We’re not living in a digital age. We’re living in a mobile app age. As we turn to mobile apps for everything from banking to shopping to dating, app development and app designs will have to take into account user experience through analytics. 

It’s all about apps

According to industry estimates, the total number of app downloads will be a whopping 258 billion by the end of 2021. That’s an increase of 45 percent from 2017.

The average user spends approximately three hours and 45 minutes on their mobile phone daily. What’s even more striking is that they spend more than two and a half minutes on an app as opposed to a web browser.

So, what’s the expected revenue from this usage? By 2023, the global mobile app industry is expected to generate close to $935 billion. 

The importance of mobile app analytics

Having a user-friendly design could mean the difference between an app making it big or fizzling out. If you’re into app development or if your business has an app, this means that using analytics to understand the performance of your app is extremely crucial. 

If your business has an app, you should know the revenue it generates and how it’s able to shape the actions of its users. Only an objective analysis with data and actionable insights on users, retention, and conversion will reveal what you may need to include or exclude to ensure that your app helps you meet your business objectives. 

What will help you analyze those performance metrics are mobile app analytics tools. 

The metrics for mobile app analytics

There are a couple of things to consider when you choose the metrics to analyze your app’s performance. To begin with, what you choose should lead to changes. In other words, the metrics should be actionable. What you don’t want is a set of numbers that appeal to you but that you can’t do anything about. 

The second point is that the metric should be in sync with your desired business objective. This means that the analysis should not only reveal the app’s performance now but how it would fit in with your plans. You could choose your metrics from the ones listed below:

1. Active users (daily, weekly, or monthly)

2. The rate of retention

3. Duration of session

4. Daily active users (DAU) and monthly active users (MAU)

5. Push opt-in

6. Return on investment (ROI) and cost per acquisition (CPA)

7. Number of downloads and installs

6 best mobile app analytics tools in 2021

Firebase

Trusted by thousands of app developers, this Google product will help you create an app, distribute it, and measure its performance. 

Standout features: Firebase comes with cloud functions, machine learning, authentication, a cloud Firestore, real-time database, cloud storage, hosting, test lab, Google Analytics, and much more. 

Pricing: A free plan and a Blaze Plan

Platforms: iOS, Android

Google Analytics

No best mobile app analytics tool list in 2021 can be complete without Google Analytics. If you want to measure your digital performance and set objectives, this is the tool you should be looking at.

Standout features: Custom dashboard, keyword referrals, campaign analysis, third-party referrals, goal tracking, etc. 

Pricing: Free and an enterprise plan.

Platforms: iOS, Android

Mixpanel

For detailed analytics on user behavior and conversion, Mixpanel is a trusted app analytics tool. Want to know more about your users? Mixpanel is your data-driven guide.

Standout features: User segmentation, group analytics, team dashboards, data management, and integration, etc. 

Pricing: Free, with a premium plan that starts at $25 per month.

Platforms: iOS, Android

Adobe Analytics

For advanced industry-leading data analytics and customizable visualizations, most app developers and businesses turn to Adobe Analytics. Whether it’s prediction analytics or web analytics, the tool has it all covered.

Standout features: Advanced calculation metrics, audience analytics, re-marketing triggers, multi-channel data collection, and much more. 

Pricing: No free model. Pricing depends on the tools you choose.

Platforms: iOS, Android

Amplitude Analytics

Ranked as number one in product analytics, Amplitude Analytics comes with built-in data management tools to give you a comprehensive picture of your app performance. 

Standout features: Product analytics, user insight tools, data management, personalization, etc. 

Pricing: Free plan with unlimited data retention. Premium plans depend on the tools you need.

Platforms: iOS, Android

Hotjar

Here’s a tool that not only gives you detailed analytics on users, usage, and conversion but also delivers them through heatmaps. These visually intuitive analyses make it easy to understand your app’s performance.  

Standout features: Heatmaps, feedback, intuitive visualization, recordings, etc. 

Pricing: Free plan with three heatmaps and manual data capture, and feedback widgets. Premium plans depend on the advanced features you need.

Platforms: iOS, Android

In short

Mobile apps are all about the user. The ease of use and navigation will determine whether an app can make a mark in the industry. This is true for app development across categories and audience groups. An app audit with the right app analytics tool will help you get improved performance, user acquisition, and retention, and revenue growth.

But unless you have expertise in app analytics, the process might be difficult for you. That’s why it’s always an excellent idea to seek the services of a professional agency to conduct an app audit using the right metrics.