---
title: Level Progression Rate for Mobile Games: Calculator
description: Level progression rate for mobile games: the share of an install cohort reaching each level, level-to-level drop-off, how to read it, and a free calculator.
url: https://appmetricslibrary.com/metrics/level-progression/
---

# Level progression rate

Engagement metric. How often and how deeply do they use it?

21 Lvl Level progression rate Engagement

Definition

## What is level progression rate?

**Level progression rate is the share of players from an install cohort who reach a given level, used to show where players stop playing.**

**Difficulty spike:** a level much harder than the ones around it, visible as a sharp drop in level-to-level rate.

Formula

## How to calculate Level progression

`Level n reach rate = Players who reached level n ÷ Players in the install cohort × 100`

**Players who reached level n**

cohort players who started or finished level n, as you define it

**Players in the install cohort**

players who installed in the same period

### Where definitions differ

| Variant | Formula | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Reach rate from install | Reached level n ÷ Installs × 100 | The progression funnel. |
| Level-to-level rate | Reached level n ÷ Reached level n−1 × 100 | Finds the single level that loses the most players. |
| Within n days | Reached level n within d days ÷ Installs × 100 | Adds pace to progression. |

Calculator

## Level progression calculator

> Interactive tool (metric calculator): runs in the browser at https://appmetricslibrary.com/metrics/level-progression/#metric-calc. Its text content follows.

**Level progression calculator**

**Example inputs: change them to your own numbers.** The examples only make the calculator show a worked answer; they are not benchmarks or targets. Runs in your browser; nothing you type is sent anywhere.

**Tutorial completion**

90%

**Reach level 5**

60%

**Reach level 10**

35%

**Level 5 to level 10**

58.3%

**Track this automatically**

Send level milestones as events to your MMP so progression can be compared by channel and campaign.

- [Events tab docs](https://docs.linkrunner.io/features/events-tab?utm_source=appmetricslibrary&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=metric-level-progression&utm_content=panel)
- [7 critical events every mobile game should track](https://linkrunner.io/blog/7-critical-events-every-mobile-game-should-track-from-day-one?utm_source=appmetricslibrary&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=metric-level-progression&utm_content=panel)

[Create a free account (25k installs free)](https://dashboard.linkrunner.io/sign-in?utm_source=appmetricslibrary&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=metric-level-progression&utm_content=panel)

Answer

## How do you find the level where players quit?

Plot level-to-level rates for one install cohort. A level with a much lower rate than its neighbours is usually a difficulty spike or a confusing new mechanic.

By vertical

## How Level progression differs by vertical

| [EdTech](https://appmetricslibrary.com/verticals/edtech/) | The equivalent is unit or module progression. |
|---|---|
| [Fintech](https://appmetricslibrary.com/verticals/fintech/) | Not used. |
| [OTT and streaming](https://appmetricslibrary.com/verticals/ott/) | The equivalent is episode-to-episode drop-off in a series. |
| [Gaming](https://appmetricslibrary.com/verticals/gaming/) | A core design and retention metric. |

Pitfalls

## Common mistakes

- Mixing cohorts from before and after a level redesign.
- Reading a low reach rate as a level problem when players left earlier for other reasons.

Related

## Related metrics

[22 Ret Retention rate](https://appmetricslibrary.com/metrics/retention-rate/) [9 Obc Onboarding completion rate](https://appmetricslibrary.com/metrics/onboarding-completion-rate/) [27 Arpd Revenue per daily active user](https://appmetricslibrary.com/metrics/arpdau/) [10 Ttv Time to first value](https://appmetricslibrary.com/metrics/time-to-first-value/)

FAQ

## Questions

**How do you calculate level progression?**

Divide the players from an install cohort who reached a level by the installs in that cohort. 3.5k of 10k reaching level 10 is a 35% reach rate.

**Is level progression a retention metric?**

It is closely related: players who stop progressing usually stop playing. Unlike day-based retention, it shows where in the game they stopped.

**Should I use level start or level complete?**

Either works if you are consistent. Level complete shows success; level start shows willingness to try.

**Why do tools report different values for the same metric?**

Because definitions differ: what counts as active, which attribution window applies, whether organic users are included and how days are cut by timezone. Align the definition before comparing numbers.

**Which currency do the calculators use?**

The calculators show US dollars, but every formula works in any currency: enter your own figures in the currency you report in and read the results in that currency.

**What is the difference between a metric and a KPI?**

A metric is any measured quantity; a KPI is a metric a team has chosen as a target for judging performance. Most metrics here become KPIs only for the teams whose work moves them.