onretain

Onretain is a term used in product analytics and software development to describe the ongoing retention of users after the initial onboarding phase. The term is not standardized and its meaning can vary between organizations.

Origin and terminology: Onretain appears to be a coined word combining onboarding with retain. It is not part of formal analytics literature, and its usage is largely dependent on internal definitions within a company or community.

Definition and scope: In practice, onretain denotes the focus on the period from onboarding onward, measuring whether users continue to engage with the product after the initial setup. It may refer to a metric such as the share of users who log in within a defined window after onboarding, or to an evaluative assessment of onboarding effectiveness in establishing long-term engagement.

Measurement and practice: To compute onretain, analysts cohort users by onboarding date and track activity over time, using windows such as 7, 14, or 30 days. The metric is often used to compare onboarding flows, prompts, tours, or in-app messages aimed at sustaining engagement beyond the first use.

Relation to other concepts: Onretain overlaps with retention, activation, and engagement metrics but emphasizes the onboarding-to-long-term engagement arc. Because the term lacks standard definition, teams should explicitly specify its operational meaning in dashboards and reports.

Limitations and usage notes: Definitions vary by product type and user base, so cross-company comparisons are risky. Clear documentation of the exact calculation, data sources, and time windows is essential when applying onretain in decision-making.

See also: Retention, Activation, Onboarding, Cohort analysis, Engagement.