Understanding Retention Metrics: A vs B Events Analysis

Nitya G. · 2026-01-05T21:59:01.966Z

in retention graph, I am doing retention on each day. what does this infer? User who did A event on day 0, how many of those did event B on day 1? Then, who did event A on day 1, how many did event B on day 2 OR users who did event A on day 0, how many of those did event B on day 2?

Understanding Retention Metrics: A vs B Events Analysis | Mixpanel Community

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kapa.ai
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Hi Nitya G., Please stand by as I search the Mixpanel knowledge base for an AI-powered answer. I normally take about 15 seconds or so. In case AI cannot answer your question, feel free to reach out to Mixpanel support at mixpanel.com/get-support. If you have follow-up questions for this thread, please tag me again with your question: @kapa.ai <follow-up question> 👋
Feel free to ask a follow-up question once I've answered by mentioning me with @kapa.ai
kapa.ai
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In a Mixpanel Retention report looking at "each day," the graph tracks cohorts of users based on when they performed the starting action (Event A) and follows that specific group over time.To answer your specific question, the report shows both scenarios you described, but in different parts of the table or graph:
1. Retention over time for a single group
When you look at a single row in the retention table (e.g., users who did Event A on "Day 0"), the subsequent columns (Day 1, Day 2, etc.) show how many of those same users from Day 0 returned to do Event B on those specific days. ** Day 1 column: How many users who did Event A on Day 0 came back and did Event B on Day 1. ** Day 2 column: How many users who did Event A on Day 0 came back and did Event B on Day 2. [Basic Features]
2. Comparisons between different start dates
Each row represents a new "birth" cohort. ** The row for Day 1 tracks users who performed Event A for the first time on Day 1. The "Day 1" column in *that row shows how many of those users returned to do Event B on Day 2 (which is 1 day after their specific "birth" event). [Query Retention Report]
Key Concepts to Note:
** Rolling vs. Calendar Intervals: By default, Mixpanel uses Rolling Intervals. "Day 1" means the 24-48 hour window immediately following that specific user's Event A. If you switch to Calendar Intervals, "Day 1" refers to the next actual calendar day after they performed Event A. [Calendar Retention Mode] ** Retention is not a Funnel: A user does not need to be retained on Day 1 to be counted as retained on Day 2 (unless you are using "Streak Mode"). They simply need to have performed Event A on the start date and Event B on the specific interval being measured. [Query Retention Report; Retention Criteria] ** *Average Row: The "Average" row at the top of the report summarizes these cohorts by taking a weighted average of all completed intervals. [How is the “Average” row for Retention reports calculated?]
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.
Nitya G.
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kapa.ai explain this
Ansh A.
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Nitya G. This is basically out of all users on Dec 3, how many did event B on Day 1, then Day 2, and so on.

kapa.ai
APP
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Hi Nitya G., Please stand by as I search the Mixpanel knowledge base for an AI-powered answer. I normally take about 15 seconds or so. In case AI cannot answer your question, feel free to reach out to Mixpanel support at mixpanel.com/get-support. If you have follow-up questions for this thread, please tag me again with your question: @kapa.ai <follow-up question> 👋
Feel free to ask a follow-up question once I've answered by mentioning me with @kapa.ai
kapa.ai
APP
·
·
In a Mixpanel Retention report looking at "each day," the graph tracks cohorts of users based on when they performed the starting action (Event A) and follows that specific group over time.To answer your specific question, the report shows both scenarios you described, but in different parts of the table or graph:
1. Retention over time for a single group
When you look at a single row in the retention table (e.g., users who did Event A on "Day 0"), the subsequent columns (Day 1, Day 2, etc.) show how many of those same users from Day 0 returned to do Event B on those specific days. ** Day 1 column: How many users who did Event A on Day 0 came back and did Event B on Day 1. ** Day 2 column: How many users who did Event A on Day 0 came back and did Event B on Day 2. [Basic Features]
2. Comparisons between different start dates
Each row represents a new "birth" cohort. ** The row for Day 1 tracks users who performed Event A for the first time on Day 1. The "Day 1" column in *that row shows how many of those users returned to do Event B on Day 2 (which is 1 day after their specific "birth" event). [Query Retention Report]
Key Concepts to Note:
** Rolling vs. Calendar Intervals: By default, Mixpanel uses Rolling Intervals. "Day 1" means the 24-48 hour window immediately following that specific user's Event A. If you switch to Calendar Intervals, "Day 1" refers to the next actual calendar day after they performed Event A. [Calendar Retention Mode] ** Retention is not a Funnel: A user does not need to be retained on Day 1 to be counted as retained on Day 2 (unless you are using "Streak Mode"). They simply need to have performed Event A on the start date and Event B on the specific interval being measured. [Query Retention Report; Retention Criteria] ** *Average Row: The "Average" row at the top of the report summarizes these cohorts by taking a weighted average of all completed intervals. [How is the “Average” row for Retention reports calculated?]
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.
Nitya G.
·
·
kapa.ai explain this
Ansh A.
·
·
Nitya G. This is basically out of all users on Dec 3, how many did event B on Day 1, then Day 2, and so on.

4 comments

1. Retention over time for a single group

2. Comparisons between different start dates

Key Concepts to Note:

1. Retention over time for a single group

2. Comparisons between different start dates

Key Concepts to Note: