Understanding Cohorts in Data Analysis: Issues and Solutions | Mixpanel Community

Understanding Cohorts in Data Analysis: Issues and Solutions

Hi kapa.ai I'm currently working on a task involving cohorts, but I’m having a bit of trouble understanding how they behave—despite reading the documentation. In my case, I merged two events and then used a cohort breakdown to extract insights from each. However, the results are confusing:

It shows extra data like overall user counts—even after applying filters.
It seems to exclude each type one by one, and only at the end shows the actual data I need.
The metrics I'm seeing don’t match when I compare them using other methods.

Do you know why this might be happening? Or is there a better way to handle this kind of cohort setup? Would really appreciate any guidance—thanks!

14 comments

kapa.ai
APP
·
·
Please stand by Tahir A. as I search the knowledge base. I normally take about 15 seconds or so. 👋
Feel free to ask a follow-up question once I've answered by mentioning me with @kapa.ai
kapa.ai
APP
·
·
Certainly! Let’s break down your cohort-related questions and the possible reasons for the confusing results you’re seeing in Mixpanel:
1. Extra Data (e.g., Overall User Counts) Appearing
When you use a cohort breakdown in Mixpanel, the platform will show results for each cohort you select, but it will also include users not in any of the selected cohorts. This is by design: when you break down by cohorts, Mixpanel creates buckets for “In Cohort A,” “In Cohort B,” and “Not in Cohort A/B.” This allows you to compare the behavior of users inside and outside your cohorts. So, the “extra data” you see is likely the “Not in [Cohort]” group, which is included for context and comparison. You can focus on the specific cohort buckets you care about in your analysis or visualization settings, but the platform will always show all relevant groups by default Using Cohorts in Analysis.
2. Exclusion/Filtering Behavior
When you apply a cohort breakdown, Mixpanel evaluates each event/user against each cohort independently. For example, if you break down by two cohorts, an event can be counted in both, one, or neither, depending on the user’s membership. This can result in what looks like “exclusion” or “stepwise filtering,” but it’s actually just the way Mixpanel buckets the data for comparison. If you only want to see data for a specific cohort, use the filter option instead of breakdown, which will restrict the report to just that cohort Reports Overview.
3. Metrics Not Matching Across Methods
This is a common source of confusion. Mixpanel’s reports (Insights, Funnels, etc.) calculate metrics differently: - Insights: Counts total events or users, depending on your metric. - Funnels: Counts users who complete a series of steps in order, within a conversion window, and applies additional logic (e.g., re-entries, conversion windows). - Cohorts: Are dynamically computed at query time, so the set of users in a cohort is always “as of now,” not a rolling window. This can lead to differences if you’re comparing a cohort filter to a funnel or an event count How Cohorts are Computed, Funnels FAQ, Data Discrepancies.
Best Practices for Your Use Case
- If you want to compare cohorts: Use the breakdown feature, but be aware of the “Not in cohort” bucket. - If you want to focus on a single cohort: Use the filter option instead of breakdown. - If you merged events into a custom event: Make sure your cohort definitions and event logic are clear and consistent, as custom events can combine multiple event types. - If you want static cohorts: Consider creating a static cohort via CSV import, but note these won’t update dynamically Creating Cohorts.
Troubleshooting Tips
- Double-check your cohort definitions and event logic. - Remove all filters and breakdowns, then add them back one by one to isolate where the discrepancy appears. - Remember that user profile properties are always evaluated as their current value, not historical values, unless you specifically use historical property features Creating Cohorts.If you’re still seeing unexpected results, it may help to share the exact cohort definitions and report setup, or try exporting the data for a closer look.Let me know if you need more specific guidance on your setup!
kapa.ai is still learning and improving, please let me know how I did by reacting below.
ℹ️ Tip: Mention @kapa.ai in the thread for follow-ups or DM the app for 1-to-1 help.
Tahir A.
·
·
kapa.ai I have also applied filters in filter tab but the remain the same.
kapa.ai
APP
·
·
Let me check the knowledge base for you again. One moment! 📚
kapa.ai
APP
·
·
If you have applied filters in the filter tab but the results remain the same, there are a few possible reasons based on Mixpanel’s documentation: 1. Cohort Breakdown vs. Filter Behavior When you use a cohort as a breakdown, Mixpanel will show results for each cohort and a "Not in Cohort" group, regardless of additional filters. If you want to restrict your analysis to only users in a specific cohort, you should use the filter option instead of breakdown. However, if you already applied a filter and the data hasn't changed, it could be due to how Mixpanel evaluates cohort membership and filters independently. Events are bucketed into "in cohort" and "not in cohort" for breakdowns, and filters may not override this grouping as you expect Using Cohorts in Analysis.2. Dynamic Cohort Computation Cohorts in Mixpanel are computed dynamically at query time. This means the set of users in a cohort is always "as of now." If your filters are based on user properties that have changed, or if your cohort definition is broad, the filter may not further restrict the data as you expect How Cohorts are Computed.3. Filter and Breakdown Interaction Mixpanel allows you to filter by properties or cohorts, and also break down by them. However, when both are used together, the breakdown will still show all buckets (including "not in cohort"), and the filter may not appear to further restrict the breakdown results. This is expected behavior Reports Overview.4. Check Filter Logic Ensure that your filter logic is correct and that the property or cohort you are filtering by actually matches the data in your report. Sometimes, filters may not have any effect if the property values do not match the events or users in your dataset.If after checking these points the issue persists, it may be helpful to review your cohort and filter definitions, or try isolating the issue by removing all breakdowns and filters, then re-adding them one at a time to see where the behavior changes.If you need more targeted help, please provide the specific filter and cohort definitions you are using.Let me know if you need further clarification!
kapa.ai is still learning and improving, please let me know how I did by reacting below.
ℹ️ Tip: Mention @kapa.ai in the thread for follow-ups or DM the app for 1-to-1 help.
Tahir A.
·
·
Hi kapa.ai I’ve run into another challenge with cohorts. If I don’t use a cohort breakdown, I’m forced to rely on event properties—which brings its own issues. What I’m trying to figure out is:
When using cohorts in the filter tab, how can I also break down by event properties in the breakdown tab?
Right now, it seems like I can only use one or the other, which limits the insights I need. Is there a way to combine both—use cohorts as filters and still break down by event properties?
kapa.ai
APP
·
·
Let me check the knowledge base for you again. One moment! 📚
kapa.ai
APP
·
·
Based on the Mixpanel documentation, you can use a cohort as a filter and then break down by event properties in your reports.Here’s how it works: - Filter Tab: You can select a cohort in the filter tab to restrict your analysis to only users in that cohort. - Breakdown Tab: After applying the cohort filter, you can use the breakdown option to segment your results by any event property (e.g., device type, region, etc.).This approach is supported in Insights, Funnels, Flows, and Retention reports. The documentation states: > You can use cohorts to filter any of your analysis by selecting a cohort from the filter menu... You can compare the behavior of different cohorts by selecting a cohort from the breakdown menu.
...It is only possible to either group by properties or group by cohorts, but not both. Reports OverviewKey Limitation:
You can filter by a cohort and then break down by event properties, but you cannot break down by both cohorts and event properties at the same time. If you use a cohort as a breakdown, you cannot also break down by event properties in the same report.Summary: - Yes: Filter by cohort, then break down by event property. - No: Break down by both cohort and event property simultaneously.If you need to compare multiple cohorts and see event property breakdowns for each, you would need to run separate reports for each cohort or use filters to focus on one cohort at a time, then break down by the desired event property.Let me know if you need a step-by-step example!
kapa.ai is still learning and improving, please let me know how I did by reacting below.
ℹ️ Tip: Mention @kapa.ai in the thread for follow-ups or DM the app for 1-to-1 help.
Tahir A.
·
·
Hi kapa.ai 👋 I’ve run into another challenge with cohorts. In some cases, I’m using cohorts in place of events. But when I don’t use a cohort breakdown, I’m forced to rely on event properties—which brings its own limitations. What I’m trying to figure out is:
When using cohorts in the filter tab, is there a way to break down by event properties in the breakdown tab?
Right now, it seems like I can only use one or the other, which makes it hard to get the full insight I need. Is there a way to combine both—using cohorts as filters and still breaking down by event properties?
kapa.ai
APP
·
·
Let me check the knowledge base for you again. One moment! 📚
kapa.ai
APP
·
·
Yes, you can use a cohort as a filter and then break down by event properties in Mixpanel reports.Here’s how it works according to the documentation: - Filter Tab: You can select a cohort in the filter tab to restrict your analysis to only users in that cohort. - Breakdown Tab: After applying the cohort filter, you can use the breakdown option to segment your results by any event property (such as device, region, etc.).This is supported in reports like Insights, Funnels, Flows, and Retention. The documentation clarifies: > You can use cohorts to filter any of your analysis by selecting a cohort from the filter menu... It is only possible to either group by properties or group by cohorts, but not both.
Reports OverviewKey Point:
- You can filter by a cohort and then break down by event properties. - You cannot break down by both cohort and event property at the same time.So, to get the insight you need: 1. Add your cohort in the filter tab. 2. In the breakdown tab, select the event property you want to analyze.This will show you the breakdown of event properties, but only for users in your selected cohort.If you try to break down by both cohort and event property simultaneously, Mixpanel will not allow it—this is a current product limitation.Let me know if you need a step-by-step example or run into any issues with this setup!
kapa.ai is still learning and improving, please let me know how I did by reacting below.
ℹ️ Tip: Mention @kapa.ai in the thread for follow-ups or DM the app for 1-to-1 help.
Tahir A.
·
·
kapa.ai Can I use cohrts instead of events then breakdown on event properties
kapa.ai
APP
·
·
Let me check the knowledge base for you again. One moment! 📚
kapa.ai
APP
·
·
You cannot use cohorts as a direct replacement for events in Mixpanel reports. Cohorts are groups of users defined by certain criteria (demographics, behaviors, etc.), not events themselves. In Mixpanel, you analyze events (user actions) and can filter or break down those events by cohort membership or event properties.What you can do: - Filter by cohort: You can use a cohort in the filter tab to restrict your analysis to users in that cohort, and then break down the results by event properties. This means you’ll see how users in the cohort interact with different event properties, but the analysis is still based on events, not the cohort itself as an event. - Breakdown by cohort or event property: You can break down your analysis by cohort or by event property, but not both at the same time. If you use a cohort as a breakdown, you cannot also break down by event property in the same report Reports Overview.Summary: - You cannot use a cohort as an event and then break down by event properties. - You can filter events by cohort and then break down by event properties.If you need to analyze how a specific group of users (a cohort) interacts with different event properties, use the cohort as a filter and then apply the event property breakdown.Let me know if you need a step-by-step example!
kapa.ai is still learning and improving, please let me know how I did by reacting below.
ℹ️ Tip: Mention @kapa.ai in the thread for follow-ups or DM the app for 1-to-1 help.

Understanding Cohorts in Data Analysis: Issues and Solutions

14 comments

1. Extra Data (e.g., Overall User Counts) Appearing

2. Exclusion/Filtering Behavior

3. Metrics Not Matching Across Methods

Best Practices for Your Use Case

Troubleshooting Tips