When it comes to understanding how users interact with your mobile app, tracking session data is crucial. Mixpanel offers two distinct approaches to capturing this information - App Session and Session End. But what's the difference between these two events? In this article, we'll dive into the details of each, exploring their origins, computation methods, flexibility, and applicability.

App Session: A Legacy Approach

The App Session is a legacy automatically tracked event in Mixpanel's mobile SDKs. This event is triggered when a user spends more than 10 seconds in the app, providing valuable insights into user engagement. The App Session also tracks two user properties: Total App Sessions and Total App Session Length.

Session End: A Computed Approach

On the other hand, Session End is part of Mixpanel's computed sessions feature. This event marks the end of a user session, which can be calculated using various methods such as timeout-based, event-based, or property-based. The key difference between these two events lies in their computation method and flexibility.

Key Differences

To summarize, here are the main differences between App Session and Session End:

  • Origin: App Session is a legacy mobile SDK event, while Session End is part of Mixpanel's newer, more flexible sessions feature.
  • Computation: App Session is triggered after 10 seconds in the app, whereas Session End is computed based on the chosen session configuration.
  • Flexibility: Session End offers more customization options compared to the fixed App Session event.
  • Applicability: App Session is specific to mobile apps, while Session End can be used across different platforms (web, mobile, etc.).

Why Choose Session End?

Mixpanel recommends using the newer sessions feature, which includes Session End, over legacy automatically tracked events like App Session. This is because the computed sessions provide more control and accuracy in tracking user sessions.

Calculating Active Users and Average Session Duration

If you're looking to calculate the number of active users or average session duration for your app, Mixpanel's Insights report can help. By selecting the "Session Start" event and choosing the desired time range, you can track unique active users and average session duration in minutes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding the differences between App Session and Session End is crucial for maximizing app user experience. By leveraging Mixpanel's computed sessions feature, you can gain valuable insights into user engagement and behavior. Whether you're looking to track active users or calculate average session duration, this article has provided a comprehensive guide on how to get started.