Monthly Active Users (MAU)

MAU Definition

MAU stands for Monthly Active Users. It is a key metric in the tech and SaaS (Software as a Service) industries. MAU counts the number of unique users who engage with your product or service at least once within a given month.

It’s important to remember that MAU tracks unique users, meaning each user is counted only once, no matter how many times they interact with the app during the month.

When we talk about “engage with,” it means any significant activity that an active user performs with your product or service. What counts as engagement can vary depending on the product, but it usually involves actions that show active participation.

It’s important to define “engagement” in a way that truly reflects active involvement with your product and aligns with your business goals. This should capture real engagement, not just passive actions like receiving a notification.

MAU Calculation

MAU is calculated by counting the unique users who interact with your app within a month. Here’s how to do it:

1. Define Meaningful Actions: Decide which actions show meaningful interaction with your product, like logging in, making a purchase, or using a specific feature.
2. Track User Interactions: Use analytics tools such as Google Analytics, Amplitude, or similar apps to monitor these interactions.
3. Identify Unique Users: Ensure each user is counted only once, regardless of how many times they interact with the product during the month.
4. Count Unique Users: Add up the total number of unique users who have taken meaningful actions within the month.

MAU Calculation Example

• If User A logs in and uses your app 5 times in a month, they are counted as 1 MAU.
• If User B logs in and uses your app 3 times in the same month, they are also counted as 1 MAU.
• If User C logs in once, they are counted as 1 MAU.

So, if you have 100 unique users like this, your MAU for the month would be 100.