How would you measure the health of a mobile app?
Model answer
Model answerApp health isn't one metric — it's a hierarchy. At the top: the north star metric that captures core value. Below it: leading indicators (session frequency, feature adoption) and lagging indicators (retention curves, NPS). I'd also track technical health separately: crash rate, load time, and app store rating. A product can have good engagement metrics and terrible technical health — both matter for long-term retention.
Framework · North Star Framework
- NNorth star
One metric that captures core value delivery — not vanity metrics like downloads - LLeading indicators
Session frequency, feature adoption — predict the north star 2–4 weeks early - TTechnical health
Crash rate, load time, app store rating — separate from product metrics - GGuardrails
Metrics that must not decline even as you optimize the north star
Related questions
- How would you define success for a new user onboarding flow?
- What metrics would you track for a social sharing feature?
- What is the difference between a vanity metric and an actionable metric?
- What is a cohort analysis and when would you use it?
- You launch a feature and usage is lower than expected. How do you investigate?