DAU vs MAU
DAU (Daily Active Users) and MAU (Monthly Active Users) both come up in business conversations and get confused. Here's the plain-English difference, side by side, so you can use each one with confidence.
The key difference: DAU refers to daily active users, while MAU refers to monthly active users — they describe different things even when they show up in the same sentence.
DAU — Daily Active Users
The number of unique users who engage with a product in a single day. Core metric for consumer apps where daily habit drives value.
MAU — Monthly Active Users
The number of unique users who engage with a product in a month. Standard scale metric across consumer products.
When to use DAU
Reach for "DAU" when the conversation is specifically about daily active users. The number of unique users who engage with a product in a single day. Core metric for consumer apps where daily habit drives value.
When to use MAU
Reach for "MAU" when the conversation is specifically about monthly active users. The number of unique users who engage with a product in a month. Standard scale metric across consumer products.
FAQs
What is the difference between DAU and MAU?
DAU stands for Daily Active Users — The number of unique users who engage with a product in a single day. Core metric for consumer apps where daily habit drives value. MAU stands for Monthly Active Users — The number of unique users who engage with a product in a month. Standard scale metric across consumer products.
Are DAU and MAU the same thing?
No. They're often used in the same conversation because they're related, but they describe different concepts. DAU = Daily Active Users. MAU = Monthly Active Users.
When should I use DAU vs MAU?
Use DAU when you're specifically referring to daily active users. Use MAU when the topic is monthly active users.