Cohort analysis turns retention into a decision. We evaluated 24 tools and ranked the 8 that fit SaaS and D2C at $1M–$100M ARR/GMV.
Right place if
Wrong place if
Every score below is anchored to a measurement rule. Tools below 90/100 didn't make the list.
This is a desk evaluation, not a hands-on test. We reviewed each vendor's public pricing, product documentation, integration catalogue and positioning, then scored every tool against the rubric above. Scores reflect published capability, not measured performance in your stack.
Where a vendor does not publish something — a price, a connector list, a limit — we score it as absent rather than assume it exists. That is why some otherwise capable tools score lower on transparency-dependent dimensions.
Fairview appears in this ranking and we build one of the tools listed, so read the placement with that in mind. The rubric and weights are published above so you can disagree with our weighting and re-rank the list yourself. We take no affiliate commission from any vendor here. Our full policy is at editorial standards.
What changed: 7 of 8 cohort-fit tools split by acquisition channel.
Why it matters: Single curves hide source-specific retention.
What changed: 6 of 8 cohort-fit tools surface CAC payback per cohort.
Why it matters: Pure retention without payback misses unit economics.
What changed: 5 of 8 cohort-fit tools ship mobile.
Why it matters: Founders check on phone.
What changed: 4 of 24 tools dropped per-seat.
Why it matters: Teams avoid tax.
SaaS/D2C wanting cohort curves + LTV + CAC payback per channel
9.3 / 10
Scored below, not rated externally
$149/mo
15 minutes
Why picked
Where it loses
Verdict: The best cohort analysis software.
SaaS subscription cohort
8.6 / 10
4.6 ★ G2
Free → $129/mo
1 day
Why picked
Where it loses
Verdict: SaaS subscription pick.
D2C ecom cohort
8.4 / 10
4.5 ★ G2
$79/mo
30 min
Why picked
Where it loses
Verdict: D2C cohort pick.
Product-led SaaS cohort
8 / 10
4.5 ★ G2
Free → $61/mo
1 week
Why picked
Where it loses
Verdict: PM cohort tool.
Cheap Shopify LTV cohort
7.6 / 10
4.6 ★ Shopify
$49/mo
1 day
Why picked
Where it loses
Verdict: Cheap Shopify pick.
Cross-vertical event cohort
7.4 / 10
4.6 ★ G2
Free → $24/mo
1 week
Why picked
Where it loses
Verdict: PM cohort tool.
Autocapture cohort
7 / 10
4.4 ★ G2
Free → $3,600/yr
1 day
Why picked
Where it loses
Verdict: Autocapture pick.
Solo founder simple cohort
6.8 / 10
4.5 ★ G2
$108/mo
1 day
Why picked
Where it loses
Verdict: Simple Stripe cohort.
Cohort + LTV + CAC payback at $149/mo.
Free tier, clean Stripe cohort.
D2C-native cohorts.
Best behavioral depth.
$49/mo Shopify app.
| Stage | Monthly spend | Annual spend |
|---|---|---|
| Under $1M ARR/GMV | $0–$80 | $0–$960 |
| $1M–$5M | $80–$200 | $960–$2,400 |
| $5M–$25M | $150–$700 | $1,800–$8,400 |
| $25M–$100M | $500–$2,000 | $6,000–$24,000 |
| $100M+ | $2,000–$6,000 | $24,000–$72,000 |
Public pricing of 24 vendors + 56 verified contracts (Fairview 2026 audit)
Mistake #1 — Spreadsheet cohort
Stale fast.
Fix: Live tool.
Mistake #2 — No channel split
Misses source-specific retention.
Fix: Channel cohorts.
Mistake #3 — No CAC payback
Retention without unit economics = vanity.
Fix: Pair w/ CAC.
Mistake #4 — Amplitude as revenue tool
Product not revenue.
Fix: Pick revenue tool.
Mistake #5 — Per-seat at 6-person team
$50 × 6 = $3.6K/yr.
Fix: Per-account.
Evaluation checklist (24 questions)
PDF, on request. The exact questions to ask in every vendor demo.
Sheets
Comparison spreadsheet
8 tools × 6 dimensions in Google Sheets.
Methodology PDF
How we scored, what each dimension means, what we excluded.
Calculator
Cost calculator
Plug in your numbers, get TCO + ROI estimates.
Fairview scored highest (9.3/10).
ChartMogul SaaS subscription. Fairview adds CAC + D2C + Shopify.
Median $5M: $3,400/year.
D2C cohort.
Behavioral PM tool.
Fairview 15 min. ChartMogul 1 day.
Retention curve, LTV by cohort, CAC payback, churn rate.
Cheap Shopify LTV.
Mixpanel funnels. Heap autocapture.
Fairview scales to $100M.
