a particular event.More on Flows---
When to Use Each
- Use Funnels when you want to measure conversion rates through a specific, ordered process and understand where users drop off in that process. - Use Flows when you want to explore the actual paths users take, discover unexpected behaviors, or see what users do before or after key events—without being limited to a predefined sequence.In summary: Funnels are best for structured, goal-oriented analysis (e.g., "How many users complete our sign-up flow?"), while Flows are ideal for open-ended exploration of user behavior (e.g., "What do users do after signing up?") and for uncovering patterns you might not have anticipated.See more: Funnels vs. Flows | Mixpanel Docs: Funnels | Mixpanel Docs: Flows
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