What are daily active users (DAU)?

The number of distinct people who did something meaningful in a product on a given day.

Updated 23 October 2026

Definition

Daily active users (DAU) is the count of distinct users who used a product meaningfully on a given day. It's most useful for products people are meant to use every day.

Formula

DAU = distinct users with at least one qualifying event on the day.

Reading it

Daily numbers are noisy and follow the week: work tools dip at weekends. Compare the same weekday, or use a 7-day average. Divide by monthly active users for stickiness.

How to measure it

Decide which events count as active, send them with a user ID, and chart unique users per day. See DAU, WAU and MAU.

GlossaryWhat are monthly active users?What are monthly active users? The number of distinct people who did something meaningful in a product over a 30-day period. With the formula.Read
GlossaryWhat is the DAU/MAU ratio?What is the DAU/MAU ratio? Daily active users divided by monthly active users: the share of monthly users who use a product on a typical day.Read
GlossaryWhat are active users?Active users: the number of distinct people who did something meaningful in a product during a day, week or month. In plain language, with practical notes.Read

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